BLOOD PATH: BOOK ONE

Jakool's First Hunt

Remember what you have learned Jakool! I thought as I tightened my grip on my spear in response to a signal from Kiraat the hunt leader. He turned and looked at us saying “Be very cautious! If I yell run! You run!” I watched with a sense of excitement tinged with fear as the lead hunters disappeared into the many trees working further up in search of deer or other game.

We had assumed the formation used to trap and kill game when we stopped at the beginning of the many tall trees. We formed into the shape of two fingers extended from a hand. My young brothers and I made the place where they came together, while the experienced hunters formed the fingers. A cold wind blew as the snow fell around us, adding to the layer on the bushes and trees. We could only see as far as Kiraat, positioned at the far end of the left finger waiting to give the signal that game was approaching. It was some time before he made a hand gesture to be ready. I could hear something coming and it was coming fast! Gripping my spear with both hands I made ready to make a killing thrust if one came within reach of me, but I was not prepared for what happened next! Suddenly a scream came from one of the hunters ahead followed by more screams and yells, causing Kiraat to run ahead to see why they were screaming!

A large black, Rough Fur appeared running straight at him with a bloody maw! He immediately yelled, “Run!” As he faced it with his spear ready! Surprise and fear kept me and many of my young brothers frozen! Suddenly another, followed by another, appeared with blood around their maws and we ran! We ran in every direction away from the charging Rough Furs as the adults attacked them to give us time to get away! The sounds of snarls and roars mixed with the sounds of our hunter's screams and yells, followed us as we fled.

I went to the side and up instead of down, my heart pounding in my chest, breathing hard and fast! I leaped over bushes, and ran around boulders dodging low-hanging tree branches as I ran! I heard a snarl to my right and dodged just in time as one leaped from a copse of small trees to attack! I managed to keep my feet as it missed its charge taking it past me! I ran as hard as I could looking for any kind of cover knowing I could not outrun it. I saw a small hole in a hillside as I passed a pile of boulders and turned quickly to go towards it and stumbled!

Looking behind me I saw it approaching the pile of boulders as I regained my footing. As I thought I was not going to make it! the snow on top of the boulders exploded and something leaped high into the air landing on the back of the beast! I heard a snarling yell that sounded like ‘Rrruun!’, but I was already up and running!

I ran up the steep slope until I reached the hole and frantically clawed the dirt, snow, and rocks away then struggled in. I crawled back two man lengths then sat there curled up to fit in the small space. The smell told me it was probably a deserted red tail den. The sounds of the two creatures fighting were all I heard over the sound of my heart beating rapidly! I silently prayed Oh Spirits of the Sky and the Rock Fingers! Keep me and my brothers safe!

I stayed in the den until there were no sounds of fighting outside. Crawling to the opening, I quickly looked outside and then jerked back in case one of them was lying in wait to ambush me! When no attack came, I grabbed my spear and left the burrow quickly, ready for an attack. There was blood on the covering of snow under the trees and signs of a struggle! Shaking my head thinking What was it? Did I hear it yell ‘Rrruun!’? Probably my fear talking! I went to look for anyone who survived the attack. I started down towards the place where we were attacked looking for signs of either Rough Furs, my brothers, or the strange creature I had only glimpsed as it leaped to attack the 'Rough Fur!

Why? I thought again as I followed a set of Rough Fur tracks down the side of the hill. I saw traces of blood and fur on the trail and the bushes as I followed them to a dip in the land. I reached a thicket of bushes and pushing them aside I saw young Rankoo’s body, ripped by the Rough Furs claws and now dead. I cannot save him, he is dead. But I can send him to the Sky Spirits! I placed my hands over Rankoo's head and heart saying the ancient words Mighty spirits that move the sun and light the pale Goddess of the night! Please accept the humble spirit of my brother Rankoo into your domain! I stood up and left him in the bushes for the scavengers as we did not place any special significance on the bodies of our dead... then.

I had not gone far when I saw more of the tracks that I did not recognize! Maybe they are from the strange creature! Since it attacked one of the Rough Fur maybe it came further down the trail to attack the others? I thought following the tracks as they left the trail and went into a deep gully. Blood splatters on the ground and some bushes led the way as I climbed down. Broken branches and damaged ground ended in a two-man height drop into a hidden ravine you couldn’t see because of the thick brush and trees hiding it.

A stream ran down the ravine with fresh tracks in the mud of the banks. I stopped and measured them One hand high, two hands across, and very shallow. The next set of tracks was Rough Fur! Its tracks were longer and deeper, but not wider, and walked over tracks I recognized as one of the young tribesmen!

Following the tracks upstream, I saw tracks of Deer, Red Tails, Rough Fur, and the strange creature on top of them! I soon saw a cave at the near end of the ravine and approached it sniffing the air, smelling the water, the trees, bushes, and….Death! Something or someone was dead! I hesitated as I didn’t want to die trying to find one of my brethren in there! If he is in there he is surely dead! I thought debating what to do.

A noise coming from the cave caused me to hide behind some thick berry bushes that grew close to the edge of the stream. I watched as a Rough Fur came out of the cave moving slowly towards the stream. Several spears were sticking out of its fur and I saw deep claw marks that had ripped through the fur to its flesh! The strange creature attacked it too! I realized as it limped over to the water and bent its head to drink. I saw streaks of red float away from its muzzle as it drank slowly. I thought about creeping up from behind and killing it for what it had done to my brothers! But even with its wounds, if I didn’t kill it with one spear thrust, I would be dead! A wounded beast is the most dangerous animal you can face!

Suddenly it gave several loud coughs that spewed blood from its muzzle and slowly fell over! I waited to see if it got back up or moved, but it just lay there! I got up the courage to go into the cave and look. What I saw sent me reeling back out heaving up what was in my stomach! I stumbled to the stream and washed the foul taste out of my mouth. Nothing would remove the sight of Denack, torn apart and fed on in that cave! No matter how hard I tried, I could not make myself go back into that cave to say the prayer to the Sky Spirits for him! I felt hot tears from my grief and anger over finding two of my brothers dead! I had not thought about the others during my frantic run from the attack by the Rough Furs and hiding from them. Now I had found two of them dead!

Have any survived the Rough Furs hunting them in the many trees? I wondered as I looked for more tracks but only found more of the ones from the strange creature again! These led away from the cave towards the other end of the ravine, but I retraced my steps back to the site of the attack following my training to return. I climbed out of the ravine and was soon back on the game trail leading downhill. I walked slowly looking for any signs of my brethren, alive or dead. It was getting late by the time I reached the place.

