Three

Tribe ~ Clan ~ Family

As the Rain formed them so shall ...
The Winds test their strength
The Sky judge their efforts
The Bosk purge their heart
And The Grass whisper their destiny

May you always bring honor to the Tuchuk

The tamp of hand against skin became more audible until it filled in the empty space of air around me. The drums were sounding again and I lifted to my feet to hear them this time. Inattentiveness to the fangs of the mare allowed her to cut a fang into the leather skirt I wore. Such is the way of life among the kaiila clan. Most of our clothing had the look of a patch work quilt trying to mend the rips and shreds.

What carried in the echoes of those drums was news that would bring more pride than anything I had ever known. I had been accepted among the first wagons. The triumphance was unbelievable. Lifting my hands in the air, I spun about dancing and leaving a yelp in the wind, my offering on an altar to the Sky and giving thanks. I was surprised that Vao had crossed the pens with ground gobbling strides to be the first to offer welcome. First one then another of the handlers came, some with merely the light bend of their head as gesture, some with a hefty clap against my shoulder that almost toppled me from my boots. It would be a time of celebration among the clan wagons but for a few moments I stepped aside to let the full impact wash through me. I could now satnd with pride and every bit of arrogance to say .. I am Tuchuk.

There was more that the drums spoke of as well. Jai had earned the rank of Or. I was proud for him and when I spoke with him next I would tell him so. In the continuing of the message, it spoke of the move south. The time was growing near. I had mixed reactions to the return to the lower plains. It was the place of my beginnings here, a place where I had found love and threw it away, a place where I had served the will of men on my knees. There would be many preparations to have the tribe ready to proceed. Among the clan, there would be more. The new foals would have to be watched carefully. The herders had already begun to see all of the beasts had been ringed and equipment in good order. I would hold tight to the notion that those of the first wagons were steeply involved with the aspects of the trail south and that was why only two offered words of welcome. There was a gentle smile that many ... had long ago and merely were waiting for the drums to make it official.