He had sunk Healing into everyone he could reach, until he had drained himself dry and staggered away to retch dust and phlegm out of his throat and lungs against the side of a building. He had pushed himself as far as he could and then he had somehow, impossibly, made it home again. To Rory, and tears that fell as he told the tale of the day to the grim-faced farmer whose eyes grew more hollow with every passing season.
He had returned the next day to shift debris, beginning the slow process of removing the mud, the bodies, the trampled food and scattered belongings. Items that could be salvaged were collected into rough boxes, for even in the midst of tragedy there was the Grounder knowledge that nothing could be wasted. Resources were scarce and precious, and even splintered wood too weak to support anything ever again could still be used for LongNight firewood in a few seasons’ time.
It was twilight and the stars were winking into being in the darkening sky above. Jigano glared bitterly at them for a time before waving off the last of those who were shuffling despairingly home, far too many to homes with missing family members. Dead, or tucked into the Infirmary or other makeshift medic homes tonight. He waited until things had grown quiet before he unhooked Ludo’s lantern from his belt and began to sing the strange, wordless song the god had given him as he walked the fields, calling to the souls that had been lost and unable to find their way to Ludo and Mort yet.
Maea
He had returned the next day to shift debris, beginning the slow process of removing the mud, the bodies, the trampled food and scattered belongings. Items that could be salvaged were collected into rough boxes, for even in the midst of tragedy there was the Grounder knowledge that nothing could be wasted. Resources were scarce and precious, and even splintered wood too weak to support anything ever again could still be used for LongNight firewood in a few seasons’ time.
It was twilight and the stars were winking into being in the darkening sky above. Jigano glared bitterly at them for a time before waving off the last of those who were shuffling despairingly home, far too many to homes with missing family members. Dead, or tucked into the Infirmary or other makeshift medic homes tonight. He waited until things had grown quiet before he unhooked Ludo’s lantern from his belt and began to sing the strange, wordless song the god had given him as he walked the fields, calling to the souls that had been lost and unable to find their way to Ludo and Mort yet.
