Bleeding Heart 22 Bitterswee

Dawn had been getting used to sharing a tent with three of the other women. It was also giving her a chance to get a feel for what their personalities were. And she had formed opinions on each of them.

Dawn had already been familiar with the young priestess but Miria was a kind hearted woman who always acted with an air of gentleness. Despite her youth she had a decidedly motherly air to her.

Tira was fairly young, for a half-elf but she was actually older than Dawn was. At times she was severe, especially to Vixen who she viewed as little more than a child. Though she was often serious,

she was not aloof and had a streak of humor to her that made her seem approachable.

Vixen was not a child even though she often acted like one. She obviously looked up to Tira and often would call her Sis. In the tent she was fairly well-behaved if talkative.

Tonight though even though the girl's leg had been broken she seemed to be content to just roll over and fall asleep.

Tira took a bit longer to go to bed. As Miria was on the first watch she only came in in order to make sure Vixen would be able to get in her bed without hurting her tender leg. Even though she had seamed together the bone it still needed to be backed up by some recuperating actions.

Dawn tried to go to sleep but she was having some difficulty. It was nothing new, she had been finding it hard to sleep without her husband. She had been used to him wrapping her up in his arms or just snuggling against her back.

So she was aware of Tira moving over and sitting beside of Vixen and slowly and gently stroking the woman's head. She had a helpless smile on her face as she sighed out, "What are we going to do with you, you silly girl."

Vixen was apparently not quite asleep as she grumbled out, "What ever do you mean? I only broke my leg… I've had worse."

"Exactly. You are just a magnet for trouble. Don't worry though. Lowks and I will keep you out of trouble."

"Is that why the two of you are always ruining my fun?" Now Vixen was whining.

Dawn had to bite her lip. She had to admit to herself that in some ways she found Vixen amusing even as she was annoying. But she had not actually hurt anyone yet, and Dawn was sure that she did not truly mean any harm with her constant flirting.

Tira's next words though were particularly chiding, "Fun? That's what you call that? You know, sweetling, that constantly flirting with so many men, no one is ever going to take you seriously."

"So?"

"When you really grow to like a guy you'll never be able to convince him that you are serious."

"….Whatever." Vixen finally answered after a few minutes of silence.

Tira shook her head and then moved back to her cot. After that silence came over the tent and eventually Dawn fell asleep from sheer exhaustion.

Her dreams though were tortuous. Oh, they were good dreams. But that was what made them so terrible, because they were only dreams. Losing Arrion was bad enough. Dreaming about their life together and unfulfilled dreams though was even worse because it was as if she had lost him all over again.

And yet she would not have stopped those dreams because for a few hours it was as if she had regained what she had lost. To her it was worth the renewing of the pain when she eventually woke up and had to reface the constant pain in her heart.