Chapter 3 - Questioning a God's Power

Finding the river that ran through the glacier, the Winchester clan followed it to discover god-given land! Although, the soil was wet as a swamp due to the rapid melting, quickly the brood moved along, making distance between them and the glacier. If one were to look, it just seemed like they were looking up a slope of a mountain. But ahead of them is what mattered most, the woods they wandered into. Night was coming, so they had to find shelter and quickly.

"I don't think we can set up tents on this soil Claude," said Judy's father, who pulled a chunk of bark off the tree and placed it in a pouch, under his bear skin parka.

K sighed and ran a dirty mitt over his tousled hair, "Yeah, I know. We'll have to wait for daybreak on those rocks I think." It was the only thing around to keep them off the mud for awhile. He feared what he'd feel like by morning.

"Argh! You led us into a bog you idiot!" cried Reiji, eyes flashing with rage.

K glared back at her, brows knotted with anger.

"But he lead us to land Reiji…we won't have to endure much longer, have faith," spoke Judy's mother.

"It's alright, let her complain," K suggested with a wave of his hand, playing it cool. "Instead of whining Reiji, why don't you listen to your spirit and hunt us some food?"

Reiji straightened with idle fury; she narrowed her eyes and stormed off. How dare he throw her totem at her that way!?

Everyone watched her leave and Ark spoke up, "She's just tired and hungry…tomorrow things will look different I'm sure."

"Yes," Judy said quietly, eyes glancing from Ark to K.

When all was quiet, K climbed up onto a large boulder with a large piece of pine tree bark and tore off soft sweet parts with his teeth. He sat huddling his knees to his chest to keep in what body heat he could, although it was warmer down here than it was on the ice. Still, he ached internally and externally as he kept watch over everyone situated close by. Maybe he'd sleep some, but he'd rather make sure the group was safe in case any large animals came around. This was after all foreign land. He wasn't sure how far they'd travelled; all he knew was to follow the rising sun. And right now, it was hard to hear with the roar of the rushing river close by but at least his ear drums returned to normal in the last few days. K thought about his parents, he missed them terribly and looked up to see a sliver of a moon, which would be full in the next few days. This he knew. He reclined on the rock and watched the moon above, wishing he was on a field; hunting. Ideas swam through his mind about making weapons, but he also wondered if his parents could see him now from up there among the stars. He wished he could ask them about his recurring dream; his mother had been so full of knowledge, she could have explained it to him.

But as peaceful as this night was, he couldn't shake the feeling that something erroneous was happening around him. It was foreboding this sense and he wondered what it was. He thought of Ark and why he was over reacting today. Why had he looked at him that way? What was on his mind? K swallowed the fibrous bark and sighed. No. It was nothing, he concluded, just the results from lack of sleep, food and warmth. Nothing made sense while they roamed like a nomads; he needed to find shelter—a home, as soon as possible.

Or this is what K wanted to believe.

In the next few days, K led them even further south, the stench of wet earth thick and dank all around them. They walked easily a good twenty miles a day and the group seemed even grimmer than before. Their clothes and shoes were clogged with cold black mud, which seemed to make its way up their legs as they shambled along. It chilled right to the bone. Even though they could build fire now with all the wood around, it didn't seem to matter. By the time they started moving again, they would be back in ankle deep mud.

Roar!

Everyone stopped dead and gaped at the large brown bear that stood ahead of them. It was mangy, muddy and it looked hungry. It opened its maw and gave a feral growl, displaying a mouthful of sharp teeth.

Before anyone could blink, it charged right after Judy.

She screamed and turned to run, but the thick mud prevented a quick dash. She fell to her knees and tried to scramble to get away, crawling with all her effort. "I can't die…not yet!" she cried.

"NO!" hollered Ark wildly and dove after the bear. He jumped onto the bear's back, grabbing onto its fur with a death grip.

K moved fast and went after the bear with his spear, but just as he reached within striking distance the beast reared, making him stumble and land on his rear in the mud. It tried to shake Ark off wildly and fell over in its struggle, pinning the dark-haired man to the ground. But the mud cushioned his fall and all who had spears readied them until a rabid cry pierced the day.

"Eeee…yah!"

Everyone, even the bear, turned to see Reiji.

It roared angrily at her.

"The heavens brought you and you're mine to slay!" she cried, striking the animal right through the heart with an experienced aim. The bear's soul immediately lifted from its eyes and it ran off to escape the humans…to die in peace.

