text: Starving is a painful ordeal. It had been days now since they had recieved some rations and Little Crow and his fellow countrymen, who surrendered to the Ulstermen to receive food and water were now finding neither. The war in the East was now in full swing and the Ulstermen had hardly the resources nor the interest in looking after their conquered subjects and as such the rations they were given were being rationed in turn. It was considered lucky for Little Crow to have been able to even find some hardtack in the camp, even if it was covered in weevils. He had found a nice spot by the wall of the barracks to protect himself from the wind and ate it in peace, bit by bit. It was then that the man he had been avoiding for days sulked over to him and sat down while Little Crow avoided making eye contact with him. It wasn’t that he hated Black Kettle. It was just that he knew what he was going to ask for, and while he couldn’t bring himself to say no to his old friend he didn’t want to say yes. “Please” Black Kettle pleaded with him as he scratched at his arms. He looked at his Black Kettle and his cut-up hands that held a piece of stale hardtack. “It’s been days since I’ve eaten, I don’t know how long I can keep going like this.” Black Kettle said with a withered voice. Little Crow sighed and turned away “I can’t keep giving you food. I barely have enough for myself and that’s something I need to keep.” Black Kettle however was not deterred and he looked at him with sunken eyes and pale skin. He was dying of hunger and Little Crow knew if he wouldn’t find anything soon, he would be as good as dead “you’re the only one I know who can help me. Just give me a small bit and I can make due for the next few days I swear it”. Little Crow sighed and looked around the prison camp. It was a warm sunny day and most of their countrymen were working in the fields where the Ulstermen in the guard towers had their focus turned. Little Crow then sighed and nodded “alright just a small piece then” Black Kettle nodded then as Little Crow took out a shiv and held it towards the hardtack on his hand before slitting his finger. Blood then began to flow freely and he held it over Black Kettle's throat as he began to drink from it. All the while the dark circles around his eyes began to reciprocate and his skin changed color before Little Crow jerked his hand away and the two men remained silent for a moment as Black Kettle wiped his mouth “thank you.. it means a lot to me.” Little Crow didn’t say anything as he sighed and pressed his bleeding finger to his coat while Black Kettle walked off avoiding the bright sun overhead in the process .