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The nation Chapter 109
“Kaya,” Bram the big blacksmith said, “it is good to see you. I was concerned when you left, how did you get across that river?”Kaya saw the blacksmith Bram in the road, Percy stopped on his own next to the big hammer wielding man, Bram rubbed the horses nose in greeting. Percy seemed to relax a bit after the touch from Bram, he stood quietly next to Gerard as Kaya responded.“We went north of here to cross where the buffalo cross.”“The buffalo? How do you know where they cross at, or if they even cross?”“This is Rollins,” Kaya pointed to the girl sitting next to her in the cart, Rollins kept her eyes averted from the blacksmith, “she knows of the wild and where the buffalo go.”“She does?” Questioned Bram.“Yes she does, she knows many things that we have forgotten.” Announced Kaya.“Where did she come about all this knowledge?” The question made Rollins squeeze Kaya’s hand to try and stop her from talking, it didn’t work, “from Morgan, they met in the wild. Ouch, why are you squ
The nation Chapter 110
They had made their camp nearest to the trees, to avoid some of the bitter cold winds that blew down from the mountain, it was several dozen meters from the main camp of the travelers. No one wanted to give Rollins a chance, save for Bram, he was kind enough to listen to her speak, he watched her to. Kaya had seen him watching her, when she asked him about it he simply said, “I’m waiting to see if she is the curse people say she is.”Rollins worked hard to help when she was allowed to, she was given some of the worst tasks to do, digging waste holes and burning them when they were full. She was hunting when she was not gathering wood or splitting logs, she worked to impress upon the people that she was not a curse. The animal attacks started back up with in nine days of Kaya’s return, a big cat was killing livestock, it was not like the dogs that were killed before, this time the kills were partially eaten. Sometimes the only evidence was the bloody trail that led off into the trees,
The nation Chapter 111
The cat bothered him, he knew it was with them, and he knew that he had smelled that cat before. Had the cat followed them across the river? He thought. He could not know, but he could feel the cat watching the camp, he knew the cat was stalking the two-legs. He did not know the cat was stalking his two-legs. Scanning the trees to the east, he searched for signs of the cat, he got back up to move around in the frigid air. He made a circuit near the trees, sniffing and looking for signs of the cat, he kept himself between the camp and the trees he patrolled. He didn’t see the feline itself but he did find tracks in the snow, a little blood as well, one dog felt the sting of winter again. He gave the trees one last look, then he headed back to lay near his stove.Erek had begun to remember things from his past during this trip, it was as if his mind was injured and now it was healing. He could learn things faster, he communicated better, and his critical thinking ability had improved dr
The nation Chapter 112
She hunted while the sun slept below the horizon, her skill was growing with each life she took, she was successful two out of three hunts. She was hunting her regular prey, she had not eaten venison since before she crossed the river, the prey she hunted now had nowhere to hide from her. The livestock was penned up under a hastily built roof, the walls were open air. The cows huddled with other cows, goats were grouped together, the people did not keep wild boars or pigs when they were domesticated, Ondu said they should never be eaten. The chickens were caged and protected from the winds, they had to be hand fed after the snows covered the Land. She also hunted two-legs; they were the easiest of all to kill.The two legs walked around like cubs, she thought, they do not belong here in the wilds. Yet, they were here and two of them had killed her mate. The night was clear and frosty, the crunch of the snow under her paws was deafening, she moved slower. She circled the open roof pen
The nation Chapter 113
Erek was a bit better than an average hunter, Lorne and Gorman were passable as well, the three were out hunting with One dog as there escort. The dog smiled as much as he could, he knew he would find his master among these two-legs, he just didn’t know when. He stayed with his pack, this small group felt right to him, he wanted to protect them, even the one no one liked. When the men set off to hunt in one direction he went with them, the One dog watched as the two females went in another direction to hunt, he was torn but decided to stick with the big sad man for now. The weather was clear, the sky was the best blue winter would allow, the breeze was slight and the temperature was bitter. The One dog used his nose to help the men find game, they thanked him with pets and small treats if they had any, it was a nice day, one of the nicest that One dog could remember. The crunch of the snow beneath their feet, the feeling of camaraderie was strong among these men, the One dog was happy
The nation Chapter 114
“His farts smell worse than the ass of a menstruating skunk.” Gorman pretended to pinch his nose. That wasn’t why the girls were laughing.“How do you know what the ass of a menstruating skunk smells like?” Asked a puzzled Talia.Everyone burst out laughing, even Talia laughed, although she wasn’t sure why this was funny. Erek snorted the loudest snort that Rollins ever heard, louder than the ones the buffalo make. Gorman blushed, his already rosy cheeks turned redder, he laughed to, eventually. Kaya nearly pissed her pants, she was enjoying the food so much that she didn’t want to get up to pee, now she really had to go. When she got up, she said between laughs, she was going to pee, Rollins went with her. They walked a safe distance from their camp site, even though it was winter, each time they had to relieve themselves and this time was no different. They laughed loudly towards the spot they all used to do their business, they were too comfortable, they were acting careless.She g
The nation Chapter 115
She turned and saw the others had gotten to the ones that must die, a big male shot her with arrows, she knew what they were. She had seen the two-leg hunters before, she was curious about them, and so she watched the hunters on several occasions. They used sharpened sticks that flew through the air, they pushed them with another stick into flight through the air. She witnessed some of the two-legs who were extremely accurate with them, she faced one of them now, when he let the second arrow go she turned her back to it. As soon as she turned the dog was there, his teeth were not as sharp as hers were so the dog tore her throat out more than biting it clean through. She fell to the ground, the fight draining out of the hole in her throat, her memories flooded back to her in a flash. Her mate being killed, her killing her cubs before she followed the two-legs, all of the sport kills along the way to the river. That river, she had jumped towards that last rock knowing she would not make
The nation Chapter 116
“It has to mean new, like the dawning of a new day.” Said Erek to Kaya, Rollins, and Lorne.“There are a few names that carry that meaning.” Stammered Lorne.“Yeah Erek, I like that thought, he is like the first rays of light to hit the ground. He is such a good baby.” Kaya tickled the little boy until he smiled, she held him in her arms while they spoke.“He is a good little eater to,” Talia reflexively rubbed her breasts, “very good eater indeed, he’ll be big like you Erek, what name where you thinking of?” The healer asked.“Arun, I was thinking of naming him Arun.” The second time he said it out loud he knew it was the right name for his son.“Arun.” It rolled nicely off of Kaya’s lips.Erek didn’t realize how much it mattered to him what Kaya thought, he wanted her to like the name he had chosen, it felt strange to him to want her to like his idea.“Arun it is then.” Said Erek.“Doesn’t Arun mean rebirth?” Asked Rollins.The grip that winter held over the Land was severed as the