"You're welcome," she replied moving back to her own bedroll on the other side of the fire. She paused at his second comment. Staring once more at the flames she cryptically replied, "it cost me something." Looking over to him she bowed her head, wishing him a goodnight before returning her brooding gaze to the flames.
She would not sleep this night, nor any other for as long as they were traveling. Her time was meant to be spent meditating so that she was prepared when she entered the holy grounds. Sleep was considered a selfish luxury. She was required to make such a sacrifice. Others in the past had chosen food, fire, warm clothes, and shoes. Zurna had seen enough frostbite to know how dangerous that all way. She hoped that by sacrificing sleep over food she would fare better longer.
She let her mind go. Breathing in the crisp night air. On the exhale a flood of memories swamped her in a jumbled mess. In her mind she swam through a mass of colors, sounds, scents, and feelings. Memories from childhood surfaced first. Her brothers throwing a ball. Her first bow. Her first kill. From there the memories took a different road, they became darker, hinting at pasts best left forgotten. Again as she stared at the flames she saw a related memory flash scenes in her mind's eye. A boy ran through the snow laughing has he chased a young Zurna about. A little foot standing on a crushed pile of fragile periwinkle eggshells. A child's scream. Hot red liquid covering and melting pure white snow.
Zurna jolted, gasping softly as she was torn from the memories. Stretching, her back cracked protesting after the hours of complete rigidity it had endured through the cold night. Looking up she noted that the sun was just starting is ascent into the new day. 'One long night done. However many more to go.'