Throughout Time

Little Bird

Nwyfre Donovan, current Morrigan and chief of the Branwen tribe, stretched out by the campfire; they had finished setting up camp the day before, near a remote lake in the southern foothills of the Huan mountain range. Mistral had finally sent reinforcements to several of the settlements they had been harassing for the past season. Nwyfre had decided it was time for them to lie low for the time being. The Huan mountains were beautiful, but absolutely infested with Grimm. The Mistralians wouldn't risk passing the range to search for them, especially with winter on its way.

The Morrigan never really relaxed, however laying on her mat by the flames, she could at least feign relaxation; seeing her at peace also had an effect on her people, allowing them to worry less. A group of tribesmen were playing dice across from her, drinking and cursing one another with smiles on their faces. Buck was working on one of the trucks they'd stolen off the traffickers the other month, yapping up a storm to several of his 'helpers'; the few kids in the camp liked to help the old salt with his handiwork, nearly as much as they loved to irritate him.

However, there was never truly any rest for the wicked. As Nwyfre took a sip of hot coffee, she spotted one of her lieutenants trotting her way, an irate scowl on his scruffy face. Nwyfre waited as he stopped by her shoulder. The dicers were glancing his way curiously.

"Morrigan," he started. A bloody bandage was wrapped around his hand. "Got a sec?"

"I suppose," she sighed. "What is it, Darrell."

"Well, it's bout that little hellion you scooped up last month," Darrell frowned.

Ah.

"I see. What about said hellion?"

"Chief, that little shit –" he was so angry he was stuttering. "Look, I dunno what we should do with her, there is something wrong with that fuckin kid!"

Nwyfre sat up slowly, setting her cup down.

"Oh?"

"Yea! She fuckin stole food out of the stores, again, and when I caught her ass at it, she fuckin bit me!" he waved his hand.

One of the dicers, Mao, started laughing riotously.

"Oooh a wittle girl bit me, chief, what do I do, I do declare?!" cackled Mao, mocking Darrell's accent.

Nwyfre smirked, just perceptibly as she stared at her lieutenant.

"Shut your wormy cunt, Mao!" barked Darrell, swiveling.

"Uhoh, Mao, lookit! He's gonna put you in time out!"

The dicers whooped, slapping their knees at Darrell's expense.

"Darrell" Nwyfre said. "Let me get this straight."

The man turned her way, looking irate as ever.

"You are angry because a little girl stole from a band of hardened thieves and miscreants," Nwyfre drawled, her lips curving. Darrell sputtered.

"Wha-it don't matter how old she is! We don't steal from each other, especially in fuckin winter!"

"Mm," Nwyfre stood up, brushing her pants casually. "No you're right. But let me ask you something. Why did she bite you?"

Darrell shrugged, bewildered.

"Cuz she's wilder than a Beowolf in the bathtub! I just grabbed her shoulder-"

Nwyfre held a hand up coolly.

"Next time, just come get me," Nwyfre said, stepping towards the tents. "Since children seem to be a bit of a handful for you. Dust knows I deal with enough of them."

The dicers cackled at Darrell's forlorn face as she turned away. The Morrigan stalked through her camp, a calm look on her face as she approached her tent. Brushing the leather tent flap out of the way, Nwyfre stepped silently inside.

Ciara was seated on the floor, her long crimson hair tied back in a loose ponytail. Her paramour didn't look up as she stared intently under their table, a friendly if concerned look on her face. There was a plate of food in front of her.

"C'mon, I'm not going to hurt you, love," Ciara said sweetly.

Nwyfre smiled softly, walking quietly up to Ciara. The table had a quilt over it, one that had been placed there by Qrow as he made his blanket fort as way of assisting them the day before. The scrawny youth had also collected several pillows and put them in there as well. Both twins refused to sleep out in the open, and would often make little hidden nests where they could hide. By the time they packed up this site to move again, Nwyfre had no doubt that there would be little bird nests all over the campground.

