My warrior ceremony starts soon, and unfortunately my nerves are still shot. I can’t breathe, my skin is clammy, and my mind is blank. All I can think about is father. Will I keep the honor of him alive? Not too long ago father died in a great battle against the Navajo tribe. Chief told mother his was the head of the pack for that battle, yet he did not make it out. I remember when father would tell of great battles similar to the one he was killed in. But out of all his warrior stories, my favorite was his warrior rite of passage. I wish he were here to tell it, he always told it better.
Just like today, sunset was close, yet also was a storm. Typically rite of passage ceremonies were not performed on days of storm for respect for the rain god. But considering father had a close relationship with the rain god, Chief thought it was best the ceremony happened in the storm. The rain god had sent my father the perfect storm that day. While preparing for the ceremony, a light rain fall came. The rain fall would smear fathers face paint, but it did not faze him. Fearless, my father stepped in the warriors ring. Across the way he sees his opponent, Nahuel. Nahuel was one person in the tribe father could not stand. This was the perfect opportunity to prove his worth to the tribe, and Nahuel. As the rain pours down, Chief begins the ceremony. Father told me that the fight between Him and Nahuel lasted through the whole storm. Neither of them was willing to give in. But at the end of the fight, Fathers relationship with the rain god was his strength. Nahuel slipped in the dirt, giving father a perfect position to win. Father grabed Nahuel by the neck, looked chief straight in the eye, and chief nodded his head. The echo of Nahuel’s scream was louder than the rain gods thunder. As the lightning flashed, my father breaks Nahuel’s neck. Father told me that day was the first day he ever saw fear in a man’s eyes. And now I think, Will I be like my father? Or will I be like nahuel?
I try to clear my mind of father as mother paints my face. She adds the colors father had when he had his ceremony; Blue, white, and black. I close my eyes trying to connect with father.
“Father is a help, but the rain god will help more” She takes two fingers and strokes them down the middle of my face.
“Were you at father’s ceremony?” I look at Mother.
“I was the first person he looked at when he finished the fight” Oh yes, I forgot about that. Father and mother often told me about that. I believe that the rain god is what brought my parents together.
“Do you ever worry about being the last one of our family?” She gives me a concerned look.
“Taima, You are just like your father, always worried.” Many emotions are running through my head. Mother looks at me, kisses me on the head.
“You are ready” My mind might not be completely ready, but I am sure my body is. I slowly exit my tepee. The warriors ring is yards away from where I am standing. Directly across from me is chief; he is the same chief that was at Father’s ceremony. If anyone I could talk to now, it would be father.
Father, were you ready for this when you had your ceremony? I know you are here right now, just keep me strong. Keep me fighting. I close my eyes, and look to the skies; his presence is defiantly very near. As I am looking to the sky, I notice the large black clouds above. Was this a sign? I am not as connected to the rain god as my father was. I look over to chief, and he nods confirming the continuing of the ceremony.
Quickly elder warriors cover my face. I wonder who my opponent is, they push me about 5 feet forward, then abruptly stopped me. They take off mine and my opponents covers reveling our identities. I look down at his feet, then back up to his face. His shock is as great as mine. It is my best friend Len. Now my life stands between me and my best friend.
