by Lily Thomas
She brushed her hair out of her face, as the wind picked up slightly.
Pausing she sniffed the air. A scent trickled through the cold.
What was that scent? Aiyre felt like she should be able to place a name to it, but she was having a hard time figuring out what it was. Her pronghorn side allowed her human side a little better ability at smelling, but if she wanted to smell even better, she’d have to be in her pronghorn form.
Right now, was not the time to be shifting though. It could startle the horses below, and they needed this hunt to be a success.
Her attention focused back in on the herd of horses meandering below them. They had to concentrate and make sure not to mess this hunt up.
She gave the signal, with a flick of her hand, and her group of hunters leaped up from their position in the snow. As they began to sprint down the hill, her heart stopped in her chest.
“Stop!” She hollered at the top of her lungs.
All the hunters froze in their tracks and looked up at her surprised by her sudden outburst. Their brows were drawn down above their eyes, wondering why she was halting their hunt. All she could do was point soundlessly over their shoulders.
The men in her hunting party turned, and their eyes widened as they finally understood. Sabertooths were sprinting across the snowfield, their tan coats streaking across the white snow in a blur of color. They’d come to this valley to hunt!
Aiyre and the rest of the hunters scrambled back up the hill and out of sight of the oncoming sabertooths. If they were spotted, there could be trouble, and they wouldn’t come out on top.
“What are they doing here?” One of her fellow hunters hissed in obvious irritation.
Aiyre shook her head confused herself. “I have no idea why they would be hunting this far south.”
Were they trying to start a fight? This hunting ground was well out of the way of their village. She got the horrible feeling that the sabertooths were doing their best to get rid of their pronghorn neighbors.
They watched on as the cats barreled down on the herd of horses. A couple of them sprinted around the herd, throwing the whole herd into a mass of panicked chaos. Then several of them tackled a horse, bringing it down with little to no effort, and then one of them latched onto the throat. It was like the sabertooths were taunting them, showing them that they too would be just as easily dispatched.
“Maybe we should fight them.” Someone uttered.
“Don’t say such things.” Aiyre hissed back. “Our hunters might be able to bring down horses, but we’d have no chance against the sabertooth clan. They are born hunters and have two forms in which to hunt.” Aiyre said harshly, her breath coming out in white puffs.
“It’s too dangerous to stay out with the sabertooths roaming the area. We should return to the clan.” Girk and the other hunters who’d split off rushed back over to them.
“I agree. We can always come back out at a later time.” Aiyre guided the men back to the village. Her heart sunk. Everything had been going so well until the sabertooths had shown up. It was like the gods were teasing them.
Walking into the village without anything to show had been the downside to Aiyre’s whole day. The eager looks on her clanmates’ faces had turned to dismay when they realized there would be no meat to add to their already dwindling supply.
As much as Aiyre hated to admit it, this might be the last year for her clan. The meat they had wouldn’t last all winter. Perhaps she would suggest a split of the hunters for tomorrow. Each group could go to a different hunting ground. Then they’d have a better chance at getting in some kills without the sabertooth clan interrupting them.
Aiyre settled down next to the village campfire. The orange and red mix of flames soared high into the black night sky. She watched some embers take flight, flying high into the sky, where they burned out and then fell back to the snow, dull and grey.
The stars shimmered brightly in the dark sky, and for a couple of seconds, she let a moment of calm wash over her. Even with death staring them right in the face, she was going to enjoy the small joys in the land around her.
The clan had all gathered around to share food and talk. It warmed her to be sitting among them, even if they might be dealing with desperate times.
“Hello, Aiyre.”
“Ezi.” Aiyre smiled warmly, as she looked up. “How was your day?”
A blush filled Ezi’s cheeks, as her jade eyes shined brightly in the firelight. “Drakk has claimed me.” She plopped down on the log Aiyre was already sitting on.