The clan gave chase to finish it off, including K. It was the way of survival, animals provided food. Praising their god, the tribe gave thanks for the meat she delivered to them in their most dismal hour. Slicing open the belly with a very sharp piece of flint, K found the prize. It was the liver which was still deliciously warm, dripping with fresh blood. He held it up for the group to see, a symbol of his leadership, a reminder. The clan cheered, happiest they'd been in many, many days. As a rule chiefs got first bite of this trophy and K took it gratefully, the meat sliding down his throat with a loud gulp. He decided Ark would get the next bite and looked for him…only he wasn't with them. Suddenly he worried about Judy and backtracked.

Running back K stopped short; there they were lying in the mud holding each other as Judy shivered from her fright. K blinked and stood there awkwardly. Feeling suddenly jealous and enraged; he launched his spear, which landed inches from Ark's head in the mud.

He'd missed on purpose…

"Oh Claude!" Judy cried and pushed past Ark, rushing to K and wrapping her arms around his chest. "I was so scared!"

"The bear didn't get too far," he said scruffily, his eyes levelled on Ark in narrowed query. "I brought you this," K added coolly and held out the raw meat, which was still steaming on his palm.

Ark, who looked as if he ate a sour berry stood up and took the prize K offered. "Thank you…friend," he said tightly, taking the gift and walking off quickly towards the group without another word.

K's eyes followed after him closely and then went back to Judy. "Come on lets go see about salvaging as much as we can of that bear." He turned around and knelt in the mud, offering a piggyback to Judy so she wouldn't have to walk no more.

Gratefully she climbed on and wrapped her muddy arms around his neck.

A whole day had been spent working on the bear, making sure to attain anything useful that they could carry for a couple of days. It was too bad that some of it could only be left for scavengers because they had no real fire for smoking or a place to store it. But the next day brought them to a new setting. Out of the swamp they found flat barren land, the ground was soft but not soaked. In the distance were green hills and beyond that a ridge of rock. To the east hints of a body of water filled the air with a salty breeze and the sun brought warmth that kissed their faces. It would be an ideal place to set up camp for awhile…for a rest. It was also close to the large rapid river they were following from the glacier.

"We'll stop here," K announced and stabbed his spear into the earth like a marker, dropping his pack to the ground. He looked around and sniffed the air with closed eyes. Somewhere close by flowers bloomed; he could smell their fragrance on the breeze.

"Crocuses near by," Judy said coming up behind him. "Strong willed little flowers, reminds me of you."

K smiled and turned to look at her, "What do you think? It's not a bad place to call home for a little while hmm? We have the river, there has to be some life around here and I see plants growing everywhere. Do you think you can find medicinal growth here?"

"You always know how to sweet talk a girl," she said cheerfully. "And yes, this isn't bad but it will get wetter around here soon. We can't stay for too long."

"Yea, I know. But for now, we could stay put until the moon leaves and comes back again. It'll give us a chance to have our rites…Aurora could bless us with a child," K said eagerly, leaning in and nosing along Judy's neck. He wanted to give her what she asked for and he wanted the one thing he couldn't have until the ritual was performed.

Judy shivered at the touch; Claude was always able to touch her in just the right way. "Yes…yes of course. Let's set up camp right away I don't want to wait a moment longer." She couldn't wait a moment longer. She cast a culpable look at his cerulean blue eyes. "Please don't be angry with Ark, I didn't think we were going to make it this far…I got scared," Judy pleaded, watching him for a moment before she strode off.

K stared after her, Judy, destined to be his mate just like his parents were destined, because of his and her grandparents and so forth. It was tradition and it appeased their god, Ark knew that too. Judy wasn't his possession; no woman in their clan solely belonged to one man. Firstly, she belonged to Aurora—the female that came in the likeness of the god herself. But Ark would have to find his own mate that was it! He had to stop pining after Judy, she was his. Or, K liked to think so. Normally close friends didn't interfere with one's intended mate and satisfied themselves with other partners. Why did he have to start this? Judy would carry his child and continue the linage, that's what mattered…didn't it?

The blond hated all the questions he had in his mind!

Feeling his skin prickle, K looked over to catch Ark staring his way. It was as if Ark's hawk spirit was looking straight into his soul, watching the wolf. Everything was getting complex; suddenly it felt as if he was losing his best friend. Why couldn't it just be the way it used to be, why did it suddenly change? Was it because he'd become chief? Was Ark jealous of him?

