We are all connected to each other

[Serenity Oliver]

Serenity had discovered that there only seemed to be one problem about sharing  room, she lost all the privacy that she had before hand. The chance to write in her Book of Shadows whenever she liked, she had to time when she did readings, and magick was out of the question. Of course, she knew that if she was just open with Honor and asked the girl if she minded, she would feel like she was sneaking around as much, though she was worried that the other girl would ask if she could be a part of it too, and magick was so personal to the girl, that she didn't know what she would think of adding unknown energy into her circle - working with her brother or the coven was different, as they were family.

After returning from gymnastics, she quickly changed out of her leotard, showered and then dressed in her warmest jodhpurs and shirt. She then quickly put the things she needed into her backpack and grabbed her heavy winter riding boots before making her way into the barn. She gathered Plot's things and left them in the grooming stall before she grabbed the mare's head collar and lead, hurried out to the pastures and brought the bay mare inside. "We're going to go for a trail ride, so stop sulking." She told the mare merrily as she led her to the grooming stall and attached the cross-ties.

As the mare lived outside, it took her a little longer than normal to groom the mare and tack her up, but she didn't care. As soon as her helmet was in place and her gloves were on, she pulled the backpack on, clipped it around her waist and led the mare out of the barn. After another quick check to make sure she had all the extras she wanted in the saddle bags, she swung into the saddle and they were on their way toward the River Trails. 

Reaching the trail, she turned the mare before they crossed the bridge and headed down the path that led to the waterfall. While they rode along, she moved between walking and trotting, letting the mare burn off some steam without overheating her before she was going to ask her to halt for a while.It was ride like this that she wished she had Red with her, as with Red she could just release the mare, knowing she would remain close, whereas with Plot, she would need to keep a hold of the mare, or use the spare rope she'd brought with her to tether her to a tree (wrap the spare rope around a tree trunk, tie on some bailing twine and then tie the mare's lead rope to it with a quick-release knot).

She didn't make it all the way to the waterfall, but she found a nice open bit where she could sit on a fallen log near the river, and there was plenty of green grass for the mare to munch on, when she asked Plot to halt and she swung out of the saddle. Setting to work she ran the stirrups up and loosened the girth enough to make the mare a little more comfortable, she untied the rope from around the bay's neck and then removed the bridle. She led the mare onto the grass and as Serenity made herself comfortable on the grass with the dying wood at her back, she pulled what she needed from her bag, brought up the photo she wanted on her phone, opened the large book, flipped through to the section where she wrote out her monumental readings and began writing in the book.

As she started writing, she knew that she'd made the right decision to come out here, she was surrounded by the gifts of the Earth Mother and all she could hear was the rushing water of the river, the birds above her, the wind rustling through the evergreens and the sound of the beautiful mare munching away at the grass. The rest of the world seemed to evaporate from around them like the mist on a summer's morning, which was good and bad, as she wouldn't be aware of another rider approaching them, but this was why the mare no longer had her bridle on and if she did spook, the rope would snap off the halter if stepped on.  

[Khalid Al-Kuwari]

Khalid could only sit at his desk and stare at the computer screen. He felt numb despite wanting to feel something. His mind blanked only to be flooded with guilt that he was thousands of miles away in Kentucky and not in Doha. There were no words to describe that horror, and the once familiar prayers escaped him. Minutes ticked by and Khalid remained stunned even as the image on his computer screen darkened and disappeared behind his screensaver. It was impossible to imagine the sort of devil that could commit such an atrocity. There was simply nothing. He wanted it to be over and for this to only be a horrible nightmare. Tomorrow, the email would never exist, never sent.

He pulled out a thick coat from his closet and just barely managed to get both arms through the sleeves. Zipping took too much effort. He was dressed informally in a black polo shirt and fitted jeans. He didn't want to tell Mick until he understood what he just read. It wasn't as simple as pulling up the email on his phone and showing it to him. He never expected it to be like this. After praying for contact from his friends back home, this was hardly the sort of email he expected to receive. Every step sounded like gunfire, loud and threatening. He worked on autopilot going through the motions of grooming and tacking. The Holsteiner gelding could tell something was wrong. He put his head on Khalid's shoulder looking offended when he was swatted away. Khalid mounted up and landed harder in the saddle than usual.