I could see that the falling snow was quickly covering the tracks, bloodstains, and the bodies of two of the adult hunters and a Rough Fur carcass. It has not been butchered! I saw when I got closer. I assumed they were still out looking for us as the light started to fade. I turned to look around for any shelter from the snow and make camp for the night to wait for their return. I ended up back at the burrow I hid in earlier, after deciding it was the safest place. I ate some dried food and drank melted snow from my cupped hands. Tired and hurting with the pain of losing some of my tribe I wrapped in my furs and quickly fell asleep. But the mystery of a creature that attacked a Rough Fur for me returned to me in my dreams.

The next morning I returned to the spot of the attack and looked for tracks or any sign that the hunters had returned. The fresh snow had covered up everything! I hung my head in despair thinking They must have believed us dead and left! What do I do? I am not sure I can find my way home. I don't remember the way. Then I thought Here is one set of tracks I can follow! The strange beast that attacked the rough fur and saved me! I realized. I decided I was going to follow the creature's tracks and see if I could find it. I wanted to understand why it had helped me. Retracing my steps to the ravine I found fresh tracks. It must have come back here. I thought knowing that the tracks from yesterday were all buried under the new snow. Following the fresh tracks along the stream thinking as I walked about them. I was taught that all hunters try to hide their tracks from their game and other hunters. Why is this one leaving tracks? it knows they be can followed. I couldn’t stop thinking about this, along with fighting the Rough Fur so I could escape! The tracks led up a steep slope that reached the ravine's end. A waterfall was the source of the stream in the ravine and looking up I saw a narrow trail leading beside it and out of the ravine. In the soft wet dirt, I saw a partial footprint. The same I thought. I followed the trail as it wound up and across until it reached the top of the waterfall.

The trail ran alongside the stream leading up into the Fingers Of Rock That Touched The Sky. I could feel the bitter wind blowing harder here than in the many trees as I climbed higher. A thick snow lay on top of everything with more falling making it difficult to follow the tracks as they filled with the fresh snow.

I was clutching my hide around me as the wind blew harder trying to blow me off the trail which was now a narrow path that wound its way across a rock face slowly going higher. Soon the trees and bushes ended as I passed too high for them to live. Dark gray rocks, boulders, blinding white snow, and glittering blue ice were everywhere now, as the climb got more difficult, I began to wonder if I was going to survive as I climbed. A particularly strong gust of wind caused me to lose my footing! I felt my foot slip and my body slide down, but I fell towards the rock face! I shuddered at the close call I'd had! I managed to continue until I was standing on a wider trail at the top of the rock face.

Looking down the path I'd taken, I could see the land spread out below me! The hills, the stream winding its way through them as it climbed down until it disappeared into the many tall trees. The many tall trees far below were now covered in a coat of white, looking peaceful somehow. I could even make out the far edge of it and some of the long, never-ending green grass. I thought I saw a dark smudge on the other side of them! That might be the hills of my home I thought as I looked for any signs of the hunting party in the tall, green grass, but it was too far away to make out details.

I went more slowly as I worked my way up, stopping occasionally to allow my breathing to catch up. The sun was just clearing the top of the Finger Tips, when I came to a bend in the trail. The clouds were flying from over the fingertips to hide the sun making it colder. I worried that soon I would be in the clouds following the tracks as they thickened and hid the fingertips! I was shivering from the cold and the strong gusts of wind that tried to throw me off of the rock and realized I had to find shelter or die here! as I could no longer feel my fingers or toes!

I followed the trail several man-lengths around a bend and noticed a small cave mouth behind some boulders that had fallen onto the trail. Thank you Gods of the Sky and Fingers of Rock! I cried out as I stooped down to enter it. I had to stay bent over to get inside and saw it only went back a few man-lengths. As I went forward I started to warm up, as I was no longer in the wind outside.

While crouching there in the cave trying to decide what to do a slight movement caught my eye. I whirled towards it with my spear ready to fend off an attack, only to see a Bharal jumping up from behind the boulders and leaping up the trail towards me! Food! Warmth! I thought as I quickly readied my spear.

I heard it approach the entrance, saw its head then its body appear. I sprang forward and struck! It fell over dead with my spear in its heart! I fell to my knees and gave thanks to the Sky Spirits for sending me the Bharal to save my life!

I dragged the heavy animal back into the cave to skin and butcher. I needed the hide to survive the cold of night this high up. I spent the next few hours scraping the flesh from the inside of the hide. Once I was finished, I wrapped the new hide around me and went to sleep.

Sunlight streaming into the cave entrance woke me. I got up and took the hide to make a holder to carry the meat I had butchered. I ran hide strips through the leg holes and tied them to my extra spear, to make a large hide holder to carry the meat. I swung it over my shoulder and followed the ledge up towards the fingertip. There was more snow and ice so I had to go carefully as the ledge slowly became a narrow trail. I wound my way up and across for several hours until I came to a place where large boulders completely blocked the now very narrow trail!

I looked but didn’t find any way to get around them. I sighed as I went to where the largest boulder touched the rock face of the finger, to get some shelter from the wind and snow. I was not prepared to have my foot suddenly slip down a hole all the way up my leg! The sudden fall and pain to my man parts shocked me for a minute. When I could stand the pain I started digging out the snow around my leg and found that the hole was big enough for me to go through and carefully used my spear to probe it. The spear went down its entire length before touching the stone. I went down and landed on a pile of snow. Looking around I saw that I was in a large tunnel hidden by the boulders. I still had enough light coming in through the hole to see my way, so I followed it.

I soon felt warmer as I continued deeper into the tunnel until it opened up into a cave. The air was changing too as I could smell it getting wetter and much warmer! I could see strange rock fingers that reached down from the ceiling and up from the floor! I had never seen anything like them! I approached one and saw that it was much wider at the base and came to a point at the top. I realized there was a glow coming from some of these strange rock fingers, that gave enough light to see! I wondered what could make a blue or green light come from rock, or how they came to be as I stood and looked in wonder at them.

I shook my head and then focused on the shimmer of light reflected on the ceiling of the cave, showing water was further inside. I found a shallow trail worn into the stone floor of the cave which led me to a large 'Good Water'! The water had a blue glow to it also! I have shelter, fresh water, and food! I thought as I went to the water's edge. I put down my spear and hide carrier to take mouthfuls of the clear cold water! Once I had satisfied my thirst I searched for any wood to make a fire. Close to the shore of the Good Water, I found some wood piled by a ring of stones. Someone has been here I thought as I studied the remains of a fire in the ring. I held out my hands over the ashes and embers feeling warmth!.

