make up for lost time

While she couldn’t see him she could hear him and his movements clearly. She guessed he nodded at her question before answering vocally. She couldn’t help the corners of her lips pull back in a soft smile. Her sightless gaze stayed on him as he moved closer, she didn’t miss the limp in his gait either. The one leg, it was used differently than the others and the sound it made compared to the other paws made her believe he was lame in that leg. Not uncommon for the slaves that posed a threat.

Rhythm thanked her lucky stars that such an act had never befallen Rhyme. He had been so young when they were caught though, and with her life on the line just a simple threat to her was enough to make him do anything. She hated what they did to her innocent boy, but hoped he did and would find happiness in freedom. Like she hoped for Epitaph, if he was her son or not.

”What are you doing here?” The young man was probably not the usual guard here in Abaven, and likely was asking because he was curious. Not because he had some kind of authority, he seemed much to sweet for that. She couldn’t see how he was with her granddaughters now, but he’d seemed enamoured in the days she was here after their birth.

”Gathering a few herbs. Too many years ago now I lived here in Abaven, I’d like to see if my old herb patches are still around.” She told him, wondering what path he took now that he was allowed to choose. He smelled a bit of dried herbs, but that also might have been Shaye’s little collection on his pelt. ”Do you practice any healing, Epitaph?” She asked him curiously, genuinely interested in the places his life was going.

She was getting rather old now, and the promise of future adventure or pursuits were not as exciting as they once were. Likely she only had a few more years in this life if she was lucky, before the last stage of life took her. She was better off being allowed to look into the bright future of others than the dark one of her own.