Instead of going to the arenas, Khalid steered his horse towards the trails. It was cold, and most people would want to be inside. Right now, he didn't want to talk to anyone and certainly didn't want to have to explain what happened. It was too awful to think about. He didn't care where they went, just away. Away from Kentucky, away from everything. No one deserved to go through such horror and experience such loss. He wanted to go home so badly just to be there for a brother and a friend. His first contact from home was to hear that Amir's father was killed in an air strike in Yemen.

The terrain was uneven, but Khalid kicked his horse into a canter anyway. He didn't care about anything. The cold air stung his eyes and dragged out the first few tears. Khalid wanted to hate the Saudis and the Americans for what they did, how they destroyed families. He was guilty of abandoning Amir when he needed his friends the most. He hated himself for once thinking the Saudis weren't so bad that a few weeks visit to Riyadh would be fun. He hated that he was trapped in a country that would do nothing to end the fighting. It wasn't Amir's fault that he was born in Yemen. He felt shame that his own beloved country was allied to the ones who killed Amir's father. The man was innocent.

Nasr tripped on the rugged ground throwing Khalid off balance. The boy scrambled to grab at the reins, but he felt himself slipping further and further. Part of him didn't care. He was a horrible person who abandoned his friends in their hour of greatest need. He didn't even have the strength to call upon God to look after his friend and give him strength. Khalid hit the ground hard and felt the wind knocked out of him. Nasr didn't stop immediately, though he was distracted by the scent of a mare not far away. The gelding trotted forward abandoning his rider to investigate.

Khalid lay at the side of the trail not more than two hundred feet from where Serenity sat. The gelding took a few steps towards Plot, reaching out his neck and sniffing curiously. His breathing was heavy from cantering, the stirrups bounced against his side when walked, and the reins were dangerously close to sliding all the way up his neck. His rider was gasping for air and wishing that he could be anywhere but here.

[Serenity Oliver]

Serenity's gaze kept moving from the picture on her mobile to the book she was working in, as she wrote out her tarot reading from days earlier. While she enjoyed sharing her room, it also made her feel like she was working in secret, coming out here to be able to write in her BoS without having someone else asking what she was doing and possibly wanting to read it - not that Honor had done either, but the feeling was there nonetheless.

She lifted her pen from the paper as Plot lifted her head from the ground and released a rumble. "Hush." She said with a smile before she went back to her work, guessing that the mare had heard something in the distance she didn't pay anymore heed to it as she continued writing. And then the air seemed to constrict around her as the energy changed and the pen fell from her hand, the book from her knee, as a bay horse came to a stop near them, and she shook her head as Plot's head flew up as she gave a noisy greeting as she too reached out for the gelding, willing to share scents. "Where did you come from?" She asked the gelding in a sing-song voice as she slowly rose to her feet and stepped calmly forward. "Easy now, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to make sure you don't hurt yourself." She reached out and took hold of Plot's rope, rubbing the mare's forehead, and then stretched out her hand to offer it to the other horse, before slowly moving the reins so the billet was down by the pommel of the saddle. "I shall return."

She walking calmly across the grass, though she felt a little odd, and slightly under-dressed, to be wearing jodhpurs and a jacket rather than a dress and cape, since she wasn't in a riding class, but that shouldn't be what she was thinking of right then. Looking down the trail from the direction the horse had come she quickly located the unseated rider and she walked toward him. "By the grace of the Light, are you injured?" She asked softly as she studied the energies - or aura - she could see around the boy, whom she recognised from mounted games and then extended a hand. "Would you like some assistance to rise? The ground does not look to be the most comfortable place to be resting."  