Using my knife I cut a small pile of bark and wood shavings from a piece of wood. I carefully brushed away the ashes on top of the embers and put a small amount on them. I blew gently on the exposed embers and suddenly the shavings caught fire! I fed it the rest of the shavings then the branches careful to not smother it. Soon I had a small fire burning and slowly added more wood until it was a good size to cook the meat.

Cutting some thin strips from the larger piece I put them on the end of my spear and into the fire. Soon I was eating them while the large pieces of meat cooked slowly on the fire. My body felt the fatigue of the last few suns, so I rolled up in my new fur and went to sleep.

While asleep I had a very strange dream in this place. The lake was glowing with a blueish light while the strange rock pillars glowed with green. There was a shadowy figure of an animal pacing along the lake, occasionally stopping to drink. It slowly approached until I could see it in the blue and green light of the cave. It was like the magnificent creature we called the 'Great Striped One', but smaller and with spots and circles of colors on its white fur instead of stripes.

Its paws were wide, its ears close to its head, and had a smaller muzzle and nose than the great striped spirit. Its piercing blue eyes stared right at me, making me think It can see me, as it padded silently towards me. It stopped in front of me and sniffed. I stood still as it sniffed me again, then sat back on its hind legs and made a chuffing sound. I didn’t know what it meant or what to do. It yawned showing its sharp, stained teeth, then stood back up and walked back the way it had come! A Great Spirit of this place I thought as it just vanished as I watched. I wondered what it meant as I heard the dripping of water in the cave, and the sounds of water running over rocks, somewhere deep in the cave.

Suddenly I was outside in the sunlight, standing on the trail at the boulders. I saw the Great Spirit again, but this time it was sunning itself on top of the large boulder. I turned at a sound and saw something far down the trail. I watched as it slowly climbed up the trail until the beast took notice of it, backed up against the rock face, and then lay down facing the trail watching! First, a Tahr, or mountain goat, came into view from around a bend, then the hunter! I watched as a man taller and heavier than me wrapped in many thick furs with a large spear followed the tracks of the Tahr.

As it reached the boulder it lightly leaped up the smaller boulders until it jumped up to the top. It jumped down so quickly it didn’t see the beast; hidden by its marked fur, only a spear length away, lying down flat in the snow! I turned to watch the man slowly approach the spot and stop to try and figure out how to get around it. Just as I had found, he couldn’t find any way to do this! He went to the edge looking for any way to get around, then turned back towards the rock face. It was then the beast decided to make its presence known! It jumped down onto the trail behind the man. The man spun around in surprise, stepped back then slipped on the snow and ice! He fell heavily and started to slip to the edge! He seemed unable to stop himself when the beast suddenly leaped forward, reached out with a paw, and snagged the man's furs!

The man yelled as it slowly pulled him back from the edge until he lay on the trail in front of its paws! Just as it had done to me in the cave earlier in my dream, it bent its head down and sniffed the man's face! The man yelled in surprise, then started making loud noises and faces at it! The beast stopped sniffing and looked at him seemingly puzzled by the sounds and the faces. The man tried to stand up but the animal put its large front paws on his chest and pushed him back down! I watched as it suddenly bent down and licked the man's face! He was as shocked as I was, and started to make the faces and noises again! The animal sat back and just watched his face until the man stopped and looked back at it. The animal suddenly bent down and rubbed its muzzle against his face! He stayed still and didn’t move or make faces or noises while it did this afraid it would bite him! When it raised its head up and looked down at him, he slowly reached up with his hands and started rubbing the sides of its face!

I watched in fascination as it made low rumbling noises as it leaned into his hands, so he could reach its face more easily. Soon he was making noises and faces again while rubbing its face! After a few minutes, he slowly tried to get up and the animal stepped back to let him! The man spoke to the animal and it seemed to understand him! It must be one of the Great Spirits of the Fingers of Rock that touch the Sky! That is what attacked the Rough Fur! It saved him and one saved me I thought as the man turned and looked again at the boulder blocking the trail. As if it understood, the animal went over to where the boulder met the rock face.

The man watched as it dug some snow out of the way and then disappeared down a hole! With a grunt of surprise, the man came over and looked down to see the Great Rock Spirit looking up at him! He lowered himself down into the hole and disappeared with the animal. The dream ended with me wondering what did it mean?

When I woke up my fire had burned down to only a few embers. I coaxed them back to flames and fed all the wood to it. I ate some of the meat that had been cooked while I slept then wrapped the rest in the fur. I drank deeply from the water and left the fire pit to follow the faint shallow trail deep into the cave. It seemed impossible that such a large place existed here! Many of the rock fingers that held up the roof were twisted into strange shapes now as I drew closer to the very back of the cave. The sound of falling water had gotten louder as I went and now I could see the source of the sound. A river burst from the cave wall above the great water and fell several man lengths into it making the sound. As I drew near the end of the 'Good Water' the ceiling suddenly came to meet me and I found another small dark opening where the ceiling, wall, and floor met. I crawled through and was in another low tunnel that I had to stay bent over to go through. It was short and opened up into another cave! This one was much smaller and I stopped at the entrance as I could smell something familiar. It took a few seconds for me to recognize it.

When I did, I started looking around the inside of the cave for the creature I had followed here. There was a little light coming from a fire ring that had burned down to embers. In the dim light, I saw a figure curled up on a raised ledge of rock in front of me! As I stared; trying to make out its form, it stood up on two legs and slowly walked towards me! As it got closer I gasped in surprise! I thought I was following an animal but this was no animal I’d ever seen or heard described! It looked like me but had thick, white fur; with markings like the Great Rock Spirit, covering its body! Its blue eyes were further apart in its head than mine, had a muzzle and a long thick fluffy tail! I drew in a breath as I heard it make a rumbling sound then stretch its arms over its head and turn slowly in front of me showing that it was female! I felt a wave of arousal and desire as she walked over until she stood in front of me put her arms around my neck and said “Ooh-man?” Then pointed at my face with a hand that was wider with shorter fingers than mine. Her ears were very close to her skull and were covered in thick fur. Her face looked like both the Great Rock Spirit and my people.

