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What will we do when the cold times come? Will they even be able to adapt?
The thought of losing my Elena saddens me, and I vow to do everything I can to ensure her survival. I’ll bury her in furs if I have to.
I see her approaching, her eyes tired.
“When do you think we can go to your camp?” she asks, her voice anxious.
Eager for a permanent place to stay, she works hard to impress my people, going on several hunts with Fiona and Araelya. She’s even taken down a few smaller beasts on her own, impressing even some of the hardened Tempest men.
She is a true chieftain.
“If you are so eager, I’m sure my men would allow you and a few others now. Ones that are not so weak.”
She considers my offer carefully. I am aware that her history with these women is not entirely pleasant, but over the last few days, I’ve seen them respect her as a true leader, adhering to her demands and seeking advice when necessary.
Her council is coming together well, consisting of loud Meg, Nori, and Araelya. A few of the other women could fill positions, but she decided to not be too hasty in her decision, which is wise.
And while her people are feeble, they are not unintelligent. They work through problems, coming up with ideas that even my people would not have conjured.
“It can’t be just a few,” she finally says, her mouth slanting to the side. “It must be all.”
I scan the beach, noticing a handful of sickly-looking women that seem to have taken up residence on furs, hardly contributing much at all.
“I don’t see why you seek to shield the weak.”
“There are too few of us to cast anyone away. Your numbers are much higher than ours. Don’t you think it would be smart to take as many of us with you as possible?”
I point to a blonde-haired woman who can hardly fetch firewood. “She takes more than she gives. It’s more cutting dead weight than casting aside. None of my men would want someone so slight. No one would judge you if you left her, and it would gain the respect of my men.”
“That’s Asha, and while she might lie out more than the others, she is incredibly talented in the ways of weaving. We just don’t have the wool to make yarn.”
I shake my head in frustration, but I’m unable to scold her further, for as strong as I am, Elena renders me weak.
At night, we meet in pleasure, exploring each other’s bodies until almost daybreak.
Recently, her blood came, which has made her prickly. She kisses me and takes me into her mouth, but does not allow me to do the same. I told her that a warlord like myself revels in blood, to which she looked aghast.
Ramsey approaches, casting a dark cloud over my precious moment with Elena.
“We must speak,” he says in a deadpan tone.
“See to your people,” I tell Elena, then grab my spear and walk past Ramsey. “Come, let us hunt.”
We enter the forest, attentive to our surroundings. It’s how we have most of our talks, for sitting around and chatting is not a way to gain perspective.
“I admit, I was wrong,” he begins. “Elena is not the weak thing I had thought. But still, her people are…lacking.”
I can’t say I wholly disagree with him.
“Of the nineteen, I can see taking seven.”
His generosity takes me by surprise, for I would have thought he’d take three.
“Elena insists we take all or none.”
“Then mayhap Elena is not fit to lead if she cannot make hard decisions.”
I too have thought this on occasion, but then I am reminded of her bravery and all she has accomplished.
