The Last Sundancer by Quinney Karah

Author:Quinney, Karah [Quinney, Karah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kennedy Publishing
Published: 2012-12-25T04:00:00+00:00

Dust settled over the fire which had gone cold long ago. Kaichen lifted his head to stare up at the rock spires where Tamol and Farren took their rest with their bands. He could not bring himself to sleep amongst them and he was grateful that he was not expected to do so. He craved the wide domain of the land, no matter the lack of moonlight.

Amara slept on one side of the fire and Antuk rested while Kaichen kept watch. There was no feeling of safety even though they were close enough to the others to be heard if they lifted their voices in sound.

Kaichen averted his eyes from the place where the fire had been only moments before. Morning light began to bathe the rocks and canyon walls orange, red and yellow. It was a time of awakening and golden moments of light. He listened to the land as it whispered to life around him.

This was his home, a place worth fighting for.

Last night Tamol had told him that he would not deplete the food caches of his people for the sake of Denoa’s band. Kaichen had remained expressionless as Tamol stared at him waiting for his reaction.

“Will you and your men join the hunters of my mother’s people and seek out food for all?” Kaichen’s question seemed to catch Tamol off guard. However, the question was not unexpected.

“Your mother’s band has enough hunters to bring back meat for their people.” Farren spoke up for the first time even as he narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

“My mother’s band has a few men that hunt, but none with the skill that your men possess.” Kaichen did not seek to flatter Tamol and Farren.

He spoke the simple truth. The skins that the women used for sleeping furs, clothing and the making of foot covers gave credence to his words.

“Our hunters are born with the knowledge to hunt and succeed. It is also your birthright.” Tamol’s blood surged through his body as he remembered the glorious days of his youth, hunting at the side of his friends.

Kaichen’s mind turned to Siada. His brother had been denied the right to grow up as a strong young man and to become a skilled hunter.

“My men would be willing to hunt with your mother’s band, if only to show them that we are more skilled.” Tamol’s eyes narrowed until they were mere slits, elongated by dark eyelashes that effectively hid his thoughts from Kaichen.

“It is the same where my men are concerned.” Farren spoke slowly as if weighing his own words before releasing them.

It was in this way that Kaichen came to know that Farren’s words were spoken as a vow. They would hunt together. They would bring enough food back to feed those of their bands.

Tamol and Farren watched as Kaichen turned away from them without further speech between them. Silently the men peered down the side of the cliff as Kaichen deftly made his way to the fire below. Kaichen moved with lithe grace upon the rocky places of their people.

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.