Racing the Suns (The Hunter and Wanderer)

by Karen Pepin

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Map

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  RACING THE SUNS

  Karen T. Pepin

  JKCB Press LLC

  PO Box 710, Lorton, VA 22199

  Copyright © 2018 by Karen T. Pepin

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-7328142-0-2

  Cover Art by SelfPubBookCovers.com/RLSather

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  For information, address: JKCB Press LLC, PO Box 710, Lorton, VA 22199

  Printed in the United States of America.

  This book is dedicated to my wonderful husband, Jason. Thank you for always believing and for pushing me to go after my dreams.

  Acknowledgments

  My deepest thanks to Christine Fadden. Most people think that writing the novel is the hard part. I learned this year that it’s not. The editing and revising is. Christine, your hard work and guidance have helped me improve both this story and my writing in general. Thank you for pushing me to grow these characters. I also want to thank my beta readers: Adam, Abe, Nick, and Corey for your support and feedback on this story.

  1

  I panted and choked from the heat. Dust coated my face, my tongue, my throat. I could not make enough spit to moisten my mouth. Around me, my clan mates struggled to keep going. Bodies dropped. We left them behind. We had to find water. I stumbled on the uneven, cracked dirt and collapsed to the ground. Breath wheezing in my chest, I tried to stand, to crawl. Suddenly something gripped my shoulder and shook me. Pain and panic surged through my every cell. Was it a bollar attack? I swung my arms to fend off the unseen. Where was my spear?

  I felt my hand strike something solid.

  "Ani," a voice grunted.

  I shoved the beast. Clawed at it. I had to escape. Had to find my spear. Find water. The nightmare dissolved. Confused and blinded, I struggled to open my eyes. What was attacking me? Where was my spear?

  "Wake. Up."

  The deep, growling voice penetrated my sleep-muddled mind. Blinking, I made out the figure of a man crouching next to me, rubbing his face in the early morning light. Little Anari had barely risen above the trees. Her big, golden sister, Ahuna, would be following soon. Anari's dim orange radiance gave me barely enough light to recognize Ta'Bor, the chief's son. I went limp with relief that it was him. Not bollar. I was safe. Then I noticed the red mark on his clenched jaw. I wanted to pull my sleeping fur over my head. Of all the people I could have hit while flailing like a frightened child, why did it have to be him?

  "What? What is it?" I asked.

  "Are you awake now?"

  Another pulse of embarrassment flashed through me at the caustic tone of his voice, but I did my best to ignore it.

  "Yes. What is wrong? Why did you wake me?"

  "Get up. Pack. Prepare the travel food for everyone. Ven'Ta wants us to be ready to move at sun's cresting," he said, rising to his feet. Not waiting for my reply, he turned to wake another person.

  My clan mates slept in small family groups under their thick sleeping furs. Our campsite, a barren dirt clearing, looked like it was dotted with furry boulders and scraggly clumps of browning grass.

  I rubbed my face with my hands and got to my feet. I stretched briefly, wincing at aches from the hard travel of the last week. With practiced efficiency, I rolled up my sleeping fur and tied it with the leather straps at the bottom of my small pack. I didn't carry much. Some of my clan mates carried keepsakes or tools in their packs, but I used mine to carry the little bits of food I foraged during the day. I didn't see a reason to weigh myself down with non-essentials, especially since traveling fast was a priority.

  Looking out across the waking bodies, some young, some old, I twisted my long hair into a knot at the base of my neck. My hair tie, a scrap of leather, had worn thin and snapped two days ago. I considered simply cutting my hair. No time now.

  I dodged over and around my sleeping clan mates, making my way to the main supply carry bags that sat on the other side of the clearing. I located the leather food pouches stacked in a messy pile beside the bollar-hide carry bags. Each member of our clan received one of these pouches every morn with their day's supply of food to eat as we traveled. Every night, the pouches were handed in to be refilled for the next day. The pouches were little more than rough-sewn leather pockets. In each, I placed six dried katerri strips, a handful of colgi berries, and some tasty choka root.

