Wild Tribe by Crystal Chen (ebook reader library TXT) 📖

a questioning glance, "Would you be okay with staying here? We need such skilled fighters to stay and guard camp."

A smile of pleasure curved my lips. "Of course, Willow. I'll make sure nothing happens. Make sure you bring home lots of food, because I'm starving!"

"Hurry up, Willow! We're waiting!" Pepper's voice rose up from the edge of the clearing. My friend laughed and promised to hunt lots of prey before running off to catch up to her comrades.

"Good hunting!" I called. This is how it should always be like.

Sighing with satisfaction, I set my bow back on its stand in the teepee. Then my eye caught on a splash of curved white, sitting in the corner of the room. I walked across the room and picked it up, running my slender fingers over the smooth ivory. It was the remaining stag horn!

Hung up just above it was the first horn that I had carved into a bird whistle. I flashed back into the happy memories, then shook my head. There was still one horn left to use, and I had a good idea on waht I was going to carve it into.

Excitement tickled my heart as I grabbed the knife and skimmed up the familiar oak tree. This will really please Willow, I thought as I started to work.

Midway through the intricate design, there came the sound of struggling in the recover teepee. My heart pounded as I set the horn down carefully in a crevice I had cut out in the trunk of the tree. Swiftly, I climbed to the ground and dashed to the tent.

"Help!" Mica shouted, kicking the side of the teepee. I undid the lock on the flap and slipped in, then reclosed it up tight.

The girl let out a sharp scream, then fell silent. I calmed myself, then said gently, "You are safe here, Mica. How are you feeling?"

Mica stared at me suspiciously, then sighed and flopped down. I kneeled and smiled at her, trying to sound friendly. "The lashes weren't so bad, were they?"

She shrugged and rubbed her bare back. "Can I please have my shirt back?" she asked, sounding wary.

"Your shirt?" I echoed, "What do you mean?"

Mica snorted impatiently. "My shirt. You cut it off my back, remem..." She trailed off, realizing what she said.

"We can let you wear one of our deerskin cloaks." I offered.

Her eyes flashed with suspicion, but then she sighed, as if giving in. "Sure." she mumbled, cheeks red with embarrassment.

I nodded curtly and said, "Stay here, okay?" When she muttered, "Okay." I exited the tent, securing it tightly behind me, and went to fetch the cloak. Just as I was about to enter the main teepee, leaves rustled and Willow appeared with her bow and her bag of prey. Chive and Pepper followed shortly, looking exausted with their spears hanging at their sides. I chuckled to myself as I imagined Willow training them until they could barely walk on their legs.

"How was it?" Willow prompted me, setting the hunting bag down close to the fire. "Any trouble?"

"Nope." I answered, grabbing the cloak quickly and coming back out to meet her. "She wanted her shirt back, so I told her I could get a deerskin for her." Quietly, I leaned closer to her ear and murmured, "She seems pretty depressed, if you ask me. We should do something to cheer her up."

Willow nodded thoughtfully, but there was a skeptical look in her eyes. "Like what?" She asked, gazing around the clearing. Pepper and Chive were sleeping in the teepee, their breathing soft and even. I looked up to the sky, then said, "I'm not sure. Let's first go check on her."

We peered into the small tent. Mica was scrunched up in the corner, dark circles under her eyes that showed her weariness. When she saw us, she curled up tighter and buried her face in her knees. I stole a glace at Willow; she pursed her lips and suppressed a sigh.

"Here." I said gently, placing the deerskin next to her. "Don't be afraid. You have endured your punishment. Come; you must be hungry." I took her hand and attempted to pull her to her feet. The weary girl resisted, then slowly uncurled. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hands raw from rubbing her eyes. I murmured sympathetically, and draped the cloak around her shoulders as she slowly rose to her feet.

"Come." said Willow briskly. She whisked out of the teepee, Mica and I not far behind. The mouth-watering smell of roasted deer meat stew filled my senses, and I sucked in a lungful of air.

"Pepper! Chive!" Willow called; almost immediately the two friends trotted out of the teepee, their black hair brushed and briaided neatly. I smiled with pleasure as the two started to set the utensils out along the wooden board that served at our meal table, giggling as they talked. I glanced sideways at Mica; her expression was blank, the only clue to what she was thinking was the mixture of emotions in her dark navy eyes; sorrow, fear, anxiety, and a hint of something else. Was that joy I saw in her gaze?

Chapter 9

Mica sat down quietly beside Maple, feeling pretty awkward. The strange black haried girl had told her that everything was fine, and that she was welcomed now as a guest. A funny feeling of happiness fluttered deep in her chest, and she longed to dig it out and let it soar in her heart.

