Muninn was nestled up among some twigs nearby, he did not get up as she walked past him to the stream, but he watched.
She let the frigid water rush over her and wash the past month away. The smells of phlegm and blood, the sounds of hacking coughs and prayers to Hel for release and the sight of her mother's life slowly drifting away.
By the time she got out of the water the sky was showing the faintest bit of light. She walked back to the hut, throwing her clothes on the smoldering fire and continuing inside.
The blood her mother had coughed up was still visible. Dried onto the linens, sunk into the straw beneath. Briggita made a point of not paying it any mind as she put on a fresh set of clothing and began gathering together all of the food that was left in the hut and putting it in her father's old hunting bag.
Muninn had entered the hut and was watching her intently. Patiently waiting.
She took the two things of any worth to her, her mother's Jasper necklace and her father's Mjollnir amulet and hung them both around her neck. She took what little coin they had and hid it in her boot, along with her hunting knife. She then threw a couple of animal hides over one shoulder, the bag of food was slung across her body and she decided it was time.
Muninn bounced off of his perch and flew outside, he knew well enough to give her a moment alone.
She took one more look around, remembering the stories she was told in front of the fireplace, the lessons she had learned at the table, the animals she had gutted and cleaned in the corner and the love that had filled this homestead.
Sighing, she stepped outside, into the misty newness of the morning. Muninn was placed on a low branch, waiting.
"Well, which way?" She asked, considering her options, turning herself around, taking stock.
"Caw!" Muninn cried as he lifted off his branch and flew off, away from the rising sun.
"West, then." She said as she left her childhood home behind her.
No comments:
Post a Comment