One

The sun was setting low over the forest as Torak sat by the fire, whittling his new grouse bone whistle. Every now and then, he glanced over towards his best friend, Renn. She was busy helping his kinsman, Bale fix his skinboat which had almost been totally destroyed during the flood two moons previously. Jealousy was pulsing through his veins like the venom of a viper. She'd hardly spoken to him since he'd found out about her mother. Seeing as though she wouldn't talk to him, she spent all of her time with Bale instead. Torak felt as if he were being replaced. Suddenly he realized he was still whittling away and then looked down at his whistle; it was now only about the size of his little finger. Sighing, he discarded it and stood up, only to be knocked to the ground again. Wolf had just returned from hunting and had pounced on Torak, play biting and licking him. After a long play fight, Wolf trotted towards the forest and began to chew the hare that he'd caught. For a while he watched Wolf devour his hare until something caught his eye; Renn had left Bale and was now following the clan leader (her uncle) Fin-Kedinn into his shelter. Silently, Torak followed.

Renn entered the all-familiar shelter of her uncle. Everything was how it used to be. Curious to find out what her uncle wanted, she stopped and sat down on a pile of animal skins.

"Renn," said Fin-Kedinn, his eyes meeting hers. "As you are fully aware, it is your fourteenth birth-night soon. You may not be aware but fourteen is an important age for all young men and women." He paused. Renn wasn't sure, but she thought she heard sorrow in his voice. He coughed then continued. "At fourteen, it is the clan law that all girls and boys leave their birth clan and join the clan of their clan leader's choice." Renn's breath was caught in her throat.

"B-but," she stammered, unable to believe what her uncle had just said. "I'll have to leave you and everyone else. Will Torak…"

She looked at Fin-Kedinn, who shook his head.

"No. Torak has already left his birth clan and is being fostered by me. He won't be coming with you." At this, tears began to well up inside her. She might not ever see Wolf or Torak again.

"You will be fostered by the Deep Forest clan, the Foxes. Next summer you can return to the Ravens if you wish, although many don't." His face looked grave. Inside, Renn could tell he didn't want her to leave, but had no choice. "You leave tomorrow. You should start to pack now." Renn left, failing to hold back her tears any longer. If she looked behind her, she would have seen a single tear fall from her uncle's eyes and would have realized how much this was costing him.

Torak sank to the floor beside the shelter. He couldn't believe it. His only friend was to leave the clan and might not ever return. His head was spinning. If anything happened to her in the Deep Forest, he wouldn't find out until it was too late. The forest seemed to whisper about what it had heard. The weather also reflected his feelings; soon it began to rain. Unable to take it any longer, Torak stood up and began to search for Renn. He found her, sat underneath a sturdy oak, her head in her arms. Cautiously, he approached her.

"Renn," he said softly as he knelt beside her. "I know about… and I really want you to stay. I know you don't want to leave either. Is there anything…" Torak stopped as Renn raised her head. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying. Everything that had happened in the past moons was forgotten.

"Torak," she said, tears still streaming down her face. "There is-s nothing, nothing you c-can d-d-do. I have t-to go t-tomo-r-rrow." Fresh tears rolled down Renn's pale face as she let out a howl of misery. Torak put a hand on her shoulder and handed her some cloth to wipe her eyes on. She gave him a forced smile and handed him back the cloth.

"Renn, who are the Fox Clan, I've never herd of them," said Torak, being careful not to upset Renn.

"The Foxes are a Deep Forest Clan," Renn told him. "Not many people have herd of them, they're very secretive, like their clan-creature. I don't know any Fox Clan people, I'm going to be rather lonely…" she said, a few more tears running down her face. At that moment, Bale sat down beside them. Renn then told him everything. By the end of it she was sobbing once more and Bale quickly came to her comfort. Torak felt something burn in his heart, but he didn't know what.

"But it's impossible!" cried Bale, making Torak start. "In my clan, girls don't have to leave. They can stay if they wish. All the sea clans are the same." Torak sighed.

"Bale, this is forest clan law, it's different to sea law and the north law. You're allowed to kill hunters, like the whale and the seal. We're not." Bale looked a little down-hearted at this.

"But what's going to happen in the search for the fire opal? I've got go back to the sea tomorrow and Renn's leaving tomorrow too? You can't do it by yourself, Torak." Said Bale, frowning.

"He's right, Torak. You can't do this by yourself." Whispered Renn, her face full of sorrow.

"We'll manage somehow." muttered Torak before getting up and walking into the night.