Day 1
It has been one day, since my father has left this world. I'm not sure how long we have been traveling, walking with tired feet. Perhaps it's been nearly a month. Seven days since my mother silenced her cough. And now my father has grown quiet. My brother has taken up the task of filling their silence with his own deadly cough. I fear I will lose him before we ever reach our destination.
How many more days until he falls silent?
An officer walks up beside Takoda and me, riding a horse that matches his pale skin. He is young, around the same age as me. When his gentle blue eyes meet my wrathful brown ones, I let out a curse in my sacred tongue.
The flicker of hurt and withdrawal that passes over his features is surprising. The officers typically scowl at me and walk off. Instead, the soldier with gentle blue eyes smirks and says, "I prefer to think of myself as rather charming, thank you."