We Thrive

Short blurb about a rogue who learns the value of community the hard way.

“We win simply because we have something to fight for. We won’t go down at the hands of those who fight for the thrill. It’s just not who we are.”

She spoke softly in the dim candlelight that did just enough to illuminate the large cavern behind the waterfall. Despite her light tones, the rogue she was bandaging could hear her clearly. He winced as she pulled a little too tightly on the cloth that she was winding up his arm. She must have noticed, because she spoke again.

“Bear with me; this is the best way to stop the bleeding, and in turn the best way to prevent infection from creeping in. Here in the cold season, infection is one of the worst things to happen.”

The rogue knew that all too well. He looked up at the tribe woman who was tying the final knot on the bandages and sat back, wiping sweat from her brow. A question burned in the back of his mind, and before he could think, he blurted out,

“What do you fight for then?”

The question didn’t seem to faze her, and her response was almost instantaneous, almost as if she had spent some time thinking about it.

“I am nothing more than a medic. I don’t fight, nor do I have any desire to. It’s just not for me, and when I realized that, I dedicated my life to helping those who do.”

She met his gaze, her clear blue eyes deeper than the pool where the waterfall behind her fell to. There was no hesitation, no wavering in her life decision to heal rather than hurt. In that respect, the rogue realized he held her to a high regard, and a new respect for the people who support others began to blossom in his mind. It didn’t work like that out with those like himself who lived life solo, and without the company of anyone else. But he could see how life could be different here, with this Tribe hidden far behind the never-ending roar of the waterfall.

“Are you thirsty?”

He nodded, torn from his thoughts. He watched her as she stood up, the doe-skin of her skirt falling past her knees, and observed as she made her way deeper into the cave towards a large, central pool that was surrounded by several smaller ones that were barely more than dips in the ground. On the way, she stopped around and visited with her fellow Tribe mates. More than a few heads were turning to face him, and the rogue knew that they were well warranted.

Just half a day ago he had snuck into the Tribes cavern with a few other rogues in hope that they could drive out the Tribe and claim the cavern for themselves. The plan backfired when they were met with heavier resistance than anticipated, as well as an incredibly powerful Tribe leader who made quick work of his small and untrustworthy group of rag-tag wild crooks. When they realized that they stood no chance, they scattered like leaves in the breeze, abandoning him as he fell by the Tribe leader's hand.

Those pathetic low lives!

He thought that he would die then. He watched as the Tribe leader raised her spear, and he thought the last thing he would see was the glint of its silver edge. He closed his eyes and waited for the finishing blow, but it never came.

When he dared peek through his eyelashes, the first thing he saw was unfiltered rage reflecting in her yellow eyes. For the first time in his life as a rogue, he felt true fear; a fear that froze his blood and emptied his mind. He couldn’t look away.

That was when someone else came forward, a beautiful young lady with hair the color of moonlight. She gently tugged on the fur covering her leaders’ shoulders and to his surprise, the much taller, stockier woman let herself be pulled away. The smaller girl stood on her toes and spoke very faintly into the other woman’s ear until she finally backed down.

Shooting the remaining rogue a glare, the Tribe leader made her way to the entrance of the cave, just outside the waterfall's spray and plopped down, her hand never leaving the grip of her weapon. She watched through slitted eyes as the girl with the long hair sat down beside him and began treating his wounds. The rogue later learned that she was the medic of this Tribe, and the one with the spear was the Tribe leader.

He knew he owed the medic his life, and he had no doubt in his mind that he would be dead if not for her interference. He looked over just in time to see their leader rise from where she stationed herself, and he swallowed in apprehension as she walked toward him. When their eyes met, he felt the original jolt of fear run through his body. He broke the stare first and instead focused on the weapon she was still holding.

“Don’t worry,”

She said as she followed his gaze.

“Bright Song of Storm saved your life; I’m smart enough not to contradict her.”