“Drakk?” She glanced over to where the hunter sat in front of the enormous village campfire. Ezi was a lucky woman indeed. He had to be one of their finest hunters. “I’m sure you both will be very happy and have lots of children.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
Ezi sent her a timid smile. “I’m surprised by his offer, to be honest.”
“Why?” Aiyre leaned in towards the fire, placing her gloved hands near the warmth.
“I just never thought anyone would notice me.”
“You’re beautiful, Ezi. Someone was bound to take notice and desire you to be their woman.”
“Thank you.” Another blush crept up Ezi’s face and neck at the compliment.
Aiyre felt a pang in her chest. She wasn’t jealous that Drakk had claimed Ezi, but she was saddened that no man had claimed her yet. Where was the man for her? She was starting to get on the older side, and there were still no offers for her to accept or decline.
Laughter erupted from the other side of the campfire. At least, her clan was able to enjoy themselves in such trying times. It showed their ability to get through this together. And it was a good sign that Drakk and Ezi were joining their furs together. No one here was about to give up hope over what the future might hold.
“Don’t look so down.” Girk plopped a seat next to Aiyre and Ezi.
“It’s hard not to worry. I love everyone here,” she swept her arm through the air, “yet I fear I might not see some of their faces come spring.” Aiyre worried.
“We will find a way. We have always found a way.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and drew her close to his sturdy frame.
He was definitely the most kind-hearted man they had in the village. He’d been nothing but sweet with her, and she was thankful for that.
“I don’t understand how you can be so positive.” Aiyre grumped over at him. She was glad people were looking on the bright side, but she didn’t want anyone thinking it wouldn’t take effort on their part to make everything work.
Ezi’s eyes darted between them. “Should we be concerned?”
Aiyre looked over at her friend. The sparkle in Ezi’s jade eyes had dimmed. “You should only worry about your first night with Drakk.”
The blush returned to Ezi’s cheeks, as she forgot about the worrisome topic of their survival.
“He’s put a claim on you?” Girk asked his eyebrows nearly shooting off his face.
“No need to sound so surprised.” Ezi’s eyes flashed with a bit of hidden steel in her small frame.
He raised his hands. “He will make a lot of men jealous is all.”
“I’ve already said that.” Aiyre nodded her head in confirmation.
“Someone say my name?”
Aiyre peered over her shoulder to see Drakk standing behind Ezi looking protective, and she couldn’t help but smile at Ezi’s good fortune. “Just commenting on how lucky you are to have claimed Ezi before anyone else could get the chance.”
A smile spread over his lips. “Indeed. I look forward to our night together after we are done with the joining rituals tonight.”
A deeper blush tinged Ezi’s cheeks, and Aiyre smiled at Ezi’s obvious discomfort. It was amusing to watch her friend’s emotions play out across her facial features so easily for the world around her to see.
“Don’t fool us, Ezi. You are as eager as he is.” Aiyre gave Ezi a slight push on her shoulders to get her off the log. “Now go, prepare yoursel
f, and give us something to celebrate tonight.” It would get all their minds off the horrible hunt.
Drakk took hold of Ezi’s hand and led her back to her hut where he would leave her before going to his own hut.
“We are starting to pair off.” Girk gave her a meaningful look, and this time it was her turn to blush.
Aiyre had never been with a man before, and Girk hadn’t been on her list of potential suitors, only because she never thought he would be interested in her. “You’d have to ask Bhirk’s permission.” She told him.
“I already have.” Girk smiled at her. “I know you’re like a daughter to him.”
“And he said yes?” Aiyre wouldn’t be surprised. Girk was a man who could provide for her and any children they had together. It wouldn’t come as a complete surprise that Bhirk would give his blessing, but she would’ve thought he would have asked her how she felt about Girk.
Girk nodded.
Did he want her because of her position? Since Bhirk, the clan leader, had taken her in as his daughter, any man who married her would become the leader, once Bhirk got too old or died. Naru and Bhirk never had children. The gods hadn’t blessed them with that joy, so Aiyre had been doted on since she was a small child.
