Keeper of the People (Book One)

by Karah Quinney

  “I am sorry mother, father.” Yaa said meekly before they could scold her further. “It was as if they were calling to me and I had to go, I just had to.”

  Anaay’s eyes sought those of Kii and they shared a smile before he turned his attention back to Yaa. He felt proud of the little sister of his band, if they had been forced to go one more day without water; it was possible that the worst would happen. He said as much to all who listened, though his voice was tinged with respect for his elders. Roark took several deep breaths before clasping his daughter to him and slapping Anaay firmly on the back in thanks for bringing their child back to them safely. He handed Yaa to her mother, who also hugged her and checked her over for injury before hugging her again. Giad stood to the side appearing indignant that Yaa had gone off on an adventure without him, but thankful that she was unharmed. It had taken all of his self control not to run off after the two of them.

  Though it was dangerous, Jon’lan and Roark decided that one of them should go after the mammoth with Anaay. Roark offered to stay behind and watch over the band with Giad. His son puffed out his chest in pride and smiled at him with excitement. Jon’lan set off with a determined stride praying to Creation that the mammoth’s would lead them to a water source.

  Jon’lan could follow their track easily in the moonlight keeping in mind that Anaay would have marked their trail. His heart surged with pride as he sought out the telltale marks that his hearth son had left for them to find. It would be almost impossible to find the heard of mammoth so easily without careful markings.

  As Jon’lan approached a hill he saw only one track and realized that Anaay must have carried Yaa at this point. Crouching low to the ground he carefully pulled himself to the hills top and looked over. The sight that he beheld took his breath from him and he fought back the urge to shout in wonder. Before him, standing motionless, were beasts unlike anything in his imaginings. They were giant hairy beasts with long carved tusks and huge bodies that were held up by sturdy frames. Jon’lan closed his eyes at a rush of emotion before carefully making his way triumphantly back toward the camp.

  Taikiuu stood as her husband arrived and smiled with relief at the broad grin that spread across his lips showing shining white teeth. She gathered the children to her and waited until her husband approached. With expectant faces they turned to him as Jon’lan began to relate all that he had seen. Yaa and Anaay also retold their stories being careful not to leave out any detail. Roark rocked back on his hunches as he listened to their tales.

  He listened intently as his daughter related her first look at the mammoth and once again lifted her up and hugged her to him with pride. Star Feather looked on unable to hold back her own smile, but also feeling a mother’s worry over a daughter that had more courage than fear. Still she would not ruin this moment for her band. They had been on their last legs this evening as they arrived at this place and now there was hope for water and beyond that the hope for life.

  Roark startled the group by saying “We must go at once.” He was not a rash man, but watching the look of thirst rob his children of spirit had worn on him. Expecting Jon’lan to naysay him he waited patiently but when his band brother only looked at him and nodded Roark felt again the sense of urgency that drove them all. Yes, they would go tonight before the sun rose and pray that their brother the mammoth had water to share.

  She was the Matriarch of her group and all heeded her trumpets and cries. She was old beyond aging and had walked these paths sense time began as far back as her memory would allow her to go. Always she had found water for her pack before deep thirst set in upon them. But with the changing of the climate it had also changed the landscape so drastically that it seemed they would never find water. She had almost begun to give up hope but her instinct had pushed her on past all endurance until finally stumbling with the others she had trumpeted in triumph when water was found.

  Even now the youngest mammoths stood in a group gently spraying one another with the precious life giving water. Still others dug deeper into the water pit to allow more of the sweet clear liquid to bubble forth. With her tusks reaching over six strides in length the Matriarch turned to survey her territory.

  None would dare enter while they stood guard and as she caught the eye of each mother with a young one that had survived this last journey she saw the same fierce determination for survival in their wise eyes. In the distance she heard the trumpet of her mate and she called to him in greeting, welcoming him to their water source.

  For he was the strongest and oldest male bull in the valley and even though his age was beginning to slow him down he had fought for the right to be her mate year after year and won. Even now the result of their joint efforts stood off with the other young bulls drinking his fill though he still nursed if she allowed him.

  She would see the newest calf grow to adolescence before working with his mother and aunts to cast him out of the group to be a solitary figure that would appear from time to time in the distance, trumpeting a greeting, only to gallop away. This she knew well as she had been a mother more times than she could remember. Her daughters and granddaughters vied for her attention constantly and there was much pride in their bearing as they held a special place of honor. Still it was this strong male calf that she would treasure to the last day that she walked the land and so it should be.

  Jon’lan led his band carefully over the hills until they reached the great hill where even now he could hear the trumpeting of the mammoth. His tongue felt like dry sand against his lips and if not for his wife’s remedy of bear fat which she had mashed into a thin grease his lips would already be cracked and peeling. She was by his side as they all lay upon the hill and looked down upon the mammoth watching them drink.

