The Sacrifice (Erafeen Book 5)

by David F. Farris

Once again, Yama sat against the oak’s trunk that neighbored Ataway’s grave. From the depth of her slouch she could have been mistaken for a corpse. Part of her wished she was one. Her chin sat atop her chest while her violet hair draped her face. She didn’t care that it had been weeks since she had last bathed and wasn’t fazed by the absence of her sword, something that had been at her hip throughout her entire life. Now it lay forgotten in a nearby gnarl of roots. She finally looked up, spotting a bowl of gruel and a jug of water a few paces ahead of her. She had neglected them since morning, partly wishing thirst or hunger would claim her. But who was she kidding? Such deaths were too painful. Even now, as her stomach gurgled only slightly, she wanted to nourish it immediately. She crawled forward and scooped out the cold, slimy substance with her hand, lifting it to her mouth and letting it coat her tongue. Despite the terrible texture, it had a lucid taste of strawberries. She took another scoop and tipped her head back, pouring the sludge from her hand into her mouth, causing excess clumps to roll down her chin. She wiped them off with the back of her hand, reached for the jug, and then chugged the warm water it contained. Lowering the canister onto the grass, her gaze drifted toward the Edge in the distance. When was she going to commit to her leap? Today? No, she didn’t feel like walking. And yesterday it was raining. The day before that it had been too hot … She w...

This is just depressing.(old) Yup.(new)