Girk could make a good leader. He was stubborn for sure, but he also listened, and he had a compassionate heart. He would make an excellent choice for her. And there was the fact that he was incredibly handsome. He would make her a great partner in life.
But her heart wasn’t into the idea as much as her mind, despite all the reasons to pick him. Aiyre didn’t know what she wanted in a man, but was he really it?
The firelight reflected off his blonde hair, as his brown eyes watched her intently. He was definitely one of the most attractive men in the clan, but that wasn’t enough for her. She needed to know they would work together. Once joined, they would be expected to spend the rest of their lives with each other until one of them died.
“I’m not ready to leave Naru and Bhirk.” Aiyre blurted out, before she rushed to her feet, and fled the campfire area in a rush, not giving him a chance to say anything more to her.
Aiyre burst into the hut she shared with Naru and Bhirk and flung herself on her pile of furs. She had so much to think about, sabertooths and now Girk who unexpectedly wanted to be joined with her. She hadn’t seen that coming.
“Did Girk speak with you?” Naru’s voice rang out of the semi-darkness from the other side of the fire that warmed the inside of the tent.
“Yes,” Aiyre muttered against the soft strands of fur she was laying on.
“What did you say?”
Aiyre shrugged in the darkness and rolled over. “I can’t leave this tent yet.”
“You will have to leave us someday. We won’t be here forever, and then you will need a tent of your own with a man and a family.” Naru’s voice was soft but also firm with the truth she spoke.
Aiyre’s heart broke at the very thought of Bhirk and Naru dying one day. She refused to think about it. It wasn’t their time yet, and she still had time to figure out what she wanted out of her life.
“Don’t think of his interest if you don’t wish to, but you will need to get yourself ready for Ezi’s journey into womanhood.” Naru sounded thoughtful, “Perhaps, it will help you to understand what you are looking for in a man when you see her go through the ceremony.”
Aiyre nodded as she jumped to her feet. She would think about Girk’s offer at a later time. He’d surprised her was all, and she was sure after some time to think about it, she would be able to give him an answer.
“I would love to see you wear the dress I wore when I joined with Bhirk,” Naru said softly from the other side of the fire.
“I would like that.” Aiyre’s heart soared into the skies. Naru might not be the woman who gave her life, but she wasn’t sure she would want it any other way.
Walking around the dark interior of the tent Aiyre picked out a pack of dried meat, some herbs, and some paints in wooden jars. She’d worry about her proposal after Ezi was joined with Drakk.
Naru and Aiyre left their tent together and joined a group of women heading to Ezi’s hut. It was time for them to get her ready for her joining with Drakk.
They stopped in front of her tent, chatting until Ezi came out dressed in elaborately decorated clothing. Beads of wood and small stones stood out against the light brown fur. A cloak of white fur draped from her head to her feet. It was a cloak that all the women in their clan had worn and would wear in the future. Her dark hair had been braided alongside her face with little bone and wooden beads.
She was stunning.
Aiyre stepped forward, took Ezi’s arm, and guided the group of women to a nearby cave that was only for the women of their clan. This was where Ezi would prepare herself for her new start in life as a wife and hopefully if the gods were kind, a mother.
They were able to hear the men’s group chanting off in the distance as they proceeded to their own cave. The men would be preparing Drakk for his joining with Ezi. Soon the men would come to this cave to leave Drakk and Ezi alone, but first, the women had to prepare her and ask the gods of fertility to be kind.
This cave was for the women, and for couples who were going to be joined for the first time. It would be the only time a man would see the inside of this particular cave. Here they celebrated the woman’s ability to create life, and they found it to be the perfect setting for joining ceremonies in hopes the gods would grant the couple many children.
They ventured deep into the cave. Their branches dipped in animal fat burning brightly, lighting their way down the long rock corridor.
