Thread: The Only Rules That Matter:  Legacy (Corsair and Madam Mim)

The desert could be comforting. Away from the flow and bustle of every day life thinking was easier and it was...peaceful. The carrion birds indicated that not all was peaceful in the desert, however, and the lone figure traversing the landscape had been following them for nearly half an hour and paused when it came to the sight of the carnage. Dear God... what happened here? The figure moved more quickly but knew it was hopeless. Nobody could have survived such carnage as could be seen from yards away. Not even a horse had been spared. Then a miracle happened in the form of a threat. The lone survivor was in bad shape and made weak threats, brandishing a revolver even more weakly. There was no answer to the threat, only a mildly incredulous stare, before they passed out. A sigh and the figure dismounted before coming over to check and see if the survivor had died. Another surprised look at the appearance of a pulse, faint but there. Sam wasn't aware of being carefully picked up, or of being put on a horse. Occasionally she would come to for a few moments to feel strong arms around her, helping her limp body balance in the saddle before she slipped away again. When she came to again she was somewhere dark and cool and quiet and a hand was pressing a damp cloth to her forehead. When she finally regained consciousness she was still in the dark, cool place but there was the quiet murmur of voices which seemed to be fading in and out of intelligible language. It's been...I don't know if she'll... Well we have to try. Tsidiiligai...all I can. Well I mean look. She's stirring now. Oh! One hand rested firmly on her shoulder, being careful not to touch the wounds which had been cleaned and stitched up, to prevent her from rising if she tried. You almost left us, little one. She's not a child, Ma. This second voice, somewhere away from Sam's immediate person, had sounded testy. Well she's had quite a time of it, the voice hovering over Sam argued. A kind-looking face swam into view as Sam's focus slowly sharpened. You were nearly dead when she found you lucky the Great Spirit called her out to the desert to find you. Oooor I went out to the desert myself and followed some buzzards. Respect your elders and hush. The second voice snorted but said nothing more. She just hasn't accepted her place in the great circle yet, that's all. My name is Liluye I'm the medicine woman for our village and you're in my home. My daughter Tsidiiligai found you miles and miles from here-- White people call me Jackie. Or Birdie. A sigh. Ma, you're literally the only person who calls me Birdie. Well it's just so cute! And I thought I told you to hush. Another sigh from Jackie's corner of the house. Anyway, the Great Spirit lead her out into the desert to find you and she brought you back here. It's a miracle you survived your wounds, let alone traveling so far without treatment. Jackie's face loomed above her in the gloom now. It was nearly impossible to see her freckles, but even in the dark it was hard to miss that unlike her people she had green eyes. What happened? Who shot you? Tsidiiligai I thought I told you to hush! Now isn't the time for questions. Say something else. This last wasn't a request but a dare. Jackie set her jaw and disappeared from Sam's view. You just say what happened in your own time. Liluye smiled gently as she returned her voice to a gentler tone. Just promise me you won't try to sit up. It's been a few days but you've still got a lot of healing left to do.