“They’re on their way back,” Birdy says. She’s moved up onto a rock, turned her eyes back the way they came as Photo tries to build a smoky fire under Twist’s direction.
“You think the baby is close to coming?” Dredge asks, whines low in her throat.
“Yes,” Siri agrees, doesn’t say any more.
“More of those,” Twist directs, and Photo obliges by tossing more yucca leaves on the fire.
“They'll be here in maybe half an hour. Before sundown, at the very least,” Birdy adds, opens her shirt as her baby starts to fuss again.
“Maybe they’ll bring back dinner,” Dredge laughs. “Could go for something right about now.”
“Doesn't look like they are,” Birdy offers. “Unfortunately.”
“Well, damn,” Dredge grunts.
***
Watch sits up next to Birdy, neither speaking, and Tooth, Burn, and Drummer drop down next to the fire, flank Photo, who can’t look at Lucinda as she and Runner kneel next to Siri. Lucinda doesn’t notice, doesn't look to anyone who stayed in the camp except Siri, who’s watching Dredge.
***
“What’s he look like?” Dredge asks, leans her weight into Twist, who pets her hair without a word. “He look like me, or look like his Da?”
“Well--” Siri starts, wipes the baby off.
“She mostly look squashed right now,” Lucinda laughs, offers the towel to Siri to wrap the baby. “Doesn’t have your eyes, though, must be her father’s.”
“Ah, shit,” Dredge laughs. “I fucked up, huh, babe?” she asks, takes the baby in her arms. “Yeah, you look like your Da, don’t you, sweetheart, look just like him. He’d be proud of you, hon, so proud.” She traces one finger across her baby’s hairline, down her nose, taps her chin with one fingertip.
“What are you going to name her?” Lucinda asks, helps Siri gather up the bloodstained blankets.
“Think I’ll keep that between be and the babe and whatever I can find of my tribe, Boss, if you don’t mind.” Dredge looks up at Lucinda, eyes heavy-lidded and tired. She gives a slow smile.
“Of course,” Lucinda agrees, nods. “You rest up.” She turns to the rest of the women. “We’ll camp here for a few days, then I’ll brief Dredge and Photo, and we’ll move on the next town.”
The rest of the women nod, look between each other before letting their eyes drift closed or turning their gaze back to the fire or the cured gecko Runner pulled from her pack to roast over the fire.
Say They Fear Her (f!courier/siri) (dubcon, referenced noncon) (31/?)
“They’re on their way back,” Birdy says. She’s moved up onto a rock, turned her eyes back the way they came as Photo tries to build a smoky fire under Twist’s direction.
“You think the baby is close to coming?” Dredge asks, whines low in her throat.
“Yes,” Siri agrees, doesn’t say any more.
“More of those,” Twist directs, and Photo obliges by tossing more yucca leaves on the fire.
“They'll be here in maybe half an hour. Before sundown, at the very least,” Birdy adds, opens her shirt as her baby starts to fuss again.
“Maybe they’ll bring back dinner,” Dredge laughs. “Could go for something right about now.”
“Doesn't look like they are,” Birdy offers. “Unfortunately.”
“Well, damn,” Dredge grunts.
Watch sits up next to Birdy, neither speaking, and Tooth, Burn, and Drummer drop down next to the fire, flank Photo, who can’t look at Lucinda as she and Runner kneel next to Siri. Lucinda doesn’t notice, doesn't look to anyone who stayed in the camp except Siri, who’s watching Dredge.
“What’s he look like?” Dredge asks, leans her weight into Twist, who pets her hair without a word. “He look like me, or look like his Da?”
“Well--” Siri starts, wipes the baby off.
“She mostly look squashed right now,” Lucinda laughs, offers the towel to Siri to wrap the baby. “Doesn’t have your eyes, though, must be her father’s.”
“Ah, shit,” Dredge laughs. “I fucked up, huh, babe?” she asks, takes the baby in her arms. “Yeah, you look like your Da, don’t you, sweetheart, look just like him. He’d be proud of you, hon, so proud.” She traces one finger across her baby’s hairline, down her nose, taps her chin with one fingertip.
“What are you going to name her?” Lucinda asks, helps Siri gather up the bloodstained blankets.
“Think I’ll keep that between be and the babe and whatever I can find of my tribe, Boss, if you don’t mind.” Dredge looks up at Lucinda, eyes heavy-lidded and tired. She gives a slow smile.
“Of course,” Lucinda agrees, nods. “You rest up.” She turns to the rest of the women. “We’ll camp here for a few days, then I’ll brief Dredge and Photo, and we’ll move on the next town.”
The rest of the women nod, look between each other before letting their eyes drift closed or turning their gaze back to the fire or the cured gecko Runner pulled from her pack to roast over the fire.