[Khalid Al-Kuwari]

Nasr took a step back and away from the girl but stood perfectly still while she moved the reins to where he wasn't at risk for putting a leg through them. He was definitely more interested in getting to know Plot than protecting his rider. Khalid and Nasr were still a bit new to each other though they could both bring out the best in the other in class. The gelding ignored Serenity when she went to investigate the trail content to stand near Plot.

Khalid tried to sit up slowly, but everything ached. It was a long ways down from Nasr and he hadn't quite hit his growth spurt yet. He felt a momentary flash of anger that he was still in America while Amir was mourning in Doha. Unless his mother got a job with a company, Amir would likely have to return to Yemen and be supported by his family. They had been friends for nine years and going home to a Doha without Amir just felt wrong.

"I don't think so, thanks."

He took her hand and pushed himself to his feet. There was no doubt he would be going home with a couple bruises somewhere. For a few moments, he felt light headed and dizzy and reached out for the nearest tree to steady himself. He recognized Serenity from their mounted games class but had never tried to talk to her outside of that. They didn't share a house, that much was certain.

"Where's Nasr?"

It was too far to try walking back to the barns in any reasonable amount of time, and Nasr was an expensive animal. All Khalid cared about was that his horse hadn't done something stupid and died. He thought bitterly that his Arabian would never wander off and abandon him. Sarab was perfect except maybe for constantly demanding treats. he was more than a little responsible for that vice.

"I...don't really know what happened. Nasr tripped, and, um, I wasn't really at attention."

[Serenity Oliver]

Serenity frowned as he rose to his feet, her mind already going through the few oils she knew she had in he bag. Her eyebrow rose at the question. "Tall bay Holsteiner?" She asked as her lips quirked in a smile, well, the gelding was slightly taller than her own mare. "He's over yonder, making friends with my mare." She jerked a thumb over her shoulder in the direction of the horses.

She nodded as she listened. "You will no doubt feel a might worse for wear in the morning. Your horse is standing well on all four feet so I think he will come out of this better than yourself." She felt rather alone and defenseless out here with Khalid, but she was a lot older and wiser than a few years back, and nowhere as naive either. "If you step this way, you can sit down on the log near the horses and I can make sure you haven't injured yourself more than you may think." Her gymnastics training had at least been a little helpful in tending to minor injuries, but her magickal training would come more into it right now as she led him back to the area she had been hiding. "Does your head hurt?"

She stooped down and quickly grabbed her large leather-bound book and tucked it away in her bag before she looked into the bag and pulled out the two vials she never left home without; lavender and rescue remedy. She held the latter toward the boy. "Four drops under your tongue." She said in a voice that wasn't to be argued with. When he unscrewed the lid he would find that it had a dropper attached to it.

She frowned as she studied him again, the healer in her wanted to ask him what was eating at him, yet her introverted personality stopped her from asking something so bold to be shot down, and right now she was more worried about making sure he made it back to campus conscious, even if that meant she had to pony one of the two horses back.

[Khalid Al-Kuwari]

He nodded. That would be Nasr alright in probably the most concise description. He was only half paying attention, but grateful that his horse was alright. Nasr was a million dollar trophy and the luxury sports car of horses. The whole looking after his own horse thing was still a sore point and felt somewhat meaningless. What did it matter who groomed the gelding? He had the money to pay for a groom, so it was stupid that he couldn't expect to mount up a couple minutes before class and have that extra time to be productive doing other things. Like watching Netflix.

There was no doubt in Khalid's mind that he would be sore the next day. If he was actually in a more rational state of mind, the boy probably would have realized he was sinning by being alone with a girl. The chances of a third person coming all the way out here was next to none. He followed her a couple paces back glancing a couple times at the water and half-heartedly wondering how cold it was. He wanted an escape from the hell of reality and the feeling of total helplessness. He couldn't even stay on his own horse.

"Not too badly. I'll be okay."

