@lavawrath said : warm, but rough hands cup indra's face, bringing her eyes to meet alaula's. "you are too strong to be worrying about them. let me take that responsibility." they leave indra's face and her grip on the ivory blade never wavered as she gathered her thick hair and sliced cleanly through it, strength in her body, her very flesh, used for something it never wanted to do.
she must have noticed how silent indra had been ; she hadn’t said a word since they’d reached the mainland , and even now as they rested by the fire , there was a considerable lack of words spoken . indra had expected to run away alone . she . . . couldn’t do what her father wanted . she couldn’t get married . she couldn’t become chief . . . something was missing , and she felt she had to find what . she hadn’t expected alaula to come with her .
maybe she should have . they’d been inseparable since they were young . alaula knew her better than anyone .
alaula knew what she was thinking while she looked at the knife . maybe that was why as indra reached for it , the other woman snatched it up . there are tears in her eyes when she touches her face . you are too strong . her breath hitches as the blade passes , rapid and firm , and several inches of thick curls scatter to the floor . the tears spill over , but indra wipes them quickly . don’t dishonor her sacrifice with your tears .
careful hands settle over hers , coaxing the knife from her fingers . it’s gentle , but deliberate .
❛ let me clean up the back . it’s the least i can do . ❜