If he only knew he'd gladly let him have it…

K knit his brows together before bending to unload his pack. He wouldn't give it another thought, Judy and he would be tied by the heavens and they would obey their god-given task before them. Ignoring Ark, he went about setting up camp for himself and for the others. He gathered wood and created a pit with rocks for a fire. Bunching up a stack of tinder, K used his flint and a gold type of shiny stone (pyrite). Smacking them together with precision he'd learned since he was a child, a spark jumped into the bed of tinder. Bending to blow, he stoked the flame and began adding the kindling.

When a fire was burning hot, he ordered all the bear meat to be cooked right away. Tonight they would feast! Off went some to find wood for a spit, their spirits already higher with the prospects of bellies full of juicy meat.

By sundown the flat acre of land was riddled with human life. Tents constructed snugly over beds of grass and leaves, furs lined the insides and were filled with their tools and belongings. Some had already gone to the river to wash the grime from their bodies and clothes. A few even dug out old projects and hummed a tune while working.

And somewhere in the distance Reiji practiced her slingshot.

In the Nakano camp Sakano drew a picture on the stone wall of the moon. He had, what one would call, a chart mapped out on the wall with charcoal. It told him the sequence of the moon, from new to waning crescent, its cycle. The moon was very important for perceiving when seasons would change, or when salmon were spawning or when tides would be high or low. It also symbolized purity; they would sing songs about it and tell tales of gods that dwelled upon its ivory surface.

It told them when the time came for their yearly journey south to the Uesugi camp for the "gathering", or as many called it the ceremony. Couples or people that have reached mating age between the camps would be joined under the full moon as mates, man and woman. By the time they reached the Uesugi camp it would be close to another full moon. It would take at least two weeks to travel there and then they would spend the next two weeks preparing for the festivities—a whole twenty-nine days Sakano had charted on this wall.

"Everything is almost packed Sakano," said a younger boy.

Sakano looked over at Suguru who was simply dressed in deerskin pants and covered in a sewn leather top. His feet were wrapped in bear skin, fur-side in, lashed tightly with sinew. In his small hands he held a pouch full of flint rock and igneous stones for knapping. Suguru, with the spirit of a shimarisu (the chipmunk), was a fine tool maker as well. He was the only one in camp that was skilled and precise enough to make a needle out of bone, and the only one that made the best sewn leather garments.

Sakano; ruled by his nervous rabbit totem replied, "I just know when we decide to leave, we'll have forgotten something."

Suguru sighed, "I'll make sure we don't."

There was a ruckus and Shuichi came barrelling past them, knocking into Sakano and causing his charcoal to create an askew moon.

Sakano's eyes rounded and he bellowed before tears spilled down his cheeks. "Someone is always messing up my work!" he cried.

"I'm sorry," begged Shuichi, looking around frantically. "But have you guys seen Yuki?"

"I suspect he's hiding from you," Suguru said smugly.

Shuichi looked aghast. "Yuki wouldn't hide from meee," he squealed with delightful disillusionment. He left the cave and dashed off somewhere else in his hunt.

Truth be known, Yuki was indeed hiding at the back of the cave, out of the sunlight, using a piece of charcoal himself. By the light of a small flame on a torch doused with fat, he drew and created symbols on a dried out piece of leather. The images told stories of love, between their gods and nature—even made up people. Expression was Yuki's release in life, he was born to imagine and imagine he did. But he found he couldn't concentrate when Shuichi was constantly milling around him, perched by his feet, trying to watch what he did all the time. The boy didn't know when to be quiet either; he sang little songs that made Yuki want to scream.

But then…sometimes he felt it was more annoying to listen to everyone else's yammering that he wished it was Shuichi talking instead. He just couldn't win. Over the years, he'd managed to keep his growing affections towards the rambunctious Shuichi a secret. Even to Shuichi himself. But Yuki was sinfully guilty of using the boy as a pleasure outlet. Whenever he wanted liberties, he could count on Shuichi to offer it and he didn't want to admit, but he loved the feeling of being contained by the boy's body. Ever since the first time they did it, he couldn't stop wanting it.

Now he was cursed...

Cursed with having a crazy Shuichi after him all the time, oh yeah, Tatsuha thought it was hilarious. And Tohma, well, if he knew he never said a word but Yuki didn't care. His Papa though, the leader of the Uesugi clan, he had a different plan for him. He too was to be joined with a mate, chosen for him by his father. She was a girl within their clan, her name was Sakura. She was as beautiful as the cherry blossoms in full bloom on a warm spring day. She was Ayaka's first cousin and both were skilled in dance. Together they shone, both bearing the spirit of the boar—the life giving power of the sun.