As much as Khalid wanted to prove his strength and stay standing, another brief wave of vertigo persuaded him to sit down. He figured he stood up too quickly, and the ground here was much harder than falling on soft arena sand. He didn't feel at all concussed, but it was hard to tell the difference between injury and apathy from trying to come to grips with the fact that an uncle figure in his life was now dead.

He scrutinized the little vial she held out to him. It didn't look like normal medicine and most people would have carried something like Advil or Ibuprofen. Certainly not strange looking liquids in bottles. Still, she looked serious and angry women were something no man wanted to encounter. Reluctantly, he took the vial and unscrewed the lid, giving it a good sniff. The Arabs were known to be advanced in medical knowledge at a time when Europeans were still using crude and ineffective techniques. So, he would be doing his ancestors a disfavor by not trying a new form of medicine. All in the name of science, after all.

Wahid, ithnan, thalatha, arba'a.

Khalid grimaced and screwed the lid back on before handing the vial back to Serenity.

"Thanks. What's in it?"

He nodded towards the vial, but his eyes betrayed that his mind was somewhere else. Focusing on reality was so hard compared the storm of conflicting emotions and thoughts.

[Serenity Oliver]

Serenity's eyebrow lifted, not too sure how much she believed him, but she wasn't going to push it. Part of her was still tempted to ask him to remove his helmet so she could massage some lavender oil into his temples, but the first rule about a fall from a horse was not to remove said helmet until you were home. "You shall need to replace your helmet." She said. "A fall, no matter how bad, your helmet can only protect so much and should be replaced afterward."

She took the vial back, made sure the lid was tight and dropped it back into her bag. "It's a Bach Flower Remedy, called Rescue Remedy. Which is a mix of Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem. Really good for stress and delayed shock." She gave a soft smile as she sat herself on the ground so that she was looking up at him rather than down - which was a novelty in itself since she wasn't the tallest person around. "And from the looks of you, you need it for both reasons."

She raised her eyebrows as she studied him again, a small frown marring her complexion as she brushed a strand of blonde hair from her face as she tried to make out all of the energies that were beginning to suffocate her. She closed her eyes as she pushed her hands against the ground, essentially grounding herself, as the last thing she needed was to become overwhelmed and have her brother rush to her rescue - that would be more than a little embarrassing. "May I be as intrusive to ask what seems to be plaguing your thoughts?" She finally asked. 

[Khalid Al-Kuwari]

Khalid knew better than to argue. He was dreading his father hearing that he fell off when his horse tripped while trail riding. Then again, he had the allowance money to spend, and a knew helmet certainly cost less than three thousand rial. At least she wasn't giving him anything poisonous, or so he hoped. His gaze went over briefly to his horse absently wondering if he should run up the stirrups. Sure, it was usually good advice to get back in the saddle, but he still felt too dazed to ride properly. Whether that was from the fall or shock, he really didn't know.

Her query caught him a little off guard. He was only just starting to come to grips with the gravity of the situation though he didn't want to admit it as real. Sure, Hassan was at risk for being conscripted into the Syrian army, but he would be a soldier, not a civilian. Amir's father was just in Yemen to be with his family and had nothing to do with the political upheaval in the region. Serenity never struck him to be the gossiping type in class nor did he think she had a huge network of friends. And he certainly didn't want anyone telling him that he just needed time to get over this. Khalid took a deep breath to try and focus some of his thoughts.

"It's not something pretty. My friend from home, Amir...I just got word that...that his father--" He swallowed hard fighting back tears. "his father was killed...in an airstrike...in Yemen."

Just saying it made the situation sound so much worse. He could do nothing while his best friend would live the rest of his life without a father. All the wars that caused anxiety and fear were suddenly made real. Qatar wasn't the immune little paradise looking out on a burning desert. The war struck home and became personal. With Abdullah, there was still hope that his family was still alive and would someday be free. For Amir, death was final.

