Chapter 6 - The Picture

The day before winter started the trees turned shades of red and yellow.

Mother piled leaves up just so I could jump into them.

I was getting bigger by the day, no longer could I ride in Grandmother's hair. My own hair hung down to my ankles and when I looked into the surface of the water I saw faint stripes on my cheeks.

I really was becoming Licnine.

I flung my body into the pile and felt the air rush around me. I let out a loud laugh before hitting the pile and sending a cloud of leaves skyward.

"Be careful!" Mother called, I heard Grandmother laugh though.

"She's her mother's daughter," Grandmother said, "I made you piles just like this Little Ti."

After a few more jumps my limbs felt heavy with exhaustion, I stumbled inside the tent and planted face-first into Grandmother's bed. I flung my arms out to the sides and lay there panting.

I began to brush my fingers along the floor like I'd done a million times before. But in this little corner where my Grandmother slept something was different.

I pried the wood without thinking. Inside a tiny box, I found papers. I hastily started to put things back because I was quite sure Grandmother wanted this to be a secret when I stopped.

I was looking at a photo.

Gray and grainy with age but no doubt about it, in it were a man and woman and a tiny girl. I peered at their faces trying to make sense of it.

"Little-" I heard Grandmother draw in a breath.

"Who is this?" I asked.

Grandmother half-collapsed to the floor upon seeing the old photo.

"Put that away Lit before-" She didn't get to finish as Mother walked in.

"Mother, what is that?" She made a scrunched-up face.

Grandmother sighed deeply. 

"I wasn't ready for this Little Ki, but Little Lit is growing more beautiful by the day and I fear for her," Grandmother took the photo from my hands. "This my daughter is a photo of your father."

"My father?" She said peering so close to the photo her nose nearly touched it, "But they don't stay?"

"Your father was a rare one," Grandmother answered, "When we met he was a leader in this tribe's army. I was a young woman, little more than a girl and he caught me stealing from the supplies."

She sighed as she painted a picture with words and I felt like I was there myself.

Grandmother wasn't old but a young woman with bright blonde hair and a pretty pink dress that had ripped at the hem. She grasped a bundle in her hands and stared at the man in front of her.

"You're not supposed to be in here," He said in a low voice.

She nodded quickly, "Please, I need this for my sister."

He paused, and something in his eyes seemed to change, "Let me escort you home. It's dangerous to be outside."

He didn't mention the bundle she held.

They walked side by side every so often she stumbled and he waited for her to catch up. When they came in sight of a small structure he stopped.

"What is your name?"

"Qui," She answered in a tiny voice, she turned to leave but stopped, "Thank you."

The scene shifted as Grandmother's voice got lighter.

The young Qui gathered berries into a basket when the man came back.

"Can I help you carry that?" He asked. 

She nodded, "You never told me your name," Her smile was coy.

"Hin-Ar," He answered, "There is something I must tell you."

She nodded absently.

"They are making mating pairings, I've requested you," He said quietly.

She froze, "M-me?"

"Yes," He smiled slightly, "You."

I cut in now, "So you became mates?"

Qui-An nodded, "We had our first five boys and they took them."

I could picture this too.

"I don't want to let them go," Young Qui protested.

"I'm sorry, my flower, but I can't do anything," Hin replied, he held her in his arms.

"What will happen to them?" Qui cried.

"I will watch over their training, I promise you," He said, "They'll be okay."

Grandmother shuddered, "It was dark times for awhile after that, and then they told me I was going to be mated again. I wasn't sure I could do it."

Hin and young Qui stood together, Qui cried as they watched the first of the two eggs hatch. A little boy wiggled free and Qui let out a shrieking sob. Then the second egg quavered and out came another boy and a tiny girl.

Hin and Qui both stared. Then Qui scooped the girl up into her arms and rocked her back and forth as she sobbed.

"Not this one," Hin said, "She is a girl."

"We have to take them all, we need hands in the house," Another voice said.

"I will not have you take my child," Hin roared, "I would like a formal marriage between me and Qui-An, and a formal request to raise this girl to be my daughter."

Ti-An had gone white in the face, "He saved me?"

Grandmother nodded and a tiny smile returned to her face, "He wasn't like the others, he was kind."

I pictured Qui and Hin on their wedding day, kissing and laughing as the Others looked on. 

I pictured Hin posing for this photo with his beautiful wife and daughter. All thinking they had a long happy life ahead together.

"He died," Grandmother broke the silence, "After we were married he caught the dreaded pox and died alone."

Tears trickled down both Mother and Grandmother's faces.

"When he died his last wish was for his daughter and wife to be free of having to be drafted into work. I was never to mate again and Ti was to stay with me and be my carer. They granted all this on account of his valor and I became a widow."

"I'm so sorry Mother I didn't know any of this," Ti wrapped her arms around Grandmother's neck.

"He would have been a good husband and a good father," Grandmother said sadly, "But some things aren't meant to be."

I thought of her and Hin. I'd felt love like that before, for my own daughter and my partner back in my old life.

"He'd be proud of you," I said to both of them.

"I know he would," Grandmother said, "I've raised a lovely family."

She tucked the photo back out of sight and left us in silence.