The Hooman Saga - Book Two, Part 1

Episode 20

(This book is available everywhere online. I'm working as I can to get this posted to Wattpad. if you can't wait to see how this turns out, see https://calm.li/HoomanSagaBk2Pt1 for more information and links.)

Outside the den, she saw the old Chief making his way toward her. Teacher met him on the path.

"How did the Council go?" she sent.

Chief replied, "As well as could be expected." He then sent her his understanding of the events.

She replied, "That is as I had sensed."

Chief was not surprised that Teacher could sense across the valley. Certainly, the emotions ran high during that meeting, and would have carried many of the thoughts far away for anyone able to listen.

Both sensed Tig-she coming along a different path to the teacher's den. They waited for her to come closer, meanwhile feeling the cool breeze that wafted down the valley walls since the sun had set. The evening birds were calling, and the nocturnal ones were stirring.

Tig-she came to where Teacher and Chief sat, then bowed before seating herself.

"All is as ready as we can be. The openings have been secured. Our female hunters and older cubs will be present for the probe. Those with young cubs still feeding will watch the other cubs and keep them cared for and quiet."

Chief sent, "Our thanks to you. These times are trying and it is good to have those we can trust at our side."

Tig-she bowed at the compliment.

Teacher narrow-sent to both, "This hooman is different as the night is from the day. We may learn more than we even expect. Of course already her thoughts and memories have told us what happened after the hoomans left, and explains the meteors in our skies.

"She may, I hope, give us an understanding of how to handle the ferals that surround us, especially the feral hoomans. Until she arrived, I had almost given up hope of finding sentient hoomans again. It has been long in our legends since such have existed."

At that, they all sat quietly, reflecting on the legends they had been told by this Teacher, and the teachers before her. Their own fathers and mothers had told them tales as well.

Teacher finally sent, "Of course this reminds me of the Old-one-who-painted-rocks, who said, 'Let each generation write their own legends.'"

Tig-she smiled, then rose. "I go to see the probe site is ready with what you need. The huntresses will be present when you arrive. I'll then come back for Soo-she."

As she trotted away, the Teacher and Chief shared the moment.

"How are you feeling these days, Chief?"

"As if you didn't already know. The pain has spread, despite all you've helped me in my dreams. My end-days draw closer."

Teacher sent, "And the spirit-world will welcome you to their path from here to there."

Chief relied, "I seem to remember the legends differently now. Details I hadn't before. Like those which tell of the endless love that spirits have, their understanding that goes beyond our mortal lives of waking, hunting, sleeping. There is a common theme I seem to see these days, but can't grasp the idea of it completely.

"The main feeling I get cannot be put into words. But it is peaceful."

Teacher sent, "And our words are simply ideas. Our ideas are as complete and firm as we consider they are. So said our oldest legends."

Chief added, "And they all bring us only the amount of joy, love, and harmony we ask for."

Finally, the Chief rose carefully to his feet. "I'll wait at the probe site. It looks to be a fine evening for this. The clouds have cleared and the spirits look down through the sky from the stars. Even the moon shines down, regardless of the fleas who infest her skin."

As he moved down the path, the Teacher sent her prayers after him. However many more trails he had to walk, let him learn and enjoy each footstep he took.

(This book is available everywhere online. I'm working as I can to get this posted to Wattpad. if you can't wait to see how this turns out, see https://calm.li/HoomanSagaBk2Pt1 for more information and links.)