Dawn's Rising

Chapter 17; A New Friend

Kristina walked along the outskirts of the forest not paying much attention to her surroundings. Though the day was dazzling and unusually warm for the end of January, she paid no heed to it. A dark cloud of despair clung tightly to the little girl until all she saw was gloom and hopelessness.

It had been four days now since either Merethe or Hilde had so much as looked at her. Even Merethe ignored her now and refused to speak to her unless an adult was present and pressed a response out of her. Kristina had now run out of all hope that either Merethe or Hilde would become friends with her ever again. Now, she desperately sought to find things to do to make the days go by as fast as possible. Knowing how her tender condition disturbed her usually joyful family, Kristina had now taken to staying out doors and wandering about their little valley exploring all its nooks and crannies. During her solitary journeys Kristina also tried to do as her entire family encouraged her to do; seek God in prayer.

Kristina had never had any problem believing that God existed. She had always been able to feel Him near her. And whenever she prayed she had always had a distinct sensation that He was indeed listening to her. It just had been difficult the last few months to try to see that the horrible things that had been happening to her were indeed a part of God's will for her. Her parents had taught her that nothing ever happened in the life of God's children without Him first giving His consent to it. But why would God suddenly allow all these hurtful things to happen to her? What had she done to cause Him to punish her so severely? With each event Kristina had become increasingly bitter towards her Heavenly Father and therefore more and more distant.

But now as Kristina walked so completely alone a deep longing to draw near to her Creator rose up in her young little heart. Abruptly her feet stopped where she was and her eyes turned pleadingly up to the heavens above her. Yet more tears sprang into her red eyes and made their way unchecked down her cheeks.

"Lord," she whispered out into the stillness of the forest with a trembling voice. "I don't understand why you have let all this happen to me. But I remember what pappa said to me once, that You make all things work out for the best in the end. Please do so for me now. I need You God. And please, if you could, please," Kristina said in between sobs, "send me a new friend. I am so lonely I can't stand it any longer!"

An uncontrollable fit of crying seized Kristina and robbed her legs of their ability to hold her upright any longer. She collapsed to the soggy brown grass of winter, not caring that she became instantly wet, and laid her weary head into the crook of her arms which were folded out in front of her. She wept out all her pain and frustration before her God in heaven.

Suddenly, Kristina felt a hand come to rest upon her head. She hadn't so much as heard a footstep! Kristina's breath still came in shuddering gulps but other than that she now lay completely motionless with her face hidden in the crook of her arm. She wasn't ready to face anyone yet; not even her beloved sister, Julianna, whom Kristina was certain that this hand belonged to. She just wanted to be alone for a while yet and talk to God a bit more. It felt so good to finally open up to Him again after closing Him out for so long.

"Ciibehbiiwoohu"

So startled by both the strange words and the unfamiliar male voice, Kristina sprang up to her knees. She looked up into a pair of friendly warm brown eyes surrounded by a slightly angular reddish brown face. Kristina stared up at the young man in front of her who was obviously an Indian youth. From his midnight black hair to his buck skin clothing, he was just like the Indians in her small children's picture book of America that Uncle Jarle had sent her three years ago for her birthday. Kristina stared in wonder at the beautiful youth who had so suddenly appeared from nowhere as if the very earth had abruptly given him birth. He wore a long sleeved tunic trimmed with serrated leather fringe along the bottom and a lovely intricate pattern of multi colored beads bordered the opening at the neck. Leather leggings covered his long, slender legs while a breech cloth was draped between his legs over a thin belt around his waist so that its ends hung down in both the front and the back. Around his neck hung a small leather pouch decorated with beads and small feathers and two more feathers were attached to the top of one of the two small braids which hung down each side of his face. The rest of his hair hung loose, cascading down his back in a sheet of ebony tinged in shades of blues and greens by the bright winter sun.