by Avery Kloss
Indignant at being accused of such a thing and treated badly, I scowled. “You’re all wrong. I’m just fine. I don’t have bugs in my hair.” But, I knew I did, more aware of the tiny tickles here and there, fighting the urge to scratch. I harrumphed, stalking towards my cooking fire, where I kicked a rock in frustration. “Horrible men!”
Kia, who held a stick with meat over the flames, eyed me dispassionately. “What’s the matter now?”
“They claim I’ve bugs in my hair.”
“Do you?”
I felt a little sheepish about it. “I … I might.”
Having dealt with this many times before, she left the burning meat on a heated rock, getting to her feet. “You and your sister will have to put oil in your hair.”
That meant a cold bath later, which did not please me. “No, please. It doesn’t bother me that much, Mamma. I can live with it.” I loathed icy water, hating it with a passion. I preferred to stay filthy.
“Ara, get up!” she snapped, a determined look in her eye. “That bedding needs to be put out in the sun for a few days. You’ll sleep on an old pelt.”
“But those are thin,” I grumbled. “I’ll feel every rock at my back.” Her look betrayed the fact that she cared little about my discomfort. “Please, Mamma. No oil. No bath. I hate it.”
“You cannot plead your way out of this, Peta. It won’t work.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, tears flooded my eyes. “I can’t help it if bugs want to sleep in my hair.”
Ara, realizing the breadth of the situation, got to her feet, itching her head. “I should’ve known things were crawling.”
Grasping the pelts, Kia tossed them aside, throwing down a new one for us, having unrolled it. In a large basket, she kept all manner of herbs and pouches, one animal bladder filled with an oily substance from a tree. Ara and I sat by the fire while she applied the sticky solution, the smell bold, yet pleasing. She worked the oil through to the ends, gathering my hair on top of my head and tying it with leather rope.
“It’s your turn, now.” She approached Ara. “Once might not be enough, if there are eggs.”
I chewed on a piece of meat, glancing at nearby cooking fires, kinfolk having gathered for supper, although those families had a father. I hadn’t thought of how odd it was until that moment, realizing I had never seen mamma with a man, other than when one took her away to mate with.
“Leave it on for a while,” she said, satisfied with her efforts. “The oil will smother the little bugs. They won’t survive it. You might even sleep with it in your hair and wash it out tomorrow.”
I liked that idea, not relishing a dip in the freezing water at nighttime. Getting to my feet, I desired to tell Ronan and Enwan about this, knowing they needed the oil for their hair. “Might I take it to Ronan? They’re itching too.”
“You spend too much time over there.” Kia tossed another branch into the fire, the flames shooting up at once.
“They’re my friends, but they don’t like me very much right now.”
A chuckle escaped her. “I can imagine.” She slept on her own pelt, having avoided catching the little bugs, but Ara and I had given them to her often enough before. “Take this, if you must. I can always get more. Tell them to put it in their hair. It might help.”
“Thank you!” Excited to share the cure with my friends, I ran over to Ronan’s cooking fire, finding the men in the process of grooming. Using sharpened bone, Enwan grasped at his beard, slicing away, shortening it substantially. “I have something that might help.”
Ronan glowered at me, his look furious. “Go away, you little pest! You’ve done more than enough already.” He hacked away at hair, a bundle of it gathered at his feet. “What an absolute nuisance you are,” he grumbled.
“But, this will help. It’s oil. It kills the bugs. You put it in your hair.” I held out my hand, waiting for him to take the pouch. “It works. I have it in my hair right this minute.”
“I can smell it.” Angry sparks flashed in his eyes, as he continued to hack away at his hair, bringing forth a bundle of blondish, brownish fuzz. “The damage has been done.”
“A haircut won’t kill the bugs. You have to use this to finish them off for good.”
“What I should finish off is you!” He strode forward, towering over me with an angry countenance. “Go away, Peta! You’re the last person I wish to see now.”
