Sky Warrior

I opened my eyes and I saw the fluttering of wings that echoed around the sky like a rage of bosk in stampede. The colors were vivid and powerful like the uncontrollable grass fire wrapping around the lands like the breath of sky themselves. It made me smile. It wasn't the swarm that I followed, no. It was just one. One that walked along the railing of my wagon, waiting for me. Grandmother was singing this early afternoon while I was grinding herbs she asked me to. I didn't know the words to her song, something I'm sure from her childhood. I think its the only time there is no tears. Its the melody I adore. I had just finished the grinding of the mixture when I saw him. Did I know it was a small bugged Warrior and not a maiden...yes. I did. He was very proud looking even with the most delicate of wings. I tapped the last of the mixture into the small pouch, it was for an elder lady whose daughter was weeping still from her second stillborn. Grandmother promised there wouldn't be a three. Three was all there was allowed in life. Three chances, Three signs, Three pains, Three aches, and Three souls all entwined. Not sure what any of that meant, but Eesamer teases me, that it means I have to get out the wagon soon so he can get himself a mate. So he will be sending me off for the first Warrior that wants me when I'm old enough. I asked him, what will he do when his mate is with child then? He simply said, then I will have to wait to have children until Easamer goes to the sky. We have wagered since I was 9 years old over this. We are still tied. Of course we tease, Grandmother says she is waiting for a young strapping Warrior to come offer to mate her, cause it will happen before the two of us. Kinda takes the joy out of our joke. Leaves the woe of....what if it really happens? My other siblings long mated and out of our family wagons scold the three of us for talking like such, but its our special moment of teasing.

I thought of my siblings as I walked out to the Warrior bug, following him as he took flight. I listened, for every beat of his wings in my following. Pausing only when it was lost in the choirs of the other wings. That is when I saw them. I saw three, a Woman and two sons. One she carried the other at her hand. I wanted to touch the young man, but that is rude! One can't just go around touching other folks kids! Plus, I was close to the first wagons, I didn't know who these people were. I reached up to feel the ribbons of bugs coil around my fingers. "The Sky is sending us signs that she will soon give us the omens that will tell us the time is right. Her Warriors will lead" Not sure who I spoke to, perhaps the ground, perhaps the three near me who seemed to really need a few words. I could only feel happy, rejoiced, a burst I needed myself filling my lungs with breaths from those fanning wings and giggled vibrations at my lips. She seemed, the one with the two sons...to question why I needed to say such. I didn't want to ruin the moment of the words that belonged to only her, so I said only the truth, the truth of life, no secret in what is given to us, just some see it better then others, and some see more or seek more then the truths of nature, I...just embrace it.

"The Sky, the spirit, talks to us all the time through her messengers, the earth is her flesh, the breeze every breath, and the way the water flows like the giving blood, and how the smaller creature act...her words. We have but to listen."

As I turned to walk home, I heard another voice asking a question of me. A young Warrior seeking more then my name, I shall give him his first command. My finger brushed along the family that still wove its play on my other hand, finding my Warrior bug who brought me here. I placed him on the tip of the child's nose, before giving him my name. I gave a little bow to the two men of honor, whispering lightly in the child's ear.

"For he will follow you everywhere, make sure he is there to keep your new brother safe...for when you see him, and not always with your eyes mind you, there is luck, even when it seems so dark, there is always luck as long as you..believe"

I left him with that whisper, and home I went. The wagons I passed a few would fly off and walk the binding ropes of the leather canvases, some even seemed to melt into the painted designs. I made to the back wagons, with only a few left on the top of my hand. I stood in the shadow of those to my left hearing my Brother have words with men I have never seen before at our home. They carried jars of paint, that were left on the ground, that droplets around the edges of the lids told of its deep crimson color.

He went walking with the men past me, only when I thought I would be safe to slip back in with Grandmother, did I hear.

