The wind blasted through the cave, and tribe members backed away from the entrance to protect themselves from the snow and cold.
Khochu was near his canoe, painting a new picture on the wall. It started with him meeting Nikita, then shifted to the predators, avalanche, and Kobe. Khochu buried him just before the storm hit and had been quiet, refusing to eat, all evening. He just wanted to be alone with Eva to grieve.
While Khochu knew Kobe’s time was up, it still hurt as if an avalanche smashed him to pieces, too. Kobe was his first friend. They grew up together, but death would eventually find them—and it looked like today was that day. Khochu just wished there was a way to see how he was doing with the Great Spirit.
He finished his painting, then sat in silence with Eva, who rested her head on his lap. Khochu stroked her like he did Kobe during his last moments.
Nikita and Khochu’s parents soon appeared at the other end of the cave, their bellies full of food, but sadness on their faces. They studied Khochu for a bit, and then Vika and Sasha nudged Nikita forward, nodding.
She inhaled, then approached Khochu and held her hands behind her back. “Khochu…” Her eyes landed on Eva. “That isn’t weird at all.”
Khochu let out a little giggle, then said, “Hey, Nikita.”
She sat with him and patted her thighs. She examined the cave paintings and said, “Wow. So, you painted all these stories?”
Khochu bobbed his head. “So Kobe, Eva, and I could have memories to look back on. This has been our secret retreat since I was little.” He lifted Eva’s head. “It’s where I met Eva.”
Nikita blushed. “You’re incredible, Khochu. I don’t know anyone who understands animals like you. You don’t need to be a strong fighter and the bravest person in your tribe when you have them. Our ancestors were right. They said that one day, a gifted young man would help us—and that man would be the only surviving child of Vika and Sasha.”
Yeah, Khochu was the key to everything, including the door to the land bridge, but the intensity of the task still weighed him down. He was still so young, and now he was down a best friend.
His body warmed up when Nikita grasped his hand, though. “So… Son of Vika and Sasha… Do you still want to be blood siblings and work together to get our tribes to the New World?”
Blood siblings! Khochu had forgotten about that—he’d been so distracted with Kobe. But Nikita still didn’t know that he was the one who had hurt her father, but he wasn’t yet ready to lose another friend. Khochu would tell her when the time was right.
Eva pushed off his thighs and waited patiently, intrigue in her eyes.
Khochu faced Nikita and drew his dagger, shuddering. “I do, Nikita…” He blushed, too. “If you’ll have me.” Gee, it was like they were getting married.
“I will, Khochu.” Nikita crossed her legs and stiffened her torso. “Let’s get this over with.”
The two closed their eyes and puffed out their cheeks when they cut their palms, but the pain only lasted a second. It was a good type of pain, too, not the pain Khochu had felt with Kobe.
Khochu and Nikita shook hands, then placed their hands on the wall, saying, “Blood siblings,” to each other and the ancestors.
A draft blasted through the cave, bringing snow that took on the form of a dog.
“Kobe…” More tears welled in Khochu’s eyes.
The Spirit nodded and circled him, Nikita, and Eva. He then returned to Khochu, and they bumped foreheads.
“We’ll find the land bridge, Kobe,” Khochu promised, “and will do everything we can to get the tribes to work together.”
I know you will read Kobe’s eyes. After all, you are a key like none other, Khochu—a key that will open the door to new beginnings. With one last forehead bump, he left the teens and disappeared.
Khochu and Nikita waited for a bit. They then smiled at one another, closed their eyes, and bumped foreheads, too.
“I’m glad you’re here, Nikita,” Khochu whispered. “I’m happy I met you.”
“Me, too,” she returned.
They kept their foreheads close for a little longer, then pushed off and stared into each other’s eyes. Was Khochu in love or just happy that he had made a new friend? Only time would tell.
Speaking of which, it was time to get started.
Nikita and Khochu stood and nervously approached Vika and Sasha.
Eva kept her distance but stayed close.
Vika and Sasha stared at Nikita, Khochu, and their bloodied hands for a long while. It looked like they were lost in thought.
Finally, they nodded and said, “You’re going to be a good blood sibling for our little boy, Nikita.”
The two released the breaths, and Khochu said, “Thank you, Mom and Dad. I promise that we won’t let you down.”
“You guys are the next chosen chiefs,” Vika giggled. “I don’t think you can.” She patted Nikita and Khochu’s palms. “Now, let’s get you two cleaned up. Your father and I will do whatever we can to help you during your rites of passage.”
That would start soon, but for now, Khochu just wanted to rest a little. It had been a bittersweet day, but at least he now knew that Kobe and his ancestors were watching over him. Maybe he was ready for his rite of passage after all?
The group returned to the tribes, and Vika and Sasha cleaned and bandaged Khochu and Nikita’s palms.
Afterward, Nikita pecked Khochu’s cheek and returned to her tribe.
They still kept their distance, but it looked like Priven and Yerik were finally beginning to get along.
A few humans from one tribe interacted with someone from the other one, but there was still a lot of work to be done—and a lot of survival.
That night, Khochu saw the waterfall again—and him, Nikita, Kobe, and Eva dancing at the base of it. They played hide-and-seek and wrestled.
Once they got tired, Eva and Nikita rested, but Khochu and Kobe continued to play.
They splashed each other in the waterfall’s pool, and Khochu picked up his friend, twirling him in a circle.
Birds sang in the snow-free trees, and Khochu discarded his coat. He and Kobe played until sunset and watched it together.
Khochu hugged Kobe, who rested his chin on his shoulder, tail wagging. He removed it and licked Khochu’s cheek.
Drool covered it, but Khochu didn’t wipe it away. The dream proved that the land bridge and new life were waiting for them—and that his rite of passage had just begun. The journey there was unknown, but it was like what the ancestors said, aside from killing to survive.
“Survival is like a game.”
And it was. It really was.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5W4KEmQeL
End of Act II: Kobe!
End of Novella #1!
Final Word Count: 20,169
ns216.73.216.217da2
and then Add to home screen.