Death in the Night

I was almost sound asleep.. when I heard a rapping on the side of my wagon.. Go away I am sleeping... then I heard my name.. Yamka.. come out please.. Well heck..

I pulled on my old britches and my boots, then drew the tunic over my head.. my hair a muss, braid half in and half out.. as I hopped out the back of my wagon.. And there he was.. It was Zek.. one of my elder warriors.. Dressed like he was going to battle.. His helm held in his hands.. He actually was handsome.. dang..

Zek.. whats the matter.. He did not look down at me.. just said my time has come.. What time? :I asked: My final battle.. Yamka and you will accompany me on this last journey.. :I rubbed my eyes: What are you talking about.. your final battle... then it dawned on me.. Oh no Zek. you are not going anywhere.. nope not gonna happen..

He placed his large hand on my arm and he smiled: My dear young Yamka.. we can not live forever.. I am tired of this life here.. its time for me to take the next step.. Well the tears started.. as his large finger brushed it from my eyes.. I will miss you my young friend.. but do not cry for me.. I have lived a long full life.. I had taken lives of our enemies and I have seen life born.. I am ready for this last battle..So for Zek.. I nodded: I will accompany you on this last battle..

So we quietly walked from the main fires.. out to the open field.. he laid out a large hide.. it was very soft.. it was one I had never seen before.. and he sat down.. Holding his helm in his lap.. all his weapons laid around him.. His back straight.. HIs eyes were clear... he just looked at the field.. A large male bosk wandered over and decided to lay down near the hide.. I was not sure what to expect.

He started to chant quietly at first.. I could see him smile.. as he closed his eyes.... A war whoop left his lips... you could almost feel his battle.. the last one he held in his mind.. He was reliving it.. He was calling upon his memory to help guide him on this last part.. Zek was very old.. not the oldest.. but he had lived through many battles.. with the Kassars.. the Vaci.. the turians.. He had many scars on his face.. Yet I was sad.. I had not been this close to death before.. Yes it is all around us.. but I have not lost anyone close yet.. until now..

I could feel the wind pick up.. there was an static in the air.. but I could not see anything... Zek opened his eyes.. Do you see her Yamka.. there is my Sasha.. I can see her.. My son... I see him.. Can you see them Yamka.. Well no I couldn't see them.. I don't see dead people.. I am not blessed in that way.. But I nodded anyway.. Because he could see them... Is this how it happened?

I wondered..

I was not sure why he wanted me here.. I hope the rest do not do this to me... I think it will scar me.. but I am here.. I watched as he stood.. tall and proud.. I watched as he seemed to speak to someone.. I watched as it seemed a hand moved to his shoulder and sat him down.. The bosk watched as well.. I watched as he slumped over... helm laid still in his lap.. his weapons surrounding him.. I wept as I realized he was gone... I sat there for a long while... watching.. waiting for him to just wake up.. but he never did.. As the winds picked up.. I swore I heard his war cries on the edge of the winds.. I swore I heard my name.. YAMKA! See me.. I swore I felt his hand touch my cheek one last time..

I must have fallen asleep there.. Cause I was wakened by the bosk nudging me.. and when I looked Zek was gone.. his weapons were gone.. his helm... and I was left with the hide.. it was large and very soft.. it held memories of the past.. it had a good feeling to it.. pride.. honor.. love.. I knew exactly what I would use this hide for.. I got to my feet. and rolled up the hide...

Halfway to the wagons.. my father and brothers met me.. I wiped the tears from my eyes... My father looked at me.. Do not weep for Zek my daughter.. he rides the winds.. he is alive... and young again.. He died as a warrior would wish... fighting his last battle... I looked at my father.. and my brothers.. but he is gone.. vanished.. poofed.. My brothers chuckled a little.. Little girlsister.. we moved him to where his prye would be... Do you really think we would allow you to just stay out here alone? I should have known.. I am never really without one of my brothers..

His family? I looked to my father.. His sons have already started the prye.. and then I asked.. Why me? Why not his sons... My brothers answered that.. Because you cared Yamka.. you made that last warriors days within the harriga.. joyful ones.. you brought back their dignity.. You and your odd little ways.. He honored you with his last battle.. And his sons understood that.. :each one pulled my braid.. as they walked past me.. My fathers loving arm went around my shouler.. He spoke low to me.. Each day I become more and more proud of you Yamka.. you stepped out of the shadow you brothers created for you.. and you are walking on your own two feet.. He walked me to my wagons and then he headed back to my mother..

I hope the singers would sing his life song.. I hope that his sons realized what a great man passed through their lives..

I know I do..