Two days and two nights pass

I tried to make an acquaintance but

Majority of the females, males, and tela around the same age ignore me

I haven’t established myself yet 

Nor can I make my official debut until I learn the ways of this tr-

Pack

However

In my searching I found a courtyard

Run down 

Withered 

And bone-dry

The Light has been here 

The pack’s territory is inside the mountains

The chambers and shared spaces tucked within 

But this one is completely outside

Although 

It’s still inside the pack’s grounds…

It won’t count as leaving, right?

Hours pass

I can't bring myself to care about how many because

Time has no place here 

I don't explore

just content to lay without worry

Belonging has wrapped itself around me so tight 

I ignored the warming of the sky 

But the quieting of the courtyard warned me

Silence rattling through my being as I feel abandoned 

The Light is coming 

Stone cuts my feet as I run to the door

I go for the handle

It’s unrelenting stiffness telling me 

It’s too late 

They’ve spelled the place to lock down

I’m stuck outside 

I didn’t die last time

But I can’t tell if it was a fluke or a cruel joke

Either way 

If I get severely punished or perish,

it’s going to cost serious repercussions.

Worry over Elu, Mena and Aunty move me

I weave the not quite dead leaves together 

Beatthelightbeatthelightbeaththelight

The courtyard is completely exposed sans the trees and potted plants

Probably a ceremonial or private garden 

Sweat beads at my temples 

Beatthelightbeatthelightbeaththelight

My skirt is of no consequence 

Ripping away everything that doesn’t cover my sex 

I weave it into the middle where I’d lay

Beatthelightbeatthelightbeaththelight

I can see the tips of yellow rays touch the the top of the pillars

I turn away 

Almost diving under what I made

when it passes over me 

And 

I 

Am

Frozen

It burns 

The sensation reminding me of hot rocks

Stinging heat I wish to squirm from

Slowly turns

Relaxing 

I haven’t feel this way in years

Maybe i-

My fingertips find the edge of the cover

It won’t hurt me 

It didn’t last time

Right as I begin to venture out 

The warmth leaves 

Minutes go by and the air has returned to its usual cool crispness 

The Light is gone Again 

But what will I do if it comes back?

I...

I want to know what this means

—

I return back to my chamber immediately 

Elu is waiting for me inside

-Where were you?-

I was familiarizing myself with the territory. I honestly don’t know where I was.

He face takes a frosty turn

-Zubair will come tonight.-

Okay.

-My siblings and I will have to witness again to make sure the agreement is being upheld.-