Flower

The bonding continued. The sussy guy was sus no more. I have learnt a lesson. Never ignore your gut instincts.

The 'I'm-gonna-rip-your-throat-out' look he kept shooting my father was definitely one of jealousy and resentment.

Slurp.

Yep. He resented my father because he didn't let him come over to play with his pups. This guy-

Slurp.

-was a big softie. He currently was affectionately licking us all the way Umma did when we became too dirty or maybe with even more ferociousity as if to make up for all the times he missed spending with us since our birth. I think my fur on my head will be gone if I were to stay here any longer.

Slurp. Slurp.

So yea, my gut feeling was right but the deduction about it was wrong. I have to increase my logical analysis skills.

As I began internally monologuing about this and envisioning my escape plans from the tongue, I heard quiet sobs coming from a distance.

There was a river of golden lanterns and red torches coming slowly making its way against the blanket of the night; tearing away its fabric weave by weave.

It was a funeral.

Sefilina had come. She came with her entourage of weeping faces. They whispered repeated prayers with reddened eyes.

The procession neared and the fabric covered ones stopped while the bead decorated kept moving towards us.

Sefilina was wrapped up in a pure shroud wound with string and scented with musk. Only her face was uncovered.

She was brought up to my Uhd.

Uhd lowered himself and kissed her forehead.

I gasped. The place he kissed turned to sprout a bud! It unfurled its tendrils and bloomed into a beautiful, blue, glowing flower.

Her male entourage lifted her again and went on their way to the end of our Rendezvous and I saw there was a grave dug out for her.

A man, who I assumed was her father climbed into the grave and raised his hands to receive Sefilina. He held her close for the last time sobbing quietly. The other men collected mud to throw in handful by handful by handful. They threw it in until the grave was full. Sefilina's father adjusted the earth around her until she sat straight with her face facing the sky. One of her hands were untied from the shroud and raised up.

After that, he was helped out by his brothers and they completed the grave. All that was visible was that beautiful, beautiful, blue flower marking her final resting throne.

I had missed it while they

buried her.

I didn't notice till I saw Jo and Uhd talking to the Chief after the final send off prayers. They were looking towards me and back to the grave.

Uhd called me over and asked me, "Nūh, did you kiss the girl?"

The girl?

I looked at the mound.

That blue grave flower had a smaller patch of buds growing beside it. As it turns out, my saliva can do the same thing as my father. I can do abracadabra.