The Offing

Neviah.

Mother?

Wise in all fates.

Teach me to speak in thy tongue.

So that I may hear your whispers in the wind...

And heed your warnings in the waves.

In thee, I trust to guide my way...

Through raging seas churned by the currents of time.

Past the bloodied waters of yesterday...

And into the storms to come.

You are working on an hourly rate of nineteen dollars.

But I take out $60 a day for your accommodation and food.

Hi.

That works for me.

Please don't shower for more than five minutes.

The hot water is limited here.

You'll be sharing a room with Neviah.

Hi.

Nice to meet you, I'm Freya.

Go get your things.

Neviah will get started on dinner.

It's a little light on the salt, Neviah.

Sorry.

Where'd you get that from?

My mother.

It's pretty.

So do you like working here?

Yes.

That's good.

Are you from the area?

Neviah?

I grew up in the city. What about you?

Um...No I've...

I've never been there before.

Really?

Oh.

Well you should definitely go sometime.

No, I don't think Agnes would like that very much.

Have you been working here long?

I have to get up early tomorrow,

so I should probably go to bed.

Okay.

Well, goodnight.

Sorry.

It's okay.

These tend to make me feel better after a long day.

Oh, thanks. Thank you.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

Um, just a bit of homesick.

It just... it feels strange

taking out the family caravan without the family.

Does your family travel a lot?

Um, yeah, we used to...

We used to try to get out of the city.

Get some fresh air.

Although my sister was more of the outdoorsy one.

You kind of remind me of her, actually.

Do you have any siblings?

No.

Why aren't you with your family?

Um...

We lost someone.

And it just really took a toll.

I just wanted to move away from it all.

I'm sorry.

No, it's okay. It's okay.

Thank you for the biscuit.

Push!

Push! Keep pushing!

The babe won't come.

Big day?

Big day.

I feel bad.

You're like out there doing all this work

and I'm in here.

Doing this.

No, it's, um... it's okay.

Every task bears equal weight.

Want one?

Thanks.

Um, well, I should probably get back outside.

Yeah.

Thank you.

The past few months have been nice with you around.

I like it here.

Yes.

Well...

I'm sure my life would have been a lot easier

if I learned to ask for help a bit earlier.

Well, you...

You've done a wonderful job with the property on your own.

You are a good worker, Neviah.

But don't get stuck here.

The isolation takes a toll.

I'm used to being alone.

That's the problem.

- Neviah needs the extra help, she does-- - You clearly have no experience on a farm.

I have no need for you here.

You'd be better off going home.

Fine.

I'm leaving.

What happened?

Agnes just decided she doesn't need my help anymore.

Freya I don't... I don't understand.

Could you, um, help me find my keys?

I just... I can't find them.

I think we all know I'm not really cut out for this kind of work.

Well, where are you gonna go?

I'll probably just find somewhere to stay tonight,

and then I'll decide from there.

Do you want to leave?

It'll be an adventure.

I'm coming with you.

Really?

It's just this...

this place reminds me too much of home, and I...

I just really want to get away from it all.

And I feel like there's just so much that I haven't seen.

And I think I need an adventure too.

Yeah.

But we shouldn't leave like this.

Okay, Freya, we need a plan.

I know somewhere nearby we could go.

You okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Let's go.

Hold on.

-What? -Just give me a sec, wait.

Don't go anywhere, okay?

We look to the inside...

For warmth.

For comfort.

We remain loyal to our people.

To our family.

We need not venture...

into the dangerous world beyond.

Not unless it is the will of our Mother.

It's important for us to stick together.

Chickens who stray too far from the coop...

Are too often struck by a bit of prey.

Don't drift too far.

Don't leave.

Okay, sorry,

I almost forgot my toiletries.

You know it's gonna get dark soon, Freya.

Mhmm

Do you know where we're going?

Why don't we just see where the road takes us?

I just feel like we should have

maybe thought this through more.

We'll be fine.

We just....

We just need to go with the flow.

Her blood has flowed.

But barren are her eyes.

And if the eyes cannot serve the cause.

Then the womb must.

Fine.

I'll go get the map.

Okay.

So... Where should we go next?

Um, I-

I don't know what the options are.

We could stay here, for a few more days.

Somewhere with work.

Well, look, we can find work anywhere,

but I have money saved up to keep us going for a couple months--

Yeah, Freya, I...

I really think we should find somewhere with work.

Okay.

But I really want a break.

Okay, um, we could...

go up to the mountains.

Or...

a town nearby?

Um...