  Jon’lan did not censor the united gasps of his band as they all looked their fill upon these creatures of old. He had certainly never seen anything like them in all of his days. Finally as the sun began to rise to take its place for the dawn he ushered them to a sheltered place and bid the women to make camp. He took Roark aside along with Anaay and Giad and finally after a thoughtful silence he said, “I do not know how to get to the water.”

  All were silent as they thought about Jon’lan’s statement. Thus far he had made most if not all of the decisions regarding their band. Still they all recognized the wisdom in his acknowledging their opinions, especially Giad who stood with chest puffed out in pride, glad to be included in the conversations of the men. Still he kept quiet for fear of saying the wrong thing, even a boy knew that water was the life of any of the People.

  Finally Anaay answered, “I would walk stealthily down to the water and fill a few skins at a time, bringing them back to the band.” Jon’lan appreciated the young man’s courage and knew that he did not speak rashly; each man was willing to give his life for the other.

  “Any one of us could do the same and I appreciate your offer Anaay, but we don’t wish anyone to lose their life.” Jon’lan spoke wisely and Anaay knew this, still he wanted to do something, anything was better than watching his band slowly wilt away.

  “I would suggest waiting until they have their fill and leave.” Roark’s voice was a soft whisper but in it Jon’lan heard the worry and concern he felt for all of them. Each of them knew that Roark had the youngest child of their group, a boy not even named yet and desired to see his son grow up to be a man.

  Still Giad didn’t speak but all eyes turned to him expectantly so he said the first thing that came to mind, “Ask Yaa.”

  Roark lifted his daughter up to his burly chest and nuzzled her cheek until she laughed despite the fatigue that was wearing upon each of them. “My daughter, we are each so proud of you. Have you anymore stories that tell us what the people can do to make the mammoth share their water?”

  Yaa looked into her father’s eyes and started to shake her head to signal “No” but as she looked at her father and brother, she knew that all their hope rested on her. Finally she spoke, “In the stories of my mother
’s people the mammoth were the friends of the people. When a mammoth grew old and her teeth fell away the people would mash together leaves from the highest bough of the trees and leave it as an offering for the Old One. If this was done often then the mammoth would come to know that they were part of their band, one band made up of the People and the mammoth.” Taikiuu listened to Yaa speak and could once again hear the voice of a gifted story teller. She caught Star Feather’s eye and knew a kindred moment of a mother’s fear for a child that had too much burden on her small shoulders.

  Neither woman wanted to doubt the child’s words because the people did not say false words and would not tolerate such from anyone. Still Yaa spoke with conviction, not with the stuttering of one that made things up as they went along. Taikiuu acknowledged Star Feather’s fear with a kind smile yet her eyes were commanding when Star Feather started to speak. Catching the look that Taikiuu sent her way Star Feather held back from comment. Still she made a silent prayer that her daughter spoke truth this day.

  Giad skirted his way around the mammoth giving them a wide berth as he followed Anaay. They did not wish to be seen by the mammoth until they were ready with their offering. The tallest trees were well past the water hole and behind the mammoths resting place.

  Anaay could climb a tree better than anyone and so no one questioned his ability to climb swiftly. With the help of Giad they would return with leaves that would hopefully appease the great mammoths.

  Jon’lan allowed them this amount of participation and he would ask the women to help soften the leaves until they were soft and easily broken down. It was important to him that each member of the band felt needed and important. They all waited with baited breath for the boys to return.

  It startled Jon’lan when Anaay and Giad returned far more quickly than expected with arms full of green leaves that stood almost as tall as Yaa. The women immediately began to sort the leaves, removing bugs and any twigs that would make chewing uncomfortable for such a large beast. Finally taking rocks they began to mash the leaves until they were a green pulpy mass.

  Taikiuu did not stop the girls from licking their fingers clean of the juices that were produced by the leaves and she wished to partake as her dry tongue moved roughly over her lips. But she did not want to display any doubt that the men would return with water for them all.

  Star Feather seemed to understand her sister’s actions and so refused the impulse to lick her own fingers clean. But she did give the baby her pinky and allow him to suckle some of the liquid until he quieted. Her breasts had begun to go dry the previous night and she had not yet had the heart to tell Roark. Finally when all was ready Jon’lan and Roark surveyed the mammoth pack and noticed the young ones were given their full share of water before the older ones drank.

  Finally the oldest mammoth in the group made her way to the water hole and each one before her moved away before her steps fell too close allowing her to drink her fill and return to the outer limits of the group where she cast her watchful eyes to the tall grasses that bordered the watering hole.

  “Who will go first?” Jon’lan asked his band brother with a determined twinkly in his clear gray eyes.

  “I will go first, second and third, if you would ask it of me.” Roark readily offered. But even as he said the words he knew that Jon’lan had already decided to take even this burden unto his own shoulders. As Jon’lan rose with his food offering Roark noticed that the man he had come to call brother and trust with his own life and that of his family was still a young man himself.

