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Description
June 20, 12985 BCE; Siberia

Arktalaki grabbed her favorite bear skin and draped it over her shoulders before heading out of the cave and into the settlement. The sun was shining bright on the lively place where children were playing and adults were sharing joyous conversation. Light glistened through the evergreen trees and sparkled on the snow. It was a beautiful morning. Many of the people were already well at work dismantling the tents and gathering the supplies they'd need for the next move. Arktalaki grinned ear to ear in excitement. This would be it, she thought, this journey would be the one to take them to the Land Beyond the Sun. She could feel it deep down inside of her. Something very big was about to happen. Things were about to change. She was so excited to get moving. She very nearly just jumped right in and started packing up as well, but one thing pulled her mind away. One thing that was missing.

She looked all around her. “Where has she gone off to?” she pondered to herself. She wandered around the settlement, asking her friends if they had any ideas. They all shook their heads no and apologized. Arktalaki humphed to herself and kept up her search. Little did she know, she was being watched.

In the bushes behind her was movement. The leaves rustled ever so slightly as something dark came prowling through the shadows, creeping ever closer to Arktalaki. Arktalaki didn't even notice until suddenly a low, rumbling noise hit her ears. A growl. Her eyes widened.

She spun around in the snow just in time to see the wolf lunging through the air from out of the bushes with it's teeth bared. Arktalaki brought her arms up and her reflexes allowed her to roll away just in time. The wolf had good reflexes too, and it lunged again, taking her by surprise and pinning her to the ground. She could feel its claws digging through her animal skins. It glared at her as it's mouth came closer to her face, and closer… and closer…

And then she felt it's wet tongue softly slapping against her face.

Arktalaki giggled and put her hands on it's chest fur, trying to gently push it away. “Alright, Iwakuk,” she laughed. “I love you too, girl. Come on, get off of mommy.”

Iwakuk whined as she was pushed off of her master's chest and Arktalaki stood up, wiping her face of slobber and dusting the snow off of her furs. Iwakuk wagged her tail happily as Arktalaki pet her head and motioned for the wolf to follow. “Come now. There'll be time to play later, but now we must pack.” Now everyone in the tribe was present. Now she could finally get to work on helping.

She found her mother in the middle of taking the tent skins off of the mammoth tusk structure, and she rushed in when her mother accidentally dropped one of the folded skins. Arktalaki caught it before it fell into the snow, and she passed it back to her mother, who smiled.

“Thank you, my snowflake,” she said.

“Of course! Anyway I can help?”

“Yes. Help me take this tent down, and then I have a little errand for you to run.”

“Got it! Can do, mother!”

“Thank you, darling. You've grown to be such a sweet young woman. I'm so proud of you.”

“I just do what I can to make everyone happy.”

“And the spirits smile upon you for it.”

The two smiled at each other and got to work on taking down the tent. Iwakuk patrolled around them while they worked, stoically guarding them. It just made Arktalaki smile more. She was such a good wolf.

“So,” her mother said as they worked. “Are you excited to be moving again?”

“Yes indeed!” Arktalaki grinned. “Do you think this will be the one, mother? Do you think we will reach the Land Beyond the Sun?”

Her mother chuckled. “I don't know, my child. We can never truly know the future, or the past for that matter. What matters is the present, and how we are all together in it.”

“I know, but still! I just feel like the spirits are about to provide us with a grand gift! A grand adventure!”

“Well I'm certain they appreciate your optimism, my snowflake. They smile upon people like you.”

Arktalaki simply smiled brightly as the two of them finished dismantling their tent and getting it onto the sleds. The two stood back and looked at their work in satisfaction.

“Thank you very much for your help, my snowflake,” her mother said.

“Of course! It's no problem.”

“Now, about that errand.”

“What did you need me to do, mother?”

“I was speaking with the elders earlier and they worry we may not have enough game to last us the first couple days. Could you go ask your father to gather up the hunters and get us a few more meats?”

Arktalaki nodded. “Of course! Right away!” she said.

