Part 3 (end) of chapter 1.

We took seats next to Elder and I surveyed the land. Tonight the feast would be held in the meadow where I shot that bison. At least two hundred plates and uncountable wooden knives and forks were laid upon a humongous oval carpet that must have been woven by a selected amount of women that were perfect for the job. Chances were they were in the older crowd, probably single and no children. Most likely no family left at all. They must have had to weave this caret for at least five years.

In the heart of the blanket which had a hole in it, was a contained fire with the two smaller cooked bison on the sides and the bison I had shot with my arrow, lay right in a direct pathway to Elder. There was a little walkway filled with clay stones melded together with some kind of adhesive-like material. Probably some kind of saliva mixed with a bit of bone and other animal and plant based material that was chosen to be the most tolerant of withstanding a four hundred pound man. But that was a field that boys and men from the tribe usually signed up for, so really I hadn't had a clue what could have made the clay stones stick.

The walkway was positioned right in the very front of Elders' Placemat all the way to the center. It was there so that he had free reign to access the beast first and easiest. After he would have taken his portion of the Beast, all of the women would start cutting the carcass. The men would then delve out the potatoes and mushrooms, along with the fruits and vegetables. But before all of that stuff could even begin the Elder let the excitement run its course. Every one talked and laughed and Elder made small talk with the People of high importance next to him. He smiled at me, but that was about it. Kale was very quiet and had a strange look on her face... I was beginning to salivate. I believe a lot of us stared to because most started to quiet down. Now it was the time to pray.

All Elder had to do was put of his massive hands up and quietness engulfed the entire Land. It felt eerie and I saw a few people look around. It felt wrong... But Elder continued on a speech and suddenly everyone seemed to recover... but I still felt different. After the speech we prayed to our Ancestors for the beautiful harvest of our lands, the longevity of Elder and the success of all of the students. Lastly Elder made a short and sweet speech about me. My catch and presents were the only topics; things I'd already heard before. I smiled and mostly looked down. It was embarrassing. Elder clapped me on the shoulder at the end, and then the men and women selected to serve the food got to their feet all at once and gave everyone heaping spoonful's of everything except the meat.

We all watched as Elder rose to his feet and successfully cut the first piece of meat. The second cut he made was for me. And then he rose with a serving plate and walked back to his spot. Soon after all of the women we cutting and slicing and serving. As this process went on Kale whispered in my ear,

"You know why Elder shared what presents you got right?"

"No, won't that make me a target for harassment?" I asked. She rolled her eyes and said,

"Our tribe won't have much time for harassment as classes start tomorrow. But no that's no why silly! The reason is exactly this. It is a warning to all, not to touch your items, and believe me they won't." She smiled at me and then strangely went back to spacing out...

Once everything was shared and our plates were full I got a weird sensation that had nothing to do with hunger. I felt fidgety and that I should be out there in the forest...

Once Kale and I dug into the food I was far from worrying about whatever I felt. I laughed and talked to kale. Later Chive came over to greet us and then we told stories and jokes. Chive was in love with my makeup. He said I looked so pretty and deserved what I got one-hundred percent. He even added, "Even if the contest was against Risk!" I was shocked to hear this but didn't let it show. He didn't mean it in a mean way; just trying to make me feel special. Which he had to have known that he always made me feel special. He was a perfect cousin.

Later instruments were brought out and moms of newborn children were selected to sing and dance with their husbands all seemed okay...

         Far too soon, the youngsters, sadly including Chive because of a fraction of his age, were sent to their Tipis for bed. Kale seemed to disappear occasionally, but always came back. Little by little everyone seemed to go off to bed. I soon got itchy and my anxiety level reached an all-time high. The only people left were the ones who were intoxicated and Elder. I asked Kale if we could go to bed. She looked serious for a second, but only for a second, and then she said okay. Our Masters took us to our tipis.

I laid tossing and turning for several hours. Then I finally couldn't take it. I stood up and made sure Kale was fast asleep and walked out of the Tipi. A cold, harsh wind, whipped my hair to and fro but I kept walking. I felt like a rabid animal finding no peace within my soul.

I walked for about an hour until I was so cold I had to sit down. Unfortunately and unexpectedly there was already someone laying there. I jumped in horror as I saw it was a teenage girl. She was naked and cut and bruised and skeleton thin. A small scream escaped my mouth. I didn't know what to do so I decided to pray to my ancestors that she'd be alright. I took off my extra sweatshirt and put it on her squeezing myself tightly against the ferocious wind. Upon closer examination she looked like she belonged in our tribe. I'd never seen her on our lands, and our tribe would never ever let something like this happen. I started to shake the girl as I sat her up,

         "Wake up!" I pleaded. My heart pounded in my chest and I couldn't believe that this was happening. It was so surreal. Her eyes rolled and then they focused on me. Her eyes were almost black and I feared her. "Go..." She said weakly. "Before they get you." She ended.          

