Chapter Eleven | Island Spirits Welcome page | Chapter Thirteen
The news that Saelua had died quickly spread in the growing village, and a feast ceremony was ordered for everyone to get together and mourn the all-important Village Mystic. Uacro, her son, was, quite obviously, next in line, because he was the only one with any training to do so, but he was still too young, so there was a sense of uneasiness in the village. What were they to do without their healer?
Utel showed up at the Temple early, and started the feast pit going, so that there would be plenty for everyone. Before long, the Temple was a buzzing hive of activity and everyone seemed to be thrilled for a day of celebration instead of the daily grind of surviving. Chief Guar showed up, and Utel brought him a plate of food near the large bonfire.
After bringing him his food, Utel went to get her own, and both of them sat near the ceremonial headstone erected in Saelua's honor, chatting pleasantly about tribe business. Utel mentioned she had had some herbal healing training at her previous village, and Guar said he would talk to Uacro later about possibly having Utel help out while he worked his way into his new position.
True to his word, Chief Guar noticed when Uacro arrived, and flagged him down. The handsome young man headed over, striding easily, and joined the conversation.
He was more than willing to have Utel's help, since he had yet to be inducted as a Mystic, and was still probably still weeks away from his coming-of-age Vision Quest. He even eagerly agreed to help expand Utel's garden with some more local healing herbs, and do some of the training at Utel's house, because Utel, clearly, couldn't often leave all the children alone very often.
Just leaving the twins today with someone to watch them was a welcome vacation, and Utel hoped they were having fun with the other village toddlers, although she was sure Khiad was too busy causing trouble to socialize.
With the conversation with Chief Guar over, Uacro and Utel wandered over to check on the pit, where yet another batch of Utel's legendary Vegetable Feasts was cooking, chatting amiably.
The place was packed, and even the spirits had arrived to wish Saelua a pleasant trip to the afterlife. Niraa was poking at the fire with a stick, and everyone seemed to be having a great time chatting and eating their meals.
Uacro and Utel passed by Gnaar and Saazul chatting with some other youths from the village, and they waved pleasantly, then briefly joined the conversation so Utel could introduce Saazul to Uacro before they continued on their way.
Saazul turned to meet the young man following her mother around, and stifled a gasp. WHO was THIS? She had never seen him around the village before, and she was very sure she would have noticed him.
Not noticing the look on Saazul's face (partially because she hid it quickly...), Utel proceeded to introduce the two, never knowing the events she was setting into motion.
When it became clear to Utel that the two youngsters were interested in getting to know each other a little better with conversation, she turned and headed to fetch the feast for the rest of the people, alone. While there, she to started another feast in case anyone wanted seconds, then left the feast to cook, and wove her way through the crowd back to Saelua's side.
Utel paid her respects to her old friend, then went to sit by Guar and keep him company, never mentioning to anyone that she had seen Saelua in spirit form since her passing.
Saazul and Uacro were so busy conversing, they hadn't even noticed Utel leave. And soon after, everyone else that Saazul had previously been talking to wandered away from the conversation, as well. Neither Uacro nor Saazul even noticed.
To anyone watching closely, however, there were definitely sparks flying. Not the fire kind, but sparks none-the-less. As the sun started to go down, Uacro led Saazul over to the bonfire in the chill air.
All around them, the celebration continued, and conversations filled the air.
Even Gnaar figured out there must be something special there, as he tried to chat with his older sister and barely got a word in edgewise.
Uacro and Saazul barely even noticed anyone else. (They didn't even notice the bush they were standing by was stinky!!)
When the fire dancing started, Uacro went to perform, and it was clear he was showing off.
Saazul couldn't keep her eyes off him.
Nork, on the other side of the Temple, was dodging feminine advances of his own. One of his former flames seemed interested in starting it back up, even though she had just had twins, and was now mated.
And - from the other side of the Temple, it was clear that her mate, the Chief's oldest son, had noticed.
Gnaar and Utel seemed not to notice his agitation, however, and Gnaar finished yet another plate of Vegetable Feast as the day's festivities wound down and people started heading home.
Back at home, the toddlers were exhausted, and were easy to shuffle into bed. In fact, everyone was so tired there weren't even any nightmares or monster visitations overnight.
On the other side of town, the chief's son, Dhizzukk, was helping his mate put their twins to bed.
He crooned to the baby to get it back to sleep, but deep in his mind, doubts that it was his son he was calming were hard to put down. He had seen the way his mate had looked at Nork, and even with Nork's refusal, it was clear something had happened that Dhizzukk had not been party to.
After the babies were asleep, Dhizzukk turned to his mate, and, angrily confronted her about Nork.
For a moment, she attempted to deny it, but, finally, she came clean.
Apparently, the word around town was that Nork would give a woman the strongest babies. It had been easily proven, and Basae had thought she had been helping Dhizzukk out. Dhizzukk, however, was not amused.
Neither was Basae. The argument that ensued woke most of the rest of the people in nearby huts.
Somehow the babies remained asleep, unaware that their mother was distressed. Basae was convinced she had done nothing wrong, but Dhizzukk could not be reasoned with.
Finally, the babies did start to wake up, and a neighbor gingerly entered the hut to try to calm them down. Dhizzukk's rage could not be contained, and Basae would hear none of it.
In moments, it was clear that this mating was over. In a blind rage, Dhuzzukk left the hut, and ran across town to his father's home.
Guar welcomed his son back, and Dhizzukk poured his woes out to his father for a while before both finally found their beds for the night.
By the next morning, the news was all over town. Nork had broken up another mating. People were starting to wonder if Nork himself were the problem, and were starting to avoid him.
Apparently Saazul isn't very good at fire-dancing...
Utel is still having issues with fire...
... And Dhizzukk has a kink in his neck???
Chapter Eleven | Island Spirits Welcome page | Chapter Thirteen
