Leaves

Chapter Two

Ware-Yami-Tote

That morning

I sat on a large rock by the frozen lake, waiting for my father. This was the place my father used to take my brother for fishing before he disappeared. My father missed my brother so much, I could see the pain in his eyes every time he came here, but he still insisted on coming.

"Joryn…" I turned around, it was Nikko. "I'm sorry, but your father won't be visiting you."

"Why?" I asked, "Is there something wrong?"

"No." she sighed, "He just has a lot of things to do before the ceremony tonight. I volunteered to explain some things to you. You know what your marking means right?"

"I don't really care…" I wrapped my arms around my legs.

"You should." Nikko walked up the rock and sat next to me, "I know what waits for you. I've seen them in my visions, would you like to know?" I remained quiet; she was going to tell me anyway. There was no point in wasting my breath, "Joryn, it's a good thing."

"Just tell me."

"It means that your mate is with the Sea Tribe." She picked up a leaf and started playing with it, "He's the Chief of that clan, and he's waiting for you. You must leave with him; and you will. I've seen it in my visions. It will make things more stable between our clans. After all, his conception was the reason our clans went to war."

"Why did we go to war anyway?" I looked up at her, she was lost in thought. When she had her visions, her eyes were hazy and white, "Eh… hello?"

She snapped her face towards me, "Oh sorry!" she smiled, "They come randomly, can't control it, sorry! What did you ask me?"

"Why did we war with the ocean people?"

"Well, a long time ago." She threw the leaf in her hand, "When Zi's father was alive, he managed to find his way out of our lands. He found the Ocean Tribes. He was the reason we found the existence of our brother clan." This sounded really interesting, "We lived in the belief so long that we were the only ones out there, until Lyr that is."

"So, did he do something bad to the other clan?" I asked.

"He did something unspeakable." Nikko whispered, almost as if she was afraid to mention it, "It's the most hateful crime our people can commit." She looked deep into my eyes, "If another man ever tries to touch you, you must fight him."

"What are you talking about?" Nikko had always been strange, but this was over the top. I had never seen her this serious before, "Maybe if the clan allowed others besides the warriors to have wolf companions, then maybe we would be more protected."

"They allow everyone in the Ocean Tribe to have wolves." She stated, "Lyr was a great warrior, some say better than Tyran." I gaped at her, some stronger than him? "Yes, crazy isn't it? That strength made him open to manipulation. To evil things better left alone. You see, Lyr wasn't very smart, so he let his desires got the best of him."

"What did he do?"

"He took a young girls ability to mate." Her eyes looked sad, "She had a child, and he was given away, she was never able to take care of him or love him."

"That's stupid!" I yelled, "Why?"

"There's some legend about…" her eyes went foggy for two seconds and then she came back, "You have to go back to the village. I'll tell you more another time."

"Hey, you said I was leaving." I growled, "When is 'another time?'"

"I promise you will find out." She smiled and pointed across the frozen lake, "It's starting to snow, how about you go greet our guests." I looked to the horizon, there were four figures leading a large group of people, "I think you will get some answers over there."

"I don't think…" I looked back to where Nikko was sitting, and she was gone. Sighing, I left myself down from the rock, and walked across the frozen lake. My shoes were made with netting, so I didn't slip. The more I walked across the lake, the heavier the snow fell.

When I made it across the lake, the group had seen my by now and stopped to speak with me, one of the elders approached me "Are you with the Cloud Tribe?"

"More like the Cold, Frozen Rain Tribe." A young man with long black hair laughed. "Souk, tell me again why they live here."

"It's called snow you fool." The elder hit the young man in the back of the head, "Excuse this young ones insolence. Who are you?"

"I'm Joryn." I stated, trying to sound as monotone as possible, "I'm the Chiefs daughter, our midwife told me to show you the way to our winter village site."

"You're Joryn?" The one called Souk stared at me and then looked back at the young man, "Introduce yourself fool. She's the heiress of this land."

"Oh right!" he laughed, "I'm Za…" he stuttered, "Chief Tanrik of the Sea Tribe." He smiled a golden smile, and brought out his forearm for our clans greeting. I stared at it for a long time, unsure of what to do. He the Chief, and according to Nikko, he was my mate. "What's wrong?" he looked confused.

"Ah, sorry." I smiled the best I could and grabbed his forearm, when an electrical spark went up my arm and straight to my chest. Tanrik pulled his arm back and gasped, "What did you do?"

"Nothing!" he yelled, "What did you do?" We stared at each other for a long time, my heart was racing, what this what having mate was like? Souk leaned in towards Tanrik and whispered something in his ear, and his eyes went wide. "I-I'm sorry…" he apologized.

