down, with two thin twisting braids wrapped around the back of her head keeping her locks in place. Her lips were slightly thicker than usual for Natu woman but she had the same fleshy nose. Her dark green eyes were unbalanced, one of the lids sitting slightly lower than the other. It makes her look unusual, maybe even foreign, Azaria thought, unconsciously assessing her. She's definitely Natu. But those eyes make her look different - not ugly - but not the same. She's actually very beautiful. Her uneven eyes make her stand out.
It was then Azaria recalled palling around with Yumineh several Summer Gatherings past. She remembered she was the unfortunate Fox Camp girl who’d lost her family to tragedy at an early age. Izyl, the Second Ta’araki of Fox Camp, helped her widowed aunt raise her. She also remembered being warned away from her by a few rude Fox Camp kids. Azaria hadn’t understood why they called her nasty names, but she pointedly remembered rejecting their advice and continuing to play with her along with Dogahn and Daneel.
Yumineh was dressed in a running skirt and top. Natu running apparel was uniformly thin and skimpy, almost non-existent. The back of the skirt didn't fall as low as the front, so that much of the bottom of the backside was exposed on both male and female runners. Men of course wore nothing else, but the women liked to wear a thin, soft leather band across their breasts, its function to keep them from cumbersomely moving around as they ran.
Azaria smiled more widely now as she remembered her. "Are you going to run, Yumineh?" She didn't know the Fox Camp girl was already considered by some to be the fastest of her camp - or that she was highly competitive. Yumineh only frowned in response, leaving Azaria wondering if she’d somehow offended her.
While the three greeted each other, the first whistle blew, alerting the runners to line up. Azaria set herself next to Dogahn and Yumineh positioned herself next to her. She gave Dogahn one last smile and saw him looking past her and smiling at Yumineh. She wondered if Yumineh had stayed out late the previous night also.
About forty other young runners from the three camps formed a line to the left and right. The Long Race was the only contest dominated by the young. Speed and stamina were required to make a champion long runner, qualities the young possessed in abundance.
Fahim and her mate Takur, the elderly Ta'araki co-leaders, shambled forward. Fahim’s graying hair was unkempt, but Takur kept his much tidier. Both had pale, shriveled skin and faded tattoos covering their arms and parts of their foreheads and cheeks.
Together they led the Ta'araki, the representatives of the Ta'ar, chosen by the Ta'ar to govern the children of the Ta’ar, the Na'ta'ar - or Natu, as it was commonly shortened - in most matters. The Ta’ar were often referred to by their other names, the Watchers, or Birdmen, who according to Natu legend, had come down from the stars and provided them with new knowledge and technology.
Most Ta'araki were also trained healers, although some were more adept than others. Most camps also had a non-Ta'araki leader who led in conjunction with a Ta'araki counterpart. Boar Camp's situation was unusual however, as their non-Ta’araki leader had died tragically several winters earlier hunting rhinoceros. Takur quickly elevated Fahim to co-leader, filling the power vacuum before a new non-Ta'araki leader emerged. Usually the Ta'araki and camp leaders would consult together before making important decisions, although often the Ta'araki leaders’ word tended to be the final one.
The Ta'araki men tended to believe they held more power, as the new deities were generally described as masculine. However, many of the female Ta'araki also claimed representation for the Great Earth Mother, who still held effectual sway in many aspects of Natu life. Therefore, in practice, there were no rigid rules. The Ta'araki mates of Boar Camp ruled
It was then Azaria recalled palling around with Yumineh several Summer Gatherings past. She remembered she was the unfortunate Fox Camp girl who’d lost her family to tragedy at an early age. Izyl, the Second Ta’araki of Fox Camp, helped her widowed aunt raise her. She also remembered being warned away from her by a few rude Fox Camp kids. Azaria hadn’t understood why they called her nasty names, but she pointedly remembered rejecting their advice and continuing to play with her along with Dogahn and Daneel.
Yumineh was dressed in a running skirt and top. Natu running apparel was uniformly thin and skimpy, almost non-existent. The back of the skirt didn't fall as low as the front, so that much of the bottom of the backside was exposed on both male and female runners. Men of course wore nothing else, but the women liked to wear a thin, soft leather band across their breasts, its function to keep them from cumbersomely moving around as they ran.
Azaria smiled more widely now as she remembered her. "Are you going to run, Yumineh?" She didn't know the Fox Camp girl was already considered by some to be the fastest of her camp - or that she was highly competitive. Yumineh only frowned in response, leaving Azaria wondering if she’d somehow offended her.
While the three greeted each other, the first whistle blew, alerting the runners to line up. Azaria set herself next to Dogahn and Yumineh positioned herself next to her. She gave Dogahn one last smile and saw him looking past her and smiling at Yumineh. She wondered if Yumineh had stayed out late the previous night also.
About forty other young runners from the three camps formed a line to the left and right. The Long Race was the only contest dominated by the young. Speed and stamina were required to make a champion long runner, qualities the young possessed in abundance.
Fahim and her mate Takur, the elderly Ta'araki co-leaders, shambled forward. Fahim’s graying hair was unkempt, but Takur kept his much tidier. Both had pale, shriveled skin and faded tattoos covering their arms and parts of their foreheads and cheeks.
Together they led the Ta'araki, the representatives of the Ta'ar, chosen by the Ta'ar to govern the children of the Ta’ar, the Na'ta'ar - or Natu, as it was commonly shortened - in most matters. The Ta’ar were often referred to by their other names, the Watchers, or Birdmen, who according to Natu legend, had come down from the stars and provided them with new knowledge and technology.
Most Ta'araki were also trained healers, although some were more adept than others. Most camps also had a non-Ta'araki leader who led in conjunction with a Ta'araki counterpart. Boar Camp's situation was unusual however, as their non-Ta’araki leader had died tragically several winters earlier hunting rhinoceros. Takur quickly elevated Fahim to co-leader, filling the power vacuum before a new non-Ta'araki leader emerged. Usually the Ta'araki and camp leaders would consult together before making important decisions, although often the Ta'araki leaders’ word tended to be the final one.
The Ta'araki men tended to believe they held more power, as the new deities were generally described as masculine. However, many of the female Ta'araki also claimed representation for the Great Earth Mother, who still held effectual sway in many aspects of Natu life. Therefore, in practice, there were no rigid rules. The Ta'araki mates of Boar Camp ruled
Similar Books