“Thank you, my snowflake. I appreciate it.”

Arktalaki nodded and jogged her way on over to her father's tent with Iwakuk by her side. She was a bit surprised to see that it wasn't dismantled yet. She had expected her father would've gotten right to work alongside the rest of the tribe. She slowed her pace as she approached, and started hearing voices from inside.

“What do you propose I do, Taakiuq?” She heard her father say. He seemed rather stressed.

“We should not wait, Nanalak,” Taakiuq, the tribe’s shaman, begged. “If they have threatened us, then they will be on their way as quickly as they can be.”

“They will not arrive before tomorrow, Taakiuq, I am sure of it.”

“I just… this all seemed so foolish…”

“I had no choice, you know that. We would've starved on the journey if we had given in to their demands.”

“I know, but-”

“We will be fine, Taakiuq. I will have every warrior and hunter at the ready tonight. If they do come, we will not let them get within three mammoths of the tribe.”

“I hope you're right…”

“As do I, my friend, as do I…”

“Father?” Arktalaki called to the tent, disguising her voice to make it sound like she had just sprinted here. She didn't want him to know she was eavesdropping.

Within moments her father appeared at the tent’s entrance, Taakiuq not far behind him. Both masked their faces to appear as if they had not just discussed whatever bad thing needed discussing. “Ah! Arktalaki!” her father greeted. “What is it, my snowflake?”

“Mother wanted me to inform you that the elders think it best if we make a last minute hunt before our journey, just to ensure we won't run low.”

Her father nodded. “Of course! I shall gather a few of our hunters.” He turned to Taakiuq. “I'm afraid we'll have to continue our conversation later, my friend.”

Taakiuq nodded. “Very well. Stay safe, and may you have a good hunt.”

Nanalak nodded and Taakiuq took his leave. Nanalak went over to one of the sleds he had from it he grabbed a bow, his prized one, etched with carvings and coated in decorations. He moved it around in the air a bit to feel it out, and then, to Arktalaki’s surprise, he turned to her, and he handed her the bow.

Her eyes widened as she took it in her hands. “I… huh?” she asked, confused. Her father simply smiled.

“I'd like you to come hunting with us. I'd like to teach you,” he said.

“But… but father!”

“Yes?”

“Why hand me your bow if we are going out?”

“Because it is your bow now.”

Arktalaki’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “But… but this is your prized possession!”

He chuckles and out a hand on her shoulder. “No, my snowflake, my family is my prized possession. You, your mother, our tribe. You are what I care about more than anything. I simply like this bow. It was my father's, and his father's, and his father's, and so on. Each one had been given this mighty bow when it came time to learn, and that tradition carries on with you, my child.”

Arktalaki stared at him, then at the bow, then back at him. She very nearly cried. “Thank you, father!” she said. “I promise I shall treasure it with the greatest care for as long as it is mine!”

Nanalak smiled. He handed her a quiver. “That is good to hear,” he said. “Now come. Let us go see if you can use it.”

----------

They as quietly as they could as they creeped through the snow and trees. Arktalaki had her bow in her hand and Iwakuk at her side. Her father held one of the spears he crafted. Other hunters lurked in the woods as well, but they were dispersed and just as hidden as they were.

“Do you think we'll come across a mammoth?” Arktalaki whispered excitedly.

Her father chuckled. “I doubt it, but it is probably for the best. A mammoth hunt is a rather complicated thing, unless you're dealing with one that accidentally separated from its herd. They are big, they are smart, and they are powerful. I certainly wouldn't want such a hunt to be your tutorial. Too dangerous.”

“I see…”

“Ah, but do not worry, my snowflake. We will still find some hefty game. This area is prime with caribou.”

“So how will we find them?”

Her father paused for a moment, and turned his head to the sky. Arktalaki followed his gaze. She saw an eagle circling in the sky above the branches of a towering tree. They heard its distant screech.