She was taller than me by a hand's length I realized, as I looked at her body and saw breasts under her chest fur. I was feeling an intense desire to get closer to her and feel her fur when I realized I had not answered her question! I replied “Human named Jakool” and pointed at myself. She smiled and put her cheek against mine and said “Mearoo”, as she pulled me close to her. I felt myself responding to the warmth of her fur and the contact with her body, as she continued to hold me close! She started to nuzzle my face and then my neck. I felt lightheaded and stirred in my male parts, and then she let go of my body.

She took my hand and led me to the raised rock ledge at the back of the cave where I saw a pile of furs before she pulled me down onto them. I was having trouble trying to ask her the questions that had caused me to track her here. “Did you attack the Rough Fur that was chasing me”? I managed to ask her as she started to pull my furs off of me! “Yess” she replied as she got my furs off leaving me in my loincloth! I was now feeling a great need to mate since she had gotten close to me! Suddenly I felt her fingers in my loincloth, undoing the knot that held it! “What? What are doing?” I managed to ask as she got it off! “I want to mate with you,” She said as she pulled me tightly to her body making it impossible for me to think! My desire was so inflamed that I felt myself grabbing her breasts as she took me into her body before I could say or do anything else! I was panting with the excitement from the burning need in myself and her! I felt my seed rising up in me and knew I would spill it in her! I felt her body urging me on and I felt myself convulse and jerk as my seed shot deep into her waiting body! I must have lost consciousness for a short time! After all it was my first mating!

I woke to find myself still in Mearoo’s embrace and connected to her body. “Awake mate?” She asked me as she lazily stroked the skin on my chest. “No fur. Feels so different, so smooth!” She said as she continued to play with my skin. I found that I enjoyed the feel of her furry hands and fingers rubbing me all over! Soon I was returning her rubs, rubbing her chest, her face, and her body with my hands feeling, the firmness of her breasts, the softness of her facial fur, and the feel of her body against mine. She smiled as I played with hers and she played with mine. We were getting to know each other’s bodies and what we responded to. I soon felt my body ready to mate with her again! I started to try and enter her, but she stopped me and then quickly got up on all four of her limbs arching her rear up at me! I knew this was how many of our women preferred to be taken by a man, so I grabbed her by her hips and pushed into her body! She made meowing noises as we mated again and climaxed with each other!

I fell on top of her and she rolled me over pulling me close to her and we touched each other with gentle strokes for a while.

I became aware I was hungry and thirsty, so I asked her “Are you hungry?” She growled out “Yes! Mating makes me hungry and thirsty!”

I laughed as I replied, “Me too!” I reached for the large fur carrier and pulled out a big piece of the cooked meat. I took my knife cut it in two and handed her half. We ate the meat and then I asked her “Do we have to go to the water in the cave to slake our thirst?” She made a chuffing sound and then got up and said “Come with me.”

She went towards the outer cave but stopped at an opening in one wall that I had missed before. She reached into it and brought out a large container that was round in shape, wide at the bottom, and narrow at the open top. She held it to her mouth and drank from it. She handed it to me and I was surprised by its heavy weight! I looked at the shiny surface and knew it was not made of any stone or wood, but something I had never seen! I held it to my mouth and tasted cold water as I drank my fill, then handed it back to her. She placed it back in the opening and then turned to face me.

I asked, “Where do you leave your droppings?” She took my hand and led me back to the larger cave and pointed at something I had not noticed before. Where the end of the water met the back of the cave, there was a small stream that ran from it and then under the wall. “There”. She went over and squatted; the same as I did when leaving droppings, and I understood. After we had both relieved ourselves we returned to the warmth of the inner cave and the furs.

I finally got answers to some of my many questions about her and her people! My first question was “Why? Why did you save me?” She looked at me with her beautiful blue eyes and said “You were in great danger. I could not stay hidden and watch you die.” I wondered why and asked, “Why could you not let me die?” I watched as she slowly got up and then said “Come. I will show you.” She took my hand as I stood up and led me over to the fire pit, where a small fire was burning. She took several pieces of wood and added them to the fire.

Soon the fire was burning brightly and she led me to the back wall of the cave. She pointed and said, “Here is why.” I looked at the wall and saw figures and symbols. I was surprised to see images that looked like a man and the Great Rock Spirit. She pointed at the man and said: “He was the First!” I was puzzled and said “First? What do you mean First?” She then pointed at the figure of the great rock spirit and said “She was the other First. The first of my kind to mate with an Ooh-man!” I looked at her, then at the two images carved and painted on the cave wall. How? How can this be possible?” I asked her stunned that she was telling me that somehow a man mated with the animal I now called 'The Great Rock Spirit'! She pointed at the next group of pictures under the first two. I saw pictures that showed what looked like small rock spirits just below. The next looked a little different. I got closer to see it better, to try and figure out what looked different.

Mearoo pointed at the face with one paw and said “Look at the faces. The muzzle is smaller, the ears bigger and the eyes are closer.” Looking very close I saw she was right. “But that doesn’t explain how she became with cubs, or children, from mating with a man. ”Mearoo smiled and said, “I will tell the story to you as it was told to me.” I watched her face and saw the red flames of the fire mirrored by her eyes as she began to tell me the incredible story of how her people were created!

BLOODTRAIL

Chapter Two: Mearoo's Story

She pointed at the first figure of the rock spirit and started the story. “We call ourselves Snow-Leapers. This is because we can make quick, high jumps from hiding to ambush our prey. We can also travel up and down these high places easily by jumping and leaping from one place to another.” She showed me her paws and then unsheathed her claws. They stuck out at least half a finger length and were curved at the tip. “These allow me to grab not only my prey but to climb up trees, snow, ice, and rock. My fur and my tail help to keep me warm in the cold here. We don’t mate like Ooh-mans do. The female Snow-Leaper only mates when she is in her heat.”What does 'in her heat' mean?” I asked confused. “It means that they become able to have cubs. It only happens in the early cold season. During the time it takes the Pale Goddess to show her full face twice, she must mate to have cubs.” Please keep telling your story and I will try to understand.” I said hoping that my hearing the entire story would help me to understand it.

Mearoo continued “They go out and travel into territory claimed by a male snow-leaper. They will leave their water and droppings on a trail back to the edge of their territory. The male snow leapers will smell this and know it is a female ready to mate. He will follow her trail until he finds her and mates with her.” While this was interesting, it didn’t answer the first question of “how”? Instead of asking I looked at the incredible symbols and pictures on the cave walls. Everywhere I looked I saw images, symbols, and painted walls. I had not noticed it before when I first arrived because of the dim light and Mearoo having all of my attention! Now I realized I was looking at the history of Mearoo’s people on the walls, just as my people had done!

