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| The First Star by � coondogk9 * * * * * * * * * * The two girls were picking berries late in the afternoon and had almost filled their baskets when they heard a noise. Both got suddenly still. Hearing no more they decided to leave and head back toward the village. As they walked they swayed into each other giggling about the boys they had their eye on and continued down the trail. One, the younger one called Spotted Calf nervously kept looking behind them. This alerted Swan Song and she too looked about. Something Eire spooked both of them. As soon as they started running they saw it. Now it was on the open trail racing after them on its short legs. It was running on two hind legs but its front feet were shorter and it had scales. Its head was ugly and had a row of small horned like knobs protruding down the center of the head toward the back. There was no tail they saw but this was mainly because they were so frightened and trying to out run it. Spotted Calf ran to one side pulling Swan Song along with her into the brushy side of the trail. Swan Song screamed at her to let go of her. The brush was tearing her dress and making deep scratches in her bare skin as well as slowing them down. Spotted Calf quickened her pace paying no attention and gripped her even harder as the limbs sprang back swatting Swan Song behind her. They could still hear the creature behind them snarling as the branches cut his flesh and the sound of cracking limbs. Soon they came to a rocky hillside in front of them. Without a word Spotted Calf started climbing up the irregular rock face. Both having dropped their baskets long before and being young and lithe easily ascended the rock face. Panting and out of breath Swan Song asked where she was leading them. Away she replied. I saw how short his legs were and almost knew he�d not be able to climb this rock face. But where will it lead us asked Swan Song? Have you been here before? Spotted Calf replied: I don�t know. I�ve never been to the top before. I just knew it was here. On they climbed. Far below was the creature trying his best to follow but lacking in ability and stature was falling behind. Both knew they were doomed if one or either fell so they slowed to a more controlled pace and surer grip as they climbed. Swan Song noticed she had to dodge the falling rock Spotted Calf was loosening in her ascent and that gave her an idea. She began dropping stones on the creature from above. He swatted them away with a powerful stroke of his arm and continued as if they were small pebbles much to Swan Songs dismay. Finally reaching the top Spotted Calf grabbed Swan Songs hand and helped her up to the top where it was small, rocky and no vegetation to speak of. One lone weathered old tree had survived the winds and cold of the peak. It was twisted and knurled like an old man but yet it held on. Looking over the edge both could see the creature still climbing. They gathered larger stones and dropped them down on him. These were having more effect but still it came. Decidedly they grabbed hold of a much larger rock with very sharp irregular edges. Grunting and straining they managed to carry it to the edge. Looking over the edge to see if he was directly below them, and he was, they counted and on three they let go. Down it went end over end. The creature looked up and screamed in a loud shrill cry as his short arm tried to ward it off. It was no use, It took him off the rock face and he bounced off the cliff like a basket. He went out of sight before they heard his screaming quit. Then it was quiet. * * * They still didn�t know if it was dead or not though. It may be injured and still able to climb to them. Spotted Calf told Swan Song to watch and warn her if it appeared again and she took off. Swan Song turned and asked what she was doing. Never mind what I�m doing Spotted Calf replied. Just keep watching. Swan Song glumly turned and peered over the edge, her hands on her legs leaving bloody prints on the remnants of her torn dress. Spotted Calf went to the tree and pried off a dead limb she thought was just about right. She took her knife from her leg pocket, stripped the bark and scraped the hairy strings from its inside making a small pile. Then returning to the tree she cut away a green branch the size of a deer�s front foreleg and fixed some bark in the wedges she�d split in the larger end. Taking her knife she slashed the trunk of the tree and gathered the sticky resin and covered the end of her makeshift torch. Having no water to wet leather thongs to tie pieces to the head of the torch she hoped this would at least work a little while. It was getting darker now and harder to see. She had to hurry as there was no moon tonight and soon they would be at the mercy of the shadow spirits. Scared and trembling she fashioned a small bow to make a fire stick. Glancing over at Swan Song she saw her watching her. Spotted calf looked at her with cruel determination. Swan Song saw it an knew the meaning. Immediately she returned to stare over the cliffs edge. Spotted Calf heard strange sounds above her but could see nothing. It was like an eagles beating wings but she knew no eagles would dare fly in the dark and it wasn�t the sound of the whispered owl in flight. She even felt a breeze now and then at the same time she heard the sounds. Finally a spark appeared at the base of the fire bow. A small glow emitted a tiny curl of smoke. She knelt and gently blew with cupped hands and added a few bark strings to the tiny ember. Now it caught and started blazing. Just as it did she heard screeching from above. She looked up and the air was alive with large dark birds of a kind she�d never seen before. Did they only live on this mountain top? Did they only appear at night? She asked herself these questions and more. She wondered if they were dangerous or not? Now she had the torch going from her small fire. She went over to the edge and peered down alongside Swan Song. In the small light they could make out the struggling creature far below as the light reflected off his scales. He was slow and clumsy like he was injured, but he still climbed. He looked up, saw the fire and shielded his eyes from the light as it blinded him. He was afraid they were going to throw more rocks down upon him. Spotted Calf returned to the tree and began making another torch. After a little bit she had another going now. She�d done most of the work before, making the second one easier. Now they had light and fire to break the mountain chill. As she was walking toward Swan Song one of the birds came from behind and grabbed her. She struggled and screamed and started beating it with the torch. His feathers caught fire and he screamed away in a ball of fire. One after another came. Soon Spotted calf and Swan Song were overwhelmed by angry birds of the night. One by one they sent another burning bird skyward. The night was filled with bright birds of fire. The sky became a beautiful sight with all the sparkling lights of the fires as each one flew further and further away. it was gorgeous. They�d never before seen such a sight. The night used to be just one dark, black void other than the moon. Now it was like a forest of fairies and fireflies. Just then they heard a scream behind them. Turning they saw the creature flailing about in the clutches of a night bird. They stood in awe as the great bird lifted the helpless creature away into the shadows of the night. * * * * * * * * * * The girls now started their climb down before one of the night birds got them to. Down the side of the cliff they descended. They saw no more of the birds once they left the mountain peak but still the lights in the sky shone. They couldn�t wait until they got home to tell their parents and the elders about their experience. They reached home before daybreak and the whole village was out staring into the sky at the marvel of tiny lights. Some were afraid the sky was afire and would fall and burn them all until the girls told what happened. from that day on we�ve had stars in the night. * * * * * * * Vision Quest � 2002 T Lovett |