"Noelani, follow"

Waiting Game

I have been waiting, looking seeking. I wait out of respect, for this woman the Ubar told me to find. I lingered around the fires of the first while she spoke with others. It seemed she was busy, I didn't want to invade her time. When the ahn's grew late I returned to my wagon with hopes of perhaps trying again. The next day, I went back, having a delightful conversation with a Warrior, who didn't have much to say, but said what he found much. He was very mellow, yet, I could feel a warmth beyond the scars and leathers. He drank paga from the camp slaves, but seemed to have much more to say then was worded. I found I liked him very much, even long after he left, I knew he had been there. A lasting warmth of thickness even more formed then that which swirled up above the flames.

A nice Warrior.

The next day I met another. I spent a few ahns in my wait speaking of bosk. I could talk for days about bosk. They all seemed to hold a power that was a center of tribe. From the way their noses lift up to the sky at first morning breath. The flare of heat across the golden band at flesh, the shadows it left in misted fog along the surface, the first step towards the light. It all meant so much.

A very nice talk.

I went back to talk to my Brother Eesamer, the eldest of us all, and the one who took care of me and Grandmother. He was a Haruspex like our Parents. Their parents, and many beyond, countless lines of my Father's blood that the yearkeepers would only know. He touched the stray hair at my forehead, told me to stop worrying.

Things will happen as they should.

I am here

I did just a weave around the wagons. I didn't know where to go, but I did. I could smell a hint of dancing sage. Its swirls of phantom play was merely a figment of my own mind, but in a way it wasn't. It was the curled beckon of fingered trace of the path I am to go. So away I went. I walked in the colorful darkness. Letting my eyes close, and fingers curl in the hold of the breezes hand. One can be amazed at what they can see when their eyes are closed. It was always a thrill for myself as a child. My Grandmother can't see, so I didn't need to also. I would sit for ehns content with stories told from the breeze from the music of each blade of grass strum like the most magical of harps. They always spoke to me. I was just thinking on the fight of the ebony of birds, so perfect in the base of the blue Sky. It would swirl and swoop, flying so far, yet not moving one hort. It had a golden beak, and pearl talons. Flawless the rich color darker then anything that can be seen.

Just as I wanted to reach out and cup the bird in my palm when it just combusted in a sparkled shimmer of gold across the formation of clouds. It was then I opened my eyes and saw a man. Not just any man, but THE MAN, himself. I was in a locked moment of revered glory, suckling the air of suspense for whatever words might be said. "Did you fall off a kaiila or something?" If this was what I had been living my life to hear, then I was just confused. I let the pondering of maybe finding a kaiila and just leaning over enough until I did fall, to get the inner explosion of what these words really meant. I decided, that would be rather silly. Not that I might not do it later, but right now, I was busy. From the odd look THE MAN gave, I was doing this inner dealings a bit to long. I proceeded to introduce myself. "My name is Noelani, I am the Seventh Child and Third Daughter of the Warrior and Haurspex Yenastat, who died 16 years ago from a battle on Paravaci lands, and his mate Egasinu, who died just hands afterwards from a broken heart. I was raised by Tachila, mate of the Warrior and Haurspex Gillex. I have come to try to find my place amongst the first wagons and learn from the elders of the Clan, so that I might find where I belong, and how to serve my tribe fully." I am still not sure if maybe I said to much in my spill of family, cause the only motion I got was a thumb to the wagons to the East, and told to find the Haurspex Tarra. Repeat everything I just said, and add something more stuff for flavor. Flavor? I wondered what the flavor would be across my tongue when I said it. I was sure I would soon find out. I thanked him, and with a kiss of lashes at the close of eyes, fingers curled back in the warmth of my palm, me and the breeze were off towards the wagons of Haurspex Clan.

