Rising From the Ashes: The Chronicles of Caymin by Caren J. Werlinger Read Free Book Online Page A

being very small, crawled deep into the trunk. She found a cache of nuts, left there by some animal. She sat, her knees hugged to her chest, pretending she was back in her sett, waiting for the badgers to come back from hunting. She reached out with her mind.
    “Who is there?”
    “Who is asking?”
    She smiled, recognizing the familiar voice of a crow who had befriended her. “It is Ash.”
    There was a flapping of wings, and the crow came strutting into the hollow. Ash had never really talked much to the birds in her forest with the badgers. Since the badgers often stole eggs, the birds had never wanted anything to do with her, but this crow was different. She had spent much time around humans and knew Enat.
    “Greetings, Beanna.”
    The crow cocked her head, looking at Ash with her bright eye. “Have you anything?”
    Ash reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of seeds. She held them in her hand, and Beanna approached, gently plucking the seeds from her palm without poking with her sharp beak.
    “What news of the forest?” Ash asked as the crow took the last of the seeds.
    “Much is happening,” Beanna said. “Young are birthing or hatching everywhere. All are busy hunting to feed them.”
    “Have you no nest? No young hatching?”
    Beanna tipped her head again, watching Ash. “I am old. I have raised many broods. My mate is gone on, now. No more eggs for me.”
    “Well, I am glad. It means you can visit with me,” Ash said with a smile. The crow hopped into her lap, rustling her feathers and settling down as if she were sitting on eggs.
    “How goes it with you, little two-leg?”
    Ash stroked the sleek feathers. “Tonight, I am to join the others for the first time.”
    Beanna clicked her beak. “That troubles you?”
    “Yes.”
    “You are a two-leg.”
    “Yes.”
    “You told me you came here to be among them.”
    “Yes, but I have never been among two-legs. Only Enat.”
    “They are your kind,” said Beanna. “They will accept you.”
    Ash shifted, picking Beanna up gently and lying down on her side with the crow tucked against her stomach. “I wish I could just stay here.”
    A tiny grub wriggled in the rotten wood near them. Beanna pounced and swallowed the grub. She waddled back and settled again against Ash. “That grub may wish I had not just eaten it. Wishing does not make it so.”

    The moon was bright as Enat led the way. When they arrived at the small village where Ash had met Ivar, the others were already gathered around a large fire lit in the center of the dwellings. They nodded greetings to Enat and Ash and shifted over to make room for them. Ash looked around and saw that she was an object of great curiosity. The others craned their necks to get a glimpse of her. Scattered among the grown humans were other young ones, some who appeared to be about her age, and some who were a few winters older. Ash assumed they must be here to learn as she was. Enat had told her that there were about ten apprentices living in the village, four others who were recently arrived, and a handful of older ones who studied separately.
    One woman got to her feet and began chanting a song of a man named Cú Chulainn. She was younger than Enat, with yellow hair and a pretty face. She moved as she sang, and Ash found herself also swaying with the rhythm of the words. Ash had never heard such a tale, but the others seemed familiar with it, nodding and clapping at the telling of his exploits. Ash looked around in puzzlement at their enjoyment, especially the young ones, who seemed to like it especially. After listening a while, Ash stirred restlessly.
    “What is it?” Enat whispered.
    “Do all human stories tell of killing and fighting?”
    Enat looked back for a moment at the woman chanting. When she came to a pause in her tale, Enat interrupted, saying, “Thank you, Neela, but my old heart is in the mood for a more gentle tale. Would you honor us with such a one?”
    A few frowns were cast in