Don't Have a Name Yet.

Chapter 1: The New Arrivals

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I remember... the first time I saw her....

The air was warm and the sky was clear of angry clouds. I stood solemnly on the top of the hill waiting. I had been standing and pacing urgently for the past handful of time, and was now sitting on the dusty grass playing with my feet and crying. The wind playfully tussled the grass' tips, causing waves of bright green to ripple over the hills. I could hear bugs buzzing loudly from the forest behind me and the leaves rustled and danced with the sweet smelling breeze. l looked and saw a couple of dots on the horizon an nearly leaped out of my pelt. More tears welled up as I sprinted down the dirt path to the dots, growing larger with every step. A smile beamed on my face as I saw a tall man, his face and chest covered with colorful paints.

"Paa-Paa!!" I shouted eagerly. My father, a stone faced man, weathered from age and wind held an automatic sense of wisdom and pride in his mere presence, scooped me up as if it was never there. He held me in his arms and squeezed me tightly. He closed his yellow-green eyes tightly and breathed in my scent.

"Taido. My dear boy. I missed you so."

"I missed you too Paa-paa." he covered my face with kisses. His chin and cheek fur tickling the tip of my nose.

"How was the festival Paa?"

"As well as well can be."

"Aren't we gonna miss Beli and Jeneb?" he put me on his shoulders and held my knees.

"Of course we will, but if you remember they chose to go."

"So they found a match?"

"Yes." I looked over at some of the other tribe members, all of them painted in bright ceremonial colors and carrying clay pots, or carting weird pelts and good smelling food that made me grind my tusks excitedly. Some of the tribe members passed by Paa and me, some of them taking the time to pat me on the head.

"So why do we have festivals again?"

"To strengthen the bond between our nations. It's to share our prosperities with our brothers in other lands. "

"Oh yeah, I remember now."

I looked over my shoulder, firmly gripping Paa's reddish mane as to not fall off. I saw Fenn. Paa's oldest friend, a much browner and kinder faced man with a small patch of white on the bridge of his nose. But someone was standing next to him, a strange looking woman with white-gray fur, golden eyes and black streaks. She stood stout and was at least a head shorter than even the shortest woman in my tribe. . Her fur seemed thicker and her feet were almost twice my Paa's size. I snorted thinking that she looked way too stout to be any good at hunting, and that she was a bit silly looking, but then I saw her...Two little bright blue eyes poked out from behind her hocks. Timidly the blue eyed creature stepped out from behind the woman, still clutching onto her skirt shyly. She looked a lot like her mother except that she was a little smokier in color with dark gray spots covering most of her body. Her round eyes shined brightly with curiosity, even though a small accent of fear flickered through her expression. I could feel a crooked smile creep across my face as I watched the little gray and white puff ball stumble over the grass and sand.

"Paa? Who are they?" I lightly tugged at his mane and pointed at the two ne whitish faces.

"They're coming home with us. The older one is Fenn's new wife, and the little one is her daughter."

What's they're names?"

"The mother is Hadi, and her daughter's name is Via"

Via... I lipped her name, my smile curling further and further over the right side of my face. We moved past the crop fields and into the wooden gates of the village. The tribe members greeted each other, happy to see everyone after so long. A crowd gathered around the two white foreigners as Paa hugged some of the elders happily. Suddenly I heard something that made my ear swivel. I turned my head to see Kenyan, The Oddball teen, run up to Paa. He leaned over, arms propped on his knees. He panted heavily, trying to catch his breath.