This story is for Sara Javaid; who was the inspiration for Eilsa's story. Her journey is ever unending and I'm blessed to be in her life.

Eilsa lay on her back and looked up at the stars. A few feet from her, she could hear the soft laughter of her father and grandfather talking with friends. Eilsa yawned and sat up; she looked over to where the horses’ grazed on the coarse desert grass. She stood up and pattered over to her father. The fire illuminated his dark brown eyes as she came nearer.

“Eilia, I thought you were in bed.” He said as she came up to him.

Eilsa stopped and stared up into her father’s bright laughing face.

“Baba, I was watching the stars.” She said plainly. Her father smiled at her. He motioned for her to sit beside him. Eilsa leaned back against her father’s strong chest and closed her eyes.

“Zahard, you baby her too much.” Eilsa’s grandfather said.

Eilsa opened her eyes and smiled brightly at her grandfather.

“Babain, she is my little girl. I am supposed to spoil her.” Zahard said.

The warm laughter of her grandfather filled Eilsa’s heart with joy.

“Salem, do you think the rumors are true about the caravan raids?” a young man named Efah asked Eilsa’s grandfather.

Salem sat in thoughtful silence before answering Efah’s question. Eilsa sat up and listened intently.

“It is a question that I cannot answer fully Efah.” Salem began.

“Yes, some news has reached my ears about caravans being raided. However, none can be confirmed unless one of you among this circle can.” Salem said, searching each of the men present at the fireside.

“Na, I cannot confirm the talks but rumors are enough to scare anyone.” Efah said, throwing a twig in to the fire.

“Elisa, go to your matea.” Zahard whispered to her.

Eilsa stood and walked over to where her mother was sitting among the women. Eilsa looked around her. She saw the large wagons that her father, uncles, and grandfather drove. Eilsa noticed how big her tribe was, it wasn’t for the first time but she always marveled at their size. She began to think about her people, the Asthik people. The Asthikians were nomads from the Narob country. The caravans of the Asthik traded with many different countries and people. They sometimes went as far north as Arrith or Sharfi. Eilsa quietly sat down beside her mother and her cousin Saheera. She was two years Saheera’s senior Eilsa looked over at what her mother was doing and then fiddled with her hands. Zafeera was making a basket as she talked to Yafia, Efah’s wife. Eilsa was mesmerized by how fast Zafeera’s hands were moving as she weaved the dried grass into a beautiful basket. Eilsa gathered up her knees and placed her chin upon them.

“Elisa, look at my purse.” Saheera bent over to Eilsa so she could see.

Eilsa took the purse and felt the delicate tinny beads strung together with dyed grasses.

“It is pretty Saheera.” Eilsa told her with a smile.

“I am going to ask matea if I can trade it at our next stop.” Saheera told Elisa.

“That would be great, I am sure someone will buy it for their little girl or as a wedding gift.” Eilsa encourage her; Saheera smiled and looked at the purse.

“Tamik nae Elisa, Thank you Elisa.” Saheera said.

“De raik eia lusik, think nothing of it cousin.” Eilsa said.

There was silence for a while among the circle before another began to speak. Eilsa could hear the voice of a young girl float across the fire.

“I need to go to bed,” She said with a yawn.

“Yafiah, you are always tired.” Zafeera laughed, shaking her head.

“Na Zafeera, I am not always tired.” Yafiah’s laughter reached over to Elisa.

“Eilsa it is time to go to bed.” Zafeera turned her attention upon her daughter.

Eilsa looked up into the dark eyes of her mother and pleaded. “

Oh ne, ne, ne, matea can I stay up longer?” Eilsa asked.

Zafeera shook her head at Elisa.

“Na little one, you are tired and we have a long day tomorrow.” Zafeera said.

Eilsa sighed and was about to argue when her mother crossed her.

“Hayio Elisa! Oyia hayoi,” She said.

Eilsa ran back to her family’s wagon and clambered up into it.

