Child of Earth and Sky

“Don’t hesitate.” The whispered words came from behind her and off to her right. In her hands, her bow and arrow were drawn back and the arrowhead was aimed at the juvenile buck. She frowned, took a deep breath and released. The buck screamed and slowly stumbled to run but soon collapsed. The burst of a joyous laugh nearly made her jump and she smiled brightly as she was hugged from behind. “That’s my girl!” Her father stood, lifting her into his arms and smiling back at her with pride. “I knew you would get one on your first try.” She giggled and held tight as he walked them off to where the now dead animal was lying on the ground. With one hand balancing the girl in his arm and the other propped on his hip, he surveyed the kill with an expert’s eye. “Clean shot. Straight and true.” He smiled at her again, lifting his hand from his hip to toy with the colorful beads hanging in her braids. She was dark-skinned and beautiful. Her eyes were doe-like and deep brown and her dark hair braided with tight cornrows and the ends beaded. She was dressed in hunting furs made by the tanner’s wife, because the tanner refused to do it himself. He disagreed with teaching her the tribal ways. He knew she stood out, especially with him always beside her. Bright flame-red hair and beard, green-gray eyes and paler skin. He stood out amongst his own, but her - He dipped his head closer to kiss her forehead and then rested her down and pulled his knife out. She needed to learn it all, from kill to pot. It was twelve winters now that he found her abandoned. He had been hunting out in Kakori territory and the shrieking of a baby caught his attention. She was naked and exposed, a bit sunburned and most definitely hungry. He took her back to his tribe and immediately was demanded to get rid of her. There was no way to know if she was Kakori or not, but if she wasn’t, it meant she was Yugo and the child of an enemy. The Inuhat did not shelter the enemy, no matter how small. He refused to abandon a child and took on the burden of being shunned, nearly exiled, by his own people. He was lucky enough to find a nursing mother with enough pity to help feed her. Now she stood, almost a woman by their customs, those very customs he was technically forbidden to teach her. Even though his mind ran with his thoughts, his hands knew the work well and his mouth easily spoke and told her how it was done, the skinning and butchering for easy carry. The girl was an avid listener and far too smart, but he admired that about her. Once they were done, and hands and tools cleaned, they both headed back with their kill, dragging it on a woven grass mat behind them. “Papa?” He looked down at her, those wide eyes filled with the curiosity he had seen since she had first opened her eyes to him. “Do you think the tribe will take my gift?” She was nervous. She knew that the tribe shunned her more than him, and she kept to herself most times. She rarely played with the children, and when she did it was always with those that had snuck in to do so. Many children were punished when caught interacting with her. This kill was to be her offer in exchange for acceptance amongst the tribe. He had his doubts, but it was time enough for the tribe to relent and let the girl be. “We’ll see.” Was all he grumbled. "Come, Yuka." The rest of the way was walked in silence. They came to the main part of the camp and the girl started for their usual route, around the outer part of the camp and past all the hostile stares. He called out to her and she stopped, looking back confused. “Today, there’s no hiding. Let them see.” He urged her forward with a nod of his head and she slowly shuffled forward, glancing up at him in uncertainty as she walked past him. He followed after her, his head held high and standing up to his full height, looking intimidating, but to his daughter he looked protective. It eased her nerves a bit and she was a bit more sure of her steps. They had made it halfway across the main gathering circle when they were stopped by the shout of her father's name. It had come as a boom so loud that she nearly jumped out of her skin. She turned and saw a man who made her cower away and hide behind her father. "My chief," Her father greeted her gently, head bowing in respect as his fist crossed to thump over his heart, "How may I serve you?" Brown eyes set in a sun-wrinkled face glared down at her with an expression as if he had been drinking sour milk. "You know the rules here, Child of Fire. It is not allowed to pass through the village freely." "She!" “Whatever you choose, the Child of None is not allowed here!” Her eyes widened as her father stepped toward the chief threateningly, his aura dark and angry and his eyes narrowed on the shrewdish man that was their chief. “Nuk!” It was the tanner’s wife who stalled his steps. Her voice called out to him and then her gentle hand pulling carefully on his arm to stop any further movements. “Don’t give him the satisfaction,” Her voice was