I paused by the outer of the wagons, they were very warm. Warm against my skin, and I felt its warmth just absorb into my heart. I have a "Tal" to any that neared giving out my linage with confidence, though I didn't hear a bit of my own words in the struggle and bang of my heart just a furious song in my chest. I told of whom I was waiting for, and I would wait all day for her arrival. I was sitting in the grass, running tips of fingers over the delicate blades. I was very careful, never would purposely let one crease, or even be released from its earthen home. The ground told of steps, the air of its musical tune of beads and shells. The dance of sage seemed richer in its wrap around me.

I gave a polite smile, what would happen next I had no idea. I stood solid ground, glad I wore my good boots. Introducing myself, adding in a story of my Mother, the beautiful story of course, of love so binding, nothing would break its hold then a bit of Grandmothers blinded weeping, that her soul would weep until the end of her days, but in happiness of the years that were gifted to her. Yes, I liked sharing that story. I took a moment to let my tongue press against the roof of my mouth, it tasted smooth and rich like caramel. So yes, I hoped it was a flavor she would approve of. I told how I wished to learn, and was prepared to learn. To work hard to earn a place in the wagons, the clan, and work to give back to my Tribe, everything it has given me so far.

I was ready.

I watch

I have been watching the first wagons for days. For lunch while there, and meeting others I have entertained their children with what I like to call bug readings. The kids enjoy it, even if it had nothing but surface entertainment value. The young boys and girls bring me plump bugs they have found, and I count the legs, the wings (most gone by the time the kids bring to them me, or after awaiting their turns) and tell them of future hunts, children, skills in clans, or even pending doom from an older sibling who will find out they took their favorite item.

I do this by taking what is left of the brought bug, snapping its head off, of course handing it back to the child's empty palm and with a little squeeze I close my eyes, giving a hum, cause children love hums, makes them think I'm really in deep thought, drawing pictures of Lar Torvis, Bosk, Birds, Snakes, or even Stars and Clouds along their for heads of cheeks.

I enjoy hearing Parents laugh, and the giggles of the young as I give them what is left of the bug carcass to bury. Telling the Parents of course I am not responsible for those who forgo the bury and just eat the bug. Future hunter...be proud usually ceases the frowns from new young Mothers whose barely walking son's have a wing popped from lips.

I am taking my time, learning the people, the way the grass circles, the breeze flows around these wagons.

I see

So today I walked closer, closer to the wagons of the center. I wanted my face seen, the Sky had whispered in my ear, and its breeze cloaked me with strength. The grass bent under my feet to show the path I should take. I saw it when I bathed, the way the water swirled to the north, and rippled around my legs. The way the droplets rolled up instead of down, warm instead of cold. The way the water bug danced along the hazed blue surface closer to me, showing me the break of stream reeds I should walk across to the grass.

Yes, today was the day. I kissed my grandmothers cheek, I tasted the salty flesh that was always moistened with tears. She said she could see my path. I said funny, now I'm the blind one. We laughed. Grandmother said to not worry, she knew, she knew the day she brought me out of the water and breeze gave me my first breath. She knew the first time touch of grass upon my body before I was swaddled. She knew. Again, would be nice if someone told me.

I walked the path of the wagons to seek out the First of First. That is what was told. I was excited and afraid.

I stepped from the water, bare except for the small necklace I wore. A birth gift handed down. A tiny glass vial of blood and blood tears. Blood so old, I would have to sit all day to remember every name I knew I had locked away from the story told so long ago. Each carried a grain of dirt, and a tear, locked away in that seal of glass. Sand, fire and water formed that glass Grandmother would say, we are all captured in gifts of the land. Our blood is all we have to give back to it in honor.

I watched the wagons, I have never been to the Clan wagons of the First Wagons. Only the small of the back. Since I was a small girl sitting outside the platform reading the beats each flow of butterfly wings, did I know, I could feel. I could sense. I was one with the land. I didn't have deep inner power of some, but I had the embrace of spirit to give back to the Sky the gift given to me.

The day the ring found my nose, was the day I was allowed to step into the wagon and learn. A woman of my people. My Tribe. Did I have what it takes to join those in the core of it?