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The nation Chapter 125
Rollins walked with a confidence that few of the travelers could match, she had lived in the wild for over three years before the caravan left Ondu. She didn’t need the caravan to survive, but she stayed with them out of a sense of duty, all she wanted was to be accepted. The people of the caravan harbored few of the old ways since their exodus began, they didn’t observe Ohweelie or any of the ceremonies they once had in Ondu, but all of them remembered the Blue eye curse. Still, Rollins helped them, she would show Kaya or someone else in their group, where to find water when it was scarce. They would have better luck informing the travelers of the resource, she would not be heard by them. Rollins remained on the periphery of the caravan, she camped near Kaya and continued to work with her small group, her feelings for Kaya confused her, Rollins had not experienced that kind of closeness since she was a young girl. Rollins missed the feel of Kaya’s skin next to hers, the warmth that r
The nation Chapter 126
“Father, be careful, I’d be hard pressed to carry you back by myself.” She said sarcastically.“I know, clumsy old dad, ya know I’m not that old.” He screamed, “I’ve been bitten.” He pulled his leg up so fast the snake that bit him was still holding on. It let go and fell to the ground, before it could even hiss, the daughter chopped its head clean off.“Father you’re pale.”The daughter helped the poison spread through her father’s body faster, she helped him walk back to the caravan, they had paused to search for water. The movement caused the father’s heart to pump faster, along with the trauma of being bitten by an unknown snake. He collapsed before the healers cart, his daughter carried the snakes carcass to show the healers, her father foamed at the mouth and went still. The healers could do nothing, none had ever seen a snake like this, it had small horns above its eyes, it looked like sand. The color was a perfect camouflage for the desert, the man had stepped into the snake’s
The nation Chapter 127
Oren had been out wandering through where the commoners set up their tents. He was not looking for anything in particular, he wasn’t spreading rumors either, he was only out for a walk. He looked seriously at the people around him, he didn’t look down on them, nor did he love them, he pitied them. He thought they were only here to be a bother, to be cared for so they could do what they were told. The wind blew a chill through the winter camp the caravan had set up, they learned from last winter to take care in how they set up for the freezing weather. Tents were buffeted on the outside, and staked firmly into the earth, the hides were doubled and sometimes tripled if the family had the hides. A lot of valuable gear was lost in that damned river, some equipment was lost or ruined as they traveled farther from Ondu. Only a few thought of their old home now, Kaya and Erek were among them, Rollins replayed that fleeting moment she had there with her mother.When he saw Kaya, Oren followed
The nation Chapter 128
“I’m’ gonna go and check on my family.”“There fine,” said Kaya, gesturing to Rollins and herself.“Not you dingbats, my father and sister.” Erek trailed off, he was looking in the direction of his father’s dwelling.“Oh.” Was all Kaya said.“Well, give them all my love.” Rollins made an insulting gesture.“I’ll be sure to do that.”“Especially that drunk in charge up there,”“Alright Rollins, that’s enough,” Kaya didn’t want to hear the insults, she had heard them enough from Rollins by now, Kaya wanted to know why he wanted to check on his father.“You’re right, Erek I’m sorry for that, I shouldn’t think like that but I do.” Rollins looked at the big man, “you are different, you’re growing on me, like a fungus.”“Sweet,” said Kaya, “now can we go get something to eat? I’m positive Lorne was cooking something when we left.”“I could eat,” answered Rollins, raising her shovel as an exclamation, “whatever that fool is cooking.”“I’m gonna go and check on my family.” Erek said firmly, l
The nation Chapter 129
The People believed a person was both good and wicked at the same time, it was the internal fight everyone faced, it all came down to which halve the person fed. They called these halves, the good wolf, and the wicked wolf. The elders taught the young that if you feed either wolf more then you took on the traits of that wolf, most of The People fed the good wolf more, but some had selfish desires and often gave the wicked wolf a treat or two. No one in the history of The People had been completely wicked, not until Rognvald, he was feeding the wicked wolf more often than anyone in the memory of The People. When Lilly gave birth to Oren, the child should have been returned immediately to the earth, but that to was never a thought among The People. Oren was born wicked, as he grew, so did his wickedness. The criminals were feeding their wicked wolves, the internal struggle was turning them towards a dark life path, it was following them as they followed Rognvald. The farther from their
The nation Chapter 130
“Erek,” Kaya pulled the big man’s arm to stop him, “Erek, I know something is bothering you, talk to me.” The caravan had stopped for the night.“Kaya,” Erek turned, looking anxiously around for an escape route.“Will you talk to me? Please?” Kaya missed the comfort that he was by the fire, Erek had gotten up and walked away when Kaya sat next to him, he did that a lot and this time Kaya had enough.“Kaya, I,” His eyes pleaded for some escape, he had thought to tell Kaya what he heard his father say about her parents deaths but he, well he couldn’t make his mouth say the words. He also learned from Claudia the depths of his father’s madness, he was completely unapproachable to anyone accept Oscar, Hastiin, or Lilly. Erek had no idea if what he heard was true, or were they ravings of a psychotic mind, his gut told him it was true but what if he told Kaya and it was a lie. What if his father was simply insane?“You what?” She stood firmly in front of him, “you think I smell? You don’t l
The nation Chapter 131
If you run a predator will chase you, if you’re in a tree and the predator can climb it will climb after you, bears weren’t always predatory but they can run faster than a man, and they can climb any tree. Morgan had nowhere to run, hide, or climb to, so he stood his ground and braced for a fight. Morgan had killed many animals since leaving Ondu for good, many of The People thought him foolish in his wanderings over the Land, he had only killed in self-defense three times in his forty-two winters, never was his enemy this large. The bear was at least three and a half meters tall, and weighed more than Morgan cared to speculate, the dense brown fur of the bear moved rhythmically as it charged out of the trees. The creature stopped in front of Morgan, Morgan stood his ground yielding nothing to the bear, the bear stood up on his hind legs and growled. Morgan didn’t wait for the bear to make the first move, if he waited maybe the bear was bluffing and was only putting on a display, but
The nation Chapter 132
“What was that for?” Kaya asked Rollins.“I can’t kiss you anymore?” Rollins asked.Kaya wasn’t sure how to answer, her hesitation said a lot, it was nice kissing Rollins but Kaya wasn’t ready for that last kiss. It was a surprise to her, she was thinking about talking with Erek when Rollins kissed her, pressing those soft lips onto hers. But it gave Kaya no reaction, or rather, not the reaction it had in the past. “It was just a surprise is all, I was deep in thought and I think I have something to tell you to.” “What is that then?”“I’m not going to follow Rognvald anymore,” she almost said sir instead, “I’m going back to the bend in the south river, we should find a nice encampment by the time we get there.” Kaya turned to look at Rollins, her shimmering eyes, still wet, met Kaya’s in return.“I think that is a fine idea, and it’s about time.” Said Rollins.“We can leave in a day or two, I’ll go with you to see Morgan and help you any way you need, then we can head back to the be