“The eagles circle around areas where they can most easily spot prey,” her father explained. “If you can climb up to the top of that tree, you will be able to see as it does.”

Arktalaki’s felt sick to her stomach when her gaze went from the ground to the tree's tallest branches. She gulped.

“Are you sure you should not do it, father?” she said nervously.

“Nonsense, my snowflake! This is an essential hunting skill! We must make sure you learn it.”

“I… I don't know…”

He patted her shoulder. “You are nervous, I understand,” he said. “I was too when I did it for the first time. But I know you can do it, my child. I believe in you.”

“Alright… If you say so, father.”

He smiled brightly at her as she approached the trunk of the tree and started hooking her fingers and feet into its branches. She had climbed many trees before, of course. One of her favorite pastimes when she was younger was always exploring the leaves above with her friends. But she had never gone anywhere near this height. She climbed and climbed, trying desperately to push down the queasy feeling she had. She went up and up, never looking down and only stopping when she no longer had any branches above her. She held on tight to the branches, and her grip only got tighter when she looked out on the scenery. Her breath was taken away, both from fear, and from awe.

She could see for miles from up here. From the snowcapped mountains littered with trees to the sun-reflecting blanket of snow covering the meadows, she was able to see practically the entire valley. And it was gorgeous. It almost distracted her from her slowly-decreasing fear of heights. Almost.

“Arktalaki!” she heard her father call up to her. “Do you see any game?”

She looked out over the forest below. She watched the eagle to see which direction it was scanning. She followed its gaze and to her glee, she saw a clearing in the forest not too far from where they were. She could make out the shapes of large animals moving around there. She could make out the antlers. She grinned.

“Yes!” she called back. “I see a herd of elk!”

“Excellent! Will you be able to guide us there?”

“I think so. I have an idea of which path we should take.”

“That's great news! Come on down then, my snowflake!”

“Got it. Climbing down now!”

“Just go ahead and jump! It will be faster.”

Arktalaki froze at the very suggestion. Jump?! From this high up?!

“You will be fine!” her father reassured her, as if he had read her mind. “There is a pile of foliage and snow right below you! It will break your fall.”

“I'm scared to, father…” she admitted.

“I understand, my child, but you can do this! You've gotten this far! I have faith in you!”

Arktalaki gulped as she looked down and spotted the pile through the branches. It was such a long fall… Would she be able to make it? She decided she at least had to try… for her father.

She took a deep breath and started letting go of the branches she was gripping so tight. She closed her eyes and let the wind blow through her hair. She forced her muscles to obey her command as she pushed herself forward a small bit, inching off her perch bit by bit.

She reached the edge. She heard the eagle cry, and then she took her leap of faith.

The fall felt like hours, but the sudden stop snapped her right back to reality. For a split second she felt the panic of missing the pile and being in agonizing pain, but no such pain existed. She hadn't missed the foliage pile. She had landed right inside, a bit winded sure, but alive and well. She popped out of the pile, frantically looking around until she spotted her father. He was laughing heartily, and he came up to hug her tight in celebration.

“You did it, my snowflake! Congratulations!”

She blushed a bit as she regained her breath. “Thank you, father,” she said. “It was certainly quite… exhilarating.”

Her father laughed again and patted her on the back. “I know just how you feel,” he said. “Now come, let us go rally the others so that we may hunt those deer.”

----------

The hunter team spread out as they circled the perimeter of the forest clearing. They made no sound, gave no indication to the animals that predators were lurking. Arktalaki had her bow loaded and its string pulled tight. Iwakuk prowled by her side, keeping low to the ground and never taking her golden eyes off of their prey. Her father was on her other side, brandishing a spear.

“Remember, my child,” he whispered, “go for the weaker ones first. The youngest, oldest, or sickest. They will make for the easiest targets, and the ones most likely to be abandoned by the herd when they flee from danger.”

Arktalaki nodded. She scanned the herd for a deer that matched the description. She spotted one on the edge of the pond, a bit isolated from the group. It seemed much older than the others, much slower, more disinterested. Arktalaki tapped her father's shoulder and pointing it out to him. He nodded in approval, and motioned for her to make her way in that direction.

