So… hi? *gets shot*
I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I'M SORRY! I'M REALLY HONESTLY SORRY! *cries*
Ok… so, you probably just want to read the story, so you can skip this. But here's what happened:
After I finished chapter 2 (a year ago…), I took a break from writing (for 8 months…). Later on, I decided to update the story (because of the reviews I was getting :) ), and I was halfway finished with the 3rd chapter! I stopped writing it because I got distracted with other things (anime, drawing, etc.), and when I went back to update the story, IT WAS GONE! I literally shed a tear. After that, my motivation definitely disappeared. But I had to write stories for school projects, and I kinda wanna update this again XD. So, yeah. I'm really sorry about the long wait. I hope this makes up for it! (I'm pretty sure I'll be able to update more often, but no promises)
Ok, enjoy! *applies towels to gunshot*
Hega hega ya-hi-ye-hega
Ya-hi-ye-ne-he hega
A group of Cherokee warriors floated down the river in their canoes. They were returning from their successful battle with the Massawomeck tribe. The men were congratulating each other, excited to return home to their families. A Cherokee scout saw them from a distance, and blew a conch horn to his fellow scouts to alert them of the warrior's return.
Hega hega ya-hi-ye-hega
Ya-hi-ye-ne-he hega
The scout ran down the cliff that leaned over the corn fields, then blew his horn to alert the women below him. They looked up, and began excitedly heading towards the riverside. They waved to the warriors who floated by them.
Steady as the beating drum
Singing to the cedar flute
Seasons go and seasons come
Bring the corn and bear the fruit
The warriors floated by a group of Cherokee fishermen, who paused their work to wave at them. They gathered their baskets, which were full of fish, and ran down to the village. The women followed them, with their baskets full of corn and other crops.
By the waters sweet and clean
Where the mighty sturgeon lives
Plant the squash and reap the bean
All the earth our mother gives
In the village, a group of young boys were gathered around the village sherman, who they had called 'Uncle Tom'. He was entertaining them by creating shapes and animals out of the campfire smoke. He smiled slightly when he saw the canoes in the distance, and got up to greet them.
O Great Spirit, hear our song
Help us keep the ancient ways
Keep the sacred fire strong
Walk in balance all our days
In the village, everyone was busy. The women were making clothes and preparing food, and the children were playing games. When they saw the warriors floating towards the shore, they all dropped what they were doing to see them. A young boy pulled his grandmother along, to they could join in.
Seasons go and seasons come
Steady as the beating drum
Plum to seed to bud to plum
(Hega hega ya-hi-ye hega)
Steady as the beating drum
The leader of the Cherokee tribe, Chief Tristan, stood up in the canoe, smiling gently at the crowd that waited for them. When they landed, he got out of the canoe, nodding at the villagers. Some of the villagers ran up to the other warriors, hugging and congratulating them for their victory. One woman had tackled her husband in the process, causing everyone to laugh.
Hega hega ya-hi-ye-hega
Ya-hi-ye-ne-he hega
"Wingapo, Tristan," Uncle Tom greeted the chief, smiling as he reached over to pat the chief on his shoulder. Chief Tristan returned the greeting, "It's good to be home," He replied. He turned to the crowd, and raised his arm for silence.
"Attention, everyone! The Massawomecks are defeated! With the help of our brothers, our villages are safe again." The villagers exploded into applause as they cheered in joy.
Uncle Tom grinned, "You're return brings so much joy to this village," He stated, "Look at all these smiling faces- we're all so proud of you."
Chief Tristan looked around, "Yes, but there's one smiling face I don't see," He faced Uncle Tom. "Where is Piper?"
Uncle Tom chuckled, "You know Piper. She has her mother's spirit. She goes wherever the wind takes her." Chief Tristan sighed, but grinned. He missed Aphrodite, but he had his wonderful daughter to make up for it. If only said daughter wasn't so… rebellious.
Far down the river and on top of a cliff, a young teenage girl was standing peacefully, enjoying the view. She wore a deerskin dress, and long choppy braids in her hair. She sighed in bliss as she felt the wind flow through her hair.
Down below her in the river, another girl with short blonde hair and gray eyes sat in a small canoe, waiting for her friend. "Piper!" She called, impatiently. "Your father's back! Get down here, already!"
Piper looked down and grinned. She turned to her smaller friends- a cheeky racoon, and a green hummingbird, who was getting tired of Piper's insane antics. "C'mon, Katropis!" She said to the racoon, who was eating berries in a bush next to her. She backed up a few feet away from the cliff's edge, then raced forward again and jumped off.
"No! Nonononono, not that… way…" her blonde friend cried, exasperated. She facepalmed, "That girl is going to be the death of me, someday... "
Piper grinned as she fell towards the water, then quickly swan-dived into the lake. Her friend, Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Show off… " She mumbled. She looked over the canoe, trying to find her friend.
