Free Ember of a New World by Tom Watson

this man as wife?” Dark Rock asked.
    “Have you a woman to call out, Vance of the Dark Forest vi l lage?”
    “I have!” Vance said. He turned and looked to where he knew Heather was.
    “Heather, daughter of the crop grower Dargen and West, will you be my mate? Will you stand beside me now?” he ask ed with as much gusto as he could create. For a moment, nothing happened as a bead of sweat rolled down Vance's face, and then Heather walked forward from the crowd. She wore a long leather wrap with black stripes and a leather shirt with the circle pattern of the tribe across the front. Heather had long brown hair let loose, as was the marital custom. Around her waist, a simple leather thong with attached river mussel shells was fastened. It was said only a virgin could wear the shells without them breaking or falling off.
    Ember didn't know were the saying came from or even what it meant. Ember had fashioned such a waistband a harvest before, and she and Blossom had both worn it without err. The custom had been adopted from other tribes and had become a fad of sorts. Ember saw Yellow Flowers watching and her mind could not keep silent.
    I bet she can't even lift a shell. They probably turn into powder in her hands. Perhaps they will paint them on her when the time comes; but would the paint run? Ember nearly laughed and caught h erself. Such naughty thoughts.
    Heather stepped forward and came before Vance as she spoke, “I will stand with this man. He is a hunter and will bring us good luck. We can pla nt our crops and eat fresh meat,” she said. Morning Dew stepped forward and moved both Vance and Heather together to face her.
    “Vance, son of Bael, and Heather, daughter of Dargen and West , do each of you understand that you will now vow to live as one for the rest of your lives? Is this yo ur choice?” Morning Dew asked.
    “Yes ,” both said at the same time looking at each other as if only the three of them existed. Heather's mother West looked as though she might melt into the ground, her e yes welling with happy tears.
    “Then it is so. From this night forward, Vance is a hunter of our people and joined with Heather. May the Gods bless you ,” Morning Drew pro claimed.
    Vance and Heather embraced passionately as the tribe cheered. Kanter was glad it was over. He turned to say something but found both Ember and Blossom staring with wide glistening eyes and lon g ing expressions.
    Why... why is it always this way with girls. Well, if they just stand there I am going for some food. Half of the tribe is now stunned so they won't notice me . W ith that thought , Kanter snuck off to eat his fill of mussels, his favorite food.
    As the people cheered, Heather was lifted off of her feet by Vance and gently carried away to some secluded place where they would consummate their joining. This was the way of things, and with any luck , a child would come by early thawing season. As Heather, carried by Vance, passed Ember she gave her younger cousin a wink and a smile. Ember and Blossom continued their feminine antics while Kan ter filled his face with food.
    After much dancing and talk of the new couple, the boys and girls who were to be declared Men and Women were called to the ci r cle as the Elders returned. Sometimes, there would only be one boy or one girl, sometimes a few. This harvest's festival was overflowing with children coming of age. The unseasonably warm weather, co u pled with the massive number of children and other “signs”, which the Elders had seen lately, suggested that this would be a special fe s tival. Perhaps one of the boys would be sent on a journey, a far reaching goal, to another tribe or a distant place. This was not co m monplace, and it was dangerous, but any boy who completed such a task would return a man, more of a man than many of the men already present. He might even return with a mate from another tribe. Many boys secretly hoped and feared such a task at the same time, though it was