Letirra Vol. 2

Camp was made when travel was no longer possible. The sun had set long ago and my little brown burlap prison was bleak and dark. I could no longer see my hand in front of me, nor did I dare use any sort of magic to solve that problem. By now I’d become accustomed to the rocking quick step of the thin one, but as he and Karaco set up camp, the different movements quickly nauseated me. Just in time, my new captor decided it was time to sit, much to my relief. He and Karaco continued speaking in their own language, which, much to my dismay, I haddn’t managed to figure out at all. I was let out of my cloth cage soon after they finished eating. 1

I assumed we were camped in another clearing in the forest, perhaps just larger than the last. Behind me was the familiar treeline, but in front all that was visible in the fire light, was tall grass. I was standing on that same bony hand, his horribly furry face coming closer than comfort would allow. Staring defiantly back, I let my eyes cloud over so I wouldn’t have to look at him. He cocked his head with that same hungry look I saw before, casually mentioning something to his companion, who replied positively, nodding. Karaco was solemn, almost devoid of any trace of emotion I saw yesterday, he was sitting against a large oak trunk, barely visible in the circle of light our fire provided. This one, who I had come to know as Druk, was sitting close to the fire, a bit too close in my opinion. His thin finger prodded me to turn around, which I didn’t do. If he wanted something he’d have to try harder than that, which he immediately did. I was pushed down onto the palm of his hand, landing abruptly on my bottom. What did he want from me? Why was I here? There were so many questions I wanted to ask. I cringed as Druk licked his lips, was I food? I didn’t think so, he’d already eaten. Was I to make him food? Still confused, he put me back into the bag, and I was set down on the ground, warmed by the fire. 2

Time passed much in this fashion. Traveling all day until past dusk. I only saw camp at night, and I assumed we were camping in larger clearings because the treeline wasn’t there anymore. I was fed in the morning - a bit of bread and a berry - then placed back into my bag. Druk was always the one who carried me. I no longer was afforded contact with Karaco, who seemed to retreat inside himself at night anyway. Druk would always take me out and look at me, whispering things to me with his horrid breath and then I would be put back, like some plaything summoned and excused on a whim. 3

Halfway through the fifth day, I could no longer hear the crunching of boots upon the nature underfoot, instead came a loud, husky sound almost like a duck call. Except this duck must have a cold. And then my ears picked up a soft sort of buzzing which I knew to be gossip, either that or very quiet bees. Perplexed as always, I found myself curious to figure out where we were and what those noises belonged to. Over the past 5 days I had succumbed to routine and no longer expected anything of interest to happen. But now, oh but now there was something out there. Something new and unknown, which I desperately wanted to know. Not wanting to bring more attention from Druk, I stayed put. The little holes in the burlap allowed a glow of sunlight in, but nothing more. Impatiently I waited until I’d be brought out for the night’s inspection, hardly knowing how soon it would be. 4

I was untied from the waistband oddly enough, while it was still light. The bag was passed from one bony hand to another more substantial one. Up and down I went, seemingly being weighed. Light spilled in from the top and I was carefully set down on a wooden table. 3 sets of eyes peered down. Two I recognized, the blue and the brown, but the third pair, a creamy chocolate brown was new to me. This being was shorter still than Druk, his face fur carefully trimmed. It was he who held my bag, and he who would shoo out my captors.  As the new, clean one led them out, I could take a good look around. It was still day as the cracks between the window shutters announced to me, but the room was fairly dark. Windows drawn closed and even a lamp was lit. And everything carried a secret sort of feeling to it.5

The clean one came back, smiling gently at me. Mumbling things in his language I didn’t understand. He poked me, carefully, measured my height and wingspan all while mumbling to himself. All of these he scribbled onto a piece of parchment, much like my people do. When he stepped back, cautiously and cleared he said my name, which I instantly perked to. I hadn’t had any contact with anyone in almost half a fortnight. At my reaction the clean one smiled again, I liked this one and decided to smile back. Pointing to the parchment I mimed a question as to what it contained. He obligingly unrolled the page and held it up for me. I couldn’t read whatever language they spoke, but the sketch of me was cute. Tilting my head, I found it hard to believe I was that curvy and that my nose was so ...odd. I had witnessed my reflection before in the lake when it was calm, but never a portrait of myself. I smiled up at the clean one again, it really was a pretty drawing. Rolling it back up, he picked up my little bag offering it to me. I couldn’t have been more disappointed. Trying to be brave I walked back into the bag, willing myself not to cry. Didn't he want me?6

Back on Druk’s waist leather we tromped through more of the noisy terrain, the clink of Karaco’s shiny stick over the buzz and roar of the land was oddly comforting. It was still day and after the incident with the clean one, I was rather depressed. He had examined me like you would when buying fruit, yet he found me wanting. What was wrong with me that the clean one wouldn’t take me? And I still wasn’t aware of where we were. 7

Dusk came sooner than expected. My time was thrown off by the unexpected visit and disappointment. Slowly the buzz of talk faded away, until the boots on my captor’s feet could be heard echoing through the night. A door creaked and the faint light of a lamp pushed its way through the thick burlap, the room sounded empty and still. I jumped at the loud boom of a voice calling Druk over, who was now suddenly tense and his gait had a respectful tone to it. Who was I to meet now? Would he want me? I was untied and set on a table, incomprehensible words were exchanged above me. The loud thick voice seemed condescending to the husky voice I came to know as Druk’s, perhaps Druk owed this one something? Was I simply captured to pay a debt or another? And why was Karaco with us? He didn’t seem to like Druk at all, in fact, he looked rather tortured every night at camp. Footsteps walked away and the door creaked again. 8

My bag was opened slowly, no eye looked in but a presence almost forced me out. I poked my head out of the burlap, greeted by a gentle smile of an older one. The fur on his head had faded to a soft white and his face fur was trimmed so it just showed under his nose. His voice was no longer commanding and loud, but now he spoke calmly, soothingly to me, as if he knew I wouldn’t understand. Coaxing me out of my prison he maintained that smile, looking me up and down with what seemed an experienced eye, like that of the clean one. His eyes, under furry white eyebrows were a gray-blue, and he looked at me, thankfully without the hungry look Druk would give me. Karaco still stood behind me and was talking to old one, I smiled at mention of my name, it being the only thing I understood. 9

I was escorted then, without my bag, through another door and into a room with several wooden boxes. Each little box was painted a different colour and had a miniature door on its front. A few had windows, complete with shutters and curtains. Was this where I was to live? Karaco and the old one gestured to an unpainted box that I guessed was to be mine. Uncertain whether it was ok to go in or not, I stood on its little step, looking back at them questioningly. I only got more insistence. And so I stepped into my little abode, remarkably just the right size and the door clicked shut behind me. My eyes went wide, surely they didn’t lock me in? The old one looked so kindly and Karaco had always been, he’d always… I collapsed in a shudder of sobs. It was all a game. I was a prisoner, a pet, and what I loathed most, I was still a plaything.10