[INTRO — NIGHT FRONTIER | slow 6/8 ~78 BPM | DRY DREADNOUGHT | SHAMISEN: 1–♭3–4–5–♭7, gradually ♭5→5→6 | distant rifle cracks] [FEMALE LEAD — young low alto, calm, controlled, third-person narration] [Verse 1 — The Wheat] Mara lay beneath tall wheat And watched the Frye Ranch through the grain. Earthworks scarred the fields around it. Now and then— a rifle cracked again. She couldn't tell whose guns opposed them. Couldn't know whose flag was true. Alliances could change like weather. Either side might want her too. Didn't matter. She hadn't crossed an ocean To decide who owned this ground. She came for old man Frye. And Frye was still around. [Verse 2 — Back] [SHAMISEN + DREADNOUGHT] Ship to Belle Rive. River north. The Black ran backward through her past. Roads she'd fled with men behind her Carried her toward home at last. Bell Crossing. Dust. The Winter country. Then the wheat outside this place. She'd run this road once as a hunted girl. She came back at her own pace. [SHAMISEN: ♭5→5→6] [Verse 3 — Wait] Sun went red. Then grey. Then nothing. Lanterns burned behind the wall. One by one the lights were lowered. Voices faded. Bootsteps stalled. Mara dressed in black. Soft sandals. Wayblade low behind her back. Her pistol stayed inside the bedroll. Teacher taught her more than attack. [DRUMS OUT] Wait. Watch. Listen. Move when darkness moves. [Verse 4 — Inside] [FREE TIME | SHAMISEN PLUCKS + LOW BASS] She crossed the works between two shadows. Found the house she'd known before. Frye had welcomed Winters once. She still remembered every door. Kitchen. Hallway. Turning staircase. Second landing. Left, then right. Funny what a child remembers When she comes back in the night. She found the master bedroom. Lantern barely showing flame. Old man Frye lay sleeping. Mara entered all the same. [Verse 5 — Company] She turned the lantern higher. Frye awoke and reached beside him. “Who the fuck are you?” Mara smiled. Undid two buttons. “Thought you might like some company.” [SOFT DREADNOUGHT PULSE] Suspicion melted from his face. She climbed onto the bed, Moving slowly up toward him, Wayblade hidden at her back. One hand traced along his jaw. His eyes closed. He shuddered. [HARD STOP] Cold steel touched his throat. [Verse 6 — Remember] [SHAMISEN: ♭5→5 | ONE LOW NOTE] One bright bead of blood appeared. Frye froze beneath her. The mattress warmed. His voice came thin. “Who the fuck are you?” Mara almost looked offended. “You don't remember me?” He shook his head. She leaned closer. “I remember you.” “I watched you kill my mother. I watched my brother fall. I watched your men keep firing Till there was nobody standing at all.” His eyes widened. Recognition finally came. Barely more than breath: “Mara.” [Bridge] [COMPLETE SILENCE] She smiled. “Good.” [PAUSE] “I want you to die with my name on your lips.” [Verse 7 — Frye] [ONE VIOLENT SHAMISEN STRIKE] One movement. Up beneath the jaw. Then stillness. Nothing more. No scream reached the hallway. No boots approached the door. Mara drew the wayblade free, Wiped it clean upon his shirt, Buttoned up her own, And left him With the lantern burning bright. [Verse 8 — The Cistern] [STEADY 6/8 RETURNS | almost peaceful] Back downstairs. Across the kitchen. Through the yard without a sound. Past the sleeping Frye defenders. Past the walls and battleground. At the cistern Mara stopped. One envelope came from her coat. Fine brown powder hit the water. Then the empty paper floated. She never turned to watch it sink. She never hurried from the scene. The only eyes that saw her enter Would never see again. [Outro] [SHAMISEN + DREADNOUGHT | 1–♭3–4–♭5–5–6] Tall wheat closed behind her. Gunfire sounded far away. Old man Frye was finally dead. The ranch could wait till day. She retrieved her gun and bedroll, Turned her back upon the fight. Jack would probably be at Winter Ranch. Brayden too— she hoped. Sarah was still down south somewhere, A Lester's guarded guest. Mara tightened up her bedroll. One thing at a time was best. [PAUSE] Home first. Find her brothers. Then somehow— get Sarah back. [SHAMISEN: ♭5→5→6] [CUT]