He stopped her a short distance away from the animal, and helped her take aim with her bow.

“Steady, my snowflake,” he whispered to her. “Steady hands, steady eyes, steady mind. You can end it all with one arrow if you prime yourself properly.”

Arktalaki took note of that and steadied herself as best she could. She lined up her eye with her arrow, and the arrow with the head of the deer. The silence was deafening. All she could hear was her soft breathing as she pulled the bowstring tight, made a last minute adjustment to her aim, and let the arrow fly.

It hit its mark.

The animal let out a noise before it fell into the now-red snow with a piece of wood between its eyes. The other elk took immediate notice of this, and all hell broke loose.

The animals grunted and snorted in fear as they began to scatter and dart away in every direction. The hunters came barreling out of the brush, spears and bows in hand. Blades went flying through the clearing, many hitting their mark and scoring their people another meal. Arktalaki herself sprinted across the plain, firing off arrow after arrow while Iwakuk ferociously snarled and sank her claws into any elk she was able to bring down. The snow was stained with patches of red, and the whole ordeal was over as soon as it started. The surviving elk had vanished, and a hefty bounty was left in the plain for the hunters to collect. They all cheered in victory.

“Not bad for your first hunt, eh my little snowflake?” Nanalak praised as he patted his daughter's shoulder. Arktalaki simply replied with a gleeful giggle. Nanalak gave a hearty laugh, and he led her over to one of the corpses.

“Now, when we prepare the animals, we must adhere to the rituals,” he explained to her. “They are nature's creations, gifts from the spirits, and we must give the animals and their creators thanks for such a treasure. Never kill for the sake of killing, and never kill pointlessly. That is not our way. That is not what the spirits gave us freewill for.”

“I understand, father,” Arktalaki agreed, taking in the wisdom.

Her father took out his knife and knelt beside the body of one of the elk. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, crossing his arm over his chest in respect. “Let your soul walk free,” he said. And with that, he began to carefully carve up the animal for its meat, skin, and bones. He brought Arktalaki closer to teach her the process.

“There are those who show no respect for either life or death,” he explained as he worked. “Men like the Mahanuq. They kill because they can, because it makes them feel good about themselves. This is a vile evil, though. It leads men to do terrible things to one another. People like us, we are above that. We kill only when our survival depends on it. We kill the animals for food and shelter, and we kill humans when they try to bring ruin to the rest of us. That's what separates man from monster. Man uses the gift of freewill for the good of man. Monsters seek to murder the very idea of such mentalities. Do you understand?”

Arktalaki nodded. “I do,” she said. “I shall be sure to treasure that wisdom, father. I should certainly hate to become a monster.”

Her father laughed. “As would I, my child, as would I. But, I am thankful that the spirits have provided me with the best daughter any man could ask for. I am sure I will get to see you do even more spectacular things as the years pass us by.”

“I will certainly try, father!”

“And that, my child, is what will make you chieftess some day. I am sure of it.”

Arktalaki simply smiled and blushed at such a compliment. She didn't feel she was worthy of such words. She did what she was supposed to, nothing more, nothing less. She just wanted everyone to be happy.

The hunters spent the next while disassembling their prey and packing up their goods for transport back to the settlement. Arktalaki gave Iwakuk a bone to gnaw on as they gathered up their satchels and made their way back home.

------------

Arktalaki returned to her cave that night. It wasn't as comfortable as the tents, sure, but there were only a few tents left that weren't disassembled. Other people needed that comfort far more than she did. It seemed a small sacrifice. Besides, tomorrow they'd all be off, off to find their promised land. The very thought of it was enough to make Arktalaki feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Iwakuk came up to her as she laid down on her sleeping matt. Arktalaki smiled and hugged her friend close, feeling its soft, warm fur. She smiled. She closed her eyes to sleep.

Everything was going to change when she woke up, she just knew it.

