11.Jun.18, 02:59 AM
In the breadth of a second, a whole deluge of things appeared to happen. The woman strutting forward, asking questions, rummaging through her belongings, offering help. Onari was much too overwhelmed to answer at once, woozy as she was from the blood loss.
Eventually, however, she did manage to speak, after swallowing back a syrupy breath. "I don't want to impose. You don't have to do anything. We're fine. The next town isn't that far over--"
"They stabbed my Mama," Nlani cut in immediately, petulant, as if she had been reliving the events all over. "These guys--"
"-- farm boys," Onari smoothly cut in, shuddering into a deep breath. "Clearly hadn't eaten for days. They had no idea what they were doing. They were scared."
"They hurt you!"
"They were desperate," Onari corrected her. "They hadn't intended to do it. They were bumbling. Stupid--"
"They already had your money!" Nlani shouted, stomping a foot on the ground. "It's not right!"
It didn't matter what was right. Onari had understood, but explaining such a thing to Nlani was an exercise in futility. How could Onari blame her? She was scared to death. And now her mother was hurt. Had the circumstances been switched, she would have been just as furious.
Onari faced Dessa, slightly hunched over, teeth clenched. "I'm sorry my daughter disturbed your travels. We don't mean to impose."
"You need help!" Nlani bleated, hands on her hips, eyes narrowed and virulent. "Don't talk like I'm not here!"
Eventually, however, she did manage to speak, after swallowing back a syrupy breath. "I don't want to impose. You don't have to do anything. We're fine. The next town isn't that far over--"
"They stabbed my Mama," Nlani cut in immediately, petulant, as if she had been reliving the events all over. "These guys--"
"-- farm boys," Onari smoothly cut in, shuddering into a deep breath. "Clearly hadn't eaten for days. They had no idea what they were doing. They were scared."
"They hurt you!"
"They were desperate," Onari corrected her. "They hadn't intended to do it. They were bumbling. Stupid--"
"They already had your money!" Nlani shouted, stomping a foot on the ground. "It's not right!"
It didn't matter what was right. Onari had understood, but explaining such a thing to Nlani was an exercise in futility. How could Onari blame her? She was scared to death. And now her mother was hurt. Had the circumstances been switched, she would have been just as furious.
Onari faced Dessa, slightly hunched over, teeth clenched. "I'm sorry my daughter disturbed your travels. We don't mean to impose."
"You need help!" Nlani bleated, hands on her hips, eyes narrowed and virulent. "Don't talk like I'm not here!"