# 9 ...What Should Come Next.

     Petra had almost given into the rocking motion and had felt drowsy, but here was something about getting back out into the sunlight and moving through the long grass that revived Petra. She looked around considering the route and what lay before them. It was clear these men intended to take her home to her own people. She felt badly that she should have to bring these strangers to Fallon, her solitary ways made her seem so vulnerable. But without the clans men at the ring fort, it did not seem prudent to bring them into their ranks.  Fallon might just be the distraction or delay needed. "Oh if there were some other way !" she thought. 
When Petra first came up with the idea of going to Fallons, she felt as though she was betraying her in some way, but having spent more time with these men now, they seemed less threatening. She knew that these were "grown folk" sort of  decisions she was making, and the gravity did not escape her.
The hills and trees obstructed the view of the ring fort, by the time the view cleared, Bowen and Fallons home would be the first to be seen.

     The sun was still hot, but slowly descending.  The birds over head called, as though sending some foreign message back and forth one to another . Bees  hummed and went diligently on with their work, kissing one flower after another. Every now and then, a breeze broke the monotony and oppression of the heat. The group would catch their breath and respond ( with what Petra assumed was gratitude). The men would smile and catch another refreshing breath until the breeze faded into nothingness. Their brows would furrow slightly, then one of them would say something or playfully punch someone. It seemed as though they were egging each other onward and forward. 
The way grew rough, on and off some one would stumble. Then pick up things they had dropped. (The men had taken to collecting things on their own now, plants, herbs and some crab apples.) Petra thought "Perhaps 'tis a long day for 'em too". She had been busy all day long and although she was not walking, she was getting rather tired of being jostled about. It reminded her of what her Mother often said when the other children were babes in arms. "Pet, ya can no' lug the wee ones  'round like sacks o' taters; It makes for two bone weary bodies." She understood how her back and shoulders could ache, until now she never quite understood how it would feel for them.
 " AH ! " she called out bobbing, rocking and pointing down. It dawned on her: this man had been carrying her for a long time now. Friend or foe she should ease the burden. They had taken care of her, and she had begun to think: thrashing them about may have been a mistake brought on by a misunderstanding. All the same though she'd best continue to be cautious and lead the way to Fallon .
 She rocked, grimaced and pointed until at last, the men stopped and freed the boss man of her. Two of the men lifted her down from her willow throne ( her chew stick looking like a scepter   They looked anxious as though she might run or attack again. She pulled at the covered fagot of willow, finally the boss man gave a wave (to the man with the swollen nose) to untie it from his lower back. Petra took the two ends of the rope (that had secured the bundle around his hips) and wrapped them several times around her good hand and hoisted it up and over her left shoulder. Her up-turned arm tethered it into position.
 The men breathed a collective sigh, seeing her intention. She noticed the one mans nose and the red stain, then looked around at the others. Her mind raced (feeling a nervous giggle welling up in her throat) half pleased that she had defended herself, and  half ashamed she had not noticed before, that they tended her injuries, but had done nothing to ease their own. She began walking, her knee had been numb for a while now, but it was beginning to burn and ache again. She caught another side ways look at the barrel chested man with the hurt nose, and thought how he had catered to her grunts and demands. She put her head down (focusing on the ground) having dropped her addled routine and walked a little faster determined to press on. The long grass pushed her skirt against her knees, she she trudged forward, blood began to appear through the skirt. She kept moving and ahead of the men. The boss man stayed close behind her.
Shortly there after the small  cone shaped house came into view. She had considered several different options, including screaming for Fallon to run for help, but now all she could think of was finding water. Not for herself, but for these men, her water bladder had been drained of every drop, to satiate her thirst and minister to her needs. 
A friendly banter bounced between the men, with the exception of the man who had carried Petra, he seemed pleasant enough, but introspective. Petra felt distanced from the moment ( her thoughts pressed hard upon her).  The closer they were to the house, the worse  she felt. The last several steps in the long grass, seemed like forever as she reasoned out what should come next.