But Yuki did not love her.

He also hadn't told Shuichi about it either when they got to spend a few moments together lately, talking. Yuki hoped his brother would be quiet and not tell Shuichi and break his heart. Sighing, Yuki decided he couldn't concentrate on his story any more. Instead he grabbed a pipe and filled it with a pinch of moist mullein and coltsfoot. Using the nearby torch he lit the contents and inhaled happily. He wandered past a fretful looking Sakano and out to the entrance of the cave. The sun was gone from the sky and above was the moon. The mullein soothing his lungs, he watched the stars above, not hearing Tatsuha approach behind him.

"Evening brother," he offered, "Why do I get the feeling you're wishing you could run as far from here as possible?"

Puffing on the pipe and exhaling nosily was enough answer for Tatsuha.

"It's never too late to change your mind you know?" Tatsuha advised. "Dad won't like it but what do you care? He'll just make me leader instead of you."

Yuki scoffed, "Like I care?"

"You never wanted to be leader, I know. I'm just teasing, you know I love you brother. Kiyoshi loves us too."

"Shut up," Yuki demanded at his brother's sappy 'love' talk and added, "I'm surprised you're not trying to sneak into that bohemian's cot?"

"Ryuichi?" Tatsuha asked and 'tsk'd' behind his teeth, "Don't go there."

Yuki smirked now that he'd hit Tatsuha's nerve, "I hear he's quite busy late at night. No wonder he sleeps in so late."

"Shut up!" Tatsuha cried. "It's…not like that…he's just…expressive. I can't help it that he thinks spiritual men are off limits. I told him I'd take him on a celestial journey…but that still didn't work," the youngest Uesugi explained. "I just need—"

"—new tactics." Yuki cut in. "I wonder where he got the idea that holy men can't pleasure though."

Tatsuha looked around sketchily, "His followers, I don't know how he does it." His dreams of creating a new clan with Ryuichi were still so far from his grasp! The young man sighed.

Yuki shook his head at this nonsense.

From a distance Hiro listened to the two brothers talking, he'd just been here admiring the moon, avoiding people, thinking. Yuki seemed to feel exactly how he did about this ceremony, it made him wonder. Hiro took a drag off of a rolled leaf also filled with mullein and inhaled pensively and thought about the man in his dreams.

Unexpectedly in the distance, a wolf howled.

Wolves howled at the moon outside as K lay Judy down inside their tent, eagerly removing her best pieces of matrimonial clothing. Their rites had been performed by Judy's loving father; blessed by Aurora's guidance. Now, they were wrapped up in each others embrace to share bodies, souls, to unite their spirits under the eyes of Her. Mmm, K inhaled her scent, skin which was fresh and bathed with soap root and lavender. Her hair was soft and clean and lips pink and wet, he nibbled on them with haste as he ran hands over mounds of her flesh.

Outside celebrations of their union commenced, cheerful voices echoed into the night.

If K wasn't so eager, feeling that ache that he'd failed to satisfy for so long, he might've wondered why Judy was not as impassioned.

Judy lay there letting the man pleasure her, accepting his kisses, sighing at his loving touches like a puppet. Inside she already had what she desired, deep inside of her, where Claude already thrust into passionately. She was not saddened to unite with Claude, she loved him dearly, and she loved Ark dearly too. She wanted to do what was right, and K was chief, not Ark. It was her destiny to be female chieftain. But in a moment of weakness, she betrayed him…even though she had that god-given right. Ark was understandably off limits. She could never tell Claude, oh no, never! Instead she moaned out, urging her new mate on, the timing of this union couldn't have been better. Now she could carry the child within a reasonable timeframe, Claude would never know. Nothing could be fixed now, the deed was done. Even as Claude's lips crushed against her own, she questioned their god's power. It feared her to feel this way and inside her heart she knew Ark was the one that gave her a child. Being in tune with her body changes, she knew before the ritual that Aurora couldn't have given a child…they did.

But it was a theory she was keeping to herself...for now.

A/N: Some drama is beginning to unfold, a triangle between K, Ark and Judy...it will have more impact later tho Although I don't really see Judy as evil or anything...I actually like K and Judy. I love K and Ark too XD! But yeah my weakness is K and Hiro. I can't say the same for Hiro and Ayaka tho. I dunno why...well I could but you don't want to hear my long winded theory about that lol! I'm working on this fic, so I'll post again soon!