The Ancients A Tale of Survival

Separating

Äçåçiå was nervous. She waited with her family by the altar that stood in the shadow of a standing stone. The sun had still been asleep when Acacia had set foot on the slight mound that surrounded the altar. Her mother stood with her while her brothers, father, and uncle stood about them in loose circle.

Âkįŀ seemed optimistic. He forever was which annoyed Äçåçiå. Right now she was chaffing at the bit and worried that the natives had changed their minds. Through the link she held with her brother, she felt his calm and soothing presence leech over into her body. She tossed him a grateful smile and was rewarded with a blink.

No matter how far apart she and Âkįŀ were, they were always able to feel each other. She could feel his emotions and experience his pain and the reverse was true for her. Äçåçiå had no idea what would happen if they ever became intimate with someone, but she figured that they would share that to an extent through their bond.

"They come."

Äçåçiå straightened and pushed aside all worry from her mind at Âkįŀ's words. Her eyes searched the surrounding forest till they landed on a flash of skin. Before Äçåçiå's eyes a dozen natives materialized out of the forest. The man in front of Äçåçiå inclined his head in greeting to her. Äçåçiå greeted him in a similar fashion, but with whispered words that she heard her family echo.

Äçåçiå recognized Leö and his wife Ĝeɱiʼni. She also recognized several of the other natives, but she couldn't think of their names right now. Äçåçiå was too caught up in the gaze of the man in front of her. He watched her with curious eyes that were the color freshly turned dirt. He was barely taller than her, but that didn't worry Äçåçiå because she was tall for a woman. His sun colored hair was pulled back into some sort of warrior braid. All in all, Äçåçiå found him very handsome.

Äçåçiå's mother presented the offering to the natives who placed it on the altar. Once the Gods were appeased discussion began. Äçåçiå listened intently to the words that flowed back and forth. She helped Âkįŀ translate.

Hours passed as her family hashed things out with the natives. Äçåçiå's back was beginning to ache when an agreement was made. Two of the natives would go with Äçåçiå's parents while Âkįŀ and Dárkmëre went with the natives. Äçåçiå wasn't too happy about that.

"Watch after him Dárkmëre," Äçåçiå said as Âkįŀ and Darkmere left with the natives.

Dárkmëre turned back to speak to her. His eyes lingered on the native behind Äçåçiå that had decided to stay. He was the one that Äçåçiå found handsome. "I will my dearest sister. Stick close to Father and Uncle."

Äçåçiå nodded. "I will."

Anxiety bloomed deep in Acacia's stomach as she watched her brothers walk away. It eased slightly when Âkįŀ looked back at her and made a small circular motion with his hand. Acacia relaxed and breathed a little easier. It was their sign for strength. Äçåçiå knew that Âkįŀ wouldn't abandon her. She could feel him through their link and that eased her mind.

Äçåçiå turned and followed the rest of her family back out of the forest. The blond haired man stayed close to her. Äçåçiå didn't pay him much heed except to murmur shy thank yous when he helped her whenever she stumbled or needed a guiding hand. New breath was breathed into Äçåçiå as they exited the forest. Her father might have grown up in the forest, but her mother and uncle grew up on the Great Southern Prairie and Äçåçiå got her love of wide open spaces from them.

Good thoughts carried Äçåçiå as her feet wound their way home.