• "Mommy! It's that wolfy again!" Shiema, Fawn's daughter, ran toward her. Fawn caught Shiema then sat her down towards the animal skin tent. Siena Listened to the fire crack and watched the smoke rise up to the tall mountains just outside of the Gulf Of Ukon, a busy and at-war country. Fawn shivered when she handed Shiema her bowl of wild bean soup. "Don't worry, Shi." she spoke with gentle words. "I'll make sure it dosn't take you."

    Fawn sat and looked at her 6 year old daughter, wondering what it would be like if Hawksong came back. Hawksong was Shiema's father, obviously, and had gone out to war to fight for the Gulf Of Ukon. Another republic, Bohemia, not far off, was fighting for more land. Bohemia's territory was over populated, while the Gulf Of Ukon had wide, vast lands with tribes of Indians. Fawn remembered what it was like when she lived in a tribe, then pushed the thought away.

    When Shiema was done, she put the bowl on the ground and stared at Fawn. "Mommy," she said. "Will you come with me to look for Purple Berries?" Fawn sighed. "Oh, Shi, I was thinking you'd come to Tall Mountain with me. I think I'm going to visit Eagle." Fawn said. Shiema nearly leaped in her tracks. "Yay!" she shouted. "Eagle is the best uncle ever!" Fawn collected some supplies, and took one last look at Foresnic, the cities blasts and gunshots hurting her ears. "Shi, help me take down the tepee" she said shortly. Shiema skipped over and collected the animal skin and sticks. After nearly falling from the quanity of weight she was holding, Shiema and Fawn started off for Tall Mountain.

    Fawn knew the trip was long, but she took it anyway. At first the land was flat and fine, but soon the grass started growing so tall it whipped over Shi's head. After that, the grass declined, but the atmostphere thinned. Soon it got harder to breathe. Finally, they were at the Water Of Life tribe.

    Eagle, Shiema's uncle, came running up to them first. His smile stunned them, it was to wide. "You seem to be in a great mood," Fawn noted quietly. "I'm always happy when my Shi' is here!" he declared as Shiema jumped unto Eagle's buff clutch. He saw the animal skin in Fawn's arms and gave her a look. She shook her head, informing him that she would talk about it later. Just moments after that, Bone, the tribe leader, passed them. "Greetings," he said shortly. "Fawn, you can explain youe stay later. Eagle, get these visitors settled." He sped off, to escape the worried vibe that reflected off of Fawn's face.

    Eagle plopped Shiema on his shoulder and motioned for Fawn to follow. He lead her through the tribe, then to an open spot. "This is next to my tepee," he said. "I'll help you set up here." Eagle set up the tent with no problem, then sent Shiema off to play with her cousin, Oak. She skittered away, and Fawn whispered closely to Eagle. "Their coming," she said in a small, scared voice. "Their getting to near I had to go somewhere. They could of found me soon if I didn't move." Eagle eyed his sister for a moment, analyzing her thoughts. "Go tell Bone," he said scruffy, then ran off. Fawn could feel herself shake wildly as she entered the largest tepee.

    Fawn shook the door of the tent to inform Bone she was there. He whipped the opening up, and gestured for her to come in. "Bone..." Fawn shuddered. "Explain yourself." he thundered. "And it's Chief Bone to you." "Uh- well, the white ones- they are near my camp. I could hear their shots." she shivered. "I had to go somewhere. They are moving, to. Closer every minute." Fawn grinded her teeth together. Chief Bone looked steadily at her for many, many, increasing moments. The tepee was soon hot and smelly with their own sweat. It could be many moments, Fawn concluded, at least an hour or so. Finally he spoke.

    "You may stay." Immediately Fawn leaped in his chair. He added,

    "Only, because you share my blood, and because you have warned us. If you have not come, we shall all parish in our tracks." Bone's eyes stuck straight through Fawns. "On one condition. You must collect your own food and supplies. You truly said you wanted nothing of us, no? So now you do have nothing." he chuckled lightly, stood up, and grabbed her wrist roughly. He flung her out of his tepee. "BE GONE!" he shouted at the top of his voice.

