Chapter Six

I woke up to something poking my side. No matter how many times I swiped at it, it kept poking me so I gave up and got up. It was actually Vuela poking my with a stick.

"wha…right, we can't touch." Still sleeply, I woke up the other two just as roughly as retribution.

Sleepily we gathered at the front of the hut to eat the breakfast Vuela had made. It was still dark out so Vuela actually got up about an hour earlier to cook the rice and vegetabes for us to eat. I put as much sincerity as I could in my thank you. Vuela smiled and said she was happy her brothers were happy.

"Brothers, today will be hard and the others will make it harder so be strong." She said to us.

"…why?" I asked her.

"That is just how men are."

When it was time to go, the men canted 'hoo hoo hoo!'. Vuela walked us to the entrance of the hut and waved us off. Tanya never did anything close to that when I went to work. And I hated my job, to have someone pleasant to come back to would make it worth it.


"Did you make sure to sleep away from our Vuela?" Lorent asked.

"Yes of course, she slept in the back of the hut, far from the enterance so the wind didn't chill her." I answered. If it weren't for James she would have slept in the front of the house. Vuela didn't have anyone to look after her and James knew the customs better than we did and he was the one who told her where to sleep. It seemed it was awkward for her too, she must be used to living alone. And certainly not with strangers.

"Good, that is good; remember she is yur little sister."

"Yes sir." We chorused, making the others laugh.

"Teniendo esa ropa, el no va poder ser mucho ayuda."

"Ahuas, el es blanco también." Mika and Tilar said. James wasn't nearby so I couldn't ask him to translate but it couldn't have been good. Mika was looking at me like he was bothered by me.

(with those clothes, he can't be much help-careful, he is white too)

"It will be too dangerous for you three to hunt so you will only help set up traps, skin the animal and cut it." Lorent said.

"Are you the leader of the tribe or?" I asked

"No, the eldest of the group leads. I am eldest in this group so I lead. Who is eldest in yours?"

"Us three?"

"Si."

"I guess I am, I'm thirty-four migrations." Instead of years they said migrations.

"Are you married?" The others listened in carefully.

"I was, I'm not anymore."

"Why not?"

"No la cuido bien." Tilar said to Mika. I furrowed my eyebrows. I learned yesterday 'cuido' means care and since he sounded negative I felt I was being accused of not taking care of my woman properly.

"I did take care of her, she didn't take care of me like I did for her and she took my daughters away. They hate me now."

It was a quiet and awkward hike from then on.


I helped with the traps, and helped carrying the meat back. It was spectacular, the welcoming back. The women clapped at the men who carried the meat, telling them 'good job' and Bella waited, sitting in the door frame of the hut, her long legs dangling off the edge. I waved at her and she waved back.

We waited patiently for our family's share; Mika who got it his share before us ran to Bella. He was trying to show her he could take care of her. For some reason that felt wrong. James looked concerned too and that was when Eric started wondering.

"Looks like Vuela might get married this year. Don't interfere with Mika for her sake, and when we get there we must act like her older brothers and watch him but sit away from him on her left side."

I suppose she couldn't remain the tribe's daughter forever.

"Edward, take the meat and take it to her; you have to make sure Mika keeps his distance. Eric and I will do get vegetables."

I practically ran, Mika was already inside for a while now.

When I got into the hut, Mika was chopping the meat with a smile on his face while Vuela watched from five feet away.

"Isn't that not allowed? Doesn't he have to bring it to you already chopped?"

"Habla nuestra lenguaje." Mika grumbled (speak our language)

"No seas malo, es tu hermano." (don't be bad, he's your brother)

"He does but he's the only one bringing me meat since I turned sixteen, the age girls usually get married. Before it was like that, already in pieces, but because no one else brought me food…I depend on him now and he acts like a husband though he hasn't given me flowers. He's told me he's interested but he can't because he is afraid I will say no. And I will, I don't want to marry him; that is why I show no emotion when he's here."

Mika looked between us.

"W-why not?" Even though Mika didn't understand english I still felt uncomfortable speaking about him infront of him.

"I…don't feel good around him. How the other wives are to their husbands, I don't…I'm not capable to be like that, at least not with him. But no one else feeds me,"

"And who will make sure you have food for the rest of your life," I finished for her.

"Exactly."

"Sta listo." (It's ready)

Vuela thanked him in her tribe's way and Mika left without another smile since I entered.

"I don't like him at all now that I see he is not nice to my brothers. I hope you being my brother he will stay away." She said with a shy smile.

"Don't tell okay?" I guess it wasn't common for a woman to be other than nice.

"I promise." I said crossing my heart.

"What is that?"

"It means if I tell my heart will stop and I will die as punishment." She looked pensive now.

"What can I do in return?"

"uh…you don't have to do anything at all, you're doing enough now for the three of us." James and Eric came in then.

"I will make a feast then, we have more than enough meat!" Vuela cried happily.

It was odd sitting while she chopped the vegetables with a dull knife. I was tired from the hunting but when I was married to Tanya we ate a lot of ready meals. I suddenly though I should stop thinking about Tanya. I was right in leaving her and if I wanted a better life for myself I had to go in the opposite direction of Tanya. I had to learn to chose things and a wife that is best for me like these people here.

Maybe that's why their bodies don't mean anything, I mean, the men aren't after getting into their pants, the women don't have any! I chuckled to myself.

"I'm glad big brother is happy again," Vuela said.

The people here were able to focus on the person themselves and that was a fascinating thing.

AN: By the way, this is totally made up and the tribe language is shortend spanish. From Esta to Sta sort of like 'it is' to 'it's.