“The First snow-leaper had mated with a male snow-leaper shortly before she met the first human. She had just returned from that mating; and was sunning herself in one of her favorite places, that looks over the trail to this cave. She saw the human tracking an animal and watched as he got to the great rock that blocked the path. He could not find a way around it but the animal simply jumped up and over it.

I suddenly remembered my dream in the large cavern! I gasped as I said, “I dreamed I saw them!” Mearoo stopped in surprise saying “Dream? You had a dream of the First?” I replied “I think so. It was when I first arrived in the large cave there”, I said pointing at the tunnel that connected to it. “I was very tired after following your tracks and then killing the Tahr. I first saw her in the large cave with the large water. She was pacing back and forth. She came over to where I was still lying in my sleep fur and sniffed me! She acted as if she could see and smell me! Then I saw her on top of the great rock as you say! She was sunning herself when a man wearing heavy furs came up the trail. He looked bigger and heavier than me. More like some of the others we have in our tribe that were here before my people.”

Mearoo looked puzzled as she asked “What does it mean when you say 'before'? I do not understand this word.” I stopped to think of a different way to explain. Slowly I said “It is this way Mearoo. A long time ago my people were just one tribe made up of one kind of people. We looked the same for the most part. But as time passed other tribes came to our home that were different. From their stories, we knew if they were in the land before us, at the same time as us, or after us. Mearoo nodded and said, “Like how we know that snow-leapers were here before you Ooh-mans?”

I nodded saying “Yes! Just like that! They mated with each other and the children looked different. Mearoo nodded her understanding again and said “They looked like both the father and the mother.” I agreed with her saying “Yes but also some parts like one tribe, other parts the other tribe. Mearoo nodded and said “It was the same for the first. She had already mated with a snow-leaper when she met the Ooh-man. He was trying to find a way around the great rock. She was watching him and decided to jump down from the rock and show herself to him. Here! Let me show you!”

Mearoo pointed at symbols below the pictures of the first and said “Here in the first's record, it says he came to believe that she liked his smell and the faces he made when she saved him from falling off the trail.” I said excitedly “Just like my dream!” She stopped with a strange expression on her face as she looked at me. “Mearoo! Let me tell you my dream!” I said excitedly.

“According to the Elders of my tribe, when you have a dream or vision of something that you then find out to be true, it is a true seeing dream! My dream is a true dream!” I said to her, as I remembered my dream! I then realized there was more of it than I first remembered when I woke up from it.

Mearoo looked surprised after hearing my dream and said “This dream is what we know to be the meeting of the First. It is written here in this cave! The cave where they mated, raised cubs, and lived for her entire life. When she died, he stayed here and put their story on the walls, so no one would forget. No outsider has ever been here and no one outside of our tribe knows this story! You should not know this.

How is this possible? Have you been sent here to me by Yuma Samang?” She said softly as if to herself. “Yuma Samang?” I said repeating the strange name. She turned back towards the wall saying “I must show you the rest of our story for you to understand who that is!” I was eager to hear her tell it so I could understand my dream and her people! “See here? The faces and bodies change only a little at first. But both knew they were different. He says that even the first cubs were somehow smarter, and more willing to stay together after the time when the mother usually sends the cubs away. “When does this happen?” I asked. Mearoo pointed at strange symbols below the first pictures of cubs and said “Three seasons.” I was startled and asked, “They could count seasons?” Mearoo said “He could. She didn’t need to. She had the knowledge of her kind that the cubs received from her. He says they were smarter and able to learn things from him, not just from her.”

I listened and watched as Mearoo told the story of not only the first but their cubs and their cubs, cubs! I learned that they stayed together mating each season in the same manner as the first time. “The female would go out in search of a male. Once she had mated with one she would return to him and they would mate. After her death, he spent all his time in the cave mourning her and making this record. Because the cubs had changed, they would sometimes come to visit him. One sun; in the cold season, one of the daughters of their last mating, came back not to visit; as she had done before, but to mate with and stay with him. She did not need to mate with another snow leaper first!

This was the first time this was possible. So from her came another group of cubs that had more features from his human side.” Mearoo then pointed to the next group of symbols and figures. “The first made these symbols here, showing how many cubs were born from which mother and how many were male or female. He ended up mating with several of these until his death. We have counted these symbols that show the number of cubs and the mating's.

I stared at the symbols in disbelief that she pointed at while explaining the numbers. “Mearoo? The first could count large numbers? Higher than the fingers on his two hands?” It was Mearoo’s turn to be surprised. “It is not hard. See let me show you!” I shook my head saying “I know how. But I also know that the ones that came before us could not! At least not the ones that our tribe describes in our stories!” Mearoo was surprised and said, “We thought all Ooh-mans could count!” I shook my head saying Yes but not all can count as many things as others. The ones that were older than us could only count what they understood. They understood the number of fingers and toes they had. So their way of counting was to use them. When the number needed more fingers or toes they would just say ‘many fingers and toes!”

Mearoo seemed to be thinking about this as she went to the earliest part of the symbols looking again at them. “Jakool? You see the symbols that look like two fingers joined together on your hand?” I nodded at the marks she pointed out. “He made them using the fingers on his hand. I think this shows he was one of those you say came before, and was older than your tribe.” I saw this and said “He used two fingers to show one? Why would he do that?” Mearoo said no. The mark means two hands or ten fingers. See how he joins two of them here? That means four hands or four times the number of fingers. He does this many times. He could count the number of suns between the different faces of the pale goddess in the night sky. Here it shows that number to usually be five hands and four fingers, followed by six hands. Here he shows the number of seasons he lived here.” I looked and saw the two hands symbol carved in a row. I counted them and saw that it added up to six hands of seasons!

This was very surprising as here on this wall, was a knowledge of counting that exceeded that of many tribes we had met! My own tribe had learned to count higher than two hands and two feet, only after we had met humans that came after us!

“So how many matings did the first have?” I asked interested in how much it took to change from the way the first snow-leaper looked to Mearoo. Mearoo went further down the wall and pointed at different-looking symbols for the number of matings and cubs. She explained “One of the last female cubs that mated with him took over being the Keeper of the First Cave after he died. He taught her how to count, as he was very old and suffered from joint sickness. He couldn’t hold things in his hands as they were swollen and wouldn’t work well.” I nodded saying “Yes. Some of our Elders have what you call 'joint sickness' too. We also would do this when one of our Elders became sick, so another could take their place.” Mearoo counted up the two-finger marks and said “He mated with the first for three hands of seasons. She was very old when she died and he took care of her the last few seasons, as she didn’t hunt or mate anymore.” I said to her “This is how we care for our mates too!”