soft and calming, and Nuk looked at her and she gave him a barely there smile to ease his tenseness, “This is important, don’t let him distract you.” Nuk’s chest expanded as he took in a deep sigh and he closed his eyes as he slowly released his breath. As he opened his eyes, he nodded his thanks for her guidance and help in restraint without needing to say a word. She smiled a bit brighter in return and tilted her chin to point at the wide-eyed girl behind him. He looked back at her, clearly having been affected by what had almost transpired. Turning back to face her, he knelt in front of her and reached out to straighten her furs and align the sash and ties properly. “This is it Yuka,” he reminded her, gently cupping her face in his hands, “You’ll make me proud.” She gave a wobbly nod when he released her face and he smiled softly at her before rising to his feet again. He was then doing the work of dragging the carcass to be presented, a few gasps being drawn from the crowd and a low murmur began to buzz among the mass of people there. She was nervous and she shook her britches as she was stared down and gawked at. Her grip on her bow was so tight she worried that she would damage it. That was silly to think about because her papa made their bows and his craftsmanship was only bested by the clan fletcher. She eased her grip and decided to hang it properly behind her back. Her eyes caught the openly hateful stare of the clan’s chief and she froze momentarily, unsure and uncertain. But the tanner’s wife’s smile was kind and encouraging, so she took a deep breath and waited a bit until she was certain her voice wouldn’t waver. “I am Yuka, child of Nuk.” “You are a Child of None!” His words were nearly a shriek and Yuka stopped, looking at the man who could possibly stop this from happening at all. He would never accept what they were trying to do. He would never accept her. “My chief!” All eyes looked at the tanner’s wife, whose face was fitted with a disappointed frown and the judgemental glare was surely cutting deep since the chief visibly flinched. He looked away embarrassed and she turned back to Yuka with a nod and that same encouraging smile from before. “The goddess of the hunt has blessed my bow!” She was shocked at how strong her voice sounded. Behind her Nuk was beaming, puffing up proudly like a rooster in a henhouse. “In good faith, I come before you to share my bounty. I ask that this be taken as a gift in exchange for my acceptance into your clan, to become one of the Inuhat!” Someone booed in the back of the group and a torrent of negative responses and hisses poured over her. It made her buckle a bit, wanting to curl in on herself and hide aywa, but the string hand on her shoulder had her looking up to her papa. His face was set with a stern look, one that encouraged as well as demanded her to go on. She took another deep breath and let it out in a strong huff. She could do it. “If there is doubt, lay eyes on my bounty!” She motioned to the buck and the noise died down to a steady hum and she took the opportunity to keep going, “I offer this gift to you in hopes that you will welcome me to its meat and to join you by your side as an Inuhat!” Silence fell and it descended for quite some time. The chief looked smug as it continued to stretch on, but he was sputtering as one of the last people they could have expected came forward. Leaning heavily on her cane and shuffling slowly to stand in front of both Yuka and Nuk was the chieftess. Her deep-set eyes carefully looked over Yuke before she was looking down at the buck. The air seemed to still, as no one moved or made a sound while the chieftess perused the kill. There were a few more minutes of unnerving quiet before the chieftess used her cane to tap the carcass. “Clean shot. A truly skilled kill. This child’s arrow was guided by the goddess herself and her gift will be accepted and I will welcome her by my side.” “I will welcome her,” echoed the tanner’s wife, her smile bright and her eyes wet with unshed happy tears. “I welcome her!” That was a child, who happily waved to get everyone’s attention, “Let’s cook the meat! I’m hungry!” The scattered laughs were followed by more exclaims of welcome and then the deer was lifted and taken away to be properly prepared. Everyone began to disperse, with the chief storming off angrily and clearly dissatisfied that his wishes had been circumvented by the popular vote. When it was just her and her papa left, she spun to him happily, her grin taking over most of her face. Nuk laughed heartily as she jumped at him with a happy squeal, and he lifted her into a spinning hug. “I knew you could do it!” He cheered happily, stopping to pull back and smile at her as she giggled happily. “Child of Nuk, daughter of the Inuhat, my Yuka. Welcome home.” Home. She had never thought she would know what that would feel like. It was overwhelming and fulfilling, but she wouldn’t trade it for the world. She had found her home and nothing would take it from her.