He stared back at me, dominance in his eyes, and it gave chills, "Anyway, follow me." I waved them to follow, and I started walking. I heard Souk command Tanrik to walk, I almost laughed. My gut told me that he knew that we were mates, and he had no idea how to deal with it.

….

Her black hair swayed in the wind with every step she took, her roots showing the same white mine used to be. She seemed oblivious that I even existed. When Souk told me of her and what she was to me, for some reason my heart stopped. Her coldness towards me was saddening, and I didn't understand why she acted distant towards me.

We reached the village, and it was easier to walk. A lot of people came here, so there was mostly mud on the ground. I didn't like this cold place; its white ground didn't mix well with my tan skin. It was cold, lonely and too peaceful.

Joryn lead us to a large ten decorate in animal bones, "My father will see you here." She smiled and motioned towards the entry. I followed Souk in.

"Daughter!" her father's booming voice yelled, "Show the other guests where they will be staying!" she jumped and ran over to my people, telling them to follow her. The all looked at me, unsure, but I knew it was her job and nodded for them to go.

When I entered the tent, there was a thick scent of freshness. Like the woods after it rained, and the ocean after a great storm. Spiritually, this was a sacred place, "Step forward, Tanrik, I have heard of you through my friend Souk. I am Loryb. Are you really the grandson of the late Chief?"

I looked down to the dry earth of the tent, "I am."

His voice was stern but gentle, "Come closer." I walked up to him, I was taller than him, but he looked up to me with respect and pride, "You are to share blood with me, and take my daughter. Do you understand?"

"I understand the blood-tie," I said, "but I don't understand why I have to take Joryn."

"So you've met her?" Loryb smiled, "What do you think?"

"That doesn't answer my question." I growled, "Don't answer my questions with another; that is really irksome. Please, just tell me what I want to know."

Loryb looked at me; his smirk never left his face. He moved his gaze to his left, and I noticed a small woman with large curves, and big pierced ears, "He doesn't know, he's only saying it because I told him to."

"Who are you?" I asked, she had a mysterious air about her.

"I am Nikko." She smiled, "It makes me sad that you don't remember me. I knew your mother."

I felt a pang of uneasiness fill the room, "You know her? Which one?"

"Pagea." She stated, "I know your future, your present and your past, but the future you had before has changed. You must take Joryn away, before tonight. Even if it is by force. There are dark forces coming for our people, and you must survive with her."

"You're crazy." I started to walk out, but Souk grabbed my arm, "Let me go old man."

"Tanrik, tonight, I will die." He said it as if there was nothing wrong with the situation, "I need you to return to our people, and hide them." His almond shaped eyes were filled with tears, "You're our last hope, please."

"Then tell me what's going on," I sighed, "None of your rabble makes any sense."

"Alright." Nikko said, "You mustn't tell Joryn until after she is safe, promise me."

"I promise." I stated, "It's not like I know her that well anyway."

"That's untrue." Souk laughed, "You have died together four times already. You have no idea what your marking means do you?"

….

"Joryn, get water for the guests," Zi commanded, "They look famished, do you really know how to show hospitality to anyone? You're useless." I ignored him, and grabbed the water stones from the well. Zi had been going on like this all day.

The ocean people huddled together, shivering and sniffling their noses. I had to make sure I didn't laugh. Their tan skin made them look red against the snow, "Here, have you ever seen these?" I held out the silver blue stones, "We find them in the crystal ice caves down by the river."

They all stared at me confused, "What do you do?"

I held up a bucket I had brought to show them, and then I placed them on the ground. I placed the small stones in the bucket, "I ask for the bounty of the Great Spirit to provide us with the nurturing we need." There was a small flash, and the bucket filled with water.

Many people looked at the bucket with wonder, others stared dumbstruck. A young boy walked up to me, and held out his hands. I raised the bucket for him to drink; they cupped the water with his hands and brought them to his hands. After several gulps, he looked at me with a huge grin, "That's really good."

"Refreshing, huh?" I laughed, "The water here is the best." After this one young man had gotten the courage to drink, others after him followed him. The all drank their fill, and thanked me for it. After their thirst was sated, I showed them to the guest tent, the biggest one we had, and luckily there was enough room for them.

They huddled around the central fire, and mingled amongst themselves. I left them alone, and went to see if there was anything I could do. Everyone seemed to not need any help, so I went to my fathers' tent to see if the needed anything, "Father…?" I called in.