Willow finally sat down, and she muttered a quick prayer before picking up the wooden bowl and devouring the food. Pepper and Chive did the same, as did Maple, and within seconds they were all done. Mica shifted uncomfortably and drank her own serving of deer soup, and suprisingly, she savored each sip. It was delicious, with the sharp tang of spring in the small chunks of meat.

"Was it good?" Pepper spoke up, the old light she used to have back in her bright eyes. Mica grinned and licked her lips. "Delicious!" she answered, remembering her vow to make it up to the young warrior.

Maple smiled her soft, gentle smile, and Willow couldn't help but suppress a chuckle. Chive sat back and belched loudly. They all laughed, and for once Mica felt more at ease, as if she was where she belonged.

Willow held up her hand for silence. "Mica is here as a guest for now, and if you would like you can show her around our territory. But remember," she added with a sideways glince at the brown-haired girl, "tribe secrets must stay secrets." Maple looked pointedly at Pepper, who lifted her chin defiantly.

"What, me?" the younger girl protested loudly, "I could never do such a thing!"

Maple just shook her head, hiding a smile. Willow nodded at Chive and Pepper, who groaned in unison but started clearing the bowls and utensils. Mica laughed to herself and sighed a satisfied sigh, the tasty deer stew taste still fresh on her tongue.

"So," Maple broke into her thoughts. "While Pepper and Chive are busy, would you care to come with me? I'll show you our territory, if you would like."

Mica's spirits soared. "Yes, please!" she chirped, eyes lit up like two shining stars. Maple laughed and said, "Come on, then. We don't have much time."

In a heartbeat she was off, striding through the forest confidently, and Mica had to jog to keep up with her long, graceful walk. "Wait up!" she called, stumbling over a protruding root in the soil.

Maple slowed, and when Mica had caught up to her, she asked with a hint of impatience, "Why do you humans walk with such ungrace? You tumble your way through the woods like foxes in fits."

Mica opened her mouth to loose a defensive comeback, but then caught the playful glimmer in her soft brown eyes. "Uh..." she stammered, suddenly realizing the truth to Maple's words. While following the wise young warrior, there came no sound from under Maple's leathery shoes. However, with Mica's cloppy sneakers, her feet kicked up a cloud of noise; either from snapping a twig or cruching on a dead leaf.

"Uh...sorry." Mica stuttered, her cheeks burning. Maple smiled, "It's fine. When I was learning how to walk silently in the forest, I made almost as much noise as you." Mica relaxed, and felt the red on her face fade away. She liked Maple. She was one of those nice, easy going friends that weave a friendship lasting for life times.

That's when Mica decided to fully trust her. "How long am I going to stay here?" she asked quietly. It was the number one question she had not dared to ask, for fear of what might be the results.

Maple hesitated, her gait pausing. She seemed to be considering on whether or not to tell Mica, in case Willow might not approve of it.

Finally loyalty to her Tribe prevailed. "I cannot tell." she sighed, continuing to walk. "However, I can tell you something. Willow doesn't plan to keep you here for very long. You'll find out pretty soon when that is."

Mica's hopes dropped. "Oh." she mumbled, scuffling leaves with her feet.

"It's okay." said Maple. "Come, let's have a look around, shall we?" She gave Mica a small shove and raced off, not a single sound coming out from under her blurred feet.

Mica laughed and sprinted after her, thinking, Might as well enjoy myself for now. "Wait up!" she called, trying to keep the flash of Maple's light brown cloak in sight.

The hem of her robe disappeared behind a tangle of trees, and Mica stopped to rest, panting. A knot formed in her stomach as she wondered where she was. The forest suddenly seemed darker and colder as Mica looked round and round, panic building up in her chest. "M-Maple?" she called, her voice quavering. Am I lost? Fear prickled up her spine as a hawk screeched in the distance.

Suddenly there came a low, scary growl behind her. Mica's blood turned to ice as she resisted the urge to scream. Terror clutched her heart like a silver claw as she forced herself to turn around. What met her eyes was not what she expected. There was nothing there, just the same swishing ferns and thorns, swaying slowly in the breeze. No sign of a beast.

Grrr... Mica spun around as the growl sounded again, this time on the opposite side of the clearing. Her throat ran dry, and her heart prickled with fear. There was nothing there. Was this beast stalking her just out of sight, so that at any moment it would spring and tear her throat out?

The very thought sent a small wail to escape her throat. Her mind flashed with gory visions of her death. Terror-stricken, Mica let out a whimper, then, unable to take it, she crumbled to the ground and started to sob. Tears flooded from her eyes as she wept all her fear onto the ground.

A slender hand touched her shoulder. Mica let out a wail and feebly kicked at the attacker. "Calm down, young one." There came the gentle, soothing voice of Maple. "Don't cry. You're safe now. Don't be afraid." Mica's eyes went dry as she tried to cry some more, but there were no tears left. Relief flooded her body as she shakily struggled to her feet, letting