Breakaway: Clan of the Ice Mountains by C.S. Bills

Author:C.S. Bills [Bills, C.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: children's adventure
Publisher: Highest Hope Publishing LLC
Published: 2012-11-28T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Attu’s clan reached Paven’s in the middle of the night. But instead of setting up camp and sleeping, Attu’s people set up their hide tents together, forming a large covering under which most of the two clans gathered.

The two women who had been given at the bonding ceremony were reunited with their families, and their joy spilled over to the rest of the group, creating a mood of celebration amongst the two clans, even with the threat of the unfrozen water lurking in everyone’s mind.

Attu looked around, studying the groups of people sitting around the many lamps. Where was Rika?

“Sit here, my son,” Ubantu called, and Attu reluctantly walked over to where his father, Suka, Kinak, Paven and two other hunters from the Great Frozen clan gathered at a lamp, away from the women and children. Their shadows flickered on the walls of the hide tent as Attu sat down in the place his father made by his side. Why wasn’t Rika here, with the others?

“We went as far as we dared travel to the east,” Paven said, apparently continuing his story of what had transpired with his clan since the two clans had parted. “Then the ice became so rotten, we were forced to turn back. We lost much time in the attempt.”

He shook his head.

“Now we’re heading west. We must find a way around the chasm.”

The two hunters of the Great Frozen Clan popped their lips in agreement.

“So tell me, Attu,” Paven asked, “why do the other hunters come to you and your father now with their questions, instead of Moolnik? You seem to have gained great status in a short time with your clan. How is this so?”

Paven was speaking in a low voice to Attu, who was sitting directly across from him, but the others heard as well. They looked at Attu.

Attu stayed silent, not wanting to speak of Moolnik’s shame in front of his sons.

“Attu and Ubantu have served our people well since we began our journey,” Kinak answered for Attu. “We honor them for their bravery and their willingness to serve.”

“And their willingness to allow a foolish hunter his mistakes,” Suka added quietly.

Both Ubantu and Paven shot a glance at Suka, but Suka continued studying the flickering light of the lamp’s flames as if he hadn’t just spoken derisively of his father.

Attu met Kinak’s eyes and gave him a quick nod of thanks. Suka, however, avoided looking at anyone. He continued to stare at the row of flames licking up from the long wick laid across the soft stone bowl filled with nuknuk fat. He studied it as if it held a secret only he could see.

In a quiet voice, Suka began telling of the attack on Taunu, of Yupik’s bravery, of the second attack, and the ice swallowing up both the bear and the hunter. He left out the part about Elder Nuanu’s fight with Moolnik and about his mother throwing a fit of grief to get her man to come with the rest of the clan.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.