Morning came but the feeling from the night before wouldn't go away. Instead, it sat in your bones like a parasite.

All these years you had been able to live in peace. And then, just as Charles turned up, something happened.

With a stifled gasp, you squint your eyes and rub your face. No, this couldn't be his fault. He had enough problems, you wouldn't be mad.

Upset, maybe. But not angry.

Clarence moved in the hay next to you. Although the night had not only been cold but also damp, you could feel the warmth.

Light blinded you as you lifted your head to look around. The bison had settled down next to you in the pile of straw. Its ears moved gently as you stroked your fingers through the dusty, waxy fur.

A growl escaped the giant, but he did not wake from his slumber. Instead, he shook his head for you to let him sleep in peace and then let himself fall onto his other side.

The cows mooed.

"What a beautiful morning...", you grumbled as you remembered the weight of the revolver in your hand.

With a grunt, you dropped the gun into the straw and stretched. Pointed stalks pricked your skin. Your fingers were cramped and cold from the short night.

Tired, you rolled out of the hay. Your legs were heavy like two blocks of concrete.

Cursing quietly, you grabbed your shoulder to twist it until it pulled at your muscles.

The morning was warm but also a little damp. It smelled like rain, not strong but enough to tell that it would get wet at some point during the day.

"Clarence.", with a whistle you called the dog to your side.

Hanging his head, your old boy crawled past the bison. He trembled as if something still frightened him.

Smiling gently, you leaned down to scratch his ears.

"You've been a good boy. Such a strong man."

Something dark stuck to his fur. As your hands stroked it, you could feel that it was crusty. Clarence squeaked.

It was blood that had run out of his ear. But you couldn't see a wound. The shot must have ruptured his eardrum.

"Damn bastard!", you growled and lifted the dog up in your arms. "I'm sorry, my boy..."

Something tightened in your chest.

This dog had been with you for a very long time. Now that he was trembling in your arms, old and frail, you had to realise with a heavy heart that Clarence's time would eventually come to an end.

You would have preferred to suppress this thought, but it was unavoidable. The fact that he was probably deaf now wouldn't change that. It only made life more difficult for him.

The wood creaked under your weight as you put your foot on the step in front of the house.

You knocked. It felt strange knocking on your own door, but you didn't want to take Aponi and the old lady by surprise. Perhaps they were still engrossed in their work. At best, they were asleep.

You waited for a moment. When no one answered, you pushed the door open with your elbow. The wood moved slowly. It creaked under your soles, but you wanted to be quiet so as not to wake anyone.

The first thing you noticed was that the smell of blood and iron was so much milder than before. Of course, your nose could still detect it, but the unpleasant odour was mixed with the scent of burnt herbs and freshly brewed tea.

"Aponi?", you hardly dare to say her name.

She had curled up next to Charles, her head resting on the warm stones of the fireplace. Her arms folded across her chest, she slumbered away.

Dark streaks of red stretched across her tanned skin. Small hairs had frayed her braids. It was obvious that she desperately needed a break. The night had been so hard on her head that she didn't even stir as you laid Clarence on the warm floor next to her so he could warm himself by the embers.

A shiver crawled down your spine. Your eyes jumped to Charles. From the look on his face, you thought he wasn't in too much pain now. But the wounds were still unmistakably worrying.

With trembling fingers, you stroked a strand of hair from his sweaty face. A long breath escaped his lips. He was drenched in sweat. His eyes twitched as your fingers stroked his skin.

A crack opened. He wasn't fully awake, but the way his eyes sparkled told you he realised who he was looking at. The corners of his lips pulled up slightly and the hint of a smile appeared. Then tiredness overcame him again and he fell asleep again.

"The worst is probably over...", you couldn't describe the enlightenment that spread through your chest. "I hope..."

Suddenly, something moved in the corner of your eye. Startled, you jerked your head upwards. Your nerves were still on edge from last night. Your fingers twitched for the gun, only to realise that you had left it in the barn.

A soft curse escaped your lips only for your mind to realise a few seconds later that it was just the old woman watching you from your armchair.

In one hand she held a small bundle. Tiny red sparks of embers crackled between her fingers as the smell of incense smoke spread through your home.

You breathed a sigh of relief. A headache throbbed in the back of your head. With a nod, you settled down on the floor next to the woman.

Neither of you spoke the other's language. But for some reason you understood what she wanted when she offered you the bundle of smoking herbs.

You gratefully accepted it and inhaled the scent. Smoke rasped in your lungs, mingling with a cosy warmth.

You sighed.

"We ask the spirits to be kind to him.", Aponi's voice was rough from the night's exertions.

When her dark eyes fell on you, you could feel it be different than before. She didn't know how to treat you.

On the one hand, she had great respect for what you had done. On the other hand, she had seen things she had never wanted to see.

A life for her innocence.

As much as you felt guilty, it just couldn't be helped.

"Will he live?", you asked, your eyes fixed on the glowing sparks.

"The living don't know that.", she replied. "But neither do the dead."