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Kito

“Did you hear that?” Tohm asked.

Kito was hunched over, examining the dirt for any sign of Shara’s trail. He glanced up at Tohm “Hear what?”

And then he heard a strange, warbling shriek echoing across the plains. He stood up, cocking his head.

“That sound.” Tohm said, shifting his spear to his right hand.

Kito fought to stifle a yawn, and failed. “Let’s go check it out.”

Tohm nodded, yawning in return, and the two of them headed south out of the rock gully, and back into the long grass.

Shara’s abrupt departure in the middle of the night had left him uneasy, uncomfortable in his own skin. Her shrieking had ruined a wonderful dream, where he had been running across the sky, surrounded by friendly wolves, diving through the fluffy warmth of clouds. By the time he had gathered his wits, she was already gone, vanished into the darkness. With a shout he had scrambled after, but Armis grabbed his arm before he could take more than two steps. “Wait until morning.” He had said, his face a mask of worry and frustration.

All night, Kito and Oola had paced the edge of the camp, scanning the moonlit fields for any sign of her.

At dawn everyone had scattered in twos and threes across the grasslands, and the air had been filled with shouts and calls that had slowly grown farther away and less frequent as the morning had turned to midday.

“Hey, what’s that?” Tohm said, pointing east across the prairie.

“I don’t see anything.” Kito said.

“Right there.” Tohm said, jabbing with his finger. “Is it a wolf?”

Kito squinted, shading his eyes against the sun and then he could see it, a tiny dark speck against the brown-green grass, growing visibly larger as it raced towards them. “Too fast.” He said, shaking his head. “Is that noise getting larger?”

As they watched the speck grow, his stomach rumbled painfully. “Do you have any food?” He asked Tohm.

“Just some scraps I’ve been saving.” Tohm said. “If we don’t find more soon- Wait.” He stared intently at the distant figure. “That’s a person.”

“What?” Kito argued. “How could anyone run that–” And he saw it too, just the hint of arms and legs and flickering hair. “You’re right.”

“Do you think he’s friendly?” Tohm asked, gripping his spear tightly.

The human shot across the grasslands, still shrieking. He sounds happy – excited. Details emerged as the figure raced across the plains. Dark hair. Reddish clothing. Golden skin. “It’s Shara.” Kito cried, running forward, waving his hands. “Shara. Shara.”

She turned and angled towards them. In moments she had covered several spear-throws of distance. “I found the Song.” she hollered, throwing tiny rocks at him.

No wait.. these aren’t rocks.. they’re-

“Blackberries.” she screamed gleefully. “I found the Song. They don’t have to leave.” She danced around them, tossing her hair in the air, grabbing his hands in hers and spinning in a circle, sending the world tilting madly around him until he pulled away, falling into the soft grass. He stared at her in wonder – she didn’t seem tired or even out of breath as she danced, just a blur of gold in the spring afternoon.

“I’ll get the others.” Tohm said, running back towards the camp. Shara stopped dancing, dropping happily to the earth, panting lightly.

“What do you mean, ‘they don’t have to leave’ ?” Kito asked.

“Armis and Barak were arguing last night.” She answered. “He wanted to leave us and go east.”

Kito didn’t have to ask who he was. “How did you find the song?”

“Mom sang it to us, when we were younger.” She said, humming the hauntingly familiar tune.

Kito sat up and stared at her. “That’s the Song?” He paused. “How does it work?”

She sat up, and noticed Tohm’s return, with the others trailing behind him. “Let’s wait for them.”

Oola bolted past Tohm, running straight at Shara, a strange expression on her face. For a moment, Kito considered getting in her way, for fear that she would strike Shara. But instead she yelled joyously, opening her arms wide to give her friend a great hug. “You did it.” Oola shouted, dancing and circling, her long curly hair bouncing and sparkling.

The others arrived quickly and Shara turned to address them. “Bring me some food.” She demanded, and pouches were emptied, the last scraps of meat and bits of nuts piled together. After their stores had been exhausted, she sat down next to the meager pile, and started to sing.

Kito closed his eyes, feeling the warmth and love in the song, the peace of home. When he opened his eyes again, the pile had doubled in size. He glanced at the others, they all murmured and looked at each other. As the song ended, they leaned forward. “Wait.” Shara said, and held up her hand, beginning the song again. This time, Kito kept his eyes focused on the pile. It seemed to ripple and shimmer in the sunlight. It never seemed to grow while he watched, but the moment he blinked or looked away, it was definitely bigger. Pak and Din both snatched bits of food from the pile, eyeing the scraps suspiciously. Kito’s stomach churned as he waited for someone to take the first bite, but the two boys just stared at each other, daring the other to go first. Exasperated, he leaned forward, grabbed a crescent-shaped piece of dried meat, and popped it in his mouth before he could change his mind.

Salty… Dry.. Rich.. The familiar tastes flooded over his tongue as everyone watched him intently. “It’s good.” he mumbled, still chewing. He felt a surge of excitement. “It’s really good.” Almost immediately, the others began rummaging through the pile for some of their own.