“I didn’t mean to give you bugs. I can’t help it if … if they do whatever they do. I don’t know where I got them. You mustn’t be so sore, Ronan.” I shook the pouch. “Don’t be stupid. Put this in your hair.” It looked like he clenched his teeth, a muscle jumping in his cheek. “I’ll just leave it for you and Enwan. It’ll kill the bugs.” Then I ran off, although I began to laugh, which surprised me. I should be frightened by how angry he was—but I wasn’t.
Chapter Six
Ronan wouldn’t use the oil, so they continued to battle the tiny insects, until desperation finally led them to douse themselves with it and throw out their bedding entirely, using fresh pelts. When I felt the crisis had passed, I ventured over to their fire again, although tentatively at first, sitting at a distance with the dogs, observing them cooking.
I wasn’t the only one sniffing about their camp, several women doing the same, which annoyed me. Petting a dog one night, I observed Ena, a young woman I barely knew, who approached the men, a smile on her face. Too far away to hear the words they spoke, I saw Enwan get up from the pelt and follow her into the forest a moment later. I knew then what she was about, frowning.
Seeing Ronan alone, I advanced. “Have you any meat?”
He chewed, eyeing me. “Some.”
Having cut his hair, the beard wasn’t longer than the tip of my finger now, exposing the strength of his chin. “You’re not still angry, are you?”
Slightly exasperated, he held out a portion of meat. “Come take it, Peta.”
The offering relieved me, seeing it as a declaration of peace. Snatching the food from his fingers, I sat next to him, happy to be once again in his good graces. From this vantage point, I observed my fire, Kia and Ara eating supper.
“I don’t recall asking you to sit,” he murmured.
“We mustn’t fight any longer.”
“We weren’t fighting.”
“You were angry with me for something I had no control over.” Biting into the meat, I savored the taste. “Good.” Although his eyes remained fixed into the distance, staring at nothing in particular, I sensed his interest, a hint of a grin appearing.
He ruffled my hair. “You’re a nuisance. I don’t know why I encourage you.”
“Because you’re all alone in this clan. You need a friend.”
An eyebrow lifted. “I could say the same for you.”
I hadn’t thought of it that way. “Why?”
“Have you not noticed? No one ever comes to speak to you. The others avoid walking by your fire. Don’t you wonder why?”
“I … yes, I’ve noticed.” Observing the other fires, more than one family often gathered, sharing meals and laughter. I shrugged. “Kia and Ara look different.”
“Yes.”
“And because of it, they’re considered bad.”
“Inferior.” He ate another piece of meat.
“And you speak to me because I don’t look like them.”
“I don’t have much choice in the matter. You won’t go away.” He grinned, but then his expression flattened. “You’re too young to understand the ways of man. They tend to resist anything that isn’t known to them. Ara and your mother are from another people. That race and ours doesn’t mix well.”
“Then why did I see Lascox and Kia mating in the forest? If he loathes her, then why would he—”
He snorted with laughter. “Whoa … oh! I doubt you should speak of that too loudly, little one.”
I leaned in, whispering, “But, I don’t understand. If Kia is so terrible, then why mate with her?”
Si
lence filled the air, as Ronan rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Tell me.” I pushed him, feeling the firmness of his chest. “You know.”
“Eh … let’s discuss something else.”
Chewing on a ragged fingernail, I stared into the flames, feeling sleepy. “You won’t tell anyone what I told you, will you? It would make mamma angry, if she knew I spoke about it.”
“I … don’t care either way, Peta. People will do what they will. Enwan and I are only passing through. We’re planning on leaving soon.”
I hadn’t anticipated that news, my spirits suddenly plummeting. “No!”
That garnered his attention. “What?”
“You can’t leave. You and Enwan are the only people in the clan who’ll talk to me, besides my family.” I inched closer to him, our thighs touching. “Please don’t go.”
“It’s what we do. We’re not in one place for long.”
“But there’s safety in numbers.” I shivered, remembering what it was like to travel with Kia and Ara, having to be vigilant every moment, never sleeping well at night for fear of an animal attack. “Don’t you like our clan?”