Ciara glanced up at her, green eyes shining with concern.

"Fre, I'm not sure…" the redhead started, but trailed off as she glanced back under the table.

Nwyfre rested her hand on Ciara's shoulder. Her love was taking it very personally that Raven was still so skittish of her; but to be fair, Raven was skittish of everyone. Qrow had taken a shine to Ciara almost immediately. The boy trailed after her around the camp, trying to help even when his Semblance made a mess. Ciara never got angry with him though, and was always sincerely appreciative when he tried to help with whatever task they were about.

Raven, however, was far less sociable so far. She spent most of the days hiding from people, refusing proffered food and instead 'stealing' it when no one was around, and had so far gotten into a multitude of scuffles with the other kids in the camp; she didn't talk much, if at all, and glared at everyone with profound suspicion. Considering the condition she'd been in when they had found her, Nwyfre wasn't surprised in the least.

Nwyfre kneaded Ciara's shoulder gently.

"It's ok. I've got this. Go find Qrow," Nwyfre said, sitting down on the pelts that covered the floor.

Ciara sighed sadly, but nodded.

"Alright," Ciara said, turning to speak to the little shadow under the table. "I'll be back, ok?"

There was, predictably, no answer. Ciara stood and swished out of the tent. Nwyfre tilted her head to look under the table.

"You know," Nwyfre said after a moment. "You should probably eat if you're hungry."

The shadow shifted around, but didn't speak. Nwyfre leaned back on her palms, waiting patiently.

"…I'm not going to keep 'forgetting' plates on the table," Nwyfre continued after a few minutes. "You can eat with everyone else."

Tiny crimson eyes glinted in the dark, peering suspiciously at her. Nwyfre raised an eyebrow.

"And you can't keep stealing out of the food stores. I cut people's hands off for that, especially in winter."

A muttered sound reached her ears, indecipherable.

"Hmm?"

"…Why?"

The small voice was terse, but girlish.

"Why do I cut people's hands off?" asked Nwyfre, her lip twisting.

"No. Why?"

Nwyfre's brows raised in question. After a frustrated huff, the girl continued.

"Why are you pretending to be nice?"

Nwyfre interpreted the unspoken question beneath it.

And what do you want in exchange?

"Well for starters, I am not nice," grinned Nwyfre darkly. "Ciara is nice, though, and you're hurting her feelings."

More squirming.

"I'll be direct, though. I'm offering you food and shelter, because I want to. If you choose to stay with us, we will continue to offer those things," Nwyfre said. "And in exchange, you will be a member of the tribe. You will have responsibilities and duties like everyone else. You will eat with us, travel with us, and perhaps one day, fight with us. That's it."

"…I could leave?"

The Morrigan nodded, meeting the curious red eyes that had subtly scooted closer.

"Yes. If you want, you could go right now and no one would stop you. Or we could drop you off in a town somewhere, if you would rather not brave the wilds as a seven year old with no aura or training."

The girl scoffed at her.

"Not stupid," Raven muttered. "I'd die."

"Yea, probably. But if it's what you wanted, it'd be your choice to make."

Raven had scooted to the edge of the table, peeking up at her from behind wild, black hair. She was studying her intently, prepared to fly off at a moment's notice. With intentional slowness, Nwyfre reached down, picked up a drumstick, and held it out. Raven stared at the offered food, glancing back at her before accepting it.

The seven year old was obviously hungry, but she at slowly, rarely taking her eyes off her. After a minute, she swallowed, speaking quietly.

"Who are you fighting?" Raven asked.

Nwyfre almost laughed aloud.

"Who aren't we fighting?" Nwyfre smirked. "Mostly people who deserve it, though. It isn't an easy life, to be sure. There will be days when we go hungry, days without rest, days we might not survive; but it is one you can choose, if you want it."

Raven appraised her shrewdly before reaching a pale little hand out for more food. Nwyfre handed her another drumstick, smiling.