“Rashtafa, do you want me to take Saheera?” Zafeera asked the woman that was sitting next to her.

Rashtafa nodded to Zafeera.

“That would be good,” she said.

Saheera stood up and began walking to her wagon.

“Asleawa Sahra, good night Sahra.” Rashtafa called to her daughter.

“Nae twea matea, you too mother.” Saheera said with a wave.

Zafeera walked her niece to her wagon before going to see if Eilsa was in her bunk.

“Eilsa Salih, are you in bed my littlen?” she asked, opening the curtain.

“Oyia, yes matea,” Eilsa answered.

“Good, you stay in here littlen, you don’t need to wander off and stay up too late.” Zafeera warned her.

She turned to leave when Eilsa called her back into the wagon.

“Matea,” she whispered.

“Oyia Elisa?” Zafeera asked.

“Are there really raiders out to get us?” Eilsa asked.

Zafeera looked troubled at her daughter.

“Atek dalherian….my daughter…” Zafeera sighed.

“Let the men worry about such things. Get some sleep my dalherian.” Zafeera said reassuring Elisa.

Eilsa watched the last of her mother’s long dark hair disappear before closing her eyes.

************************************************************************ *******************************************************************************

Eilsa rode up with her parents. She loved to see the desert give way to cool heather hills and see the high mountain peaks rise out of the horizon.

“It is much prettier here than in Narob.” Eilsa told her mother.

“Yes but the people are stranger.” She said.

Eilsa looked up to see if Zafeera was joking but her face was unreadable. Eilsa went back into the wagon and peeked out of the canvas. She saw the other three wagons following them. She waved to her brother’s sister and husband. Saheera was ridding behind them, peeking out to see how the landscape was changing. Eilsa returned to her stop among her parents. Ahead of them was her grandparents’ wagon leading their caravan. Eilsa spotted some locals tilling their fields. Compared to them Eilsa was very dark skinned. She looked down at herself and wondered.

“When is grandfather stopping the ahib?” she asked.

“Soon Elisa,” Zahard replied.

Eilsa watched the last of the sand disappear before her eyes. She yawned a little, trying not to let her mother see.

“You are staying up too late Elisa.” Zafeera said.

“Na matea I am not.” Eilsa fought.

Zafeera looked over at Zahard but he just shook his head.

“Let it go for now Zafee.” He said.

The caravan did not stop again until they were deep into the Arrith country. The sun was slowly creeping over the eastern horizon. That night the Ahib camped between the hills of Arshen. Eilsa enjoyed playing with her cousins.

“Are you going to sell your purse at the bazaar?” Eilsa asked Saheera.

“Maybe, matea thought it was a good idea.” Saheera said.

“Look at the stars!” Adaya pointed at the blacking sky.

“They look as if they are changing.” Saheera said, lying on her back to get a better view.

Adaya sat beside Saheera and watched the rest of the sun vanish behind the horizon.

“Do you see the moon Elisa?” She asked.

Eilsa turned west to see if she could spot the moon.

“No, I don’t see it.” She finally replied.

“Then it must be a month already, the month starts a new moon.” Adaya said.

Eilsa looked at her cousin and tilted her head a little. Adaya was the eldest of the three girls and always kept herself. In the night silence, the girls could hear music coming from one of the wagons in the Ahib. “Let’s go back and dance!” Saheera said, sitting up.

In the dim starlight, Eilsa could see a bright smile upon her cousin’s face.

“You can but I’ll just watch.” Eilsa said.

“You are such a damp rag sometimes Eilsa.” Adaya said with a laugh.

“Speak for yourself Adaya.” Eilsa protested.

The three girls went back over to the caravan and joined in the dancing and singing. As the dancing went on Eilsa sat beside her grandfather and her father. She thought about her own people, how freeing they were, how proud they were. She sighed and thought of her family’s saying.

“It is the way of the Asthikian.” Eilsa smiled to herself and began tapping to the music.