Everything as far as they could see lay in ruins. The Sister Temple was broken, the surrounding buildings reduced to dust. Fires still burned amongst many of the mud huts that housed the village folk, nothing resembled the former glory of their homeland.
Teanne jumped down from the broken wall, and lightly traced her fingers against the rough surface, she looked along its length; the great wall of Luia. It had been their safety barrier, their protection. She followed the wall with her eyes—it was completely destroyed, nothing more than a pile of rubble. She jumped as Chev lightly grasped her shoulder, and turned, Chev fell into her arms sobbing. Teanne didn’t feel sadness; there was no sadness, only anger. She continued toward the Mother Temple.
‘I have to keep moving Chev; you can still turn back if you want.’
Reluctantly her friend gathered herself and followed. They continued along the narrow dirt track that would lead them through the centre of the village toward the Mother Temple. The two moons thankfully offered a guiding light. The red dirt shone underfoot. She slowed as she approached a favourite spot -Petas Oasis -a group of trees surrounded by large red rocks. It was the only real vegetation within the walls. She slowed and allowed herself to press her palms against the rocks; they were still holding the heat from the day – or the battle. Taking a slow breath she shook off the lingering memories of better times, and hurried on toward the village.
Teanne’s body seized, as she clapped her hand over her mouth. Toward the centre of the village bodies were piled one on top of the other, their limbs scorched and broken. The attackers had not even blessed the fallen with a graceful burial; they had been left to rot, to burn. She moved along the track toward the awful pile, her knees buckling under her. Steadying herself she pushed on.
The stench was fierce; everywhere she turned she saw nothing but death. The bodies looked like a mound of organic waste; none of the bodies were whole. Teanne saw arms, and hands with no body attached. She stared down at a hand, admiring the multicoloured string wrapped around each finger - someone had just married. The bile rose in her throat as she forced herself to look away, only to face the charred corpses that were burnt beyond recognition. Teanne heard the muffled scream come from her lips as she recognised the face of one of the Tyro. She had just turned nine a week earlier, and had started following Teanne and Chev around, excited by what lay ahead in her becoming a Initiate. What was her name? I need to remember her name.
‘Danielle’ she whispered.
Teanne looked at the other corpses, all eyes that remained seemed fixed on the sky. Teanne recalled Jacob’s eyes, then a flash of the stranger’s deep blue eyes. Taking a long breath, she turned to find Chev; kneeling and praying. Teanne silently motioned her to stand, and pointed to her hands. Chev nodded and a ball of flame slowly appeared in her palm. Taking a small flame into her own hand, Teanne turned back to the bodies and threw the flame into the centre – she didn’t care if anyone saw.
As the flames grew, the women whispered together,
'From fire we are born, to fire we return'. Chev moved to Teanne’s side and took her hand, feeling the fierce heat coming from the pile of bodies, then moved quickly away. Teanne’s heart raced in anger, and silently sent a prayer to Jacob willing her the strength to continue on. She watched as the last flame extinguished, leaving only a pile of ash. Teanne knelt before the pile and began placing ashen lines across her face, Chev did the same. Chev then lifted her arms high, and commanded a large fire ball and threw it into the pile, scattering the ash across the village.