Mearoo smiled and hug me! “I am glad to hear that Jakool.” After the hugging stopped I asked “How many cubs Mearoo? Three hands of seasons is too short a time for such changes to happen.” Mearoo nodded in agreement then pointed out “Yes but each time she bore at least four cubs, sometimes as many as seven! Of those, the females always came back to mate with him! He was surprised by this at first; as he records back here”, Mearoo said pausing to find the right symbols on the wall. “Here he says that he was afraid the First would be angry at the cubs returning to this place, but she never seemed to mind! She also didn’t seem to mind him mating with the female cubs!” This was very different than my own people! “We do not mate with our own children.” I finally said to Mearoo. “Our Elders say it is bad for the blood to always mate to itself. They have seen babies with very bad backs, legs, and other parts of their bodies badly formed from blood mating to blood that is too close to the parents or their children.” Mearoo replied “We know this too but this was different. The changes happened over a very long time. His mating with his own cubs increased the blood of the Ooh-man over the Snow-Leaper. That is why the changes needed less time to happen.”

So I said, “So you are saying because he was human and she was a snow-leaper, his seed was stronger than a male snow-leaper?” Mearoo replied  “Yes. We know this to be true as we have changed so much since the first. All of us can mate and have children with an Ooh-man. We have babies that sometimes grow to be Ooh-man. Less often we have babies that look like the first snow leaper, but can think like Ooh-mans! Between those two are many others that can be like me or like the kind of Ooh-mans that came after the first.”

I was surprised to hear that other Ooh-mans had also mated with her people. “How did other Humans find you and mate with you?” Wanting to hear about them!” “Oh! Well, some came to hunt as the first did. It is dangerous to be here if you are not aware of the dangers. If you make too much noise in some places, you can cause snow and rocks on steep rock faces to fall. Once it starts falling it does not stop until it reaches a large flat place, the edge of the Cloud Stabber, or hits a large enough rock face that can stand its power. We call it a 'Snow Slide'. Oohmans who did not know this were often buried under it.

We would try to help them, but some would be afraid and attack us when we dug them out! We didn't understand at first. But over time we learned that many Oohmans believed us to be just animals. Others believed us to be demons sent to devour them and their spirits! But a few would be like the First. Not afraid enough to attack us and smart enough to understand we were trying to help them.” I said “I can see how they would believe this after being buried alive by this snow slide and losing their brothers. But what is a 'Cloud Stabber'?” Mearoo smiled and said “What you call 'A Finger Of Rock That Touches The Sky', we call a 'Cloud Stabber!'” I laughed at her smile then said “I like it! It is much easier to say! But can you tell me more about the humans that stayed?”

Mearoo smiled and said, “You remember how we first mated?” I felt myself blush and she looked closely at my face as I felt the heat rise in it as I 'remembered' our first time! “How did you do that?” She asked as she stepped closer and put a paw on my face. “Do what?” I said as I was distracted by her touch, her closeness, and her smell! “Make your skin change colors like that!” “Oh. When humans get certain feelings they can cause the blood to rise into their faces.” I said in reply as I felt my 'need' for her increase making it hard to talk or to think! She stepped closer put her mouth next to my ear and purred. The feel of her lips there caused me to groan as I felt myself become very stiff! “Mearoo! You are making me want to do things with you!” I said as I put my hands on the fur covering her breasts. I felt her trace my ear with the tip of her tongue then she said in a voice that left no doubt “I know. So did the ones that were rescued.” And that was all it took for her to lead me back to the furs to mate again!

Afterward, I said, “I need to drink and eat.”She got up and went out then came back with the container holding the water. She gave it to me and helped me drink. Then she got some of the cooked meat and we ate. Once we were finished I was feeling better and asked her to continue telling me about the other men that mated with them. “What is there to tell? They came up either to hunt or because they were escaping troubles down below. We would usually stay hidden unless they set off a snow slide or we felt a compulsion to mate with them. Many of those couldn't learn to breathe well enough to survive and either died or went back down. “What do you mean couldn't learn to breathe?” I asked.

Mearoo explained “This cave is only halfway up. The first had trouble breathing here. He slowly changed so that his breathing became easier. But he also says that others came that could not learn to breathe and died.” “I understand Mearoo. When we first left the lands below, many died unable to breathe high up. The people like me did not have any problems. But others who joined our tribe did! Some like the first got better over time but others couldn’t and died.” Mearoo smiled as she said “The first kept count of how many men came and survived. Those that did eventually either left to find others or stayed and mated many times with his female cubs that returned to the cave. But 'All' mated with them while here!”

Mearoo got up and went back to the wall and counted the symbols for the number of men and the number of their cubs  “If I am doing this right, there were five hands and three fingers, of female cubs total that mated with the First and other Humans. The number of mating changes as some litters only had one female, others as many as three. So if each new one is counted as a new change, you are looking at five hundred and sixty new changes!” I asked, “Does it show how many seasons this took?” Mearoo nodded and answered “Eight hands and one finger of seasons”. “After forty-one seasons did the cubs look like you?” I asked not believing such changes could occur in such a short time!” “No! Of course not!” Mearoo said sounding a little irritated at me. “I said it took a long time!” She turned to face the wall again and I watched as she fingered each of the symbols that showed two or four hands, counting them. She stopped under an image of a snow leaper that looked similar to her in shape. “Here! The first snow-leaper that had human form and snow-leaper features, was named Lieta. He was the son of Farso and Parma and was born..” she paused while she figured out how many seasons from the First until Lieta. Finally, she said “It was ten times ten seasons times ten hands. I do not know the words in your tongue to describe this number. In our language it is “Che-ti” “We do not have a word or symbol for such a large number” I said.

Suddenly I felt very strange and dizzy then I fell!” “Jakool!” I heard Mearoo yell as if from a great distance as I kept falling instead of hitting the cave floor! I fell through it over and over again until finally, I was lying on it staring at the ceiling! I tried to stand up but couldn’t as everything was spinning around and I fell when I tried. The spinning slowly came to a stop and carefully sat up expecting to see Mearoo. I was surprised to see two others in the cave. A snow-leaper male and female watching over five cubs. They looked different than Mearoo; more snow-leaper than humans, but I could see how they could become like her. Then I looked at the cubs and saw one that did look more like her!

