Azaria by J.H. Hayes Read Free Book Online Page B

Mother's other beasts. In the suns leading up to the Summer Solstice, several camps would congregate at a predetermined camp's location for the Summer Gathering, the purpose of which was once to renew ties but now also involved supporting the summer's Temple work. Other Natu camps would come together at different spots for their own Summer Gatherings and most camps would send members to the Great Temple complex to work together on the various construction projects. The First Temple had already been finished by their forefathers, but adjoining temples were under various phases of completion.
    Natu individuals and even parts of a family sometimes emigrated from camp to camp for one reason or another, the most prominent being new tyings. The makeup of each camp was therefore somewhat fluid. This intermingling, and the Summer Gatherings, helped prevent dangerous concentrations of related genes which could lead to excessive inbreeding.
    Azaria's camp, formally known as Boar Camp of the Natu, but in practice just Boar Camp, was hosting this summer's gathering. Fox Camp, located to the northeast and Swan Camp, which was due south, were joining them. The Solstice and accompanying games marked the beginning of the Summer Gathering.
    The Long Run course would be announced shortly before the opening whistle. As Azaria readied herself that morning she hoped it would be relatively flat. Inclines had always been her greatest weakness. She knew she should've practiced them with more diligence in the moons leading up to the race, but she’d always hated running uphill. And she hadn't seen the point, not seriously thinking she could win the Long Run until recently, when she'd practiced with some of Boar Camp's runners and realized she could easily keep pace with them for long distances. Her reputation as a long-distance runner was growing and she was now widely considered one of Boar Camp’s strongest. Even if she didn't win this race, she was sure she'd eventually be called as a Runner, a position which would furnish her with her first uninherited status.
    As she walked up the gentle incline of Sunset Hill, the predawn light still dim, Dogahn walked down to meet her. "Azaria, I'm sorry you'll be finishing second," he grinned. "But I'm sure you understand I can't throw the race for you."
    She placed her hand on the side of his midsection. "But Dogahn, I've already won. Don't you know? I know all your faults." She squeezed his side, knowing just how to make him convulse.
    He squealed, fending off the attack with one arm and enclosing her in a hug with the other and said, "May the best MAN win!"
    Azaria detected a faint trace of brew on his breath and guessed he must have stayed out late. Her confidence rose. She twisted out of his hold and laughed, "You think you're so great... We'll see who's happy they didn't stay out drinking last night!"
    Dogahn recoiled slightly at the direct jab. "I'll be okay," he mumbled back. "You just worry about yourself."
    "Hi Azaria," someone behind her said. Azaria turned to see a girl she didn’t initially recognize. She knew she’d seen her before, but just couldn’t place the face. The new girl was tall and her lengthy, slender limbs had perceptibly toned muscles running down them. She smiled brightly and stood absolutely straight, not crouching over as many lanky girls tended to do. Azaria could tell from the way the girl held herself that she was shy, but not in any sort of inferior way. In fact she looked quite proud. She wondered what she was so proud of. She also wondered how she knew her name. Had they met before?
    “Uhhh... hi!” Azaria responded.
    "Hi," the girl repeated before turning to the handsome Boar Camp boy, her pleasure in seeing him obvious in her wide smile. "Hi Dogahn!"
    "Good morning, Yumineh!" he said with what Azaria felt was overly enthusiastic fervor.
    Azaria was considered tall for her age, but the other girl stood slightly higher. She kept her long, straight, dark brown hair