Giad had already made his way shyly to his mother wishing her goodnight and allowing her to ruffle his hair and check him for scratches and burrs. Star Feather knew that the boy was smart and well able to care for himself, but she was able to spend more time with Yaa during the day walking and often talking quietly with the girl.
They had easily bonded as mother and daughter, it was more difficult to bond with Giad since he was gone much of the day following Anaay around with an adoring expression. Star Feather insisted upon this nightly ritual and she knew secretly the Giad enjoyed the attention. Boys of his age did not want to be kissed or hugged too much by their mothers; even older women who were not their mothers knew this. But Star Feather would not be denied the right of a mother to touch and comfort, even to some small extent, her growing son.
Each night she found something to fret over, ruffling his slightly curly hair and tugging on his ear or gently pinched a cheek while she prodded his lean arms and legs for scratches, nits or ticks. Sometimes he laughed in embarrassment but other times he had such a serious look on his face, such a look of yearning that her heart trembled. It was in those moments that she was glad, glad that she had been blessed with these children not of her own body but of her heart. She knew that if a time came when she had more children she could not love them any greater than she did these.
Rhea knew pain beyond imagining. She tracked Anaay as far as she could manage with her injury, finding various grasses to eat and finally surviving on water alone before time and pain had taken its toll. She lay completely exposed in the sun, dazed by pain and hunger. At night the bright orb rose into the sky shedding gentle light over the deserted land and she watched through dying eyes which finally closed of their own volition. Her ears could still hear sound, but she could not bring herself to fight for life any longer.
The pain in her foreleg had gradually ceased to exist, the burning sting of the arrow no longer festered. Her nose brought scent to her and she knew, as she had known for several days that she was being stalked.
She felt no fear at this knowledge, only a desire to fight, but lacked the strength to carry out her will. Finally with death closing around her she saw that which had stalked her for many days now.
Never having seen another of her kind she did not at first recognize the animal. Her heart thudded against her chest in silent wonder when she saw that it was a male of her species.
Her senses told her that he was one of her own line. He was magnificent to look upon, two hands taller than she was and all brawny muscle and sinuous flesh. He approached her slowly and sniffed her wound, she did not flinch when his tongue touched her torn flesh, she did not flinch when with his teeth he grabbed hold of her neck and began dragging her away.
Rhea knew that she could bring down an animal twice her size when she had her full strength. Not only could she kill with her sharp teeth and claws but she was capable of climbing a tree with her prey held between iron jaws to enjoy her meal in peace.
Her captor carried her away as if she weighed nothing at all and her paws barely skimmed the ground as they traveled. Still she was relieved when he finally laid her down and along the way she had realized that he did not mean to devour her.
Gently he prodded and pushed her with his nose until he had positioned her just so. They were inside a deep dark cave now and Rhea could hear the hiss of steam, her eyes were black slits and her weakness was complete. Finally he prodded her just enough that her paw entered the steaming waters that bubbled up from the ground. Rhea felt no pain and she did not know fear.
She was gently floating away and as if sensing her departure the big cat that had carried her so far gently bit down on the back of her neck until pain finally throbbed through her.
Rhea snarled as his teeth tightened upon her throat and neck. The male cat growled low in his throat and only when she moved to thrust him from her body did he gentle his teeth.
Finally he released her as she lay panting with half of her body hanging into the bubbling spring. Rhea felt him leave her and then as her eyes closed again she smelled blood. The male placed a hare that he had recently killed for himself directly in front of her.
Rhea reacted in a natural, base way, going on instinct alone she fed. The male interrupted her with a growl only when she moved her injured foreleg out of the spring.
Rhea growled in return and pulled the rest of the meal with her into the shallow heated pool. She was not surprised that he could communicate his wishes to her with a look or a sound.
As she fed, strength began to return to her by varying degrees. She lay exhausted by her efforts in the hot spring with her head supported by the rocks at the edge of the pool.
Sniffing her ears, eyes and nose the male seemed satisfied and only then with a warning growl did he retreat. Rhea closed her eyes but her senses were completely alive again. Her body willed itself to heal and her stomach clenched with the need to feed yet again.
The hot spring soothed her injuries and lulled her into a restless sleep and she did not stir again until the male returned. This time he came to her with green grasses that he had torn from the edge of the cavern.
He lay these in front of her nose and though they did not appeal to Rhea, some instinct, some deep knowing that was at work inside of her body forced her to eat. Not only did she devour these but twice more he returned and sat watching as she fed.
Time had no meaning as she lay in the hot water for what felt like time beyond time. In some moments she would feel the pain of her leg surge over her and then begin to lesson and finally disappear.
The male cared for her needs as the sun rose and set day by day. Rhea noticed that he had begun to lose some of the weighty flesh that made him so wondrous to look upon. On the fourth day she realized that he had been hunting and eating only small portions so that she could eat her fill and regain her strength.
As the fifth day dawned Rhea stretched and with his prodding she stood upon the ground of the cave on all four legs. She looked down at her foreleg and gently prodded and licked the tender area. She expected to find pain and the bad smells that had surrounded her only days before. Instead her wound had begun to heal and close. Rhea found that she could place almost her full weight upon the leg and walk with no noticeable limp.
