Part 1:  The Life

Dev lifted her basket and began the long trip back to her family home. The slight breeze blew through her tunic, helping to cool her damp skin. Licking her lips, she walked home with a spring in her step. The branches from the trees above her rustles and Dev smiled. The trees and nature were truly a blessing. Once she broke through the tree line, she waved as a group of girls older than her passed her with baskets on their heads.

They waved back and they did it with so much grace, she wondered if she would ever be as graceful as them or as her mother.

Grinning, she continued to take the first few steps into the village. She nodded at the Chief`s son, Coal, as she entered the cluster of tents that belonged to the village leaders. Coal replied with a smile but he flinched when his older brother, Jona, said something before he shook his head.

Dev was happy that she didn`t have to deal with her older siblings whispering teases at her since they usually left her alone most of the time.

When she arrived at her family`s tent, she noticed that her fader`s horse was gone as was her older brothers' horses. The only person there was her Mouchim. She was humming while weaving the little mat that looked half way done. Thankfully, the sun wasn`t too hot today so there was no need for them to be inside their tent.

"Devina? Did you bring them?" Yonda asked as she looked up and smiled at her daughter.

"Yes, mouchim, I even got a few extra others," Dev reported as she put down the basket in front of the tent before kneeling beside her mouchim. The basket was filled with different herbs that were wither red, green or yellow. Long roots. Jagged leaves. Smooth petals. Yonda smiled as as she scanned the basket contents. She then looked up and scanned the area for her oldest daughter that had accompanied her when they left.

"Where is your sister?" Yonda asked as a frown took over when noticed the missing presence of her eldest daughter.

Dev shrugged her tiny shoulders and adjusted the strap of her dress. Leaning down, she put her ear against her mouchim`s swollen belly in an effort to avoid eye contact and to listen for her little brother or sister.

Yonda sighed in disappointment. Her oldest daughter had left her little sister. Yet her youngest would not admit it. Out of her four children, Devina was the submissive one, never saying anything when she was left out. Nevertheless, she patted her daughter`s charcoal colored hair and risked a glance at the basket," I`m sure your fader will appreciate your effort."

"Thank you," Dev mumbled.

She stroked her daughter`s hair as she coaxed her to talk, "Are you excited about tonight?"

Dev fell silent before whispering, "Will it hurt? When I receive my Opola`s?"

Yonda smiled.

Opala, the mark that the God Inka gives to each of his beloved Zelowalli when they take their Opala vows to live a life of peace was a source of great pride and fear for most of the young ones in the tribes. It made sense that her daughter was a little frightened of the marks.

Putting her mat aside, she titled her daughter`s face up and smiled, "Only for a moment, child, then I promise, you won`t feel anything else."

"What if they last longer? I don`t like pain," Dev blurted out.

Yonda shook her head, "Inka won`t let that happen to one of his children."

Dev`s brown eyes widened slightly, "Inka cares that much?"

"Of course. Inka, our God of Nature valued goodness and kindness above all. He also valued happiness over pain," Yonda explained and she smiled as she watched her daughter`s fears melt away," He will do good for you as long you uphold your vows."

"I will," Dev insisted.

"Then you have nothing to worry about. Tonight will be amazing," Her mouchim said with a smile as she tucked her daughter`s hair behind her left shoulder before rubbing her nose affectionately. Dev giggled and hugged her mouchim.

 Both mouchim and daughter sat weaving until the sound of horses interrupted them. When Dev glanced up, a smile broke over her face as she spotted her fader and older brother Jayl. They were both back with saddles filled with more herbs.

Dev stood up before helping her mouchim up as the men of their family stopped and dismounted. Her fader ran a hand over her hair as she ran past him. While her fader greeted her mouchim, she stopped in front of Jayl with a grin.

Jayl rolled his eyes at his younger sister, "Alright, I have something for you, no need to look so eager."

Dev held up her palms to receive whatever goodies her brother had brought, "Food?"

"You look like food," Jayl joked with a smirk.

Dev pouted," Well if it`s not food, what is it?"

Jayl pulled something out from his satchel and unwrapped it before her eyes. Dev`s jaw dropped and her eyes widened as he crouched down to present them to her. Two green beaded anklets lay nestled in the brown cloth that were the perfect size for her. A single amber bead lay in the middle of both of them.

"They`re so pretty, Jayl," Dev gushed.

 "They`re for your ceremony tonight," Jayl said," Fader helped me to finish it with amber beads today."

"Thank you!" Dev exclaimed a she leaped across to hug her brother tight. Jayl had a split second to both catch his little sister and save her present. Chuckling, he released her and watched as she took her present and sat down to try them on.

