Life Happens chapter seven: Acceptance

Just two days after Earth's thirteen birthday, Grey Wolf and Spotted Fawn pledged their love to each other in front of the whole tribe. Earth was so happy to be gaining, officially, a father, though she had always considered him that. She decided that she would spend the night with Water so her mother and father could have some time together. Water, though happy for her to stay, had mentioned she could stay the night with a friend. Surely she had made a few by now. That's when Earth told her that none of the children wanted to be her friend, and that they called her the half-bred. Water was saddened by this, but over the weeks she noticed the young girl seemed to not care as she was intuned to her studies of the ways of the white men and their practicing. Still concerned about her lack of friends, Rippling Water asked to speak with Spotted Fawn and Grey Wolf that evening.

"She's used to not having children her age around. Growing up, all se had was me, the animals and later on Ravenhold." Fawn looked sad at remembering the stallion that had been her daughter's best friend for so long. Earth had not avoided horses after his death, but she had not let herself get close to another horse.

"She doesn't seem to be unhappy," Wolf noted. "I know she missed Ravenhold, but she plays with other animals, does her studies well, practices with you, Water."

"But I worry that she has no friends her age. If she goes to collage like she says she wants to, she won't have any people skills."

"Her people skills are fine," Fawn said protectively.

"She talks to you, Wolf, me, the chief and...the animals," Water pointed out. "She needs human friends. Did you know the children call her the half-bred?" Fawn and Wolf just sat there and stared at their friend. She was a little older than them, and much wiser; but they knew Earth was used to being alone save for her animals.

About that time, Earth, who had listened to the whole conversation, steeped out of her shadows. She was still young, now only fifteen. Wolf had married her mother two years ago, were expecting their first child together, though Wolf considered Earth his own, and she had coped well with leaving her meadow; but now as well with the loss of Ravenhold. But with all the hurt brought on by that, she used it to fuel her desire to help the tribe by becoming a layer. She had wished to help her tribe by fighting the government, but not with her bow and arrows. This decision had mapped the course of her life. She had entered into private schools taking the name Morgana Greywolf, and in a few years she would be graduating with honors, though never once attending lower level classes.

Now, she was standing near her family's fire, bow in hand, quiver on her back, and knife strapped to her narrow hips. She was wearing an outfit Wolf, her father, had made her.

"For the record," she said in a very lawyer-like voice, "I am use to not having friends. I had Mother, Father, the animals when I discovered I could talk to them, and...Ravenhold." She paused and blinked back a tear. "I like my solitude. I have time to concentrate on my studies, to practice with my bow and knife, and to further develop my powers." She started to walk away, but turned around to say, "I no longer care that they call me the 'half-bred.' I can be them any day. They can never be me." With that said, she walked away from the three adults, the glow of the fire shadowing her leave.

"Just think," the young girl said to her best friend, "now we may be able to hunt with the men."

"I know. This so exciting." The other girl cried.

Earth had just come back from her trek to the meadow, and the memorial made for Ravenhold, and was curious as to the reason for the gathering.

"What's going on?" she asked of two girls near her age standing in the back.

"The chief is about to make an announcement," one said, then snickered to her friend. Earth paid little attention to the 'half-bred' insult the girls gave and moved closer to the front. She wanted to hear everything her grandfather said.

She hadn't quite gotten use to calling or even thinking of him as that though it had nearly been three years. Her sixteenth birthday was tomorrow, and she had planned to visit the meadow and memorial again, but when she heard what the chief was saying, she was going to change her plans.

"My people," Chief Whispering Wind called out raising his hands high above his head for all to see. "It has come to my attention that after years of battles with the white men and our neighboring tribes we have had many years of peace. With this peace I had hoped that those lost from us would be replaced by a new generation of warriors protecting our home. We have few hunters left." His head was hung in sorrow, his hands at his side. "That is why, from this day forth, men and women from the age of sixteen up are allowed and asked to hunt." There was a roar of happy cheers from the people below. "Tomorrow, after the sun rises in the East, there will be a great hunt for all of our new hunters. Take this day and rest. For tomorrow you will need your strength."

