Soosha

How could my mother do this? Such a betrayal to my father! Marrying another man… a Rakash even! These were my thoughts when I heard of the wedding. I was a kit of ten years and about to have a hissyfit. I was even to have a new sister… one of those cubs who was always hunting in those lil’ packs.

The year of my birth we had fled from our homeland because of the evil Necromancer Lycras. My father died during the journey in one of the battles. I just did not understand how mother could betray his memory this way. She had had a life-bonding with him; she was not supposed to go and love someone else.

A new Hub was formed to try to keep up with the old ways. Some Rakash had formed bonds during the travel and decided to stay with us. Since it was a new land, all accepted it; more people meant more food and protection in this strange place. We were all supposed to mingle and be friendly with them, but I was reluctant since my father had died because of them. From bits and pieces of stories I had heard around the Hub, I found out father died trying to save his wife,
the Rakash man who would soon be marrying my mother. His wife also ended up perishing so my fathers death ended up being for nothing. I believed my father would still be alive if it was not for them.

On the eve of the wedding I was helping my mother prepare; making sure her Pr’Ysin was perfect. Even if I did not want her to marry, she had to look her best. She looked at me and I could see in her eyes she wished I could be happy with her decision. I left, saying I had to get into my own Chmir. I wandered away from the Hub into the woods to sulk. A while later I heard a branch crack behind me. I
sensed it was my soon-to-be sister, but decided I would teach her a lesson about trying to sneak up on a Prydaen. So I crouched down and leapt at her. She was faster than I expected and rolled away; getting to her feet as nimbly as one of us. I was surprised but called it luck. She proved me wrong and held me down demanding I give. Reluctantly I did, and she gestured at me to sit and talk with her. She told me she understood my anger with them, but I needed to think about
what my father did instead of blaming others for his death. We talked a bit and cried a bit too. I was too proud to let my mother know of my sorrow but being forced on this night to confront it; got past my pain and saw the real truth. Father did not die just trying to save her mother, he died trying to save our family; the Hub.

We walked back together, hand-in-hand. I saw mother speaking frantically with my soon to be step father, and I could tell she was worried. As we started toward her she stared at us in surprised and grabbed us all together in our first family hug. The rest of the wedding went off without a hitch, except for that group of musk hogs that thought they could barge in. Was a great hunt that we still talk about to this day.

With everyone moving into the towns, the Hub finally broke up. Sis and I moved to Crossing. We stayed together for a while, until we found our callings. We do not see each other much now, since our work tends to keep us in different places. I was able to find my passion in life, shopping!

Last Revised: 4/21/05