Getting Ready

I had visited Magda as I had promised..my brother Sam when with me.. he fixed one of her wagon wheels.. and did a few odds and ends.. She tried to smack him with her stick when he tried to move her.. He caught her stick mid swat.. And looked at her.. Old Woman.. why is it you have to hit people with that stick... And she replied "Because I am old and I can.. I swear she gave him some kind of evil eye look.. And there there was that odd silence. and then it came.. the all knowing :grunt: from my eldest brother..

Anyway.. we made sure she was all taken care of.. She gave me a hug.. and a look to my brother. as we both headed down the wagon row.. Sam gave me a big kurr hug.. and headed to my mothers wagon... it was time to eat after all.. I, on the other hand had to get my own wagon ready for the move.. Grease the axels and all that kind of stuff.. I also veered my way past the large Ubars wagon.... I did not wish to be painted blue today..

Once I was done.. I headed to the streams.. for a nice cool bath.. There is a secret spot that someone created... it deeps down in a small gulley and makes a nice pool.. So I stripped off everything.. and walked into the water.. Good grief! it was cold.. everything seemed to pop up and out.. as my warm hands quickly rubbed my arms.. the cold bumps were starting everywhere... so I figured ahh heck.. and I just dunked myself.. I ran a slender hand over my shoulder.. I could feel the scars from the whip.. as memories of what seemed so long ago darted out of my mind... I remember getting each strip.. When I was 6 summers.. I painted the inside of my parents wagon... I got 1 strip for that... When I was 9 I followed my brothers to the herds and was nearly tramped.. if not for Sam.. I would be a squished tuchuk.. I got 3 strips for that one.. I got various other ones for disobeying.. talking back... not being quick enough... As I got older they became harsher.. When I was 16 I was whipped for not coming home in time to help my mother with the evening meal.. And once I was sent to the 1st Fires.. I was given a few more ... But now my father is proud of me.. so the whippings have stopped... Thankfully so.. I am not sure there is much room left for more strips.. But the water did start to feel good against my bare skin.. I sorta looked down at myself.. I was not in bad shape.. my stomach was small.. and so were my hips.. and pretty much everything else... but I was not boy like.. just small.. nothing wrong with that... Even though my brothers say that warriors want a woman with some meat on her bones.. Its not for a lack of trying. I like to eat... I just stay small.. I got the soap that one of my brothers brought back from a merchant raid... it smelled kinda nice.. not flowerly but better than the leather oil I use everyday.. I washed my hair in it... and then dipped under the water to rinse off the suds...

I grabbed a really big and long soft cloth.. and dried off.. and wrapped it around me.. as I sat on the bank and brushed out my hair.. My mother did not believe in cutting a womans hair... so mine had almost 20 summers to grow... it was something I was very proud of.. I put a little bit of oil on my hands.. and slowly massaged it into my hair, then brushed it out.. and finally braided it.. I tied the leather strap around the end, wrapping it several times around.. and then tucking the end inside..

Clean leathers were pulled on.. and my boots.. before heading back to my own wagon... I made some of my milk blackwine.. and got a bowl of stew.. and sat on my step... it was a quiet night.. most were getting ready for the move I am sure.. I took advantage of the quite to reflect on what was important to me..