Page 27 of Scarred

“Will you be back in time for our coming-of-age ceremony?” Gar asked. “It would be an honor if you lead the dance.”

“It would be an honor to lead beside your sire.” Suni would never take the honor away from a proud sire. “I will make it back in time. Finish smoking the meat and get some sleep. Wake me when the first moon sets so I can take over watch.” He left the brothers whispering around the fire and settled with his back against the side of the cave. He would protect Amma with his body.

Chapter 10

Amma

Do you think she is going to wake up soon?

I hope so. I am hungry.

Maybe we should wake her up.

Amma groaned as the voices of her pets broke through her dreamless sleep. It had been a while since she had slept so soundly and her whole body felt relaxed. It had also been a while since she had been awakened by the whispering of her pets.

“Why are you guys even awake?”

We want to go outside, but Suni is blocking the way, Mike said. He may growl if we try to climb over him.

Or bite us, Sam chimed in.

She opened blurry eyes and blinked at the entrance to the cave. There was something blocking the light, but she couldn’t make it out. “There’s still light out there. Which means the suns are still up and I want to sleep. Go back to bed.”

Food! Sam demanded. At home we would have already had two breakfasts.

“You know what?” Amma rolled onto her back and glared up at the ceiling. “You act like spoiled children. I am not about to get up right now.”

But – Sam started.

“Don’t.” She closed her eyes. “I am going to get more sleep. If you want to go outside, then you deal with whatever is in the doorway.” She waited for her animal friends to argue, but they kept quiet. She was just drifting back to sleep when she heard scraping outside.

“Amma,” Suni’s deep voice caressed her ears. “I heard you talking. Are you up for the day?”

“Would it matter if I said no?” Amma sat up and scrubbed her eyes with the heels of her hands. “I doubt anyone is going to let me sleep anymore.”

The shadow at the door moved. “If you want to rest more, I will get first meal started,” Suni said. “Join us when you are ready.”

Amma dropped onto her back with a grunt. “You guys go outside. I need to clean up and change.” She turned her head and watched the two squirrels and Astro run out, leaving a dust trail in their wake. At least she knew they were safe from flying predators with the three warriors.

She waited a few minutes before climbing to her feet and getting ready for the day. Amma used the hollowed-out rock she kept water in to do a quick washup. The water was cold, but she powered through before slipping on a fresh shirt and pair of leggings.

She would need to do laundry soon before she ran out of clothes. Her mother had only packed five pairs of leggings and four shirts. Her bra and underwear she had had to wash every day. If only she could find the equivalent of lavender or sage to make a batch of deodorant. She shoved everything into her backpack and shrugged it on before exiting the cave.

The last rays of sunlight were disappearing and giving way to the night sky. Amma found she felt the closest to nature during these times. After relieving herself in a hole she’d dug for that purpose, she migrated to her favorite spot where a gap in the foliage gave her an unobstructed view of the sky.

She raised her face to the sky and took a deep breath. “I thank the suns for bringing life. I welcome the moons as they start their path across the sky. I welcome the spirits of my ancestors and the path they have left me to follow. I give thanks for the powers the Goddess has given to my family, and the magic running through our veins.” She raised her arms to the sky, reaching as high as she could. “May my day be blessed and may the day of those who travel with me be blessed. So mote it be.”

“Beautiful.”

Amma spun to find Suni standing directly behind her. His face was turned toward the moons and his eyes were closed.

“Do you greet every day the same way?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered. “It reminds me I am part of a bigger whole, and together we are blessed. Every day, the Goddess gives us life and control of our magic. Right now, all my cousins who are in this world are looking up at the moons and doing the same thing I am. We may be far apart, but we are together.”

“It is like the warrior’s creed,” Suni said. “We learn it before we pick up our weapons.”

“I would love to hear it one day.”

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