Her voice was gruff, and she radiated authority. To the rogue’s surprise, the Tribe leader knelt down beside him and made herself comfortable. The snow-white furs draped across her body slid down just a bit, and he inhaled sharply when they brushed his fingertips. They were so incredibly soft.

If she noticed, she made no indication of it. Instead, he glanced back up to her face and was surprised to see her features soften as she gazed across her cavern. When he followed her line of sight, he saw that she was watching the medic, Bright Song of Storm.

She was stooped down beside the large pool from before, swiping a stone bowl across its surface. She smiled as two small children ran towards her, stumbling over each other in a race to get to her first. Delight lit up her face when they reached her, and she tilted her head towards them as they began to talk. Again, they seemed to stumble, this time with their words, and her laughter rang out clear across the cave.

“I heard what you both were talking about earlier.”

The rogue whipped his head back to face the woman slouched beside him.

What did we talk about?

As if she read his mind, she spoke again.

“About the motivation behind our strength.”

All the hostility from before seemed to dissipate, and she continued on with her thoughts.

“I am Pale Bone through Heart, and I am this Tribes leader. It is my job to be strong and keep my people safe, but it is also my job to guide them in the right direction, and to keep them true to themselves. Bright Song was right when she said everyone in here has a reason to fight; and that reason is theirs and theirs alone. I cannot change that; nor do I want to. I respect each and every soul in this shelter.”

The rogue didn’t respond. Something was keeping him from speaking; he could sense that she wasn’t finished. He waited, and watched her as she studied Bright Song with tender eyes. It seemed that there was more behind her gentle gaze than merely companionship. Just when he thought he could place it, her eyes hardened, and she looked away. Again she spoke, but this time her tone was harsher than it had been.

“It is true; we all have something that drives us to fight; but what you don’t understand is that despite what she said, she does fight. She fights daily, possibly more than our warriors do. But her fight is different; and that is what makes it scary.”

Still not understanding what she meant, the rogue cocked his head to the side and watched as Pale Bone struggled with the words. He didn’t think even her Tribe mates saw this side of their leader; the uncertainty and underlying fear that kept her from speaking.

“Bright Song fights what we cannot see; she battles with sickness and strife, and she is constantly engaged with the struggle of her Tribemates' lives. She is in an eternal war with the universe itself, fighting to keep the people she loves alive and safe, but that isn’t all.”

Understanding exploded within the mind of the rogue as he witnessed the millisecond of pain that blossomed and evaporated just as quickly within the eyes of the seasoned warrior sitting above him.

“The heaviest part is that she is fighting alone. When you charged in here with the intent of running us out,”

The rogue lowered his head in shame.

“You were fighting with an ununited people. There was no one in that group that you could trust, and that is where you went wrong. There was no one who had your back, no one to fight alongside, and no one that cared about your safety.”

She took a deep breath and surveyed her people, her eyes fondly glancing at each and every person in the cave. The rogue looked out too, and saw something more. He watched mothers monitor their children- not just their kids, but even those of their tribemates. He saw a few younger warriors approach their elders with food and drink, giving them the best from the stores and settling down next to them to keep them company. He observed older, more experienced warriors patiently teaching those younger than them hunting and fighting techniques.

“Do you see now, Rogue?”

She glanced at him, though he barely noticed. He was too focused on his surroundings, and Pale Bone offered a small smile as she watched his whole perspective on life change right before her eyes. Though she succeeded in what she had planned, she also thought about the other half of what she was trying to explain. She straightened her back and cleared her throat. The rogue glanced up, a deep longing in his eyes. Pale Bone nearly purred at the sight, but she continued.

“Yes; everyone who resides within these stone walls depends on one another, and everyone here is part of a complex system that ensures survival. Though now, we do more than just survive.”

She couldn’t help the pride that creeped into her voice as she spoke.

“We thrive.”

Author's Note

This is one of the first short blurbs I wrote digitally many years ago when I got my first computer Somehow through all of this time, it remains one of my favorites.