The male began to clean first her face and then her legs and paws. At some point during the past few days she had ceased fighting the male and some instinct inside of her knew that he had chosen her for his mate.
As the male stroked his tongue over her ears and nose Rhea purred in unabashed pleasure and rested passively beside him as she fell into a natural slumber with the hiss of the spring at her back and the beat of the male’s heart thrumming with life nearby.
Roark took up the evening guard, walking silently between where the women and children slept closest to the fire and then carefully around Jon’lan and Giad. Just beyond the reaches of the fire he could make out the form of Anaay, who lay with his body curled tightly against the chill of the mountain. Roark could not understand the young man’s ability to stay warm so far away from the fire.
Perhaps it was due to the face that Anaay had lived for so long on his own without the comforts of hearth and home that he was immune to the cold. Life had not been kind to the young man, but finally in this barren place he had found a home and a band to call his own. Roark’s dark gaze fell upon the beautiful face of his wife and he smiled as she gently repositioned their son even as she slept.
Star Feather, his greatest treasure and beloved evening star. The weight of the world settled upon his shoulders as his piercing eyes flashed to the trail behind them. Then as if he could not stop himself from avoiding it any longer he sought the passes of the mountain that they would journey through on the morrow.
In the darkness he could not see the void, but his hunter’s instinct could sense it there before him. The wind that shrieked through the narrow passage seemed to scream at him in triumph for it had laid bare his fear.
Eve
n as he stood guard over his loved ones he feared that the mountain would seek vengeance upon those who dared trespass upon it. He did not wish to think of losing even one of his band members but it seemed as if he could dwell on nothing else.
Roark glanced toward the fire, but he was startled to find Taikiuu sitting beside his wife and son. In the flickering light he knew that she could read the fear in his eyes. With a reassuring smile she took her hands and placed them gently upon the heads of Star Feather and his unnamed son and then upon Yaa and Mar-ee.
Roark did not know if she blessed them, but he took it to mean that she did. Somehow by this gesture alone his courage was bolstered and the fear abated leaving him filled with hopel.
Taikiuu held eye contact with her band brother until he looked away and she was glad that he did, for she could not hold on to such a calm face for long. Certainly, not when her heart thundered in fear at what lay ahead of them.
She took one breath and then another until her breathing calmed. She knew also as she gazed at her sleeping husband with his furrowed brow that he dreamed of their fate and she wished him peace and calm on this cold dark night.
With everything in her, she willed peace and calm to him and even as she watched his brow relaxed and his breathing deepened. Only then did Taikiuu position herself closer to the little ones and then lay back down to sleep.
In the morning frost covered the ground for as fas as the eye could see. The girls huddled near the fire for warmth and Taikiuu and Star Feather made quick work of packing their sleeping things and breaking camp.
Jon’lan pulled from his trading pack several tightly wrapped bundles which he distributed to Roark and then Anaay. Finally he came over to the group of women and unwrapped several furs before their startled eyes. Taikiuu gasped as she saw a warm fur parka which would drape well past the knees. It was white and feather soft when she touched it, holding it gently to her face.
Jon’lan took the time to look upon his young wife with tenderness before turning his attention to their daughters. Kii stood solemnly as Jon’lan made a special presentation of offering her a choice of two different parkas. Taikiuu watched in pride as Kii blushed prettily and then chose the fur which would compliment her coloring.
Mar-ee rose on tip toe to see what her father would give to her and she squealed in glee when he picked her up and kissed her chubby cheeks before tucking her into her very own parka made of soft fur. As each person stood admiring their new garments Jon’lan’s voice drew their attention.
“Today, we travel into the Great Mountain passage. We must travel many footsteps to complete this journey. I have never traveled this way before. I only know the stories of our ancestors and I know that such things have been done and can be done again. At all times will you be tied on to this rope. No one will stray from their assigned place.” Jon’lan paused to look each person in the eye and he was not surprised to see Anaay’s nostrils flare in challenge. But as Jon’lan looked upon his hearth son the boy finally looked away.
Sometimes Anaay seemed more of a wild animal than a young man, but if he wanted to belong to this band, he must live by their rules. Especially when those rules were for his own safety. Jon’lan realized that the young man might not want to be tied, but this was how it would be.
“I have only a few foot coverings to offer you. If you have brought any along that would keep you warm this would be a good thing.” Jon’lan waited as each person went through their supplies.
At this Roark nodded his head and Star Feather pitched in. “My husband carries the moccasins that I made for him as a wedding gift. I also have moccasins that are very warm and tall. From these I can make a pair for my son or daughter.” Star Feather knew that this was a new band but old traditions die a brittle death.
In her first village although children were highly valued, the boys were of more value than girls. If there were times of hunger, the boy children rarely saw it. Girls were always fed last and valued least.
In this instance she did not know which tradition to follow, but she would walk barefoot over ice before her daughter felt the cold on her own small feet. Roark stepped forward but he did not need to speak for Jon’lan had already begun cutting strips of hide and fur from his own sleeping blanket.