“I’m nervous,” Ezi whispered in the flickering dark.
“Of course, you are, but Drakk will guide you. There’s no need to worry about anything.” Aiyre knew Drakk would take care of Ezi. Their joining had only been a matter of time. Those two had been meant for each other. Whenever Drakk knew Ezi wasn’t paying attention, he would sneak glances her way, and Aiyre had caught Ezi doing the same on a few occasions.
“We are here.” She whispered as the group of women emptied out into a large chamber.
All sorts of symbols and drawings decorated the rough walls surrounding them. Mats of fur were laid out for each woman. Aiyre took her seat, lit the firewood that had been waiting for them and watched the smoke spiral up to a hole in the ceiling of the cave.
Then she took out her paints and placed them around her, preparing herself for the beginning of the ceremony. Each woman did the same, except Naru who set out her paints in front of Ezi, and then helped Ezi out of her clothing. The cave had warmed considerably since they’d entered it and lit the fire.
As the partner to the leader, Naru would lead the women in this ceremony, and then someday that privilege would land on Aiyre’s shoulders. Thank goodness Naru and Bhirk still had plenty of years left in them, it meant she wouldn’t have to take on this role anytime soon.
Aiyre quickly dipped her fingers in the assorted paints sitting before her, spreading designs up her face and arms. She swirled the cool paint over her skin, loving the feel as the paint hardened on her skin, trapping the small hairs on her arms like the bog in the summer trapped unsuspecting animals.
Once she was done tracing images over her skin, she found Naru had finished with painting Ezi’s naked body. Red circles had been drawn around her nipples, and a red line went down her chest all the way to her belly button. Lines decorated her arms and legs with dots interspersed in the design.
Then Ezi walked around to each woman in the cave, and each woman painted a design onto Ezi’s body. Some symbolized fertility while others symbolized long life.
Ezi glided over the smooth stone flooring of the cave to Aiyre. Generations of clan members had worn these floors smooth. Then Ezi bent down on her knees in front of her, drawing her attention back to the ceremony.
Dipping her finger into the red paint, she lifted her finger and drew a line from Ezi’s throat down betw
een her breasts. This line was a way of asking the gods to bestow Ezi with a long life.
Before Ezi could walk away, she reached out and gave her friend a quick reassuring squeeze of her hand. Ezi rose and went to sit before Naru once more. Naru grabbed a bundle of dried herbs and lit them with the fire. Smoke filled the cave.
Relaxing, Aiyre breathed it in. As the herbs took effect, she watched the paintings on the cave wall come to life. The image of a woman with her thighs spread, welcoming a man into her body. Heat rushed up inside Aiyre. Then the images of animals distracted her, as she watched them prance around the cave walls as the firelight played over their forms.
It didn’t take long to hear more footsteps echoing down the corridor they’d all come in through just moments ago. Drakk was on his way to claim Ezi. She felt excitement enter her for her friend. Someday she would also welcome a man in here. Perhaps it would be Girk.
Aiyre glanced around the cave in the dancing firelight. She loved being inside these caves, where her ancestors met, and now she waited with her clan to welcome the future of their clan.
Someday she would be in this cave receiving her man. A flutter bounced through her insides as she tried to imagine the man she would choose to share this night with.
Drakk entered the cavern in all his naked glory. The firelight caressed his toned muscles, and the painted designs on him made him look that much more dangerous.
Aiyre couldn’t help her eyes dropping lower to where his member stood proudly between his legs. She bit her bottom lip. Ezi was indeed a lucky woman, and it looked like Drakk was more than excited to join with Ezi.
She turned her gaze over to her friend. Ezi’s jade eyes had glazed over with desire as she appeared transfixed on the image Drakk presented at the chamber’s entrance.
Good. The herbs had helped to calm Ezi’s nerves. It wouldn’t have done them any good to have her trembling in a bundle of nerves.