“We were only stopping for a while.” He rested his arms on his knees, a leather cloth draped over his manhood. “We never planned to stay as long as we have.”
“Because you’re searching for your perfect home? A place with a cave?”
“I doubt it exists, but, yes. I’d like a more permanent home, but such a thing is a dream. There would have to be water and shelter and plenty of game. I doubt we’ll find it. We’ll wander forever, I suppose.” A wistful, faraway look entered his eye.
“Perhaps, if you pray to the God of the moon, it’ll happen.”
“I don’t believe in things like that.”
“You don’t pray to anything?”
Grasping the spear, he shook it. “This is the only God I need. That and my wits.”
“What about luck?”
He grinned, flashing strong, even teeth. “That too.” Dropping the spear, he observed the forest, where Enwan appeared.
I watched too, the woman emerging behind him. Several members of the clan noted this as well, Lascox suddenly on his feet, stalking towards them.
“I told you to stay away from our women!”
Enwan stiffened, his feet planted wide. “She came to me.”
Worried there would be a fight, I scooted closer to Ronan, all eyes on the men at a distance, a dog or two coming over to sniff their legs.
“This will not be tolerated! You cannot mate with our women, if you do not intend to stay.”
“Like I said, she came to me.” Enwan’s hands went to his hips. “I don’t wish to quarrel, old man. Ronan and I have helped your clan greatly. Our kills are second to none. We provide food for all of you.”
“This woman isn’t free. She has a mate. He might have a thing or two to say about it.”
“Then he can come speak to me. I weary of this argument.” He strode away, our leader reddening in the face.
I worried Lascox might strike the man, but he pivoted on a heel, returning to his cooking fire.
Enwan sat next to me, reaching for a portion of meat. Unperturbed by the incident, he chewed, his jaws working. My attention drifted between them, wondering at the change in mood, the atmosphere dour, and I also sensed a twinge of danger.
“We’re wearing out our welcome,” murmured Ronan.
“It won’t matter. We’ll be gone soon enough.”
“How soon?” I asked, alarmed by the prospect.
“A few days,” said Ronan.
“No. A season,” I countered.
He shook his head, snorting. “Doubtful, little one. That’s far too long.”
Worried over the possibility of losing my only friends, I settled in for the night, staring at the pitch black of the sky, with speckles of light flickering brightly. I would convince them to stay. I had to think of something …
A rough hand shook me. “W-what?” Feeling warm and secure, I lay between two big bundles, a thin pelt thrown over us.
“Get up, Peta!”
I stared into Kia’s angry countenance. “Why?”
“Because we must work, silly child.”
Rubbing my eyes, I groaned. “So early … ”
She grasped my wrist, hauling me up, which woke the men on either side. “Oh, all right.” I sprang to my feet, slightly disorientated and dizzy. “I need water.”
As she escorted me away, she grumbled, “You shouldn’t be sleeping with them.”
“They provide far more warmth than Ara.”
“But your sister’s cold now.” She pushed me forward. “Don’t grow too attached to Ronan and his brother. They won’t be staying. They’ve made that clear enough.”
“I know.” Needing to relieve myself, I ventured towards the forest, passing a variety of smoldering fires, families sleeping together in bulky lumps beneath the protective layer of animal hides. When I returned, I found Ara awake, her face slightly dusty with ash. “I don’t want to walk today.” Sitting by my sister, I eyed the flames, Kia having stoked them to life. “The berries are harder and harder to find.”
Kia sat back on her heels. “We should cross the river.”
That prospect sent a shiver through me. “No.”
“We can do it.” She pondered the idea, nodding to herself. “We cross at the lowest point. Then we forage in places others haven’t been.”
Ara sat up, yawning. “We should do that.”
“We’ll get wet.”
“Only a little. Have you heard nothing I’ve said?” She tossed another branch into the fire. “We can’t walk any further from camp than we have. It’s time to find new grounds.”
