People of Stones, part 4


Kareb, Kali's cousin from the Ivory Coast, and his friends from the barracks were
spending the afternoon exploring. They had brought along their weapons of course as
well as gathering baskets in case they found edible plants to bring back. It was really
just an excuse to leave the village for a while since they were bored.

"What's that?" Zachary asked, pointing towards something dark in the woods. The
other three teenagers squinted, trying to get a better look as they changed the
direction they were walking.

"Dunno. It looks sort of like a dead bear or something," Drew guessed.

Chike stopped where he was and spoke in French to his brother. "I do not like this."

Both brothers had grown up in Africa and had respect for the unknown. Since Kareb
was eldest of the group, he felt responsible for them all. He suggested to the others
that they avoid the spot and leave.

"What can happen? We have guns and bows. Besides, it isn't moving so its probably
dead," Zachary told the older boy.

"And if it isn't? I have no desire to be a meal for an angry and hairy beast," Kareb
warned.

Zachary made a scoffing noise and kept going. He wanted to see what it was. Drew
looked worried but followed his friend, gripping his rifle tightly.

Chike looked at his brother. "Do we let them go or do we protect them, Kareb?"

The sixteen year old looked torn. Common sense said to approach the unknown
carefully yet the others were given adult status when allowed to live in the barracks.
They had every right to make their own mistakes. But what if they came to harm?
Unable to stand the idea, he rushed forward to hurry after his friends. "Stay there!"
he ordered his younger brother.

Chike looked as though he would protest then his shoulders sagged. He knew Kareb
was correct but just in case he would keep his Atlatl at the ready. He watched as
Drew and Zachary neared the mysterious item. He couldn't hear what was said but
suddenly a shout of fear shattered the peace of the forest.

The dark shadow moved and Chike saw Drew fall to the ground. Chike rushed
forward, his spear held high. As he got closer, he saw his brother had already buried
two spears into the body of the large grizzly. It roared in pain as a third spear pierced
his flesh. It raised one huge paw and was about to strike Kareb. Chike took aim and
hurled his spear. It struck the infuriated beast in its chest and it fell to the ground.
Chike pulled another miniature spear from the quiver but by then it was over. Kareb
had taken his hunting knife and plunged the blade into the neck of the large animal.
The knife severed the nerves and the bear sank to the ground.

Chike hurried to his brother's side and asked if he was harmed. Kareb shook his
head, his eyes locked on something else. Chike followed his gaze and saw that Drew
was on the ground, his face and chest covered in blood. Great gashes were torn into
his flesh. "Drew!" Chike cried out. The brothers went to Drew who was barely
breathing.

Kareb bent over Drew and examined his friend. He pulled off his shirt then pressed
the cloth to the bleeding wounds. "Chike, go to the village and get help. I will do what
I can until you return," he ordered, his voice tight.

Chike nodded and got to his feet. Fear made his feet move swiftly as he ran towards
the Napa village. It seemed to take forever but in reality it took him only about ten
minutes to reach home. The young man ran for the doctor's home and pounded on the
door, screaming her name. Patricia opened the door and saw the frightened teen. It
took several minutes to get the story from the shaken young man. During his
explanation, several others listened in. JP heard part of it and ordered that horses be
saddled.

People rushed to gather weapons and gear while the doctor gathered her medical
bag. Chike led the others to his friends. Patricia and Sandra rushed to the fallen boy
and felt their hearts break when the saw the tears on Karen's face. He was holding
Drew to him and it was obvious they were too late. Sandra felt for a pulse and found
none.

"He's gone," she said tearfully.

JP saw Zachary huddled in a fetal position nearby. He was sobbing uncontrollably. JP
didn't know all of the story yet but regardless, she felt compassion for the young
man. She gathered him in her arms and held him until the tears faded and the boy
leaned against her. They had the boys get on the horses while the women built a
travois to bring home Drew's body. JP told the others she would ride ahead.
Someone had to speak with Drew's mother before they brought him home. She felt it
was her duty to break the news first.

She got on her horse and hurried to the village. People were gathered in groups,
waiting for their return. She spotted Natalie in one of the groups. She handed her
reins to one of the kids and walked towards her.

"Natalie, could we talk?" she asked kindly.

The woman refused to leave with her, She stood there shaking her head in denial.
"It's Drew, isn't it?" she asked shakily, refusing to talk to JP privately. Before JP
could answer, she guessed the reason why. "He's dead, isn't he?" JP's tear-filled
eyes answered her question.

Natalie screamed in her anguish. Her son couldn't be dead! Other women came to
her side to comfort her. They took her away while others stood around in shock. No
one from their village had ever died since they moved here. Death was part of life
but they never dreamed that a mere boy would be death's first victim.

******

Cierra and the council investigated what happened. They had found that the bear had
been caught in a primitive trap, most likely a trap built by one of the natives. It had
been wounded but not injured enough to lack the strength to protect itself. Zachary
and Drew had approached the half-conscious bear and poked it. The bear had
instinctively swiped at the danger and Drew had been struck down.

Speaking with Kali's cousins had cleared up why the boys had even gone near it in
the first place. A few wanted Zachary punished for his carelessness but Cierra forbid
it.

"Isn't it bad enough that he has to live with his friend's death? Knowing he's at
fault?" The fight left the others. Their queen was correct. Zachary had to live with
that guilt for the rest of his life.