He left his ledge, the Ledge of Knowledge, and joined his son on the ground. Spotted Fawn was standing with them and watched Earth walk over to a couple of girls. Her expression that of the fox, a trickster. When Earth walked over to them she was smiling ear to ear.

"Mother, Father," she said softly, "I wish to go hunting tomorrow. To become a new huntress for the tribe. I wish to help my people in any, every way."

"Young Earth," Whispering Wind stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder. "You have my blessing for a great hunt. Go and rest now."

"Thank you, Grandfather Chief." That was the easiest thing to call him. It fit both aspects. She headed to her tipi, her mother following.

"What did you say to those two girls before coming over?" she asked in a parental voice.

"I just told them I was sorry they had to wait a few more years before they could join the hunt," Earth answered honestly, and walked away.

"That girl. No wonder she has no friends."

The next morning, Earth was up before everyone else. She was busy preparing her bow and arrowheads and knife. Finally the rest of the village woke up, and she was ready for the hunt. After a short speech by the chief, the hunt began. Earth watched as everyone headed off in relatively the same direction. She followed, then after a few yards doubled-back past the village to the east. She knew where good meadows full of deer would make a great hunting ground. She had hunted there before, secretly, a few times for small game. And only when she seriously needed to.

It was a sacred place to the deer, and she did not want to make it public knowledge to her tribe. For that had been the deal between herself and the deer folk. She could hunt on rare occasions, but she could never tell where she hunted. Until lately, she couldn't even say she was hunting. It would not be a hard secret to keep.

She reached the meadow. Bucks and does as far as the meadow stretched, all grazing peacefully. Skillfully, she brought her bow up, and pulled an arrow from the quiver. Her steady aim leveled on one of the larger bucks, an older one close to the end of his life. He had a large rack, fine hide, and plenty of meat. She released the arrow. It struck the vital area, and the buck fell over, dead. No suffering, a clean kill. The way she liked it. For she was so close to the animals she could feel their pain, and did not want them to suffer.

She walked to the fallen stag, kneeled beside it, and gave thanks for it and the meat and warmth it would bring. After gutting it and throwing the insides to the crows, she carried it back it back to the village. It was a large buck, but nothing she couldn't handle thanks to her gift.

When she returned to the village, she walked straight through the southern entrance as though that was where she had been. With everyone watching her, she carried her kill through the village to the chief's tipi. Stopping outside, she said, "Great Chief Whispering Wing, I bring you a great kill to feed out great people."

The chief stepped out to see his granddaughter, and was surprised by the large, meaty buck hung over her shoulders. "Granddaughter Nature, this is a magnificent kill." She placed it on the ground in front of him. "The spirits have blessed you greatly. Your first kill has proven you will be a great huntress." He walked over to her. "You are to keep the antlers and hide as a reminder of your first hunt."

"May I also have the legs, Grandfather Chief? From the knee down."

"Why, my Nature?"

"So that I may have his speed." She bowed.

"Then you shall have them," he answered her.

"Thank you."

So that the rest could hear, he said, "Go and rest, young Nature, you have had a successful day." She bowed again and returned to her tipi.

Later that evening, while Earth was completing her studies, Grey Wolf brought the antlers and legs from her kill.

"The hide will take longer. It's being tanned for you." She took the objects and looked over them. "What are you going to do with them, daughter?" he asked crouching by her, looking at one of the legs in his hands.

"I hadn't thought about it," she contested, laughing. "I don't even know why I asked for them."

"Keep them. Whether you find use or not. Keep them."

"Thank you, Father," she said as he was walking out.

"For what?" he asked turning back around.

"Teaching me to hunt."

"You must thank your mother and Water as well."

"Yes, but you were the one who took me hunting with you. Taught me to give thanks to the animal. Not just for it."

"If you'd really like to thank Water, your mother, and myself," he spoke softy, "Keep those lessons with you, always."

"I will, Father."

"That's my girl. Finish your studies, then rest. You've had a long day." He walked out.

'My girl.' The thought in her mind felt better then the honor of her first official hunt. She had a father, and he accepted her, as her. His daughter.

End chapter seven. 8 coming.