Night falls upon the wildlands, and I am thinking of Abe.
Is he looking for me? Or did they give him a potion so strong it knocked him out or harmed him? I wish I had a way to connect to him, even if it is through our minds or a dream. I would love to know if he is alright.
Nimm Or' assigns some of his people to help build a tent so I can sleep in the night. Not that I plan to sleep at all, what with the imminent threat of danger. I am afraid something or someone else will steal me away in my sleep again. Sleep is too vulnerable of a state for me out in the open. I must sacrifice some of my energy reserves for this. It's important enough.
"These are my tent quarters. If you need anything please let me or Matya know." Nimm Or' says. He walks with me around the camp territory, introducing me to random people here and there. They have a medical tent, a schooling tent, and a cooking tent. I observe the people inside the tents as they turn to me upon our perusal.
When the tent they prepared for me is ready, Matya comes and shows me the location. The modest tent is a dark cream white with red zig-zagged patterns. I like the small space inside the tent, it gives me some privacy and they have stocked the tent with essential items like a comb, candles, a hay pillow, and hay bedding. I realize I need to clean my body, after spending the night outside.
"Matya, may I have some things to wash myself in my tent? I just need some water and something to dry my body." I request.
Matya arranges for a bucket of water with a piece of cloth and a bar of soap. She tells me I can pull the sticky latches over so the tent will be secure, and she can have her daughter guard my tent. I thank her, and I slip out of my clothes after I make sure the tent is not see-through.
I squeeze the cloth while I clean myself. The water reminds me that they don't have access to hot water and I frown, the tip of my finger heating the water in my bucket. The bucket sloshes as I dip the cloth in again, and the soap slips out of my grip onto the tent floor.
I bend down to grab the soap, and as I do so a breeze passes over my body, stealing through the closed entrance of the tent. The breeze caresses my skin, and my head aches once more with a blurry memory. The memory makes my head hurt, and I clutch my head. The pain escalates, making me groan until the images become clearer. A delicious heat slips between my thighs and I tilt my head back, standing there naked.
It's the image of Abe towering over me, holding and stroking my hips as he drives into me. Writhing underneath him, I cry out his name and he murmurs, "my queen." Faster and faster, we move together until we reach the highest point of ecstasy.
These thoughts feel like more than just fanciful desires. They feel so real that even in the moment now, I find myself getting aroused. My hand wanders between the valley of my breasts, going south. But the sudden sound of pitter- pattering pulls me from fantasizing over Abe fucking me senseless.
I must be mad, to think about such things even now, when Abe may be in danger. But it comforts me that he never shies away from intimacy, and in fact, he is more passionate than me according to my damaged memory.
As I finish freshening up, rain starts to pour even more powerfully outside and a crack of thunder resounds overhead. The sound of rain calms me, the rhythm of the rain beats along with my heart. I look around for an umbrella or something to cover my head in the rain but there is nothing. I suppose the rain can be my second shower.
I decide to do some rounds around the tribal territory and ask if people need help with heating water and cooking their food. I take the bucket with the dirty water outside to empty the contents.
My dark hair hangs against my shoulders in its wet partitions, as I pour the bucket into a patch of wildflowers near the edge of the encampment. Eyes follow me wherever I go, but I don't heed their attention. It's surprising to me that the children are still outside, playing in the rain. I wonder what their schedules are and when they will go to sleep. There are a few young kids playing some form of kickball, and some even younger running around playing tag.
I walk to the children and ask if I can join, and they happily agree. They are more clothed than their parents, wearing something more like breathable material in the form of shirts and shorts. The two girls I play tag with are named Toya and Tara. They are so adorable, with shining youth in their eyes and infinite energy. Toya and Tara seem to be twins, and they say everything with exclamations.
"What is your name!"
"I'm Penelope!" I respond with a crinkly-eyed smile.
"You're pretty, Penelope!" Tara says, and she beams at me with a blindingly bright smile. Toya tugs at my hair and she says, "When I grow up will my hair be like yours?"
I laugh and I say, "Maybe! But I like your hair the way it is now!"
"No, it's too short!"
Toya twirls a finger around her short hair, and I pat her head.
At that moment Nimm Or' appears with a pregnant woman, they amble over to us with wide smiles.
"Daddy!" Tara and Toya run up to Nimm Or' and he hugs them as the rain pours around us.
"Girls, get inside before you catch a cold." He instructs his daughters.
"Penelope, this is my soulbound Serah." Nimm Or' says to me once the daughters are inside their tent.
"Oh, it's a pleasure to meet you. Fire wielder, I heard you threatened my people with your fire." Serah's eyes twinkle as she speaks casually about what happened earlier today.
"Oh, I'm sorry that is your first impression of me," I say.
"That's alright. I'd have done the same," Serah says, tugging on Nimm Or's left ear in jest.
"Anyways, how can I help your people tonight? Do you require some heating of your water and such?" I ask them.
Nimm Or' nods and he says, "That would be much appreciated. Please follow me."
He kisses his soulbound, curling an arm around her waist, and my heart throbs. I miss Abe's touch and presence. Serah waves at me before she disappears into their tent. I spend the rest of the evening helping the fire tribe with lighting their torches and heating water, helping wherever I can.
As night blends into early morning, the rain finally stops and I go into my tent. I sit with my gaze fixated on the front of the tent. I try my best to stay awake throughout the night, but I doze off a couple of times. The only thing that keeps me motivated to stay awake is Abe. I am stronger than I may think I am without Abe but he makes me stronger too.
Tomorrow night, I will be able to leave this place, even though the kindness of the people is snaking into my heart.