The blanket was made of an animal’s fur that Roark did not recognize, but Jon’lan called it Bison. Once again Roark felt the pride of a man that followed a good leader.
Though Jon’lan was young, his sense of fairness was good and reasonable. Star Feather smiled a mother’s smile of relief as she began fitting Yaa for moccasins of her own.
Giad stood next in line as he waited patiently for his turn. Star Feather smiled at Giad in appreciation for he was ever patient with his little sister and this did not go unnoticed by his mother or father.
Jon’lan saw that Anaay carried his first pair of foot coverings in his hands as if they were a live animal ready to leap at him at any moment. Jon’lan demonstrated how they were to be worn and Anaay followed his instructions.
Anaay preferred to walk barefoot, but that would not be possible when they made their way through the snow covered mountain. Taikiuu was busy fitting Mar-ee into her first pair of moccasins and with the help of Kii they made quick work of the sewing. A bone needle was used and Kii was very proud of her invention. She pierced a hole through one end of the material and used a length of twine to work as the string that knit both pieces of fur tightly together. When Kii was done she knew that the moccasin would be warm and because of the animal fur, almost completely water proof.
Taikiuu’s stitches were tight and firm, she had spent many hours with Kii learning how to knit and sew. Kii, her daughter was fast becoming a young woman and Taikiuu only hoped that the girl would make it through the mountain passes before coming into her full woman time. She deserved a ceremony to mark the occasion and with the way Kii’s eyes strayed to Anaay at every opportunity she also knew the young one deserved to relieve her heart, for surely it was fit to bursting with anticipation.
Anaay tried his best to ignore Kii’s lingering gaze and it would be easy to do if she were not so strikingly pretty. Of course he had seen other girls before, long ago. But he had been a boy then, even younger than Giad and at that time girls were of little interest to him. Now as he felt the warmth of Kii’s eyes upon him his entire body tensed as if she had touched his shoulder with her small hand. Anaay looked at his hearth mother to see if she watched him and sure enough her eyes flitted calmly over to him and then back to Kii. He struggled with tying the strings of his moccasins and looked away as a shadow fell upon him. Kii knelt beside him knowing that he had not seen her approach, but his nostrils flared and she was surprised to realize that he could smell her nearness.
“Mother says I can help you with your strings.” Kii spoke quietly and her voice was like a song to his heart. Anaay was tongue tied, too surprised by her nearness to speak and so he clumsily stuck out his leg and waited. Kii hid a smile but her laughter floated up to him like the trilling of a small bird. Anaay realized that a silly grin wanted to force its way to his lips and he scowled instead. Kii caught Anaay’s smile before it transformed into a fierce look of displeasure and this caused her to laugh merrily again.
She deftly tied and untied the strings of his foot coverings as she showed him how to do the same. Her voice was soft and sang a gentle song about a rabbit being chased by the fox over and under and through. It made sense to Anaay and he quickly caught on. Kii wished that she could stay by Anaay’s side forever as he looked at her with pride after tying his moccasins again for her approval.
Kii smiled her encouragement, but she knew that her mother had granted her this time with him as a reprieve, in the eyes of her band she was still a child though well into her fifteenth season. She stood slowly as if each step away from Anaay would pain her. Anaay’s eyes had been alight with happiness but he knew that their time had come to an end. He could only look at her as she smiled and slowly backed away from him, ducking her
head in shyness at his bold gaze. Finally under the watchful gaze of his hearth father, Anaay tore his eyes away from Kii but not before whispering softly so that only she could hear, “Soon.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jon’lan looked over at his wife who was smiling sweetly at Mar-ee while watching Kii return to her side. He could not imagine his life without her and he wondered if that was the frustration that Anaay was feeling at this moment. He sighed and said a prayer to the heavens that perhaps Kii could come into her woman time a little more quickly. Roark slapped him on the back in agreement as if Jon’lan had spoken aloud and both men shared a laugh.
Giad ran to join Anaay grateful to be back with his friend. His father had gently but forcibly restrained him when he started to join Anaay while Kii was visiting. He was surprised, because he had not meant to interrupt the two, just join in their laughter. He was oblivious to Kii’s feelings and Anaay had seemed moody for as long as Giad had known him. But that did not stop the boy from declaring that Anaay was his friend and band brother. Surely no one except his own father and uncle was a better tracker and hunter than Anaay. Giad smiled at Anaay and showed him his moccasins with boyish excitement.
Taikiuu watched her small band go about the preparations for their travel through the mountain passes. She checked her belongings and found that her herbs were intact. There were many things that she carried that could be used for healing or even the seasoning of food. Each pouch was tied tightly with a colored string. She knew what was inside each pouch based upon the color and smell. Mar-ee watched her mother and signed that she would like to know the contents too.
Taikiuu smiled and patiently explained the contents of each pouch and what they were used for. She wasn’t sure how much Mar-ee was able to understand with only four seasons behind her in age, but the little girl listened with rapt attention and asked question after question until Taikiuu felt that her fingers couldn’t sign any faster and finally spoke, “I will tell you more on our journey, little one.”
Keeper of the People (Book One) Page 35