  As I stacked the finished pouches, I worried about how little meat we had left. If we did not catch up to the herds soon or find stragglers from the northern migration, we would run out by the next night. There were always tubers, roots, and seeds that we picked as we traveled, but with us moving as fast as possible, foraging was limited. We had to reach the Great Divide soon. The race against time thundered like my heartbeat, unceasing, constantly reminding me that we had to hurry. I could not remember a time where I didn't feel that pulse urging me onward.

  I left the prepared pouches next to the main supply bags and picked my way back across the clearing to where my family slept. I woke my mother, Tresi'Ki, with a gentle touch on her arm. She smiled up at me.

  "Ani?"

  "Ven'Ta wants to get moving by the suns' rise," I said. My mother nodded. She began moving quickly as if she had not just been asleep mere moments before. I envied her ability to wake completely.

  "Fill the water bags, would you?" she asked, as she rolled her sleeping fur.

  "Of course," I said, picking up her well-worn water bag and mine.

  "Your sister's too," she said.

  Sighing, I picked up my older sister Lasa's bag. I slung the near empty bags over my shoulder. I found my spear, which had rolled away from me during my restless night, and then made my way to the gully outside our camp, where a small, mud-red stream still trickled. The early morning light made it difficult to find the path down the embankment to the water. The rocks and loose red soil rolled and slid under my feet. Navigating my way was as challenging as walking the length of a canoe while it bobbed and rolled in the choppy waves of the Deeps. The leather water bags swung around my torso, throwing me off balance as I skidded down the steep slope. Sharp rocks stabbed through my foot leathers like tiny hotar claws. A few feet from the bottom, my long spear tangled with my legs, nearly tripping me. For the second time that morning, I felt heat rising in my cheeks. I thanked the Wanderer that no one was around to see me blundering about at the water's edge like a silly child instead of the adult I was.

  Squatting by the stream, I cupped water in my hands and brought it to my mouth. I swished a mouthful of the tepid liquid and spat, clearing away the dust and dryness. Then I took a longer drink of water to ease my parched throat. The brightening sky warned me to hurry. I tried to fill the bags as quickly as I could, but the ever-slowing trickle of water made my task take far longer than I expected. I filled each bag as much as possible, not knowing when we’d find water next, and then scrambled back up the way I came.

  Pinks, oranges, and
golds of the coming day replaced the reds and purples from Anari's light. Ahuna's cresting could not be far off. The tall, browning stalks of grass rustled like dry bones in the warm pre-dawn breeze. How quickly the lush and green rolling plains could wither away and die. I felt the uncertainty we all faced settle on my shoulders like a heavy pack. Grimacing, I hurried back to camp.

  "Where have you been?" snapped Lasa. I pulled her water bag off my shoulder and dropped it in her lap.

  "Ven'Ta wants to start moving early today," I said. My sister gave an exaggerated sigh and flipped her long, blond hair back from her face. She glanced at the sky.

  "That doesn't give me a lot of time to get ready," she complained. I bit my tongue to keep from responding. I never understood why she spent so much time "getting ready." The only men who would see us were clan and she claimed she wasn't interested in any man here. Also, she would just get sweaty and dusty within the first hour of travel. It was unlikely we'd meet anyone in that time. Besides, she washed before going to sleep the night prior.

  But this was Lasa, my older sister—she constantly focused on looking her best. At twenty and still unmated, I supposed she had reason. She wasn't unattractive. Her waist length hair was sun-streaked gold. Her skin, bronzed from the sun, made her blue eyes more vivid. I was secretly thankful that she and I looked alike, except that my face was pointier and hers more rounded. Her figure was more rounded too, despite her hard muscles from traveling. Sometimes, I wished I had more curves, but I was glad I was not as endowed as she. Running looked uncomfortable.

