Like a Lion - 3

I don't think I'll ever forget the first thing Anaka said to us.  Well, not "us", really, 'cause he was talking to one of the elders, not me, but I was listening anyway.  He said, in this cold tone that seemed to almost sting my ears, "Do you want stablility?"  I'm not really sure what he meant, but the elder he was talking to shook her head up and down so the tears were almost flyin' out and embraced him.  Maybe she thought he was a savior, too.  I couldn't really tell, 'cause by that time more of the uppers were awake and it wasn't safe to be eavesdroppin' any longer.1

When I went back to talk to Novu about it, he didn't really think much of it.  I don't blame him, to be honest.  We pick up a few strays every now and then, and Anaka might notta been any diff'rent than the rest of the freeloaders.  But I thought he was and I guess so did the uppers and elders 'cause he stayed with us.2

The day he came, we headed straight east.  Well, see, we were going south, but he said we had to always move straight towards the rising sun and we would find a place he kept callin' Redemption, or somethin' like that.  In any case, seems like most everyone put their trust in him and we kept on goin' his way.  I'd guess it's mostly 'cause they don't have anywhere else to put their trust.  Not like we'd have that much to lose if we ended up nowhere, since that's where we were headed anyway.3

So with sand in our eyes and dreams in our heads we had up and gone with the wind again.  Not so much a big deal, save the fact that if you're not careful the earth is gonna swallow you up before the desolation does.  Jus' make sure not to be first in line and you prolly won't get sucked up by the sands.  Which ended up bein' a good thing for us younglings since we always trailed along the back end with the elders.4

Lookin' into the early light of the sun, I think I found myself hopeful with Anaka.  Like maybe he'd lead us to somewhere great.  Somewhere we were meant to be.5