[Serenity Oliver]

She followed his gaze to the horse. "Would you like me to run his stirrups up?" She asked. It would normally be the first thing she would do with a horse wearing a saddle with no rider, but she had been more worried about finding the rider at the time, and making sure the horse wasn't going to trip himself up, that she hadn't thought about the stirrups. She frowned as she looked at the horse. "I have a spare lead rope." She started. "I could remove his bit and then attach the rope to the underside of the noseband." She then would undo the noseband and just have it held closed by the keeper so that if he did stand on the rope the band would come undone and the horse wouldn't injure himself. And it would also give her a way to lead the gelding back while she was riding should it need to happen that way.

Her mouth dropped open as he spoke, the crushing emotions she could feel now made sense. "May the Mother welcome him home with open arms." She whispered as tears slid down her cheeks. "I am sorry for your pain." She told him as she touched his knee. "I can not offer any words of wisdom, as there aren't any in times like this. You could light a blue candle for your friend, let him know that you are sending healing thoughts his way." She felt a slight blush heat her cheeks, wondering if she had gone a little too far with the whole candle thing. 

She glanced toward the river as a memory flashed through her mind: She hadn't lost a human close to her, but she had lost her first pony. She was young and feisty and then after a show one day she came down with colic and the vet had to put her to sleep. The date that it happened was ingrained into her spirit and it was three years later that their parents noticed how withdrawn she would become on that date, so their Ma made a suggestion. She suggested that the girl light Bonny a candle and send it down the river on the anniversary. Epona, the Celtic goddess of horses is all about water, so it seemed to fit in her young mind. It wasn't until she was older that she realised that water is great for cleansing. Souls are ferried down the River Styx on their way to the underworld, to be judged and then to the Elysian Fields - or wherever else the soul is sent. She loved the idea of Elysium, the choice of remaining there for the rest of time or the chance to being reborn and possibly end up in the Isles of the Blessed and then spend eternity in paradise. 

She shook the memory off, knowing voicing it would have her very quickly labelled a a lunatic, and she had a slight reputation to keep unmarred. She chewed on her lower lip as she glanced at the river again. "When I find that I need to think, I always find somewhere with flowing water." She finally said. "The sound is not only cleansing, but when I think of the way the water is ever-changing, it reminds me that life is just the same. And, like the water carries the pebbles with it in places, we too carry a bit of our past along with us, the good and the bad. We just need to learn, like the water, when it's a good time to release the heaviest part of our emotional load." Ok, so much for not sounding completely mental.

[Khalid Al-Kuwari]

Khalid wasn't sure what the best course of action would be. Nasr looked perfectly happy to spend the rest of the day enjoying the mare's company, but Khalid wasn't sure just how long they'd be out. He wasn't ready to go back to campus. Out here, school and life didn't matter. Time could pass and he would be blissfully unaware.

"Please, thanks."

There was no way he could remount in his current state, and Khalid had serious doubts as to his ability to rationally care for his horse. It was easier to just work through motions while feeling numb. Now, he couldn't pinpoint a single feeling. He wanted to cry and let himself grieve, but there was also a sense that he needed to maintain some composure. He was in the presence of a fellow student and even if she didn't say anything to another student, it would still feel weird to him.

He hoped that Amir's father died a martyr so that he would be granted a place in Paradise. Allah was known for his mercy, and Khalid wanted nothing more than for Allah's mercy to be granted to a father, a brother, and a son. Three days were allotted for mourning relatives, and Khalid felt certain he would need that time to pray and grieve. He wanted to be angry at Allah for his actions, but those thoughts only made his heart ache. Amir's father loved to serve Allah, and it would be a discredit to his memory to be angry.

"The most I can do is ask Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, to have mercy on the family left behind. I just need three days to mourn quietly."

He never lit candles for anyone and certainly never asked for God's intercession for the dead. God made his judgement, and Khalid could only hope that it was favorable and that Amir's father would be received in Paradise at the Last Judgement Day.

"I've never lit candles of any color for anyone. I don't know if it's allowed."