Description
June 20, 12985 BCE; Siberia

Arktalaki grabbed her favorite bear skin and draped it over her shoulders before heading out of the cave and into the settlement. The sun was shining bright on the lively place where children were playing and adults were sharing joyous conversation. Light glistened through the evergreen trees and sparkled on the snow. It was a beautiful morning. Many of the people were already well at work dismantling the tents and gathering the supplies they'd need for the next move. Arktalaki grinned ear to ear in excitement. This would be it, she thought, this journey would be the one to take them to the Land Beyond the Sun. She could feel it deep down inside of her. Something very big was about to happen. Things were about to change. She was so excited to get moving. She very nearly just jumped right in and started packing up as well, but one thing pulled her mind away. One thing that was missing.

She looked all around her. “Where has she gone off to?” she pondered to herself. She wandered around the settlement, asking her friends if they had any ideas. They all shook their heads no and apologized. Arktalaki humphed to herself and kept up her search. Little did she know, she was being watched.

In the bushes behind her was movement. The leaves rustled ever so slightly as something dark came prowling through the shadows, creeping ever closer to Arktalaki. Arktalaki didn't even notice until suddenly a low, rumbling noise hit her ears. A growl. Her eyes widened.

She spun around in the snow just in time to see the wolf lunging through the air from out of the bushes with it's teeth bared. Arktalaki brought her arms up and her reflexes allowed her to roll away just in time. The wolf had good reflexes too, and it lunged again, taking her by surprise and pinning her to the ground. She could feel its claws digging through her animal skins. It glared at her as it's mouth came closer to her face, and closer… and closer…

And then she felt it's wet tongue softly slapping against her face.

Arktalaki giggled and put her hands on it's chest fur, trying to gently push it away. “Alright, Iwakuk,” she laughed. “I love you too, girl. Come on, get off of mommy.”

Iwakuk whined as she was pushed off of her master's chest and Arktalaki stood up, wiping her face of slobber and dusting the snow off of her furs. Iwakuk wagged her tail happily as Arktalaki pet her head and motioned for the wolf to follow. “Come now. There'll be time to play later, but now we must pack.” Now everyone in the tribe was present. Now she could finally get to work on helping.

She found her mother in the middle of taking the tent skins off of the mammoth tusk structure, and she rushed in when her mother accidentally dropped one of the folded skins. Arktalaki caught it before it fell into the snow, and she passed it back to her mother, who smiled.

“Thank you, my snowflake,” she said.

“Of course! Anyway I can help?”

“Yes. Help me take this tent down, and then I have a little errand for you to run.”

“Got it! Can do, mother!”

“Thank you, darling. You've grown to be such a sweet young woman. I'm so proud of you.”

“I just do what I can to make everyone happy.”

“And the spirits smile upon you for it.”

The two smiled at each other and got to work on taking down the tent. Iwakuk patrolled around them while they worked, stoically guarding them. It just made Arktalaki smile more. She was such a good wolf.

“So,” her mother said as they worked. “Are you excited to be moving again?”

“Yes indeed!” Arktalaki grinned. “Do you think this will be the one, mother? Do you think we will reach the Land Beyond the Sun?”

Her mother chuckled. “I don't know, my child. We can never truly know the future, or the past for that matter. What matters is the present, and how we are all together in it.”

“I know, but still! I just feel like the spirits are about to provide us with a grand gift! A grand adventure!”

“Well I'm certain they appreciate your optimism, my snowflake. They smile upon people like you.”

Arktalaki simply smiled brightly as the two of them finished dismantling their tent and getting it onto the sleds. The two stood back and looked at their work in satisfaction.

“Thank you very much for your help, my snowflake,” her mother said.

“Of course! It's no problem.”

“Now, about that errand.”

“What did you need me to do, mother?”

“I was speaking with the elders earlier and they worry we may not have enough game to last us the first couple days. Could you go ask your father to gather up the hunters and get us a few more meats?”

Arktalaki nodded. “Of course! Right away!” she said.