"Piper?" She called, ignoring the screeches coming behind her (Katropis had tried to copy Piper, only to have failed miserably.) The hummingbird, Aegis, flew next to Annabeth.
"Piper! Are you alright?" She called, slightly concerned for her friend's safety. She leaned back into the canoe, and scowled. "Well, you better be alright, because if you think I'm going in after you, you've got another thing com- NO!" She shrieked, as Piper flipped over the canoe, causing her to fall into the water in the process.
She resurfaced under the canoe, coughing and spitting out water. Piper grinned next to her. "Don't you think we're getting a little too old for these childish games?" Annabeth grimaced. Piper responded by spitting a mouthful of water in her face.
"... You die today, McLean!" The blonde girl yelled, and began a brutal splashing war. The two girls laughed, as they playfully attempted to drown each other. Finally, Annabeth sighed, "Help me turn this thing over!"
When the girls were successfully back in the canoe, Annabeth faced her friend. "What were you doing up there?" She asked, curiously.
"Thinking," Piper responded, squeezing the water out of her hair. Annabeth raised her eyebrow, "About that dream, again?" She watched Piper pull Katropis into the canoe with them. "Have you figured it out yet?" She asked.
"Not yet." Piper frowned, "I know it means something… I just don't know what." Annabeth grabbed the canoe paddle, "Maybe you should ask your father about it."
"Maybe I should… " Piper said, thoughtfully. She nodded, then grabbed the other paddle. "Let's get back quickly, then."
The two girls raced back to the village, where Chief Tristan was giving a speech.
"...faced a determined enemy." They heard him say, "The battle lasted from the rising of the sun until the evening shadows fell. Our warriors fought with courage, but none as bravely as Octavion... for he attacked with the fierce strength of the bear. He has proven himself to be the greatest of warriors…"
Annabeth pursed her lips, "I never really liked Octavion," She mused, "He always seemed so…" She paused, thinking. "... eccentric." She finished.
Piper snickered, "I especially love his smile," she grinned, as they looked at Octavion, who was glaring at the crowd. Uncle Tom was painting a bear claw onto his chest, and Chief Tristan finished his speech.
"Tonight, we will feast in his honor!" He exclaimed, and the crowd cheered. As the villagers prepared for the night, Piper pushed past them to greet her father. "Wingapo, dad!" She smiled, as he hugged her tightly. Tristan grinned, "There you are! I've been looking for you."
Piper grinned widely, "I'm so glad you came home alright. Oh, there's something I want to tell you about…" She began.
Tristan led her to their hut, "Come with me, I want to know everything you've been doing!" The two walked into the hut, and Piper faced her dad.
"Ok, so… for the past few nights, I've been having these… strange dreams. I think it's telling me something's about to happen- something exciting!" She exclaimed.
Tristan nodded, "Yes, something exciting is about to happen!" Piper blinked in surprise, "Really? What is it?" She asked, excitedly. "Octavian has asked to seek your hand in marriage!" Tristan exclaimed, grinning.
"... Say what now." Piper deadpanned. Tristan smiled gently at her, "Yes, and I told him it would make me so happy," He said.
"...Dad. Are you serious?" Piper asked, crestfallen. "He's so…" She leaned out of the hut door, to look at Octavion. He had grabbed a random stuffed toy, and was ripping it open with the fierce strength of the bear.
"... eccentric." Piper said slowly, repeating what Annabeth had told her earlier. Tristan shook his head, "He can be… odd… at times. But he will make a fine husband!" He grinned, "He is (somewhat) loyal and strong, and will build you a good house with sturdy walls. I know you'll be safe with him."
"What if he stabs me with that knife he's using? Look at that poor stuffed toy… it lived a good life…" Piper said, forlornly. Her father frowned at her, "Pipes, please be serious." Piper sighed.
"Dad, I think my dream is taking me down a different path," She looked back at Octavian, who was throwing the stuffing around campfire, "... A less deadly path," She added. Tristan sighed, "Piper, come with me," He said as he led her outside, to the river.
"You are the daughter of the chief. It is time to take your place among our people. Even the wild mountain stream must someday join the big river. He will choose the smoothest course- that's why rivers live so long."
He brought out a beautiful teal necklace, "Your mother wore this for our wedding," He said, reminiscing. "It was her dream to see you wear it at your own."
Piper stared at the piece of jewelry, then slowly placed it around her neck. Tristan beamed, "It suits you," He said, patting her head.
Piper sighed, as she looked at the cool river. She lifted up the necklace around her neck, and frowned. "... He wants me to be steady like the river." She got up and stepped in the river water. She frowned, "But it's not steady at all!" She retorted, throwing her hands in the air, exasperated.
She grabbed a canoe and slid it into the river. It was time to get some extra advice from an old friend.
Alright! That's it! :D *gets shot again*
*coughs* i'm sorry.. i tried… *crawls away*
*crawls back* i hope you enjoyed it! and i'm honestly sorry for the long wait… *crawls away again*