visible a few blocks away from the nature reserve. Girls dressed in brown, black, and gray furs were milling around tables laden with food. Rounds of “A Hunting We Will Go!” rang throughout the park. Older women dished food while young girls played hide and seek in the shadows along the edge of the park.
“There you are!” Rally wore a grey speckled ensemble. Her hair was pulled back in the same fashion as mine, but her curls puffed out messily. She wore her satchel proudly across her chest.
“You look adorable.” I gave her a half smile.
“Thanks, but not what I was going for,” she laughed. “You have an original white costume. I didn’t think they existed any longer.”
“Yeah. My mom told me it has been in our family since the first hunt.” I shrugged.
“Wow,” Rally said.
“Ready to have some fun?”
“Absolutely.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
We meandered our way from table to table, allowing women to scoop ladles of food on our plates. Beth sat close to a fire; she looked beautiful in her custom made golden fur and matching boots. Rally and I sat beside her. Beth picked at her plate.
“Aren't you going to eat?” I elbowed her gently.
“Not hungry. Too nervous.” Beth plucked a grape from the bunch on her plate.
“Well I’m starving. Mom wouldn't let me eat anything.” Rally exclaimed.
Beth and I laughed. After we finished our meals, we wandered from fire to fire, complimenting girls on their costumes and wishing them luck. We had second and third platefuls of food and joined some smaller girls in a game of hide and seek. I was always found right away, my white fur glowed in the fire and moonlight.
Late into the night, Ms. Dawning gathered us for a celebratory speech. She lined us up along the glow of the fires, our mothers standing proudly behind us.
“Ladies, both young and old,” she began. “In just a few short hours, we send these beautiful, capable girls to fulfill their destinies as hunters.”
Cheers filled the park. Mom squeezed my shoulder.
Ms. Dawning waited for the crowd to quiet before she continued. “When they return, they will no longer be our children, they will be our equals.” More cheers. Another pause.
“All of these girls have worked and trained diligently for the honor to become hunters. I will recognize them individually, but first, a moment of silence to give thanks for the men who are sacrificed so that our way of life may continue.”
Boos and hisses rumble through the crowd. Ms. Dawning talked over them, “Ladies, Please! Without savages, there would be no children, no mothers. Tradition says we must observe a moment of silence.”
The crowd grew quiet and she continued, “Since the first hunt generations ago, women have persevered over the savages, but we are connected to them. As we continue to grow, both in strength and numbers, we must carry them along with us. They serve as a reminder of where we came from, and also of what we dare not become.”
Another cheer swelled, lasting longer than before. Ms. Dawning waited patiently. Finally, she spoke, “Now for the moment of silence.” The murmurs lessened until only the crackling of the fires were heard.
I wiped my hands on my skirt and glanced around. Most women had their heads bowed. The girls around me fidgeted.
Ms. Dawning cleared her throat. “Thank you. Now girls, when I call your name step forward. Once everyone's been announced, we will sing a round of The Mother's Song, there will be time for pictures, and then the hunters will retreat to the cabin to get some rest before tomorrow.”
As Ms. Dawning called names, my heart pounded. Soon, I would have to tell Mom and Nana goodbye and try to sleep on the floor of a crowded room. I couldn't cry at the feast, it would make a scene. I took a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm.
Ms. Dawning called “Lea Corre” and Mom lifted her hand off my shoulder. I stepped forward and forced a smile. After several more minutes, every hunter had been
“There you are!” Rally wore a grey speckled ensemble. Her hair was pulled back in the same fashion as mine, but her curls puffed out messily. She wore her satchel proudly across her chest.
“You look adorable.” I gave her a half smile.
“Thanks, but not what I was going for,” she laughed. “You have an original white costume. I didn’t think they existed any longer.”
“Yeah. My mom told me it has been in our family since the first hunt.” I shrugged.
“Wow,” Rally said.
“Ready to have some fun?”
“Absolutely.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
We meandered our way from table to table, allowing women to scoop ladles of food on our plates. Beth sat close to a fire; she looked beautiful in her custom made golden fur and matching boots. Rally and I sat beside her. Beth picked at her plate.
“Aren't you going to eat?” I elbowed her gently.
“Not hungry. Too nervous.” Beth plucked a grape from the bunch on her plate.
“Well I’m starving. Mom wouldn't let me eat anything.” Rally exclaimed.
Beth and I laughed. After we finished our meals, we wandered from fire to fire, complimenting girls on their costumes and wishing them luck. We had second and third platefuls of food and joined some smaller girls in a game of hide and seek. I was always found right away, my white fur glowed in the fire and moonlight.
Late into the night, Ms. Dawning gathered us for a celebratory speech. She lined us up along the glow of the fires, our mothers standing proudly behind us.
“Ladies, both young and old,” she began. “In just a few short hours, we send these beautiful, capable girls to fulfill their destinies as hunters.”
Cheers filled the park. Mom squeezed my shoulder.
Ms. Dawning waited for the crowd to quiet before she continued. “When they return, they will no longer be our children, they will be our equals.” More cheers. Another pause.
“All of these girls have worked and trained diligently for the honor to become hunters. I will recognize them individually, but first, a moment of silence to give thanks for the men who are sacrificed so that our way of life may continue.”
Boos and hisses rumble through the crowd. Ms. Dawning talked over them, “Ladies, Please! Without savages, there would be no children, no mothers. Tradition says we must observe a moment of silence.”
The crowd grew quiet and she continued, “Since the first hunt generations ago, women have persevered over the savages, but we are connected to them. As we continue to grow, both in strength and numbers, we must carry them along with us. They serve as a reminder of where we came from, and also of what we dare not become.”
Another cheer swelled, lasting longer than before. Ms. Dawning waited patiently. Finally, she spoke, “Now for the moment of silence.” The murmurs lessened until only the crackling of the fires were heard.
I wiped my hands on my skirt and glanced around. Most women had their heads bowed. The girls around me fidgeted.
Ms. Dawning cleared her throat. “Thank you. Now girls, when I call your name step forward. Once everyone's been announced, we will sing a round of The Mother's Song, there will be time for pictures, and then the hunters will retreat to the cabin to get some rest before tomorrow.”
As Ms. Dawning called names, my heart pounded. Soon, I would have to tell Mom and Nana goodbye and try to sleep on the floor of a crowded room. I couldn't cry at the feast, it would make a scene. I took a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm.
Ms. Dawning called “Lea Corre” and Mom lifted her hand off my shoulder. I stepped forward and forced a smile. After several more minutes, every hunter had been
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