“Thank you, my snowflake. I appreciate it.”

Arktalaki nodded and jogged her way on over to her father's tent with Iwakuk by her side. She was a bit surprised to see that it wasn't dismantled yet. She had expected her father would've gotten right to work alongside the rest of the tribe. She slowed her pace as she approached, and started hearing voices from inside.

“What do you propose I do, Taakiuq?” She heard her father say. He seemed rather stressed.

“We should not wait, Nanalak,” Taakiuq, the tribe’s shaman, begged. “If they have threatened us, then they will be on their way as quickly as they can be.”

“They will not arrive before tomorrow, Taakiuq, I am sure of it.”

“I just… this all seemed so foolish…”

“I had no choice, you know that. We would've starved on the journey if we had given in to their demands.”

“I know, but-”

“We will be fine, Taakiuq. I will have every warrior and hunter at the ready tonight. If they do come, we will not let them get within three mammoths of the tribe.”

“I hope you're right…”

“As do I, my friend, as do I…”

“Father?” Arktalaki called to the tent, disguising her voice to make it sound like she had just sprinted here. She didn't want him to know she was eavesdropping.

Within moments her father appeared at the tent’s entrance, Taakiuq not far behind him. Both masked their faces to appear as if they had not just discussed whatever bad thing needed discussing. “Ah! Arktalaki!” her father greeted. “What is it, my snowflake?”

“Mother wanted me to inform you that the elders think it best if we make a last minute hunt before our journey, just to ensure we won't run low.”

Her father nodded. “Of course! I shall gather a few of our hunters.” He turned to Taakiuq. “I'm afraid we'll have to continue our conversation later, my friend.”

Taakiuq nodded. “Very well. Stay safe, and may you have a good hunt.”

Nanalak nodded and Taakiuq took his leave. Nanalak went over to one of the sleds he had from it he grabbed a bow, his prized one, etched with carvings and coated in decorations. He moved it around in the air a bit to feel it out, and then, to Arktalaki’s surprise, he turned to her, and he handed her the bow.

Her eyes widened as she took it in her hands. “I… huh?” she asked, confused. Her father simply smiled.

“I'd like you to come hunting with us. I'd like to teach you,” he said.

“But… but father!”

“Yes?”

“Why hand me your bow if we are going out?”

“Because it is your bow now.”

Arktalaki’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “But… but this is your prized possession!”

He chuckles and out a hand on her shoulder. “No, my snowflake, my family is my prized possession. You, your mother, our tribe. You are what I care about more than anything. I simply like this bow. It was my father's, and his father's, and his father's, and so on. Each one had been given this mighty bow when it came time to learn, and that tradition carries on with you, my child.”

Arktalaki stared at him, then at the bow, then back at him. She very nearly cried. “Thank you, father!” she said. “I promise I shall treasure it with the greatest care for as long as it is mine!”

Nanalak smiled. He handed her a quiver. “That is good to hear,” he said. “Now come. Let us go see if you can use it.”

----------

They as quietly as they could as they creeped through the snow and trees. Arktalaki had her bow in her hand and Iwakuk at her side. Her father held one of the spears he crafted. Other hunters lurked in the woods as well, but they were dispersed and just as hidden as they were.

“Do you think we'll come across a mammoth?” Arktalaki whispered excitedly.

Her father chuckled. “I doubt it, but it is probably for the best. A mammoth hunt is a rather complicated thing, unless you're dealing with one that accidentally separated from its herd. They are big, they are smart, and they are powerful. I certainly wouldn't want such a hunt to be your tutorial. Too dangerous.”

“I see…”

“Ah, but do not worry, my snowflake. We will still find some hefty game. This area is prime with caribou.”

“So how will we find them?”

Her father paused for a moment, and turned his head to the sky. Arktalaki followed his gaze. She saw an eagle circling in the sky above the branches of a towering tree. They heard its distant screech.