Watching them, Yonda smiled before nodding at her eldest son who returned the nod as he helped Dev. With a son like him, she was sure that Dev and the little one inside of her would be happy for many summers. Turning to her husband, she was a little worried when she saw how he was watching their children with a furrowed brow.

"Something troubles you, husband?" Yonda asked, gaining the attention of Yosef. The father of four, soon to be five blinked before fixing a small smile on his face as he turned to his wife. Yonda sighed," Do not pretend with me,"

Yosef turned to place a hand over his wife`s belly," It is just a little concern."

Yonda pursed her lips and reached up to caress her husband`s scruffy cheek, "Then share it with me."

The medicine man scanned his wife`s face before turning to their children. After a moment of hesitation, he turned back to her and whispered, "A raven arrived earlier from my sister`s tribe. They had recently settled near the Blue. According to her, they have sighted several rafts, big enough for villages to be on, coming to our land," Yosef admitted, as Yonda frowned," It is said that they will come onto our land soon."

"Floating rafts? Similar to the ones my tribe have?" Yonda asked. She was once from a tribe that made their travels on the rivers before she had met and mated with Yosef.

Shaking his head, Yosef replied, "I`m not sure, the message was brief."

"Mouchim! Look!" Dev exclaimed as she stood and turned to her parents, interrupting whatever Yonda was about to say on the matter.

Deciding to put the matter on hold, Yosef and Yonda smiled as Dev pranced over to show off her new gift. There would be a time to feel worried but for now, the Mated pair would prepare to celebrate with their family.

Not knowing anything, Dev prepared herself for the ceremony by going with her mouchim to bathe while her fader stayed to wait for her other siblings. Later that night, her sister was left to deal with the food preparations while her mouchim got her ready.

For the ceremony, she had donned a white dress that had once belonged to her mother and older sister. On her feet were the anklets that Jayl had made for her. Her hair was being braided by Yonda with green laurels. Her arms were rubbed down with the oil her fader had made from the herbs she had collected to prepare for the marks.

When she was ready, her mouchim and fader escorted her while Jayl and her other siblings came up from behind. As they drew near the center of the camp, everyone turned to smile and hold up their lanterns that were glowing green. The color of their God Inka. Tonight, it would just be her receiving her marks.

At the center was a huge bon fire that was surrounded by four pillars made from herbs and flowers. Though they were near the fire, they did not wither. Dev took a deep breath as she near and saw that the Chief and his wife were standing at the center. They would be the ones leading the ceremony. Usually, it would her fader leading the ceremony but since his own daughter was receiving the marks tonight, he wanted to be beside her.

Once they reached the center, her sibling went to the side and held up their lanterns while both her parents put one hand on each of her shoulders.

"Tonight, we present to Inka, young Devina, daughter of Yosef and Yonda. Sister to Jayl Prika and Yang, and member of our tribe to bear the Opola," The Chief`s mate, Anka, announced as she smiled down at her, "Devina, do you swear to treasure life above all, to lend arms and to heal? To walk in the ways of Pacifism, in the ways of your God Inka, so long as you live?"

"I swear to you and to all who bear witness," She recited. She was thankful to her mouchim for going over the words one last time before she left her tent.

"Give me your hands child," Anka said and Dev placed both her hands in Anka`s. Anka then mumbled in the language of Inka and everyone around her began chanting," Opola. Opola. Opola."

A searing pain started on Dev`s shoulders and she cried out but her parents held her still as green marks shaped like vines grew from her shoulders to her palms and appeared on the left side of her face. Like her mouchim had said, the pain lasted for a little while. Once they were fully imprinted on her and the green glow faded, Anka let go of her hands and announced," Blessed be little one, may you always walk in the green with Inka."

"Blessed be!" The other tribe members shouted before they all cheered. Anka stepped back and turned to her mate," A mark on her face? Inka must have plans for her."

"Truly," The Chief, Joen, said with a nod.

Yonda hugged her daughter and Yosef lifted her high and spun her around. Her laughter echoed throughout the night. Her siblings came over to see her marks which were different than theirs. Theirs was only on their arms but hers went up to her face.

"Great fortunes to you Yosef, your daughter`s marks glowed green," Joen congratulated Yosef as his mate and the others announced that it was time to eat. He stood with his medicine man with two of his tribesmen, Ules and Fruat, friends of Yosef as well.

They watched Dev laugh at Prika as Jayl said something to make her turn red.

"Aye, tis the color of Inka himself, "Ules agreed, "There are great things awaiting her."

"Thank you all," Yosef replied with a happy grin. He then turned to watch Dev cuddle close to his love so she could show her the marks. They were both whispering and smiling when Yonda caught his eye. He placed an open palm on his chest and Yonda blushed. Yoself grinned.

Truly, there were good times coming for his love and their family.