         "Who?" I asked. "Who!" I screamed. But the girl's eyes rolled back into her skull. I'm having a nightmare I told myself, over and over again, holding the girl against me as I caressed her hair. At long last, I felt like giving into the cold to just die...

Hands were on me when I came to and they were the hands of Kale. With inhuman speed and carrying both the girl and me in her arms, she raced against time to get us back to...

When I woke up I was in Ivory Green's cabin. The light was just over the horizon painting it a pigment of purples and pinks. I looked around and spotted the girl, as well as Elder, Masters and Kale. They seemed to notice that I was waking up. Kale raced to my side not bothering to hide her inhuman speed. Tears streamed down her eyes like that of a waterfall. I suddenly felt chilly and knew what I did last night; I wondered why I was still so cold.

         "You'll be cold for a little while longer Rogue, try to sleep..." Just don't slip away." She whispered this last part as she kissed my forehead and I drifted back.

         "When I woke for the third time I felt so great wanted to jump out of bed. But I couldn't; Kale was there to stop me.

"No Rogue, it's just the medicine." "You're not well yet." I sighed. It was hard to believe I was not well when I felt on top of the word. This time around Elder came over to speak with me but Kale wouldn't budge so they made a silent agreement that he would stand. Why was she doing this?"

         "Rogue, do you remember anything that happened the night you found the Kara?" My eyes found the emaciated Kara and she was surprisingly sitting up. "I know this is hard but I need to know all you know."

         "Yea, I went for a walk.., because I felt the need to." "Something was pulling me... Like a force or something strong." At this I coughed hard. And it hurt. It really hurt. I'm guessing I'd been coughing when I'd been asleep. "I just kept walking in a daze," I continued. "The wind was unforgiving and I just felt like lying down" "But then she was there and..." and then another bought of coughing left him to say,          

         "That is all I need to know... you were very brave." "And I'm also surprised to see you alive." "I know your ancestors saved you so be sure to thank them at some point." And then he put his hand under my chin and said. "You're a fighter." His voiced cracked as he said this and he let just one tear slip..." And I'm sorry I haven't been the best Grandfather." "Just get better for me eh?" With a small smile and a tap on my cheek he left giving instructions to Ivory in a different language.

         "Kale, are you mad-." but she stopped me and said,

"Of course not."

         "Thanks for saving us."

"You're welcome."  "It's time I tell you things you should know." She then motioned for Kara to come over. Her little frame meandered over and she gave me a hug.

"Thank you Rogue, for saving me."

         "Kara tell her as much as you know and then I will do my part."

         "Rogue there are more things to this world then your lands. There are many lands and portals that lead to different worlds. There is a wretched woman who is after you. Someone all people fear. You must be careful from now on..." She sniffed and shifted her scary dark eyes to the floor. "I was sent to curse you but I fought the curse... well as best as I could. I've been held captive for a while. I was bred to kill-." "That's enough." Kale said.

         "Rogue, never ever give into your gifts, not yet. They are a gift... Yes, but also a curse. Your gift is Healing, and it's part of the reason you are alive. But your healing also fought for Kara's life as well. As part of ... the curse, each minute you held her and healed her, the more she took from you. Your life. I am a vampire; there are other stranger things in this world, please try to be prepared." And with a smile she said, "In a few hours after you've digested this all think about the coming morning. Tomorrow is your first day of Martial Arts. All classes were canceled, until you got better and there was a search around the lands. I believe you'll be okay." She let herself slouch a little. Something I'd never seen her do. "Kara has been adopted in and she will share our tipi in a few days' time. Kara will accompany you pretty much everywhere. She is well versed in this danger."

         "Plus I owe you my life."

         "Don't say that," I said with my head spinning. We smiled at each other. She fought to save me from a curse that was attached to her and I fought off the cold and fought for her life. I had a good feeling that we'd be great friends.

         That night I dreamt of her. She was cold and wicked and mean. She was furious. She pulled out tufts of her hair. The last part scared me, even though I was only dreaming. She threw a dagger through the heart of Kara. I screamed and screamed and begged her to stop... When I woke up I remembered nothing of it...