  The problem, I thought, was that Lasa was just too high on herself. Only the best would do. The best hunter, the most attractive, whatever. I supposed I should not blame her. Wasn't it sensible to marry the best mate you could, as she had argued repeatedly, and pass on those traits to any children?

  I was also unmated. But unlike my sister, I didn't necessarily want the best. I wanted a mate whom I could love and who would love me. I simply had not met anyone I felt that way about. I had a few young crushes on several of the men of my clan, but none of them ever showed any interest in me. Maybe at the Gathering this year I would find someone. If we made it to the Gathering. I turned my mind back on track. Right now, I needed to get my sister moving.

  "Well, if you want to wash, you had better hurry." I said. "Time is short."

  "I bet you would love that," she said, putting her pack together.

  "Love what?" I said, absently. More and more of our clan mates were gathering, ready to travel.

  "Me. Never finding a mate."

  "What?" I said, startled.

  "Well, I will find one. And you aren't going to stop me."

  Lasa stomped off in a huff towards the stream. I stared after her. Where had that come from? I shivered. Sometimes it seemed she could read my thoughts. I shook off the feeling. Lasa was my sister and, although we didn't always get along, I loved her. Of course I wanted her to find a mate. Why would she think otherwise? Lasa was my older sister by four years, but sometimes it seemed like I was years older than she.

  I shook my head and went to help our mother hand out the travel rations. I gave her the full water bag and we exchanged smiles. I loved my mother so much. I couldn't imagine life without her near me. I received my travel ration pouch and threaded it onto the leather strap that tied my bollar-hide tunic shut at the waist. I would be able to reach my food at any time, which was easier than having to dig it out of my travel pack.

  I joined my gathering clan mates. Col'Ses and Col'Ved's laughter rang out in the clearing. The brothers were well-known for their pranks and joking around, except when hunting. In survival mode, they were as serious as anyone. Jo'Lin's daughter, Lin'Talla, toddled towards the fire Anto'Ces was stomping out. He scooped her up and tickled her while he finished his duty. Her laughter brought a brief smile to my face. Throughout our camp, my clan mates were in good spirits or complaining cheerfully about the aches of travel. My smile faded.

  Why I couldn't feel their ease or joy? Anxiety gnawed at me and worst-case scenarios filled my head. While waiting, I plucked several long stems of the tough, browning grass and wove them into a braided strap as a temporary tie for my hair. It wouldn't last the day, but it was better than nothing. I wasn't ready to cut off my hair yet.

  My sister returned as the last stragglers were assembling. Now Ahuna was peeking over the tops of the copse of scraggly trees near our camp. Our clan chief, Ven'Ta, looked us over and nodded. We headed out. Ven'Ta started us out slow, so everyone had a chance to eat as we walked, and to warm up cold muscles. Quickly, he increased our speed to a steady jog. I kept my breath even. My foot falls struck the hard, baked dirt, sending up red puffs with every step. The dust cloud stirred up from those ahead of me tickled my nose and I sneezed repeatedly. At times that morning, we pushed through the dying brush. Hidden thorns scratched my legs and dry grass burned itchy welts across my ankles. Sweat dripped steadily down my face and torso, but dried too quickly in the baking heat to give me any cooling relief.

  Around mid-morning, I gestured to Meri'Chal and took her daughter, Lina. I swung the toddler onto my hip, using my pack as a sling to help support her. I spotted Col'Ved doing the same with Lin'Talla. Even Merik'Trev, who was old enough to run for a time, got a short break riding on his father’s back. The heavier supply packs were rotated amongst the less burdened clan members. Everyone helped carry the load.

  We ran off and on through the morning as the heat rose, creating a wavering haze above the ground. During one of our breaks while I focused on catching my breath, I also scanned the horizon. The land had transformed with the coming burning season. When we had crossed to the southern lands last fall, the green hills rolled and waved as far as the eye could see, dotted by clumps of trees that rose above the tall grasses. Wildflowers bloomed in abundance and autumn rains filled the rivers and streams.

