“Where is he, Faslo? Where is your brother? He’s been missing for days, don’t you care?”
Mother Solly wrung her hands and twisted them in her sky blue apron, repeating these steps over and over mechanically as she questioned her oldest son.
The early morning sun crept slowly over the Gicha1 camp as a new day dawned.
Father Solly said, “I’m sure he’s fine, dear.” but his words lacked confidence.
Faslo looked at his father. Father Solly sat in his battered snai-skin chair with his pipe like he always did, but Faslo could see subtle differences. His father gripped one arm of the chair and his pipe too tightly. His son could tell he was worried, but trying to appear strong and calm for his wife and family.
The trouble started with Grig’s birthday. Grig turned thirteen one week ago. He was now considered old enough to contribute to the welfare and survival of his family and their tribe.
According to centuries-old Gicha traditions, the first task a kefi boy must complete to prove his worth in the tribe was a hunt.
Each boy had one week to go out into the wide world surrounding their village to find food, water, and other valuable supplies. When the youth returned with his spoils, there was a great celebration as he entered into young adulthood, became an apprentice, and began to learn a trade, so he could support himself and, one day, a family of his own.
Grig had always been a brave boy. He was not always judicious or wise, but Grig never cowered or ran from a challenge. For as long as Faslo could remember, Grig dreamed of his first hunt and talked his brother’s ear off about all the things he would accomplish when he had his chance to become a man.
The day his quest started, he awoke before dawn to gather his supplies, sheath his skeen and plan his hunting route. He gave his sleepy brother and hug and did the same for his mother and father. Mother Solly held onto her youngest son a little too long, but Faslo couldn’t blame her.
He knew Grig was their favorite; he wasn’t bitter about this, although it did pain him sometimes to see the ways his parents doted on his younger brother.
Grig gave them each one last bright smile, promised to be back by the end of the week, and disappeared over the top of the low basin that protected the Gicha village from easy detection.
When it became clear that Grig hadn’t made it back in time, their parents were inconsolable.
Faslo was naturally Stoic and silent. Overcome by their worry and grief, his parents mistook this as indifference about Grig, but they couldn’t be more wrong.
For three days, Faslo went from house to house in the village, asking if anyone had seen any sign of where Grig went or at least where they’d last seen him.
On the third day, he made an early dawn trip to Graw-Rock and asked the Avian Scouts if they’d had any contact with a young kefi during their patrols. Sadly, no one he spoke knew anything about Grig’s whereabouts.
Faslo spent that night trying to brainstorm other ways to find his brother and comfort his parents, but, as the sun began to rise, he knew he had no other options.
Faslo put a hand gently on his mother’s shoulder and looked intently at both of his parents before he spoke.
“ I don’t know where he went, mama, but I’m going to find him and bring him home.”
His father looked at him in astonishment.
“How are you going to do that?” He said in a quiet, frail voice.
Faslo took a breath and said
“I’m going to form a Groro Pas2. We’ll leave as soon as possible. I swear to you both, I will bring Grig home, or suffer the consequences.”
Faslo’s mother gasped, and his father grunted in shock and got to his feet.
“No, son, please,” his mother cried. “Don’t do this! I can’t lose both sons!”
Faslo kissed her cheek and pulled both parents into a hug, holding them close for a moment before releasing them and taking a step back.
“ You won’t, mother. You have my solemn word; I WILL bring your son home.”
He turned on his heel, left the house, and walked towards the village square, leaving his parents in stunned silence.
peaceful tribe of Kefi residing in the Edwards province.
A sacred Kefi life quest. See the accompanying sub-chapter for more information.
This is such a fun story!! Keep it up 👍 loving it