estdeus_innobis | Oh brother, let's go down, down to the river to pray. (Reply)

Day 241, Wednesday, January 27th
Morning
The River north of town

I'm hungry. Oh, so, very, hungry. I want to snarl in frustration every time I look to town. She was so close and I left with some solider bitch who'd have stabbed me in the back as soon as look at me. Out of town and not even realizing my opportunity.

My knife stabs down into the dirt and splash some water on my face. And then I stab it down again. It must have been some creature, some god, for me to have forgotten. I should find it and kill it and eat it and then I won't have to worry about this, will I?

I look down the banks, where Excolo lies just out of sight, and smile. Fine. I'm stuck here, at the mercy of powerful forces I can't even see, and I'm starved thin with hunger, but I can find someone and then I'll feel better for the company.

Her thoughts were gay and happy
And the morning gay and fine,
For her lover was a river boy
From the river in the pines.

The song makes me smile, my dark mood washing away like the river. I remember the red-haired woman, Vale, and the creek that ran past my campsite. Happier times.

They found his body lying
On the rocky shore below
Where the silent water ripples
And the whispering cedars blow.

By now I'm practically kicking up my heels. After all, I'm not stuck here in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by paranoid townsfolk. They're stuck in Excolo with me, and so long as I'm careful I can get by.

I wonder what the carrion bird would like next as a present?

There's a splash downstream, and I keep walking, not changing my stride or my singing. I wouldn't want to scare them off.

Oh. I'm hardly one for obsession, certainly not over petty things, but I have never seen a girl so pale. I wonder if she would like some gloves? That leaves plenty of meat, still.

[Open to Leah]