I heard them talking and the man said “Lieta? It was my fathers, fathers name.” The woman looked at him lovingly as she said “Yes Parma. It is a good name to keep in the family.” I then realized I was seeing Farso and Parma, the parents of Lieta just after he was born! I watched and listened as they named each of the cubs. Once finished they curled up with them to keep them warm. I heard Parma say “He is different. Will the others be too?” Farso nodded then said “Yes they will. But they will always be our cubs! More than our cubs. They will have the memories of our bloodlines from the very beginning.”

The scene faded and I was back in the cave only now Mearoo was holding me in her arms shaking me! “Jakool! Come Back to me!” I made a noise then said, “I will if you stop shaking me!” She stopped and looked relieved as I sat up and put my arms around her. “I was there. I saw Parma and Farso naming the cubs. Lieta was the only one who looked human and snow-leaper, but Farso answered ‘Yes’ when Parma asked if all of them would be different. Mearoo said slowly “Farso and Parma were rather special. They were the first to master the Ooh-man tongue and to mate to strengthen the Ooh-man blood. But for you to see them here and now? I do not understand how this is possible! ”

“I do not know Mearoo.” This is all very strange to me.” She looked deeply into my eyes holding my face in her hands then said “I think that you were led to this place for these 'true dreams' to be happening. Mearoo said after some time. I simply shrugged my shoulders thinking I do not understand why I sought her out or why I am having these dreams.” Something else was bothering me about what Parma had said. “Mearoo? Do your people remember everything?” I pointed at the pictures and symbols on the wall as I asked her this. She slowly nodded and said “Yes. I am the “Keeper Of The Cave Of The First” because I am a direct descendant of them. Everything that he wrote down and she knew I also know as well as the knowledge of the ones between us.” I sighed now understanding how Mearoo's people could have developed so quickly since they didn't have to learn everything as they grew up! I started to explain how you learn the skills and things you need to know to survive in my tribe when it hit me.

As soon as I said “My tribe” I stopped and looked dumbfounded then slapped my forehead! My tribe! I forgot about them! I was ashamed of myself as I thought of them. I have forgotten about my brothers and sisters! Ever since the ‘Great Smoke Years’ we have grown smaller and weaker as a tribe! We lost half of our hunters when we were attacked by the Rough Furs! We will not survive the cold because of that loss! I have to try and find them! I could tell them I may have found another tribe that would allow us to join them! We would become strong again! I could help them! I turned and said “I must leave Mearoo! I have to go and find my tribe! “What is wrong Mearoo?” I said seeing her staring at me with a very unpleasant look on her face! I went over to her but she quickly stood up and said “I thought you liked me! I thought you wanted to be my mate! I see now that I have made a mistake in choosing you!” I stared at her not recognizing the woman I had held in my arms a short time before as she was now hissing, spitting, and making other threatening sounds!

I tried to calm her and explain by saying “Mearoo Please! This is important! My tribe needs..” I felt a sharp pain on the side of my face; as my head snapped back from a blow, and then I was falling over backwards! She leaped on me and started clawing and biting me! I tried to fend her off but she was too strong! “Mearoo Stop! Your Hurting Me! Mearoo!” I cried out in pain and anguish; both from the wounds she was causing my body and the sudden pain of the thought that I had lost her! Mearoo gave my face a final slash with her claws which I was only able to partially block. I was crying from both the sting of the final blow and the sight of her leaping away and down the tunnel! I struggled to get up as I felt the pain of the wounds she had inflicted on me. “Mearoo?” I cried out in agony as I made my body stand up and slowly walk to the tunnel and then through it. I called her again and heard her name echo in the vast cavern.

My voice was the only one I heard answer me as I realized she had gone! I had lost my mate!” I now knew what she meant when she called me that! I went back to the furs and sat down overwhelmed with feelings I had not experienced in my young life! I cried. I was hurt and didn’t know what to do. I decided to wait for her to return. I had to make her understand that I wanted to be her mate but my tribe needed my help! She’ll come back. She is just angry at me. Once she calms down she will come back! I told myself as I examined my wounds and found that most were shallow. I sat and thought, slept, ate, and sat some more.

I went out into the outer cavern several times calling her name; believing I had heard someone, but she was not there. Finally, after what felt like several suns I realized that she was not coming back. I gathered up my spears, food, and furs. I have to find her! I can look for her as I go down to look for my tribe. I thought to myself as I made my way across the vast cavern.

. As I prepared to leave, I decided to leave her a message, in case she returned. I took burnt charcoal from the cold ashes of the fire and drew an image of her and then me. Then I drew one showing my tribe, the many trees, the endless grass, the hills, and where to find us. I hoped she understood and added two fingers connected together under us! I went to the entrance; turning once to look back, then I left the cave.

Once I was outside the sudden cold, gusty wind, cloud-covered sky, and snow seemed to awaken my senses. I went down the trail still looking for tracks or any signs of her. I called out her name many times only to hear it carried away in the wind. I thought about everything she had told me, everything we had done together. I relived all the feelings with those thoughts; and felt even worse, for making her think I cared more for my tribe than I did for her!

But I was supposed to care for my tribe above all else! That is what we were taught and we believed! I was arguing with myself all the way down the Rock Finger! By the time I had made it into the hills at the bottom of the rock finger, I was sure of two things. I wanted to find her and beg her forgiveness and I wanted to be her mate for the rest of my life! I found the river that fed the waterfall into the ravine and went around it this time looking for any traces of her or my brethren. There were four hands of us I thought as I made sweeps of the many trees looking for tracks or signs. Two I found dead. Eight others fled into the many trees. Two of the Adults were killed I thought looking for their tracks. I was now past where I had found Rankoo’s body in the copse of bushes and was near where the attack had occurred. I was very tired after the long climb down with only a few rest stops and looked for somewhere safe to rest.

I settled on a group of trees with needle leaves, that grew close together with sticker bushes around them. I threw my furs over the bushes so I could climb through them safely then pulled my furs in behind me. I looked around and saw that the ground under me was carpeted by the needles that had dropped and turned brown, making a comfortable bed. I fell asleep quickly and had more dreams. Bad ones! I relived the attack on the hunting party, only now it was Mearoo and her tribe attacking! I watched in horror as they slashed and ripped our hunters apart saving me for last! I begged her to stop, to forgive me, but she was consumed by her animal side and only wanted to taste my blood! I cried out and woke up to find myself tossing from side to side and digging into the ground with my fingers! I cried and cried out my loss and her name several times before I finally fell asleep again.

