Only To Be Taken Away

And as quickly joy can be taken away. Men will be men, but maybe one day they will understand- no one likes to be the wishbone.

I've said it before. Sahnka tends to be the loner because often his words come out harsher than most people like. It is not because he does not care about people. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is because Sahnka cares so deeply that he gets so passionate about it. Sometimes that passion leads him to speak wrongly, or too bluntly, or even sometimes just plain make a mess of things. The point of that is that at least he cares. He is not one of those men so wrapped up in his own life that others do not matter to him. He feels the pull of Tribe, and he feels it all the way to the very core of who he is.

That led him to speak to the Ubar on other matters. I could tell it was not going well. I understood what he was trying to say. He understood what he was trying to say, but apparently we were the only two. Sahnka, being Sahnka, got more and more upset when it felt like he was not being heard. The Ubar was LISTENING, but I don't think he was hearing what Sahnka was trying to say. For what ever reason - the words too harsh, the words not chosen right - the obvious thing was that neither man was hearing the other despite the fact they were trying to listen. Really, really trying to listen, too.

Bad things happen when both parties truly do want to listen, but they can't seem to HEAR the other. Misunderstandings lead to anger, and those watching are left baffled and confused. Why? Because it is one of those 'huh' things. How could they not hear just how much of what they were saying they were agreeing with each other. Blame, in such issues, is pointless at this point.

He asked Sahnka if he wanted to sit at the First Fires.

Sahnka, angry and hurt at this point, said no.

I was given a choice. The man I have loved as long as I can remember, or the First Fires which I have deep- personal reasons for wishing to join.

Isn't it grand to have your dreams given to you with one hand and ripped away with the other?

Men, will be men. I understand that.

The problem is the stubborn oafs never see that dropping that pebble effects everyone. The ripples washed over me, but - choices had to be made.