Sunlight

Warm embrace after the cold

"Food, Wise One, I went there because our need for food was worth the risk" I said quietly. I believe it with every fiber of my being allowing my aura to project my emotions in hopes it was convincing when my words were not. "While we are not yet starving, we are near the edge. Our magic is already depleted, we have almost no energy and our lives now have been reduced to little more than survival. I thought if I was to bring back even one hardy meal for the 15 of us left, it would give us more hope to fight back them or  strength enough to take to the rivers to reach open water."

"That wasn't for you to decide" her clipped words were calm yet threatening none the less. "Cabbages and rabbits are not worth the risk of exposing our cave, or the possibility of being caught in the sun, child" she continued. "Hawke, what say you?" She commanded. She never took her eyes off me while addressing Hawke.  Her indifferent gaze gave away no emotion. I couldn't help it, my eyes dropped to the floor like a child being scolded. 

Hawke's reply was unusually serious "What hunter Nazeria did broke the rules that allow us to survive, but she did it out of pure intentions." That was my best friend, honest yet supporting. I couldn't expect Hawke to lie for me, but I knew in my heart if Hawke was in my shoes she would have done the same to gather food. 

"And what would you suggest as a punishment?" the wise one asked. The question was a formality. While the Wise One has power to make any decision it has been a long practice of gathering all the opinions of those involved. However, it is ultimately up to the Wise One if they choose to listen. 

"I would suggest wood duty instead of hunting" Hawke said. I kneeled silently, wishing that I would have said more to the Wise One in my defense. However, no other words would come to me. Being put on woodwork for punishment would be humiliating undermining my skills as a hunter. I worked hard to protect my clan but all they could see was that I was late to rendezvous.

"Slith, what say you?" the Wise on asked. Dam it. I thought. Slith's words tended to be held in high regard to the Wise One. He was well on his way to becoming the right hand and successor of the Wise One. It would always be difficult for me if Slith was in charge, he hated me. Yet I am unsure why.

"I would suggest woodwork and a temporary demotion to apprentice, in order for Nazeria to relearn the rules of the hunt," he said with sharp matter of fact words. He had the nerve to suggest demotion. Demotion was unheard of, a disgrace to hunters across clans. Being put on woodwork for the rest of the year would be less dishonorable than demotion. 

"I have heard," the Wise One said, another formality of speech. "Would any other hunter like to speak?" she asked. Several uncomfortable moments passed and the off duty hunters did not speak. It was oddly comforting, they were neither defending, or making my situation worse. "Well, I will think upon the suggestions given too me. For now I will not make a hasty choice, and I hope all the hunters here can enjoy the meal blessed upon us by the spirits. You are dismissed noble hunters." She said. She turned gracefully her sliver hair flowing around her as she headed back into her personal tent. The life of the Wise One was lonely, she would eat her meal alone in her tent when Alonzo brought her, her portion. 

We all climbed from our sore knees after kneeling on the stone. All the hunters were looking at me except Slith who without a word headed towards the cooking fires. I couldn't take their pitying stairs,  and right when Hawke was parting her lips to say something I was already following Sliths footsteps towards the fire. 

I sat on the warm stone across the cooking fire from Slith, there was no way I was going to sit next to him. The fire crackled, and spit ash into the air. The aroma from the meat was heavenly as the children, Rose, May, and Vir took turns, turning the meat. Sara was on a different duty helping Alonzo make a cabbage soup, with the mushrooms, onions, and herbs. The children still haven't been promoted to apprentice ship, but Sara could make a promising cook one day. 

The other clan members soon filed around the fire with me and Slith. Hawke, along with Cristal came and sat to my right Hawke being the nearest to me. None of us spoke, speaking around the fire was uncommon, instead it was our custom to use our auras to allow a time for our emotions to be shared. Hawke's aura wrapped around me, it was warm and friendly and I sent mine back to her. The atmosphere around the fire soon became like a heavy blanket. I couldn't pick out individual auras as they all melded together. It untied us, comforted us. We were never alone as long as we had our clan. 

Alonzo beckoned for Vir to come to him and handed him the first bowl of food. He knew exactly what to do with it and instantly rushed to take it to the wise one. The other children helped fill out the rest of the bowls, Sara ladling out the soup, Alonzo proportioning out slices of rabbit to go in it, and Rose and May, passing out the bowls. The smell was amazing and our auras were all sparking with excitement, and the feelings of hunger. 

The warm pottery was placed in my hands by May her olive green skin contrasting with her bright white smile. I sipped the broth slowly trying not to rip into it, yet remembering that I did not eat yesterday. After weeks, of nothing but wild vegetables the fresh haul of cabbage was heavenly. I picked out leaves with my hands and savored every bite. The meat was so tender, and Smokey from the fire. It's been a while since any of the clan had this good of a meal. The pain in my stomach eased with every bite, and the tension from the meeting with the wise one seem to disappear. What I did was worth this, I thought looking around the campfire at the colorful faces of my clansmen. They didn't look as broken down, as normal. Energy seemed to flow back into their aura's, and faint smiles was one every face. 

My bowl was sadly empty, and a wave of exhaustion flowed over me. I looked towards Hawke and Cristal. Knowingly they both shook their weary heads. We stood up, ready to head to the female sleeping tent still not speaking so we didn't break the warm loving atmosphere. I went over to Sara who was sitting in-between Alonzo and Sean. Her bowl was already empty as well and placed a hand on her shoulder sending my aura to her projecting tiredness. She meet me back with the same emotion. Hawke found her way to Rose, and Cristal May. The clans females then made their way in a small huddle to their tent. 

It was very spacious for what few of us that there were. I usually slept near the back wall of the tent, with Sara in the middle of Hawke and I. We were all snug on the matts, and Cristal was bundled in the middle of the tent with Rose and May on either side of her. Our two little groups shared our coveted woolen blankets from before we were cave people. The warmth soon lulled our heavy eyes into deep sleep. Tomorrow will be better I thought, It was a day of rest for my hunting team.