  Now, the heat of coming summer drained all water and life from this land. The browns of dying foliage and the hard-packed, red earth stretched as far as the eye could see. Death was coming for us too if we didn't hurry. A sharp whistle alerted me it was time to run again. A second whistle told me to pick up my pace.

  Late in the morning, Ven'Ta slowed us again. I had long since given Lina to another to carry. I wiped the dripping sweat from my eyes and sipped from my water bag. Mother always said it was important to drink enough water for the heat and for the physical exertion, but I did not want to risk running out. The day prior, we had found two of the more reliable water holes dry—depleted.

  I kept moving, eyes scanning for fresh animal signs or plants to forage now that we slowed. My legs burned. I stretched them briefly so they would not stiffen up.

  Ven'Ta led us down a gentle hill into a small valley with a wide creek bed winding its way along the bottom. It was dry except for a small trickle of water running down its center. In a day, maybe sooner, I suspected, even that would be gone. I remembered this stream from our trip south. Then, it was wider than the height of three grown men and flowed fast and deep in its bed. Now, there was hardly anything left of it at all.

  "Thank the Wanderer, who watches over us all, for the gift of this water. May He watch over us and guide us safely on our travels," Ven'Ta said with deep reverence.

  "Thank the Wanderer," I intoned with the rest. With the blessing done, we began filling our water bags. I took a bite of a dried katerri strip. The tough, smoke-cured meat softened as I chewed. Glancing around, I spied some carrow plants. Their waxy leaves were curled, brown, and falling off the stems, but I wasn't after the leaves. Using my knife, made from a hotar fore claw, I dug out a few starchy, white carrow roots, brushed off the dirt, and stowed them in my pack to share later at the evening meal. Every little bit helped fill our stomachs, and I was fond of the savory root when it was cooked in the fire.

  While I was beginning to crave the end of the long tiring day and a sit-down meal with my clan mates, screams pierced the air, startling me so badly that I ne
arly fell over. I grabbed my spear from the ground. Everyone was running and yelling, and beneath the chaos came a deep chorus of growls that resonated though my very bones. Fear spiked through me and settled as an icy pool in my gut. I dashed towards the other women, who were making a circle around the weaker members of our clan, the children and aged. I joined their circle, standing next to Jo'Lin, facing outward with my spear held at the ready. My heart pounded wildly as I tried to understand what was happening.

  A flash of movement on my right caught my attention. A dun-colored bollar dashed toward our circle. I instinctively jabbed my spear at it, yelling loudly to frighten it off. The bollar snapped at our spears with its long snout, its serrated teeth threatening to slice through our flesh if we let it come too close. The bollar lashed out with four of its six claw-tipped legs, and one of its middle legs batted Lin's spear aside. It lunged forward only to be chased off by my and Kissa'Arow's spears. It backed away, but quickly moved to strike at another spot.

  A yipping snarl to my left redirected my attention. Two smaller bollar, yearlings, scrambled towards us. I thrust my spear at them, and so did my mother and my sister. My mother scored blood on one of the beasts: it yelped and retreated back into the brush on five legs, the sixth dangling limply. Then, as sudden as the attack began, it ended. The pack melted away into the bush. I blew out a sigh of relief, but my body would stay vigilant.

  Bollar were not large animals—they stood as tall as my thigh, at most. Individually, they would not pose a great threat. But as a pack, they could take down larger prey. Also, their tan, bristled hides camouflaged them as they hunted, letting them close in on prey until it was too late.

  Time seemed to slow when the bollar attacked. I gripped my spear to stop the trembling throughout my body. My mouth felt as dry as the dirt under my feet, but I didn't dare take a swig from my water bag. The bollar could be regrouping. With the katerri gone, they must be desperate for food. I tried to calm my pounding heart. My eyes scanned the tall grasses looking for movement, but there was nothing. The suns seemed to stand still in the sky, like great eyes looking down on us. I stayed in the circle, tense, waiting to see if there would be another attack. Finally, Ven'Ta whistled the all clear. He walked to our circle.