“Wait, wait.” Shara cried, alarmed as the pile was reduced to crumbs. “I can’t make any more if you eat it all!” But it was too late – the last bit had been swallowed by the hungry crowd. They looked at each other nervously, and then Oola sheepishly laughed. A few heartbeats later Din and Pak joined in, giggling feverishly. Kito tried to stifle his own mirth, but their joy was infectious. Soon everyone was giggling, everyone but-

“Enough!” Barak shouted, frowning as he pushed the others aside.

Armis stepped forward, pointing at the remains of the pile. “There’s your answer, Barak. The spirits have returned the Song of Thanks to us. We can continue towards Silver River village. We’ll have plenty of food now.”

Barak’s frowned deepened. He opened his mouth, and then closed it again, pausing before he finally spoke. “Shaman told us that the spirits would be angry if we used the Song of Thanks unnecessarily.”

The others glanced at each other uncomfortably. The wind whistled low across the hillsides behind them, grass flowing and rippling in the breeze. Shara was already turning pale, her bottom lip quivering as she stared at Barak.

She’s about to cry.

“Maybe.” he said, a little too loud. All eyes turned to him, and his throat was suddenly dry. He tried desperately to think of what to say, but his mind was blank. People started to turn away.

A thought drifted by, and he seized on it. “Maybe Shaman-”

No! Don’t even think that! He fell silent, his face hot with embarrasment.

Reya muttered in disgust and turned away again.

“No wait.” Armis said, firmly. He turned to Kito. “Kito. Go on. Maybe Shaman- what?”

Uh oh

His throat dried up again, even more than before. “May- May- ” He couldn’t go on.

Armis put his hand on Kito’s shoulder and smiled. “Kito, it’s okay. Speak your mind.” Armis looked into his eyes, and Kito could see the concern behind the smile.

“Maybe Shaman was wrong!” He blurted out.

“What?” Lam said, stepping forward, trying to edge past Armis. “My uncle was a great, wise man. How can you say he was wrong.” The others anxiously backed away until Kito was left facing Lam in the middle of a circle.

“He was a wise man.” Kito said, nodding his head, heart pounding. “But everyone makes mistakes…”

“So you think you know more than Shaman?” Lam leaned forward, eyes flashing.

For the first time he could remember, Lam was furious with him.

“I- No. Of course not.” Kito stammered.

Lam turned to the others. “So Shaman was right – we should not use the Song of the spirits unwisely.”

Kito glanced at Armis’s face, and he shook his head slightly. Oola and Reya both frowned, doubting Lam’s words.

“But Shaman is dead.” Kito said, struggling for something to say. “And we are not. Maybe Shaman was wrong- maybe the spirits punished us for not using the Song.”

Lam stared back, incredulous, his face rapidly reddening. “You miserable-”

“Enough.” Armis said, placing a hand on his chest and shoving him backwards into Pak. “Hey.” Pak cried. Armis ignored him. “We don’t know what the spirits want.” He looked at Lam, and then at Kito. “What if we only use Song when we are very low on food?”

Kito shrugged. “Fine with me.” Oola and Tohm nodded, followed by Reya, and then by Shara.

Armis studied the group, relaxing slightly. “Are you willing to travel with me to Silver River?” He asked softly. The four – Oola, Tohm, Reya and Shara nodded again.

“Lam?”

“Why are you asking me? I’m not a grownup.” Lam pouted.

“You are now.” Armis said, and Kito stared at him.

“What do you mean?” Kito asked.

Armis shook his head, smiling thinly. “Anyone who has lived through what- what we went through- you definitely deserve a chance to be heard.”

“Woo hoo.” Pak shouted.

“Not you.”

“Ha.” Din laughed

“You either.”

“Aww.” Din pouted. Armis ignored him. “Lam?”

Lam chewed on his lip for a moment, his eyes never leaving Kito’s.

“Lam?” more loudly.

“Fine!” he responded, curtly.

“Kito?”

“Yes.” He said, immediately.

“Mika?”

“Of course.” She said, standing next to Reya.

“Barak?”

Kito watched Barak as he scanned the group silently, stonefaced. “If everyone else is going.” He almost seemed to have shrunk a little in his skin.

Armis nodded. “Very wise. Everyone pack up, and we’ll continue north along the river.” He turned and walked back up the low rise towards the camp.

In moments, the group scattered, and Kito found himself alone with Lam. Lam stepped towards him, eyes burning. “You betrayed my family.” he spat, fists clenched.

Kito danced backwards, staring in disbelief. “What?”

“I hate you.” Lam said. “I thought you were my friend.”

“Lam, I-” Kito began.

“Lam.” Armis shouted, quickly jogging back towards them. “Start packing.”

Lam glanced at Armis, and then stared at Kito again. “This isn’t over.” He turned and stormed away.

“Kito?”

Kito turned to Armis. “Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

Armis smiled, and patted him on the shoulder. “Another time. Get packing.”

Kito nodded, and started back up the slope, following Lam at a comfortable distance.

“Oh.. here.” Armis said, pressing something into his hand, cool to the touch, heavy and smooth, with hard, faceted edges. Without looking, Kito knew what it was.

“Thanks.” He smiled, the weight of the stone pressing wonderfully against his fingers.

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Thursday, April 13th, 2006 at 6:11 am.
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