[Serenity Oliver]

Serenity smiled as she bounced to her feet and grabbed the spare lead from her bag. Walking over to the horses, she once again went to her own mare first and then turned her attention the the gelding. After running the stirrups up and wrapping the leather around the irons to make sure there was really no chance of them slipping, she looped the lead around the gelding's neck so that she had a good hold of him when she took the bridle off to remove the bit. Once the bridle was back in place, albeit minus the bit, and the lead clipped onto the noseband, she bounced the bit in her hand as she walked to the edge of the river and washed the saliva and bits of feed that had been remaining in the horse's mouth when it was put in off the steel and returned to where she had been seated.

She bowed her head in understanding. "Plot will remain where she is, she has grass, I could go for a walk if you wish to have some time to yourself." She offered softly. She wouldn't go far, but far enough that it would give her fellow student time to centre himself. 

She smiled as he replied to her comment about candles. "I am sorry, I over-step my bounds. I forget that not all religions use candles, of any colour." She was pretty safe mentioning candles with most religions, but there were always the ones that didn't use them. She pressed her lips together. "It doesn't make you any less of a man to cry, and anyone who does think less of you for doing so is weak within themselves."

[Khalid Al-Kuwari]

While Serenity was caring for the horses, Khalid forced himself to calm down enough to recite a du'a. He wanted to spit at Allah or even wave his shoe at him out of anger that such a horrible thing had to come to pass. But his friend needed his support, and Khalid would be of no use to Amir in such a state. He prayed for Allah to relieve him of such anxiety and sorrow.

"Allaahumma innee ‛abduk-abnu-‛abdik-abnu-amatik, naaṣiyatee biyadik, maaḍin fiyya ḥukmuk, ‛adlun fiyya qaḍaa’uk, as’aluka bi kull-ismin huwa lak, sammayta bihi nafsak, aw anzaltahu fee kitaabik, aw ‛allamtahu aḥadan min khalqik, awis-ta’tharta bihi fee ‛ilmil-ghaybi ‛indak, an taj‛al-al-quraana rabee‛a qalbee, wa noora ṣadree, wa jalaa’a ḥuznee, wa dhahaaba hammee."

He seriously considered her offer and doubted that she could ever understand the relationship he had with Amir and his family. It didn't matter that they went to different schools or that Amir regularly went back to Yemen to be with his grandparents when a game of football was only a phone call away, and the apartment wasn't too far from the beach. Khalid didn't understand the idea of a best friend because all his friends no matter what nationality were as close as family. Their parents were honorary uncles and aunts.

"No, you can stay. And, I know what I'm told to think about...death and mourning, but it's so hard to believe. Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, is Ar-Rahim and Al-Wadud. In what world is it fair for him to die like this? I can't believe that Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala would call him back so soon. I'm afraid...that I'll never see Amir again...that he will have to go back to Yemen."

Khalid lowered his head and gave up trying to be stoic. There was nothing against crying, only wailing and hurting himself because of grief. All people died, even the Prophet Muhammad, but it hurt to know that some people died in horrible ways far from their families and loved ones. There were no prayers said in preparation of passing. No one could have imagined a well-off businessman with a wife and two children in good health would suddenly die in an airstrike. Those were things that happened to other people, people who sinned and ignored God.

[Serenity Oliver]

Serenity pressed her lips together, thinking of how to word what she wanted to say next, but then decided to throw caution to the wind. "I have always believed that the universe, no matter what race or religion people are, has a plan for everyone. While there are times that curve-balls are thrown into the main plan, everything happens for a reason." Ok, her words sounded a little callous and uncaring now, but she was getting somewhere. "It is devastating that your friend lost his father, his parents, their son, his wife, her husband." She pressed her lips together and shook her head, refusing to allow the grief to overwhelm her.

She drew in a deep breath as she looked up at him. "Mahatma Gandhi said: Be the change you want to see in the world." A smile fluttered at the corners of her mouth, she liked her Gandhi quotes. "Is there any way that you can stop his return to Yemen?" She shrugged again, not quite sure where she was going with this train of thought. "If you will excuse me, I still need to get some writing done."

