Long Way Home #Wattys2016

Chapter 28

Emilina POV

Mary and I make it down and join everyone else. We visit for a little while and everyone eats their fill of the food but there is still so much of it left over. I asked Alpha Adahy what happens with the leftover food.

"What we don't eat is usually thrown away. Some of it can be saved for the next meal or two but after that it is not any good." Alpha Adahy told me.

"Why don't you give it to some of the families that don't have as much or the worriers that are injured and can't hunt?" I asked and I could see he never even thought about it. Everyone around us stopped talking and listened to what we were saying.

"What do you mean give it to others? We each hunt and provide for our families, if there is a family that cannot provide for themselves they know they can come to us for help. Like the Elders and children without families." He replied and I saw a few others nodding in agreement with him.

"Okay say you were hurt and could not provide for your family would you go to your leader for help? I don't think you would I think you, like many of the people don't like to ask others for help." I turned to others around and asked them the same question. Each was the same reply; they looked down at their feet and mumbled to themselves.

Alpha Adahy called a few of his warriors over to him. They spoke quietly for a few moments and the warriors left very quickly. I watched him as he sat back down, I could tell he was in deep thought. I didn't know if he would know if I entered his mind to see what he was thinking but I knew he would never tell me what was on his mind. Just I expected he did not know I was there in his mind with him. I stayed quiet as his thought circled around me.

* * * * How could I not see that my people were going hungry? My warriors, the same ones I call upon to protect my family and me, can't provide for their own families because I keep pulling them away. I never knew that they never had time to hunt for their families. None of them ever told me of the bind I was putting on them. Winter was coming up soon and they might have enough food to survive. How did I let this happen to them? * * * *

I pulled out of his mind before I could see any more. I didn't mean to make him feel that way. I just wanted to ask about the leftovers, I didn't even know that people were going hungry in the village. All at once, the doors opened and all the warriors walked in with their families. Alpha Adahy looked up, his face had wet streaks going down it; he had been crying. He stood and faced the people then he hung his head in shame.

"I am sorry for not paying better attention to my people. I do wish someone would have told me about the troubles that I was causing by keeping the warriors so busy. I open my doors to all that need it; my food is your food." He said as he started to walk away from the group.

A boy about twelve or thirteen reached out and took Alpha Adahy's arm. "We did not tell you because you had enough stress on you already. You were trying to keep us all safe from the hunters and finding us this beautiful valley to live in where we are able to stay safe. Plus you were always worried about Clan Mother Kamama, as we all were. Please Alpha Adahy don't be sad and please don't leave again." He released his arm and took a step back.

Alpha Adahy raised his head looking at the boy, who had a huge smile on his face. "Thank you for believing in me and not being mad at me." He said as I stood.

My eyes started glowing brightly forcing everyone around the table to move away and cover their eyes. When they all looked again the table was covered with all fresh dishes of food. I started to feel exulted and sat down, laying my head in my hands. Paul came to my side, placing one arm under my legs behind the knees and his other arm came around my back as he lifted me from the chair in one swift move.