Two-Spirit

Chapter 23

I find my face buried in Ama's chest when my eyes open, her arms wrapped around me tightly even in her sleep.

I smile and sit up a little to kiss her cheek. I then carefully move her arms off of me and climb past her to stand. The cool dirt hitting the bottom of my bare feet.

I look over her beautiful features, loving all I say. She has the most beautiful and fullest eyelashes I've ever seen on a person.

I think of making her breakfast. I don't wish to wake her. I've watched her cook enough and have done it enough on my own to know how to make us breakfast.

I put on my leather shoes and leave. I stop in the woods behind her hut finding a bush to relieve myself.

When done I use the pot of water kept next to the door of Ama's hut to clean my hands then I start towards the long hut after grabbing a basket form inside.

I greet everyone I past with a smile, most ignoring me to my disappointment. A group of men standing around kindly greet me back but one decides to tag along with conversation.

"You are Constance yes?" He smiles as he walks alongside me but I don't fail to notice how he looks me over intensely. Yet I don't think much on it.

He's quite tall, his arms covered in beautiful patterns and symbols. His hair simply long and flows down his back. The men here have hair lovelier than my own just as the women.

"I am and you are?" I question with a smile.

"Dustu. Where are you headed?" He asks as he looks ahead.

"To fetch breakfast."

"Would you like some help?" He offers.

I nod. "That would be lovely."

"I have been curious as to how you met the chief."

I smile happy to tell. "Me and my brother where in these woods just to have a look and we ran into her, Yona, and Dakota. I happened to have lost my necklace so I returned the next day disregarding what they said and Amadah happened to have been on her way to return it to me. She offered to fix it and we became friends."

"Oh." He says and we happen to arrive to the long hut in that moment. He opens the door holding it open until I'm in. Then he follows me in.

"What are you making?" He asks as I look at the shelves.

"Sofkee." I answer with a smile.

"The porridge or soup?" He asks.

"The porridge of course."

"Oh that Is one of my favorites. I'm surprised you know how to make our foods." He smiles.

I smile as I start filling my basket with dry corn pieces. "Ama taught me well."

He hums as he starts gathering the same and putting them in my basket.

"Once, I've had the food your people call apple pie." He shares.

I smile, as that is something I know how to bake. I use to help my grandmother with them. "I love apple pie and blueberry pie. Where did you get it?"

I bet Ama would love a green apple pie. If only we had apples and I'm not sure how to make it without a furnace anyhow. Maybe one day.

"Before the move there was an old white woman near that would trade us for food. We'd give her the food needed and she would make us meals." He explains. "Do you have salt for the sofkee?"

"Yes, Ama keeps a jar." I look around in search of Kuwa. "Where are the Kuwa?" I decide to ask.

He smiles. "Over here." I follow him to the left where a basket holds lots of Kuwa berries. I grab a few to put in my basket.