Too tired to move, too tired to care about being naked, too tired to shiver when the cold brought her state of undress to sharp attention.
Without an inch of amusement, she looked down on them. Lightning lit up the night, thunder cracked.
"A good leader knows how to listen, and a good queen knows how to watch, listen, smell, feel and learn from everything and everyone and that's not mentioning how to take and give. A queen is the physical representation of the hopes and dreams of her people, even if the number of her people add up to eight, seven without Blade." Fury crossed her arms and stood up straight, she looked down on the girls.
"Hydra, you know more languages than most, find the best word for prison."
"Err... there's Gevang, Kgolego, Tjhankane, Kgolegwa, Kgolegelo, Itologono, Itrongo, Iejele, Tjhankane, I like iJele or Tjhakane."
"Good, then we shall be leaders of the new and proud Tjhankane tribe. And I-" Fury stopped, she hugged herself tightly shivering to a wholly unique cold her. "I, Fury Windrake will throw away my father and mother's name and become Fury Tjhankane, Queen and mother of the Tjhankane tribe. Those who would be my sisters in this family must to do the same. They must forsake their past, for now this is your only family. Your history is the tribe's history. Bow at my feet and swear your complete and utter loyalty to me."
If there was a mighty and powerful way of saying all she'd just said. It hadn't been said. Tears bulged before streaming down her face. She wasn't regal. Naked, bloody, bruised, violated. It took throwing away self-consciousness, honour, pride, just to stay upright. This was not what she'd wanted, so many years without this but there it was. A hierarchy was to be formed; she was the one to form it.
She waited, as motionless as she could possibly be, not even to wipe her face.
Nothing happened.
Winter, still the only one standing stepped in front of her, staring as if seeing her for the first time. They both stared, it was an eternity before finally Winter smiled. It was a wet one.
She dropped down to her knees and wrapped giant arms around Fury's legs, kissing both of Fury's inner ankles before sidling back, keeping her forehead to the soil. Ashley followed, keeping Winter's technique to the pointed weeping and kissing her ankles.
There were the acts of submission she'd been raised to fight. Even in the moment she wanted to stop it. It wasn't right but was necessary. She couldn't say a word. Brook, Sabre, Hydra and Sheila followed. Hawk stood on her own two feet and stared with her arms crossed.
After the fifth eternity in a row she started to move. She stood right in front of Fury and stared her up and down before jumping and wrapping herself around Fury.
"This is undoubtedly the last time I'll be able to hug you as simple old Fury, repressed god in the shell of a mortal." she kissed Fury's lips softly, then fully. "I can't wait you see you play to your full potential. Remind us why we love you so much."
With streaks down her face she dropped and kissed her ankles before retreating with the others.
Fury took a breath, "We will do a vow when I hear from Blade, but we still need to cross the river as soon as possible, Hydra, Winter, wake Blade, if he can't be moved then we drag him. Brook, Sheila get branches and make staffs from branches. Sabre, Ashley dress me, I need my goods organised. Hawk get some rope; I don't want this bastard to move."