Aalyan
377 Words
Aalyan
It was taking everything in him not to beg. It would only embarrass his Mum, who was trying to put on a brave face. She hadn’t said a thing about being proud of him today. In fact, she’d barely spoken except to try to get him to eat.
The whole pack was celebrating with the cassava they had received from the Jaguars.
It was a little harder for Aalyan, who was the coin that had paid for the food.
Aalyan’s packmates had returned with their prize only a few hours ago and brought over a single man from the Awá to fetch him. No one seemed worried he’d make a run for it the moment they left Ysiatl territory. He didn’t know if they couldn’t hear how fast his heart was going or if they were just determined to pretend nothing was wrong.
The jaguar wasn't in a hurry either, sitting around and chatting with whoever approached him. His pack seemed more curious than hostile towards one of their long-term rivals for the scarce prey. At least that’s how everyone in his pack had always talked about the neighbouring tribe across the water.
Maybe they were just grateful for the food. Aalyan felt too nervous to eat much, but he could still feel their joy, not just the simple ecstasy of bodies getting what they needed but the parents’ relief at the knowledge they would not have to watch their children struggle.
At least for a bit.
He was relieved too, knowing he left them better off, but he just wished he could go ahead and leave them to it. He could handle the situation, the pain, the loss of his family and everyone he’d ever known, but he couldn’t handle their joy—he couldn’t handle knowing they could be happy while losing him. When he couldn’t.
He couldn’t be happy without them, at least not yet.
Maybe not ever. Not with the future he knew awaited him on the other side of the river.
When the Jaguar at last approached him to ask if he was ready, Aalyan dropped the blue flowers whose petals he’d been pulling out in his haste to get to his feet. He didn’t know if going would hurt any less, but at this point, he’d welcome a different type of pain.
- Writer
