[alaklondewen]

Lyshka inhaled deeply. The dark and poisonous fumes of Mordor made her cough, but they were yet clearer than and provided a relief from the putrid air of the Spider’s tunnel. Trembling, she slumped to the ground, sliding along the grey wall of the mountain. Exhaustion overcame her body. She was limp, yet she still trembled from the horror of what her eyes beheld in that dark place. Rubbing her eyes gingerly, she tried to erase the horrifying scene from her mind.

Darash stepped over her and motioned to one of sacks the prisoners brought. “Fo-od.” Nodding and feeling the whole in her belly, Lyshka rose and helped the woman untie the sack. A day had surely passed since their entrance into that place, and this was the first the Easterling had thought of food. A long loaf of bread sat at the top of the sack, and Lyshka snatched it. Looking quickly from side to side, she was unsure if any of the others would fight for or try to steal her bread.

Keeping the loaf protected, close to her belly, Lyshka broke it in half and held out one half to Darash, who still looked through the sack. The Easterling glanced again quickly at the others, and then nudged Darash for her attention so she would accept the bread.

As Darash reached out, Lyshka caught sight of the woman’s injuries. Along the length of her arm, Darash was covered in blood. “Ak banash ka.” Lyshka spoke in her own tongue and could see confusion in the other woman’s face.

Taking hold of the Darash’s wrist, Lyshka gently pulled on her arm to convey she wished for Darash to follow. As they neared the shear wall, Lyshka shed her Orcish vest and placed her half of the loaf beneath it. The woman then pulled the bottom of her thin, torn dress up and placed it between her teeth. Tearing into the cloth, Lyshka ripped a long strip from around the bottom of the skirt and held it out, motioning to Darash’s wounds…”Ak banash ka.”