  At times one forgot that Jon’lan was only into his twentieth summer. Roark studied him as he walked stealthily down the hill and thought perhaps it was that he carried himself as that of a much older man. But as soon as the thought struck Roark decided that wasn’t it at all, it was more in his bearing and the way he dealt with others that made a man regard Jon’lan with respect. Before Jon’lan could get too far Roark remembered what he wanted to tell him and making a brief bird call grabbed Jon’lan’s attention.

  “I am a hunter.” Roark spoke softly as if his voice could carry the distance to the mammoth. “They are a band like us, the oldest protects the youngest. Only get the large females attention, leave the offering and back away.”

  “This I will do.” Jon’lan clasped arms with his band brother and then started away.

  As Jon’lan made his way down the hill all gathered together to lay flat on their stomachs and watch with hopeful eyes. Finally when he reached the tall grasses Jon’lan stood to his full height letting his presence be known. He was immediately noticed though he was down wind of the mammoth and a few trumpets of warning pierced the air. Jon’lan could actually feel the vibration from the huge beasts as they made their calls.

  When he did not move either to turn away or come forward they quieted. Still he caught the eye of the Matriarch and she did not take his presence lightly. Step after step he took until he was much closer than before and beads of sweat were drawn from his brow to run down his chiseled face. He did not allow himself to breath fear from his nostrils into the wind. Animals smelled fear and he would not offer his gift in such a disgraceful manner. He did not allow himself to think of the thirsty mouths of the children of his band or even his own parched throat and tongue. Instead with the water skins bumping lightly against his thigh he slowly made himself walk forward, step by careful step.

  The Matriarch watched the creature approach her group and snorted through her nose trying her best to catch his scent. It came to her on the wind as he got closer and she knew that she had never encountered such an animal before. Each battle that she faced throughout her long life was imprinted upon her memory and also her senses. She could remember each smell and noted the weaknesses of her combatant, knowing that if she ever faced such a one again she would know how best to defend her pack.

  Still this one was a combination of smells that she could not understand at first and so she blew out of her trunk warning the others to be wary. Her daughters and their offspring knew her warnings well and would not make a move without her consent. Finally a smell she did recognize came to her from the creature that stood staring at her without fear. It was the smell of fresh leaves, the ones from the highest bows of her favorite trees, her stomach rumbled in response and she ignored it as she often did these days.

  Her teeth had worn down as low as they had ever been and they did not allowed her to chew her food properly for many sunrises now. She was in a constant state of hunger and could only slake her thirst and chew the soft grasses that never seemed to fill her belly. The others had taken notice of her smaller size and she had not been challenged thus far, but her eldest daughter stuck constantly by her side.

  It was almost as if she waited for the first show of weakness, which the Matriarch knew would come soon. She had not become the leader of her band by being a passive follower. Even she had fought battles to lead her own band as she was sure her daughter would do when the time was right.

  Still her nostrils flared in wonder at the familiar scent and she wondered what type of creature carried food and did not eat it. After many tense moments she gave a ferocious snort and ran forward with no small effort knowing that her massive size compared to the smaller animal should have the intended affect which was to intimidate and warn it away. She could tell as she approached that the creature was a male, his scent carried to her as well as the absence of fear. This startled the Matriarch so much that she stopped her charge within a few feet of her target and stood with her face forward staring in rapt fascination.

  Jon’lan for his part felt the trembling of the land as the huge beast raced toward him. Her warning cry fairly lifted his hair from his neck and he could not help the trembling that besieged his body but he did not allow fear to rise up from within his body. He did not allow flight to enter into his mind. He held firm, knowing that it was better to die trying to save those he loved, than to never try at all.

  From what he had seen these animals were not vicio
us and he hoped that as the Old One studied him she would realize he did not mean her or her band any harm. But that was before she screamed at him while trumpeting and stomping the ground with her powerful legs. It was evident that she wanted him to know he had invaded her territory and it would not be tolerated, still Jon’lan stood firm. Finally when the Matriarch quieted Jon’lan slowly removed the huge leaf bundle that he carried and laid it gently upon the grass at his feet.

  The Matriarch did not understand why the creature had no fear of her and was surprised enough to stumble backward when he laid his leaf bundle down and gently rolled it towards her. She knew that there was no way she could chew the large leaves of her youth, the ones that she loved with their bittersweet taste and healing benefits. But as she watched, the compacted bundle broke and fell apart and she saw that the leaves had been mashed somehow and it appeared that the smallest breeze would blow them away.

  Taking her trunk she nudged the leaves gently while keeping a wary eye on the creature, carefully she lifted away a few pieces and brought them into her mouth, she grunted in satisfaction at the taste and even though she knew it would only result in her spitting them out she tried to chew them against her nubby teeth and gums. It was with surprise and delight that she realized the leaves fairly melted away with the first mash of her chewing. She swallowed convulsively against her own reasoning and closed her eyes, showing amazingly long lashes, only to open them swiftly and stare again at this odd creature that brought her gifts.