Several weeks later, Keith and Shell were foraging for berries and nuts. Not far from the river’s bend sprawled an enormous apple tree still bearing its fruit. Up one side of the valley were some walnuts groves. Out in the open fields were the wild sunflowers whose seeds and roots make an excellent source of tasteful nutrients and medicine.
Keith and Shell found some mints, rosemary and dill and had them neatly tucked in bundles hanging over each of their shoulders. There were flowers just spending out their last blooms and there was plenty of rosehips to yet pick. Soon winter will approach and they both knew they had some work to do in order to prepare for the harsh months ahead. Though the seasons were not truly experienced on the Solar Star Base, there were stories about how winter can be cruel, cold and harsh.
Heading back through the walnut grove, Keith and Shell walked quietly in a single file, Shell meticulously stepping into Keith’s footprints. Suddenly Keith halted his stride when he heard the twigs snap! Shell stood very still with her eyes looking around with out turning her head.
A rustle of leaves and twigs came from the left of them, upwind about a hundred and fifty paces. Keith looked hard into the distance, then he saw him. A deer! A big beautiful buck!
Quickly Keith put his left arm straight out behind him and motioned Shell to get down slowly as he did the same. He whispered, “sh….it’s a deer…smells like dinner. You stay here and I will get closer in and see if I can’t get him.”
“Get him?”, Shell whispered back, “with what?….your bare hands?”
“Sh”, a sly grin crossed Keith’s face.
Shell remained quiet, though she much wanted to be in on the action. She watched Keith slowly remove his bundle of herbs then move silently from one tree to the next. He was within twenty paces of the buck. Slowly he pulled his knife out of his boot and settled his grip on the handle.
Keith stood close that he could see every muscle of the deer quiver when the buck stomped his back hoof shaking off the gathering flies from his rump. Just as Keith was feeling the urge to jump and run, a hawk flew from the branch above Keith’s head, startling the deer. Keith ducked and covered his head while the buck leaped away into the woods with beautiful stride and out of sight.
Shell fell backwards laughing!
Keith kept his head bowed as he walked back towards Shell. “Well, I suppose I need to work on a bow and some arrows. You know, be more prepared.” He stood next to Shell who was still on the ground giggling.
“Yup, my friend, you need more practice and better tools”, she managed to spurt out between giggles.
Keith smiled and reached out his hands to help Shell up from the ground. After he picked her up he held her in his arms and looked deep into her eyes. “You look very tired. Are you alright?”
“I am fine”, replied Shell. “However, a nap sounds wonderful. I suppose the baby makes me sleepy from time to time.”
“Baby?…..I like the sound of that. Baby! Maybe that will be his or her name….Baby. Lets stop by the apple tree and we will rest for awhile there before we head back to camp”
“Home, you mean.”
“Uh, home not camp. I suppose you are right, this is our home now.”
Once they reached the big apple tree, they unloaded their pickings and sat down by a large stone jetting out from the ground. Keith had his back against the rock, while Shell laid on her back with her head on his lap.
The last words Keith heard pass from Shell’s lips, before she fell into a deep sleep was, “The sun feels so good.”
To Shell the sun not only felt good and warm, but it created a whiteness behind her eyelids. As she began to marvel at the milky whiteness, voices could be heard chattering away sometimes mixed with laughter. Shell looked around and all she could see was white…….
“You are going to ruin our soup you old woman!”
“I will add as much wild onion as I please, it is good medicine”
“Girls, girls, girls, please, you sound like you are ten again. I am beginning to believe you both enjoy the arguing.”
In unison, both women replied, “We do!”
Again laughing could be heard.
Shell found herself moving closer to the sound of the mysterious voices. There was a small orange glow in the distance and as Shell got closer, she began to make out four Women Elders sitting around a fire.
Shell moved a little closer, then one of the Elders spoke up with her back still to Shell, “Come my granddaughter, we have been waiting for you for some time now. Come and sit here with us a bit and enjoy the warmth.”
At first Shell was startled, but curiosity took over and she cautiously moved forward to the women. They all had long gray hair pulled back and tied with leather. They all wore wrinkles on their faces but their eyes were bright and vibrant. She also noticed that the circle was furnished with neatly placed stones for sitting upon and there was one empty as if waiting for her.
“Don’t be afraid of us sweetie.” replied back another Grandmother. “We will cause you no harm. We are the Turtle Women. And today we are looking after your welfare. Come, sit. We have lots to talk about”
Quietly and gracefully, Shell sat upon one of the rocks and matched her eyes with each one of the women’s as she peered around the circle. Shell waited for the women to speak. Time of silence went by as the fire crackled and the bladder bowl that hung over the fire steamed white vapors adding dimension to the rise of the fire’s smoke.
The woman to Shell’s left spoke first, “Well Sisters, I do believe we have an Akicita here with us. A woman Warrior.”
Shell bowed her head, turning a little shy. Recognizing the awesomeness of these Grandmothers, Shell was humbled. “Please Grandmothers, I am honored to sit here with you. Please forgive me for my apprehension. My ears are open. I will listen with greatest of respect.”
The Grandmothers all looked at each other and smiled. The oldest Grandmother raised her open palms up and spoke, “Thank you Creator for allowing us to do your bidding. Your choice in the Mother is a good one!”