~ Leaving ~

Bards will sing you songs telling you how you can never leave home, la la la.

Bullshit.

They had us get in the cage before we pulled out of town, and put down the tarps to cover it. The door was not locked, there was no real concern that we would run.

I just sat with my back to the wooden part of the carriage and closed my eyes. I listened as we rolled out of town, it was quiet. No people were about. After all we were leaving in the dead of night. A dog barking in the distance. Was it the one that was down the street at the blacksmiths?

My brother was peeking out between the tarp and cab. Trying for one last look at home, I guess. What he saw, I don't know. Could not have been much with it this dark out.

As if to hide our passage clouds had rolled in to blot out the moon.

Finally I reached over and stroked his tailtip, and he looked up. Our eyes met, and he gave me an apologetic look, and came to me. We held each other then, backs to the wood, arms around the other, our cheeks pressed together. Nothing was said. Nothing needed to be.

There is a bridge just outside of town, it crosses a small stream. I knew we were there when I heard the clopping of the horses hooves on it, and the creaks of wood under the wheels. I started to giggle, which got me a strange look from my brother.

I remember saying to him, "this moment would be complete if I but had a match to toss out the back."

It was a really, really stupid joke.

We laughed until we cried and cried until we could hardly breath.

End of Chapter 1