"Kareb tried to stop them. He has more sense at least. He stayed with Drew until
the end," JP said.

"The boy became a man today," Paul said quietly. "Both brothers did."

Cierra perked. "They need to be given something. Something that shows they are
not ordinary teens."

"Like what?" Jenny asked.

"I don't know. The Indians gave feathers to show acts of bravery."

Cyd shrugged. "That's their tradition. Maybe we should start our own."

The others thought it over, giving suggestions. Then Cierra reminded them that
medallions were given to the leaders of the Sky Dancer clan. "How about necklaces?
We'd have to give everyone who's adult one too. It will be a sign of adulthood and
show special activities. Like the boys fighting a bear."

"Then I think the council should have it's own mark too," Jenny said.

"And our queen," Pam grinned. "The royal family needs its own mark."

"Maybe the jewellery maker can make special rings of different colors. It'll be our
own tradition."

Cierra agreed. "We'll present one to every adult, then finally, to Chike and Kareb."

Cyd agreed, "But first we must have Drew's funeral. We'll have the ceremony for
adults after the rings are made."

******


The funeral was a heart-breaking event. Everyone grieved not only for his death but
to the end of the village's innocence. Some had never really thought of Mother Earth
as dangerous. It was merely home, not a savage place where children could be
harmed. It was Drew who had brought that home with a sickening clarity.

Although Cierra had chosen not to punish Zachary, she did make him pay one
penalty. He had to drop the first shovel full of dirt over the coffin. The young man
had done so then ran away, clearly feeling the burden of overwhelming guilt.

People separated, some choosing solitude while others clung to friends and family.
Natalie moved to the women's barracks, saying she no longer had a right to live in an
adobe home. She wished to live with the other single women. No one had the heart to
refuse her. They knew she couldn't face living in the house with so many memories of
her dead son.

Several months passed and the grief began healing. Slowly the village started to
recover and Cierra decided it was a good time to have the ceremony.

Everyone gathered outside the area where the memorial had been held for those lost
on Earth. A platform had been built so people could see what occurred. Cierra
stepped up onto it, the council behind her. The combined people of the three sister
clans gathered around. She had sent messengers to the other two villages and asked
them to attend. Not all of them could be there. The leaders of each of them would
have to perform the ceremony once they returned home.

The sun was just rising. Cierra knew that it would take most of the day to perform
the presentations. There were easily over four hundred adults present. She would
first award the necklaces to all the council members of the three clans then in turn,
she would receive her necklace from Cyd. Then the other adults would be called
forward.

Cierra made her speech, explaining the new custom of the sister clans. It was
necessary to identify those who proved themselves as adults and for other deeds in
their life. The necklaces would tell a story about each person in its own way. Every
adult would have a black stone to show that they no longer had the innocence of
childhood. The council members and leaders would wear a red stone next to it. Acts
of bravery would be of gold and specialized skills in silver. Those who were
considered honored such as elders would carry a simple wooden bead to show their
humility. Also, each adult would receive a white ring for each decade they lived.

Jenny was the first to asked to step forward. A cord with a black stone was taken
from the lined box. Cierra announced that as a council member she would receive a
red ring, then asked Jenny her age although she already knew it. Jenny had recently
had her thirtieth birthday and was handed three white rings. Cierra took a wooden
ring from the box. "Jenny, you often listen to people and are considered a voice of
wisdom. I present to you the ring of humility."

Jenny looked at her friend in surprise and took the wooden bead. She place her rings
onto the cord and tied it around her neck.

She went through these steps with all the council and leaders, including JP. Cyd
stepped forward and called Cierra's and JP's names. She presented Cierra with her
own necklace then brought out two lilac colored rings. "The council decided that the
royal family should also bear a special mark. She handed the lilac colored rings to
her friends who placed them onto their necklaces.

Hours later, Sharon quietly began placing finger foods on plates and she and her
helpers walked around and handed out food to those watching the ceremony. People
were reluctant to leave except for visiting the outhouses.

It was nearly mid afternoon when the last of the adults received their marks of
adulthood but Cierra held up her hand for people's attention.

"Today, the council of the Napa Clan wish to honor two individuals. Kareb, Chike,
please step forward."

The teens looked at one another then their cousin, who smiled and urged them
towards Cierra.

"Kareb, Chike, several months ago you both left childhood behind. You did your best
to save Drew but his time on Mother Earth came to an end. Maturity is not marked
by age but actions. Your acts proved to everyone that you were worthy of being
considered adults." Cierra handed each young man a necklace then reached into the
box, bringing out two gold rings. On each was engraved the prints of a bear. "For
your bravery, you each earned proof of status of warriors." She handed each a gold
ring and they shakily slipped their ring onto their cord to join the black ring of
adulthood and the white ring of age.

The people around them applauded as the young men blushed deeply. As the noise of
the crowd eased off, Cierra spoke once more. "You both each have all the rights of
an adult, even of a non-teen marriage if you choose." Kareb mumbled a thank you
and he poked his brother so they could walk away. All the attention was making him
uncomfortable. They returned to Kali, who gave each of her cousins a hug, pleased.
Maggie grinned and congratulated them.

"How about a drink to celebrate?" Maggie suggested. Kali gave her a stern look but
didn't protest. After all, her cousins had full adult rights and could drink if they so
wished.

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