    Fawn fell from the massive hurl outside the tepee, dust and bits of dirt filling her lungs, making her choke. The tribe was dead silent with shock. Bone stepped outside of his tent and stood hovering over Fawn. "TEN WARRIORS!" he shouted once again. Almost instantly, ten red-skinned tribe members stood like military soldiers in front of her. "I want you to scout," Chief Bone said simply. "In- in-" he stopped, puzzled. "Where was the filth you lived in, child?" he asked Fawn. "T- The peak of Foresnic," she stammered. Bone went on, ignoring her. "If you see them come near, have one inform us. That one will bring back all our warriors to fight for this mountain. I don't want these white, white things to tear us from where we were raised." With that, 9 marched away, steady and at one pace. The last followed them, with an arm full of camp supplies.

    After Bone had seen them gone, he stepped back inside his tepee. Eagle came rushing to Fawn, helping her up. "Are you alright?" he asked her, brushing her off. "Just a bit shaken." she paused for a moment. Suddenly she felt an instinct on her. "Where is my Shiema?" Eagle laughed at her worries. I sent them with Valley, Oak's mother. Come along." Eagle lead Fawn to another tepee, and Fawn walked in friendly to see her daughter and nephew. "Hi, Shi." Fawn said, kneeling. She saw her daughter playing with corn dolls along with Oak. "Are you having fun?" Fawn's voice sounded interested, but behind it lay fear, thick as the ocean is wide. Eagle could tell. "Oh, yes!" Shiema said loudly. "Can I stay with Oakey for a little longer?" Fawn kissed Shiema's head. "Corse, Shi." she said. Then she stood up, looking directly at Eagle. "Will you watch them for me?" Eagle shrugged.
    "Uncle Eagle has had enough today. And what if those watch-out's come back and ask for me? I'll make sure Auntie Valley comes and watches them."

    "You promise?"

    "Sure."

    "Are you sure your sure?"

    Eagle laughed. "GO!" he shouted. Fawn absently walked out the door, just as Valley was coming in. Fawn passed her without a glance and went northward, higher up the mountain. Fawn knew the better berries were up there. After a tiring workout, she shoved some berries into her short pockets, and some into her mouth. It was a very, very long process. The walk back was tiring, but the result of the camp when she came back was shocking.

    "Their here!" "Ahhh!" "I'm going to die!" was blasting and blaring through Fawn's eardrums. She dropped her jaw when she saw the whole tribe in havoc, running in cirlces, screaming. She didn't see any grown men anywhere. Fawn watched the havoc and stodd as if her head was detached from her body. Quickly her mind flicked to Shiema, her helpless little girl lost in the mess. Fawn soon found herself swimming through the panicked crowd, looking for the one tepee. It was a long time until she found it. Fawn broke through the opening. A shigh bubbled from her mouth as she saw Shiema, Oak, and Valley surrounding a candle. Their faces seemed to be red and tear-soked. What ever could be wrong?Fawn thought. "Shut the opening," Valley sopke softly. Fawn obeyed and sat next to Shiema. Shiema yelped in delight, along with all the others. "Mommy! Your back!" "Hi, Auntie!" "Oh, how we our blessed." After the lavishing of the kisses, Fawn broke out,

    "COULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!?!" That shushed them. Valley broke the eerie scilence, it was like shattering the thin, glass-like frost on a snowy winter morning. "White ones. They came to your camp. All men, not Bone, are gone. We thought you went there before they tell us, and you was dead." She spoke short, hard-to-understand sentances, but that was good enough for Fawn. "I can't believe what a wreck it is out there," she said. "I was so scared that Shiema was run over or something." Shiema then crawled into Fawn's lap. "Mommy, can you make this stop? Please? I'm afraid now." Fawn sighed and played with Shiema's hair. "I'm sorry, baby, I can't. Go to sleep, and when we wake up, everything will be better." It was quiet for many, many seconds. The group listened to the panic outside the peace. "I'm so hungry!" Oak called after a while. This reminded Fawn of her pockets. "Berries for everyone!" she cheered, throwing the berries into the air, then happily enjoying them in her little slice of heaven.