She took her book from the bag and opened it to the page she had been working on, her eyebrows rose as she looked at the cards she had drawn, thinking that it would be a reading that would also suit the boy sitting on the log, and wondered if this was the reason she had chosen this spot to work that day. After all, the universe worked in mysterious ways. Is there a chance that the Fates put her here for this reason? She pressed her lips together as a giggle escaped her and she quickly looked away as she picked up her pen and began writing out the reading - since all she'd done so far was draw in the cards (the 10 of Swords, the Knight of Stones and the Page of Swords).

[Khalid Al-Kuwari]

Growing up, there were no other ways of looking at the world except through the lens of Islam. The Jews and Christians started out right, but had strayed from God's will. He heard nothing of eastern religions, and anything close to paganism, witchcraft, or sorcery was strictly forbidden. Khalid wasn't even sure if there was a body to bury, and there was no doubt that the funeral would take place in Yemen. It was just an unfortunate situation where the family lived near the border of Houthi territory. With all the turmoil in the area, it was hard not to see this as the beginning of a long string of tragedies. That in itself was almost to horrifying to consider.

Like everyone else he knew, the boy only wanted the fighting to end. There were far bigger threats in the world, but it felt like everyone was too consumed with jihad of the sword. He shook his head. Amir's father made enough to support his family without needing his wife to work. Without a source of income, it would be impossible to afford the apartment in West Bay. The civil war also meant it would be impossible for Khalid to travel to Yemen to visit his friend. The best either of them could expect was regular contact through text messaging.

It was selfish of him to only think of how the death of Amir's father would affect him and not the pain his friend was going through. While Serenity was writing, he forced himself to recite a prayer for Amir. He knelt on the ground facing a generally eastward direction and held his hands up to pray.

"Inna-lillahi ma akhatha walahu ma’a’ta. Wakkullu shaiy’in indahu bi ajalim-musamma faltasbir waltahtasib. Adham-Allahu ajraka, wa-ahsana azaa’aka wa ghafara li-mayyitika."

The words came out in ragged breaths between quiet tears. He prostrated and continued muttering his supplication. Maybe there was nothing to bring back the dead, but he could ask God to take pity on the family and ease their suffering. He prayed that they could have a proper funeral and not be forced from their home too soon. He asked that Amir's mother might be offered a job so that she could continue raising her children in Doha. It was safe in Qatar, though that safety could only be temporary.

After he finished, he cast a glance towards the book Serenity was writing in. It all looked foreign to him who had no experience or exposure to tarot in his life. Cards were for games and gambling, and his mother was quick to shoot down any discussion of fortune telling.

[Serenity Oliver]

Serenity leaned back against the log as she wrote in her book, only just noticing how damp the ground actually was as it began to seep through hr jodhpurs, but she didn't move herself off the ground. If Khalid hadn't been there, she would have taken her boots and socks off and really grounded herself.

She wasn't getting very far with her writing though, as the energies around her seemed to swallow her up, she should have just excused herself and gone somewhere else to write, because she couldn't sort one thought out from the next, as her attention kept moving to the grieving boy, wishing she could offer him more comfort, but she just wasn't as touchy-feely as her brother, as she knew that Tommy wouldn't hesitate in giving someone who needed it a hug. She was the moon, where he was the sun, but she liked it the way it was and it wasn't often that she thought about what it would be like is she were more extroverted, but she never felt that she was overshadowed by her brother.

She threw the pen back into her bag and pulled out the pencil as she brought the picture back up on her phone and went back to adding the little touches to the cards she had drawn, not even thinking that she was allowing the boy to see a side of her that she didn't reveal to other, the only place she drew anything was in this book, and him getting a glance into the book was another thing thing that most mere mortals never got to see.

She shivered slightly as the wind picked up a little and she lifted her eyes skyward. "Are you up for riding?" She asked. "I fear the weather is about to change, and not for the better. And riding shall return us faster than walking." The offer to pony him back was on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't want him to feel any less emasculated.