She could feel them staring into her back. Their big beedy eyes gave her the creeps. Tavi hated brother owl and his hoot hoots. She stepped along the worn trail which led to Beaver Town and wondered if the Beaver people would welcome her. She was cold, wet and hungry and surely the village would give her lodge for the night. They did not know her curse and she would not tell them. By the time things started to happen, Tavi would be well on her way down the trail again. But for now, the beasts of the wood, the chill in the air and her growling stomach pushed her to be brave.
“Oh mother, how I wish you were here. Oh Tovi, say a prayer for your dark and twisted soul.” Tavi spoke through the cobwebs in her mind. She felt as if the great rift of her being was pulling her back to her sister. It was hard to push onward but her promise kept her fixed on her destination; creepy nights, cold winds and all.
For miles she trudged ahead in the mud and leaves. Her moccasins were soaked through with the last nights rain. Her mind, lulled by the sweet call of the night birds as they nested down, thought on home again. It was hard to concentrate on the little road before her which widened as it neared the town. She wanted to be with mother so bad that tears pooled in her vision. How she wished that she could just have one more moment with mother and tell her she was sorry for the trouble her soul had stirred. She hated her soul.
She didn’t realize that she had neared the village until she heard their voices. Voices of what seemed to be home. Tavi squinted her little brown eyes and peered through the overhanging limbs. They were everywhere. Warriors in circles eating while their women put away bowls and pots. Tavi could see firelight still burning brightly and children running round curs, pulling the mut's tails. She smiled thinking of the Crane people . She wondered if little Eina was playing with Sprite by the fireside as well and her mother…oh her dear mother. Tavi suddenly saw her mother crying with Tovi in her arms. Tavi frowned and the tears spilled to her dress. Tavi really wanted to go home now.
Her musing mind was startled by a sharp snap in the distance. She noticed an old woman breaking twigs to add to the dwindling fire. She looked very odd to Tavi; the old hag’s one arm braced the twig pushing it against her thigh as the she lifted her knee and broke the small branch. Tavi giggled before she knew what she was doing. The lady looked up from her ordeal and frowned. Tavi grew silent and contemplated whether to emerge and let her presence be known.
For long moments she waited and waited; until the old hag went back to her one armed twig breaking. She exhaled and emerged into the open camp.
“Hello….I am Tovi of the Crane clan. I seek lodge for the night.”
Faces turned and warriors stood. Tavi shivered.
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