Dawn's Fire, book 2 of the Dawn Fire trilogy

Chapter 14; Journey's End

Chapter 14

Journey’s End

    It was a quiet and reserved group which made camp that night in the small clearing surrounded by a thick copse of trees and bushes. Hunting Wolf and Deer Pacer entered the clearing a short time later with triumph in their eyes and a large buck strapped behind each of their saddles. Lion Claw paused in the process of laying out his blankets for the night and gave the two braves an approving nod. They would not be without fresh meat tonight plus they would not return to their homes empty-handed. Dawn Fire asked to make dinner again for their group and again she was granted her request. As she started gravy to cook she watched as Laughing Bear aided Golden Lily in first skinning and then butchering one of the deer. Dawn Fire stored the visual lesson away in her memory because she was certain that she would need the information herself in the not so distant future. 

   As the stew sat and simmered, the two women once more succeeded in sneaking in their secret ingredient. And once more their efforts were successful and brought them many complements. Even Burning Coal accepted a portion of the stew this time and ate up every bite of it.

   After finishing her meal, Dawn Fire let her mind wander where ever it would. So strange to think that this would be their last night camping all together, out under the open sky. Though it was getting steadily colder again she had come to enjoy the experience of wandering in this vast land she now called home and then falling asleep under the immeasurable star lit heavens. To think that she would be once more under a roof, a strange roof, when next she laid herself down for the night filled Dawn Fire with anxiety. Under whose roof would she be granted shelter from tomorrow onward? Was it Lion Claw’s or someone she hadn’t even met yet? A part of her yearned that it would be Lion Claw’s but yet another shivered with dread at that thought. Lukas’ cry brought her out of her distraught thoughts and back to the present. Gratefully, Dawn Fire walked over to where she had laid her sleeping brother and picked him up. The threesome of close friends quickly set about their chosen duty of milking the deer and soon brought over a bag filled with the precious liquid. Though each of the three little girls was more than willing to feed Lukas, Dawn Fire turned down their offers. She would snatch every moment she could to be together with her baby brother and would treasure the memories forever. 

   Though his eyes could see no evidence of pain and sorrow in Dawn Fire’s serene countenance, Lion Claw’s heart could feel it as acutely as if it were his own. His heart bled for this woman whom he had come to respect and care so deeply for. All that she had lost already, and yet more was to be taken from her! And yet this woman made no pleas or demands, instead she just quietly accepted all, burying her own grief in order to aid others with theirs. A fierce desire rose up in Lion Claw that he could have come to know this special woman through some more happy circumstances instead of the tragic ones which had brought them together. But the rational part of his mind rose up with its irritating logic to remind him that the two of them, who were from two totally different worlds, would probably never have met and come to know each other as they had under any other circumstances. No, what had happened had happened, and for better or for worse, fate had brought them together. But there was one thing which his entire being was in agreement of; from now on, he would do all that was in his power to spare Dawn Fire from any future suffering.

   As all the others around her slept soundly, save for the night watch, Dawn Fire clung to her slumbering baby brother and cried silent tears into his blankets. All that they had been through together had caused her love for Lukas to grow even stronger. She couldn’t imagine loving even a baby born of her own body more than she did this one in her arms. And now he was soon to be taken from her to be given to another woman. Guilt swelled up within her at the selfish thoughts springing up from the pain in her heart. Oh, God! Forgive me for being so weak and self- centered. Help me once more to set my focus on You and Your all knowing will! Thank You for the family that you have prepared for Lukas. Please, just open their hearts to him and fill them with Your perfect love. Fill me as well with Your great love that knows no bounds or limits. I commit us both and all the others as well, into Your most capable hands. Amen.