“The eagles circle around areas where they can most easily spot prey,” her father explained. “If you can climb up to the top of that tree, you will be able to see as it does.”

Arktalaki’s felt sick to her stomach when her gaze went from the ground to the tree's tallest branches. She gulped.

“Are you sure you should not do it, father?” she said nervously.

“Nonsense, my snowflake! This is an essential hunting skill! We must make sure you learn it.”

“I… I don't know…”

He patted her shoulder. “You are nervous, I understand,” he said. “I was too when I did it for the first time. But I know you can do it, my child. I believe in you.”

“Alright… If you say so, father.”

He smiled brightly at her as she approached the trunk of the tree and started hooking her fingers and feet into its branches. She had climbed many trees before, of course. One of her favorite pastimes when she was younger was always exploring the leaves above with her friends. But she had never gone anywhere near this height. She climbed and climbed, trying desperately to push down the queasy feeling she had. She went up and up, never looking down and only stopping when she no longer had any branches above her. She held on tight to the branches, and her grip only got tighter when she looked out on the scenery. Her breath was taken away, both from fear, and from awe.

She could see for miles from up here. From the snowcapped mountains littered with trees to the sun-reflecting blanket of snow covering the meadows, she was able to see practically the entire valley. And it was gorgeous. It almost distracted her from her slowly-decreasing fear of heights. Almost.

“Arktalaki!” she heard her father call up to her. “Do you see any game?”

She looked out over the forest below. She watched the eagle to see which direction it was scanning. She followed its gaze and to her glee, she saw a clearing in the forest not too far from where they were. She could make out the shapes of large animals moving around there. She could make out the antlers. She grinned.

“Yes!” she called back. “I see a herd of elk!”

“Excellent! Will you be able to guide us there?”

“I think so. I have an idea of which path we should take.”

“That's great news! Come on down then, my snowflake!”

“Got it. Climbing down now!”

“Just go ahead and jump! It will be faster.”

Arktalaki froze at the very suggestion. Jump?! From this high up?!

“You will be fine!” her father reassured her, as if he had read her mind. “There is a pile of foliage and snow right below you! It will break your fall.”

“I'm scared to, father…” she admitted.

“I understand, my child, but you can do this! You've gotten this far! I have faith in you!”

Arktalaki gulped as she looked down and spotted the pile through the branches. It was such a long fall… Would she be able to make it? She decided she at least had to try… for her father.

She took a deep breath and started letting go of the branches she was gripping so tight. She closed her eyes and let the wind blow through her hair. She forced her muscles to obey her command as she pushed herself forward a small bit, inching off her perch bit by bit.

She reached the edge. She heard the eagle cry, and then she took her leap of faith.

The fall felt like hours, but the sudden stop snapped her right back to reality. For a split second she felt the panic of missing the pile and being in agonizing pain, but no such pain existed. She hadn't missed the foliage pile. She had landed right inside, a bit winded sure, but alive and well. She popped out of the pile, frantically looking around until she spotted her father. He was laughing heartily, and he came up to hug her tight in celebration.

“You did it, my snowflake! Congratulations!”

She blushed a bit as she regained her breath. “Thank you, father,” she said. “It was certainly quite… exhilarating.”

Her father laughed again and patted her on the back. “I know just how you feel,” he said. “Now come, let us go rally the others so that we may hunt those deer.”

----------

The hunter team spread out as they circled the perimeter of the forest clearing. They made no sound, gave no indication to the animals that predators were lurking. Arktalaki had her bow loaded and its string pulled tight. Iwakuk prowled by her side, keeping low to the ground and never taking her golden eyes off of their prey. Her father was on her other side, brandishing a spear.

“Remember, my child,” he whispered, “go for the weaker ones first. The youngest, oldest, or sickest. They will make for the easiest targets, and the ones most likely to be abandoned by the herd when they flee from danger.”

Arktalaki nodded. She scanned the herd for a deer that matched the description. She spotted one on the edge of the pond, a bit isolated from the group. It seemed much older than the others, much slower, more disinterested. Arktalaki tapped her father's shoulder and pointing it out to him. He nodded in approval, and motioned for her to make her way in that direction.