"Perfect timing!" an arm reached through the tent flap and pulled me in. I almost fell, but the elder Souk captured me before I hit the ground, "Sorry about that!" he laughed, he seemed so different from before.

"Souk has no control." The Ocean Chief said, "You should work on that." This one had seemed to change somehow. I looked into his eyes, before they were a dark green, and now they were a crystal clear blue, "So, I would like to speak with you." He reached for me.

I stared at him for a moment, unsure what to do. I looked to my father, and he nodded at me, "You need to face this."

"I just have one question." I sighed deeply, "Why did everyone know before me?"

"Know what?" Tanrik asked.

"That you were my mate." I felt a strange emotion fall over me, "It's not fair."

"I was the only one that knew." I turned my attention to the new speak, Nikko, "I kept it from them so your father would allow you to live a normal life. Now that your time has come, you were able to make decisions for yourself, thus giving you your own sense of wisdom."

"Why is it a big deal that Tanrik is my mate?" I pointed at him, "I don't get it."

"You will know when you make your bond." My father told me, "Only then will you understand each other fully." I looked at Tanrik, he gave me a blank stare, it almost said, 'please…'

"Father…" Tanrik's lost look made me feel grief, "What do I do?" I put my hands over my eyes, feeling the tears fall. All I ever wanted was to be an acceptation from the mate circle. My mother and my brother were with the Great Spirit, and it left my father and I. He took care of me, and I never wanted to leave him, I wanted to take care of him before his time came to be with our mighty Spirit. Now, someone wanted to take me away.

I felt someone touch my shoulders, I looked to this person. Tanrik looked to me, with tears in his eyes, "Stop crying…" he whispered.

"Why the hell are you crying?" I yelled.

"I don't know!" his voice rose, "You affect me okay?"

"You don't even know who I am!" he held my arms tightly, so I couldn't get away, "I don't want this!" I cried, "He's not the one!" I struggled against him, "Go away!" he held me against closer against him, and I punched his chest, "No!"

Souk grabbed me out from his grasp, "Tanrik." He warned, "If she isn't ready, don't force her."

"We haven't much time." His eyes flashed with anger at Souk, "We have to."

"I promise you," he said, "even if she doesn't take the bond today, doesn't mean she won't later. Now you have to make sure you get her to safety swiftly after they come tonight."

"Who's coming?" I looked between Souk and my father, "Tell me."

My father spoke first, "People who have allowed themselves to be blinded by greed." He walked down from his chair, "Tanrik must leave with you tonight, and keep you safe."

"I don't understand, why are they coming? What did they do? What's going on?"

Nikko walked close to me, and looked me straight in my eyes. The white was now black, "Do you really wish to know? Our people are in great danger. Many will die." She stared at me for what seemed forever. "Fine the child will learn."

"Good." I felt a little satisfied, "Tell me." Nikko took her hand placed it on my chest. He rush of falling fell over me, and many images filled my mind; Souk and Tanrik exchange wisdom, an ancient magic that only people close to each other could do. Soon, the image changes and people with sticks of fire enter our village, screaming and yelling in a different language. Souk resists this violence, and they blast fire at him, he falls to the ground lifeless.

These people grab and tie up my father; he makes no attempt to fight back. Zi fights back, but is taken away. Nikko and Tyran go quietly. My people, one by one are beaten and drove away from their home. They take torches and burn our house. Wolves howl, women cry, and men die.

It was our end.

Tanrik and I hide in the bushes, he holds me and looks at our people being slaughtered and kidnapped. His anger is dark and vengeful.

I got pulled back to the real world, and I gasped for air. Souk held my weight up, and Nikko's eyes were back to brown, "Are you alright?" she asked, "You wanted to know."

"You're lying." I got my balance back and I threw Souk off me, "None of that can be true!"

"It can and will." My father's voice was dark and firm, "You will go with them, and you will tell no one of the events to come do you understand?" I looked at my father, age wore on his face, he looked ready to break, "Joryn, I love you, but you need to do as you're told today. Take Tanrik as your mate, you're fated together."

"But I-"

"I'll take care of you." He whispered, Iooked at him, "I promise. We must for our people." He walked over to me, and took my face in his hands, "Please." He kissed my forehead, sending shocks up my spine, "I'll protect you."

I looked at Souk, "But you'll die…"

"He has already accepted his fate." My father explained, "That's why everything he knows, Tanrik knows. They switched their knowledge. The history of our world rests with Tanrik." He smiled, "All is not lost."

I looked away from them all, "Can I have some time?"

Nikko sighed, "You have until tonight."