SISNA ⎸sis - nah ⎸one who blooms in chaos ; breaker of norms ; lover of moonlight ; quiet rebellion
The sun gave the stone streets of our little village a soft light in colors of salmon pink. Not that I knew for sure what salmon looked like, but I imagined it to be in soft pink colors with little white strings that intervened through its meaty and juicy colors.
There was always something special just after Winter would end. Not only would the houses get warm again - since rarely anyone had enough wood to keep themselves warm in our mud-made houses, but the flowers around the houses, and leaves from many poison ivy would blossom. It felt like the once lifeless streets would get alive again.
People were mostly wearing fewer layers of clothes - except for elderly who always wore an extra layer of dusty fur or worn out leather.
Children who we had less and less each year, were playing with balls made of old rags on the streets, people were chatting by houses, some were even selling their goods on tables they made, and every once in a while, you could see lovely young couples watching each other from across the streets - waiting for the first Full Moon of the fourth month to ask their respective elders to pursue in their young love.
But I was one step ahead.
I dreaded what would actually come once this century's Blood Moon comes. And it should come tomorrow if I heard our Elders right.
My mother was lucky enough to survive three Blood Moons; I wasn't sure if I'd survive even one in my adult years.
''What's on your mind, m'Lady?'' Orion asked me, skipping to catch up to me as I walked straight to our village's temple.
I rolled my eyes, annoyance ripping through my bloodstream. ''I'm no Lady, you dumbass.'' I rumbled in my chin, just loud enough for him to hear. ''And I'll never be one.''
His cheerfulness was sometimes just as annoying as my little sister's singing - even though she sang beautifully… So beautifully, even animals seemed to dance to her songs.
''Oh, come on, you can't be so grumpy about tomorrow. You don't know for certain what will happen in the future.''
I skipped over the steps of the temple. Even though the temple was small, it served its purpose.
So we could leave the gifts of our most precious creations to whichever God we chose. I'd usually give my gifts to Za - to wish upon a longer life for my sister and me, but today I was leaving gifts to Sae. I hoped she'd have mercy upon protecting at least my sister from the evil of the immortals,
''Both you and I know what will happen tomorrow.''
He placed an iron rose at the altar as he kneeled down on the stone floor, then pressed his forehead against the floor and silently whispered his prayer to one of ten Gods. One prayer, one God, that seemed to be a common silent rule. It'd be disrespectful to give one gift to multiple Gods - if not selfish and needy, so Gods might punish such a behavior.
Today I wished for that rule not to exist, since I wanted to pray to every God that existed.
I placed a soft white small blanket made from rabbits I slaughtered and cleaned at the base of the altar, kneeled down on the floor and pressed my forehead against the floor a little too firmly as I shut my eyes closed.
Oh, gracious, beloved and kind our Sae, I pray to You, to bless my sister's and mine soul so no evil shadows upon us. Heal our spirit from the darkness, calm our souls with light, and feel our grateful hearts rise with Your glory.
I straightened my back, still kneeling and keeping my eyes closed, but having my open palms pressed against the cold floor.
The gift is Yours.
I opened my eyes and stood up, not looking directly at the altar since that could be interpreted as if I was praying to more Gods.
We always walked out of the temple by never turning our backs to the altar.
When we were outside, Orion threw his arm over my shoulder and gave me one of his ''oh-I-am-so-charming'' smiles. ''You just heard from some crazy old woman talking nonsense. We don't know for sure what will happen tomorrow.''
That was the truth that frightened me the most. ''Oh, yes, all we know is that the Darkenings will arrive in our village, and we won't remember a fucking thing morning after. And there will be at least one, two, or three missing women or men.'' My mother was one of those missing.
I still refused to think they harmed her. Because if they did… I wanted to harm them just the same.
''And they leave a bunch of gold to the family of the missing.'' Orion added.
I glared at him as we kept walking to the nearby meadow. That's where we always went as our starting point. ''Fuck their gold. I want my mother back.'' I growled.
His dark brown eyes seemed to be saddened, and the corners of his lips to fall just a bit. ''You know it's impossible to fuck a coin? Not that I tried.''
''Fuck you, Orion.'' I shrugged his arm from my shoulders and quickened the pace of my steps.
He'd never apologize for his unintentional harm - although it stung me right beneath my ribs and twisted like a hot knife's blade. ''Oh, come'n, Luneth! I'd fuck you if you finally pulled down those pants!'' He sang after me, lazily skipping one step after another.
A couple of passengers turned towards us. Elders just sighed about the inappropriateness from Orion ; the younger women glared daggers at me for even being the most wanted bachelor of the village; and men, younger and older, just continued with their conversations and daily business.
My middle finger rose in the air as I waved it.