I woke up suddenly as something prodded me awake! I opened my eyes to see several people like Mearoo only bigger and meaner looking! The tallest was the one that had prodded me with a foot to wake me. I stood up excited at seeing them and immediately said “Have you seen Mearoo? I must find her! I must tell her I am sorry!” I said to the tall, silent figure standing in front of me. I began to look among them for her but the tall one said “You are far from home Ooh-man. Why have you come here?”

I stopped looking for her as I realized I must sound sick in the head to him! I looked up at him and said “My name is Jakool. My tribe is called the ‘Mihakoo’. We live across the never-ending green grass in the hills beyond the many trees. We were hunting here and were attacked by a large clan of Rough Furs! I am one of the young out on our first hunt! The hunt leader; Kiraat, told us to run when we were attacked so we did! I thought I would die when one followed me, but Mearoo saved me by attacking the Rough Fur, giving me time to hide! When it was safe I came out and couldn’t find any of my tribe left alive, so I followed her tracks! That is how I climbed the Finger of Rock that Touches the Sky; that you call a 'Cloud Stabber', until I found the caves and her!” I fell to my knees in front of him, feeling the tears start again at the memories the telling brought back! “Please! Please tell her I am sorry! I didn’t mean to anger her by saying I needed to find my tribe! I only wanted to help them! We need help!” I said to him as he stood silent staring at me. I felt so miserable, helpless, and all alone. Suddenly the silent one said “My name is Merkansoo. I am the Leader of the Snow-Leaper Tribe. I have listened to you young Jakool and am amazed by your story.”

I was surprised when he turned his head slightly and called out “Mearoo! Come here now and face the one you accused of betraying you!” I stayed on my knees as the warriors parted and a smaller figure slowly came forward causing my heart to leap with joy! “Mearoo!” I cried out and would have stood up, but Merkansoo put a hand on my shoulder to prevent me from rising. “Mearoo? why does this Ooh-man have the marks of your claws and teeth? Did he attack you?”Merkansoo asked her sternly. She was unable to look up at his face and was hiding hers in her paws. “No Merkansoo. He did not attack me or hurt me in that way.” “Oh? In what way did young Jakool hurt you then? It must have been very serious for you to treat him this way after you saved his life and took him as your mate!” Mearoo sobbed into her paws at this, as if he had struck her!

“No! Don’t blame her! It is my fault!” I said quickly, as seeing her like this hurt me so much! “Mearoo took her hands away from her face and looked at me with surprise as I said this. Merkansoo nodded then turned to Mearoo and said “Do you wish me to kill him for you? You have foolishly told him too much to allow him to live or to leave! That is our way!” I stayed on my knees and hung my head awaiting the killing blow to fall. Suddenly I felt Mearoo’s body against mine and her arms around my neck saying “No! Please! I was wrong!” She said sobbing as she held me tight against her! I was overjoyed with relief and said to her “Mearoo? Can you ever forgive me? I didn’t mean to anger you! I would never do anything to hurt you! , I want to be your mate! For the rest of my life!” I said while I had the chance! Mearoo held my face at arm's length so she could look at me as she said “Really? You want to be my mate? You truly mean it?” In a hopeful voice.

“I shook my head up and down and said “I really do! I vow to never leave you until death takes my body from this place!” I made the sign of our tribe to the Sky Spirits while looking up at the sky. Merkansoo said, “I believe that you have done him grievous harm Mearoo, and must make it right!” Merkansoo said still sounding stern. I felt a pang of fear but Mearoo grabbed my face and kissed me soundly then said while crying “I want you Jakool I need you so much! I was angry! So angry when you said you had to find your tribe! I..I thought you were leaving me! I thought that you would never come back to me!” She said to me as I hugged her, kissed her, and reassured her. “It is okay Mearoo. I am okay. Now that you are with me.” Merkansoo shook his head and said, “Now that you two young-lings have realized you have both been foolish in how you have behaved, I would like to hear more about your tribe Jakool.”

I nodded and told him the story of my tribe. From our beginnings to the drying up of the lands, to the travels to find new lands. The many places we had stopped and stayed only to leave again. Of the Great Fire in the Sky and the Great Smoke Years! Of how we were reduced in numbers; and to a hand-to-mouth existence, while trying to survive! I told of how we climbed higher to escape the dangers of staying in the low-lying lands. I finished by explaining how few our numbers were and how we needed to find another tribe that would accept us, or we would simply be wiped out by other tribes! Merkansoo listened silently during the story never moving or indicating how he felt, by words, gestures, or the expression on his face. When I had finished telling him the whole story of the hunt, the attack, meeting Mearoo, mating, and the cave, he stopped me. “I have heard enough Jakool. Are you rested enough to travel?” I said “Yes. Are we going back to your tribe?” I asked feeling a little torn between Mearoo and my tribe's need! “No. We will go and see the truth of the story. If it is as you have said..” Merkansoo paused and had a strange look as he finished saying this, “Then there is more at work here than a chance meeting between you and Mearoo.”

I didn’t understand, but was happy to have them help me find my tribe! “One thing Jakool,” Merkansoo said before we started out. “Can you swear by the Gods or Spirits you worship, that all in your tribe would greet us as friends and equals if we show ourselves to them? If we allow them to join us as you have suggested, will they all accept? Because if any do not wish to join with us they cannot be allowed to live to tell any of us!” I was shocked at hearing this condition but thought about it.

If we were the ones that had stayed hidden so long, would we be willing to risk that to help a strange tribe that looked as much like animals as men?

I shook my head realizing that it was a very difficult question to answer. But I knew the answer in my heart and looked up at Merkansoo and said firmly “I cannot swear as to how all of the tribe will greet you. I can swear that any who refuse your offer to join will die by my blade!” I put my hand on the hilt of my knife as I said this to him. He nodded and said, “So be it!” He turned and said, “Lead us to your tribe”. I felt Mearoo’s hand in mine as I walked passed the warriors who parted to let us through until we stood in front of the tribe. I scanned the many trees and found the trail I recognized and said “This way”. The journey had begun, I was now mate to Mearoo and leading the Snow-Leaper tribe to meet mine. But what would my tribe decide? Would I have to honor my vow and kill my own brethren? I silently prayed to the Sky Spirits to send my thoughts to my brethren to warn them before we arrived!