Awen Makwa's Story

Awen/Enapay
Awen sat at the river bank as she braided her long brown hair to one side. She could no longer stand being in the village her father continued to lecture her on how marrying Tecumseh, the best warrior in the village would be best for her. She let out a loud frustrated noise as she watched the fish swim slowly and then dart around her feet quickly trying to avoid them. She smiled lightly trying to get her mind off of the morning’s events. She stood up brushing off her brown dress she had made herself. She made her way under the large willow tree where her horse waited for her. She ran her hands from his back all the way up to his neck. The horse softly nudged her as she kissed his nose.

“I always know where to find you sister.” Her brothers voice called from behind her. She sighed as she turned to face him. “You know father is only looking out for you and Tecumseh is a good man.” He smiled as he walked over to his sisters horse petting it.

“You’re only saying that cause he is your best friend.” She rolled her eyes.

Enapay looked at his sister for a moment giving her a small smile “Well that may be part of the reason.” He laughed. “But Awen, you know it is your choice in the end.” He said calmly. “Now come, we have to get back to camp.” He said as he started to jog back to the village. Awen jumping on her horse, bareback as she headed back towards the village.

Alisha saw the prince and princess by the river, and ran up to them. Respectfully, she knelt on one knee, looking up at them both.

"Something odd is on the horizon, my prince. A dot, I can't quite make it out yet, but it seems to be some sort of water creature coming towards us," She let her eyes hit the ground again, knowing it was improper for her eyes to linger to long on the royals, unless it was a special occasion. Alisha looked back up, looking for any sense of listening in their eyes. "Please, my prince, you must warn your father. The something is odd, and coming directly at us. I feel ill when I look upon it, as if it brings something black to our world..." Alisha once again let her eyes fall, and she stood. "I shall return to work," She said, backing away slowly. When she was a respectful distance, she bowed, turned, and walked back toward the orchard.

Pay looked to the young girl who knelt at his feet listening to what she had to say before glancing back to his sister.

“Alisha, are you sure of this?” he asked looking to her

Awen jumped off her horse as she followed after the girl once she had left. Calling her name finally catching up to her grabbing her arm gently taking both of her hands into her looking into her eyes seeing the fear in them.

“Alisha, take me to where you saw this. I must see for myself.” She said worried for her tribe “Pay, go and warn father. I’ll find Setia.” She sighed as she and Alisha headed back to the fields. He nodded as he hopped onto her horse kicking it's sides gently as the horse took off at a dead run past the two girl toward the village.

Alisha took the princess to the tree, helping her climb up and pointing to the dot on the horizon. "There, and it's gotten closer since I left to find you! What is it, princess?" She asked, holding the princess by her back to make sure she didn't fall. She was certain this was against the rules of her society, having the princess high up in an apple tree, looking out at some mysterious dot on the horizon. She was certain, as well, that she'd get in a lot of trouble for not finishing the harvesting she was told to have done by sunset.

Alisha focused on the dot on the horizon, certain it was coming to them to kill them. "Princess, just so you know, I'll protect you and your sister with my life if that's what it comes to with this...monster," She said, picking her word for the dot carefully. She couldn't have been gone an hour, maybe two, looking for them, and already the dot was larger, and darker.

Awen looked at the dot it was something, but whatever that something was wouldn’t be here for a few days at least…she hoped.
She glanced to Alisha “You’re so sweet, but let’s hope there will not be a need for that” she smiled casually.

“Awendela, What are you doing up there! You’re going to get hurt.” Tecumseh voice was loud and strong as he moved in front of Alisha to help Awen. But, she didn’t use his help. “Alisha, you should have never…”

“Tecumseh, I am fine.” She said cutting him off and stepping in front of Alisha. “I asked her to help me into the tree.” She said looking straight at him.

“Where is this dot?” Enapay interrupted. The men of the tribe looking at the unknown dot for a while trying to figure it out though it getting dark before they could come to a conclusion. “We shall all retire for the evening and not let this bother us for now, let us men worry about this.” Enapay spoke to everyone who had gather, he was a natural like his father.

“Come on Alisha.” Awen smiled to her as they walked back to the village together.

Alisha was absolutely offended by his last comment. "Men aren't the only ones who can handle things," she said under her breath, looking at the ground. "My princess, I would be glad to come back to the village, but I still have work to do. I will return when it is finished," She bowed low, in respect, and returned to her work with the fruit. She knew this was something to worry about, and she knew she could handle it as well as any man. As she watched the group walk back to the village, she merely continued her work, singing in their native tongue, and glancing up every so often to watch her little dot as it seemed to grow like the moon in the sky. The dot would be upon them by the end of the coming week, if they were lucky to get that time...

Jessie took a breath as he rested both his hands on the railing of the ship looking out into the water. He hadn’t seen Alice in forever and seeing her made him miss his little sister. He closed his eyes saying a small prayer to himself. He hoped she was doing okay, he took another small breath, before feeling a small pat on his back.

“You okay mate?” Jessie asked curiously. He may be a bit out of his mind and the one crew member who always kept to himself, but he wasn’t stupid, he could tell when something was wrong and his crew mates were like his family.

“Hu…oh, yeah I’m alright” he said glancing to Jessie “Just thinking.” He said calmly.

Jessie nodded “Alright.” He sighed as he went back to his spot reading with his candle.
---
Awen couldn’t sleep, and by the looks of the moon and the lighting it had to be very early in the morning. Everyone in her village was still asleep and would remain that way for the next few hours at least. She quietly made her way out of her families large tepee. She hoped her brother and sister wouldn’t here. As soon as she got out of the tent she went to her horse, petting him gently for a moment before jumping on and softly clicking to him. She didn’t know where she would go she had a bad feeling about that spot that was ever growing larger on the horizon and she couldn’t do anything about it. She made her way to the shoreline where the oceans waves meet with the sand. She jumped off her horse, taking in the ocean.

“I don’t know what to do, but I…have to try.” She whispered to herself.

As Alisha continued her work for the nexfew days, she always watched he dot get bigger. On the fourth day, she could finally see what it really was. Once she saw hat it was a large ship, on the fifth day, she ran to the village from her orchard, and warned the royal family.

"A ship!" Alisha announced, falling to her knees breathlessly. "It's a ship! That's what the dot was. And by the way it's moving, it shouldn't be more than two days until its upon us!" Alisha was nervous and scared, by kept a straight ace as she tried to catch her breath while she knelt at the feet of her nobles.