Ember of a New World by Tom Watson

East put a hand on her shou lder to keep her from falling.
    “Watch yourself before you fall over. You shouldn't whip your head that hard. Try letting the hair sling more than your head ,” East said with a laugh to hide her sorrow. East was living in the moment now, escaping her fear and sadness by occupying her mind with what she was doi ng. This only helped a little.
    Ember didn't notice the sad look in her mother's eyes and the emotions of the others , but gave her mother a hug regardless. That last day was full of family bonding and additional goodbyes. Ember met with many of her extended family and friends once more. She was becoming nervous and wanted to start the journey as soon as possible. The longer that she waited the more time she had to think of what was to come.
    That final night, Ember slept as East gently stroked her hair, much as she had done when Ember was very young. East was now coming to a full acceptance of what was to come, but was still frightened deeply. That night she knelt alone and prayed for the first time since Winterborn had died , whispering under her breath.
    “Oh Gods of the night, listen to my plea. Protect my little Ember and see her safely return. Take what you want for this request but not from her.” East doubted the Gods listened and often doubted they even exis ted. East hoped she was wrong.
    The morning brought anticipation from everyone. Ember felt like a puppet while she was prepared for her trip by her family. As the time approached, East and Na Na carefully applied little circles made from black paint across Ember's face, the tribe’s symbol for strength. Her skin was still stained blue from the festival, but the blue was very light and faded, appearing as more of a light stain than rich coloring. It was the way of Ember's people to stain and paint their skin and Ember had wished for a deeper coloring, but she had used much of her blue paint during the festival. She decided that her current color ing would have to do.
    Ember wore her doe skin shirt, her best green flax skirt which fell to just above her knees, and a pair of leather boots. On her side, she wore her father's obsidian dagger in a leather sheath fastened by a leather cord tied around her waist just above her skirt loop. Attached to the other side of her belt was a small leather bag with her best pieces of un-worked flint; quality pieces, pure of color and with the perfect shapes for pressure flaking. In that same bag, she placed Blossom's Goddess pendant wrapped in a thin leather scrap. She planned to create a nice braided necklace for the pendant on the lo ng boring ride down the river.
    With a final look around the longhouse, Ember left her home for the water. Her mother and family followed carrying some additional supplies. As Ember emerged from the longhouse and began walking to the river, other people started to follow behind her. When Ember passed the central hearth, women lifted their children and followed behind forming a long procession. Many people touched Ember on the shoulder as a sign of reassurance and faith in her choice to honor the will of the Gods. Ember was doing this as much for herself as for them. Following the Gods could assure a safe mild cold season, and the people of the village knew it.
    Ember approached the river bank with most of the tribe at her back. Before her, several men had prepared a small boat which would take Ember on her journey. The little wooden boat was about one and a half times the length of a man, made from the hollowed out trunk of a tree. The sides had been carved to a width of one half of a finger's length, and the front had been angled into a bow . The boat was very strong, made of one solid block of wood, but heavy and hard to control. Many who used such a boat would fight hard against the currents of the river, incorrectly using brute strength. Ember had used such a boat before and knew that only a soft hand could coax the boat into the currents and keep it