“Perhaps, we’ve been here too long.”
Kia glanced at me. “What do you mean?”
“Here.” I pointed to the cooking fires. “Won’t Lascox want to leave at some point? Does he ever say anything to you about his plans, or do you only mate?”
Ara gasped, not having realized this event occurred. “What do you mean by that, Peta?”
“You have a big mouth,” grumbled Kia. “You should stop speaking now.”
Realizing my error, I clamped my lips together. But then I said, “Everyone’s so grumpy this morning.” I wished they had let me sleep, feeling far too tired. My dreams had been filled with disturbing images, although I failed to recall exactly what they were. I just knew my sleep had been less than peaceful.
Ronan and Enwan stirred, Enwan getting to his feet. I watched them through a haze of smoke, the smell of burnt wood lingering in the air. The sun emerged from behind the trees, just having come up, while a chilly mist made everything smoky and grey. A dog yapped then, the sound common, the camp rousing.
The day had begun …
Chapter Seven
We searched for the shallower portion of the river, where rocks could be seen in the middle. Wading across, we carried our baskets, holding them high. Kia smiled smugly, the sun in her eyes. “See. I told you it would be easy. Ara doesn’t whine about such things. She does as I say without question. Why must you fight me?”
I shivered from the cold, the water having reached my belly. Holding a basket filled with the fur I planned to affix to my feet, I had to admit this plan held merit, excited by the prospect of venturing into a fresh portion of the forest, the rest of the clan on the other side.
“I … I agree, Mamma. I’m fine now.” Setting the basket down, I fished out the pelt, having a seat there to tie the soft fur to my feet. From across the way, I spied a few fires, most of the women and children having left to forage, the men hunting. “You’re right. Let’s hope this proves fruitful. I’m eager to explore.”
That seemed to satisfy her, the smug look transforming into a smile. “I feel good about this.” She patted her chest, her breasts quite large and firm. “I’ve wanted to forage here for a long time.”
Ara chewed on a stick, picking at her teeth. “What are we wai
ting for? I’m eager to have a look around.”
I jumped to my feet, grasping the basket. “Me too!”
“There won’t be a path,” said Kia. “Follow me.”
We began the journey with the sun at our backs, the cool and shady forest bathed in light, the branches thinner here. The rushing sound of water drifted away with each step, a gloomy sort of darkness descending, the canopy overhead not letting the sun in. The environment changed in an instant, a soft, sweet fragrance filling my senses, tiny pink flowers growing within the tangled roots of the trees.
Despite the strangeness of the new environment, I did not feel fear in the least, although we did stop often to listen to birdcalls and the howl of an animal. A bush bursting with berries appeared then, the fruit lush and ripe for the picking.
“This is a good sign!” I knelt beside it, as did Ara, our baskets soon bursting with dark purple berries. “We’ll have so much.”
Kia wandered ahead, grasping the stick firmly. “We mustn’t tell anyone about this,” she murmured.
Ara and I followed her, although we did not venture far, finding edible green things, which we pulled from the earth, the smell of moist dirt lingering. Once satisfied with the harvest, we turned for the river, crossing in the shallow part and venturing to our cooking fire.
“We’re the first ones back,” I said happily, realizing we faced an empty camp. A woman who had a baby recently remained, the cries of her infant echoing. “Even the dogs are gone.” Most followed the men in the hunt.
Kia tossed a few branches into the fire, glancing at the baskets with a satisfied smile. “We need only relax now. What a luxury. Beat out the pelts then. Make yourselves useful.”
“I will.” I did not mind, this chore being one of the easiest. “Yes, Mamma.”
“Go help her, Ara.”
My sister yawned. “I thought a little sleep might be in order.”
“After you beat out the pelts.”
She muttered, “Oh, very well.”
We hung them over branches and hit them with sticks, all manner of hair and dirt falling free. With the task complete, we returned to the spot before the fire, a flicker of movement across the way catching my notice. The baby had yet to cease wailing, the sound beginning to annoy me.