He stopped her a short distance away from the animal, and helped her take aim with her bow.

“Steady, my snowflake,” he whispered to her. “Steady hands, steady eyes, steady mind. You can end it all with one arrow if you prime yourself properly.”

Arktalaki took note of that and steadied herself as best she could. She lined up her eye with her arrow, and the arrow with the head of the deer. The silence was deafening. All she could hear was her soft breathing as she pulled the bowstring tight, made a last minute adjustment to her aim, and let the arrow fly.

It hit its mark.

The animal let out a noise before it fell into the now-red snow with a piece of wood between its eyes. The other elk took immediate notice of this, and all hell broke loose.

The animals grunted and snorted in fear as they began to scatter and dart away in every direction. The hunters came barreling out of the brush, spears and bows in hand. Blades went flying through the clearing, many hitting their mark and scoring their people another meal. Arktalaki herself sprinted across the plain, firing off arrow after arrow while Iwakuk ferociously snarled and sank her claws into any elk she was able to bring down. The snow was stained with patches of red, and the whole ordeal was over as soon as it started. The surviving elk had vanished, and a hefty bounty was left in the plain for the hunters to collect. They all cheered in victory.

“Not bad for your first hunt, eh my little snowflake?” Nanalak praised as he patted his daughter's shoulder. Arktalaki simply replied with a gleeful giggle. Nanalak gave a hearty laugh, and he led her over to one of the corpses.

“Now, when we prepare the animals, we must adhere to the rituals,” he explained to her. “They are nature's creations, gifts from the spirits, and we must give the animals and their creators thanks for such a treasure. Never kill for the sake of killing, and never kill pointlessly. That is not our way. That is not what the spirits gave us freewill for.”

“I understand, father,” Arktalaki agreed, taking in the wisdom.

Her father took out his knife and knelt beside the body of one of the elk. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, crossing his arm over his chest in respect. “Let your soul walk free,” he said. And with that, he began to carefully carve up the animal for its meat, skin, and bones. He brought Arktalaki closer to teach her the process.

“There are those who show no respect for either life or death,” he explained as he worked. “Men like the Mahanuq. They kill because they can, because it makes them feel good about themselves. This is a vile evil, though. It leads men to do terrible things to one another. People like us, we are above that. We kill only when our survival depends on it. We kill the animals for food and shelter, and we kill humans when they try to bring ruin to the rest of us. That's what separates man from monster. Man uses the gift of freewill for the good of man. Monsters seek to murder the very idea of such mentalities. Do you understand?”

Arktalaki nodded. “I do,” she said. “I shall be sure to treasure that wisdom, father. I should certainly hate to become a monster.”

Her father laughed. “As would I, my child, as would I. But, I am thankful that the spirits have provided me with the best daughter any man could ask for. I am sure I will get to see you do even more spectacular things as the years pass us by.”

“I will certainly try, father!”

“And that, my child, is what will make you chieftess some day. I am sure of it.”

Arktalaki simply smiled and blushed at such a compliment. She didn't feel she was worthy of such words. She did what she was supposed to, nothing more, nothing less. She just wanted everyone to be happy.

The hunters spent the next while disassembling their prey and packing up their goods for transport back to the settlement. Arktalaki gave Iwakuk a bone to gnaw on as they gathered up their satchels and made their way back home.

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Arktalaki returned to her cave that night. It wasn't as comfortable as the tents, sure, but there were only a few tents left that weren't disassembled. Other people needed that comfort far more than she did. It seemed a small sacrifice. Besides, tomorrow they'd all be off, off to find their promised land. The very thought of it was enough to make Arktalaki feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Iwakuk came up to her as she laid down on her sleeping matt. Arktalaki smiled and hugged her friend close, feeling its soft, warm fur. She smiled. She closed her eyes to sleep.

Everything was going to change when she woke up, she just knew it.