We head toward the plants, and he explains that they use the area to grow some crops but mostly use the forest to gather berries and other things for eating. They’re even thinking of expanding it. The rest of the land is used for grazing for animals that come out of the forest, making them easier to hunt. Then some boring story about how this land didn’t use to produce many crops until around the time he was younger. 

Next are the small houses. The walk there seemed shorter from the forest. He explains how each mound belongs to each Elder. The first one being Denchi’s. Next is Emerta’s, then Tetyh’s. They live there with their immediate family. The next closest family members live in the houses next to the mound and so on. Each “family” is responsible for different obligations in the village. Denchi comes from a line of gatherers, Emerta comes from a line of hunters, and Tetyh comes from a line of fishermen. Each of their ancestors settled here and have come to live and grow together. They rely on their respective strengths to make sure everyone’s needs are met. 

It must be nice to have certain people do certain things, unlike me, who had to learn how to do all that and more. Mother taught me how to hunt, fish, which plants and berries to gather, as well as build almost anything. That was a lot to learn in a short amount of time. It’s just the two of us, and I feel like I barely have the energy for that. I barely have the energy to hear Maeren talk anymore. I’m not sure if I’ve listened to anything he’s said the past few moments. My mind is working up so many questions that I don’t know where to start. 

How long have these people been here?

How do they like living together like this?

What is their day to day life like?

I don’t notice that Maeren has stopped talking and is staring at me again. I hope this doesn’t become a habit.

“Staring at my beautiful eyes again?” I ask, spinning to face him. 

He stares down at me, clenching his fists. I should remember he’s one of the hunters in this village. But after what happened earlier, something tells me that he’s not as scary as I once thought.

“If you’re done,” he says through his teeth. Messing with him is starting to become fun. “We can go to the lake.”

This must be part of the same lake I go to near Mother’s house. Walking toward the lake, I look around as we pass the houses. They’re long and made of wood with flat tops. Some have doors on them, while others have a long piece of wood at the entrance. The houses closer to the mounds have doors. I try to see if I can sneak a peek into one of the houses, but every time my eyes wander, I can feel Maeren’s eyes on me. I think I hear laughter in the distance, and there he is, being in the way.

“Hey, where’s everyone?” That should be an easy enough question for him to answer.

“Doing their daily duties. My father and I live up there, so most men and some women are out hunting. The others are waiting for what they bring back to clean. There aren’t many around our area who are older, and the children all usually play together. If you wouldn’t stop every time you heard something, you may be able to see Tetyh’s men coming from downriver.”

“Well, then why are you stopping and talking to me? Let’s go!” I grab his arm and walk as fast as I can toward the shore.

He shakes himself from my grip. He’s stronger than I thought. I take back what I said earlier; he is a little scary. 

We finally get to the end of the rows of houses, and I finally see the water. I’ve seen the water plenty of times but not like this. Blue stillness stretches out beyond my vision on either side. A cool breeze envelops me, bringing in the fresh scent of the water. It’s like a chill, but I’m not cold in the slightest. I walk forward, being drawn to it like the wind brings the water towards the shore.

“Wow,” I think my mouth is still open. I might be speechless.

“This is what it took for you to shut up,” Maeren says. How can someone I’ve known for such a short amount of time get on my nerves this much?

“Well, maybe if you would spend more time looking at this, then you wouldn’t be so angry all the time,” I puff my cheeks in frustration. I will not allow him to ruin my good day.

“You know,” he says, walking closer to me. “Since you’re so close to the water, I sure hope that you know how to swim.” 

With each word, he gets a little closer until I don’t think there’s even room between us anymore. He’s probably run out of patience with me by now. Is it too late to take back some of the things that I’ve said?

“Besides,” he continues. “I’m better suited for hunting down my prey under the cover of trees. Even the sneaky ones who think they have a chance to get away until it’s too late, getting closer and closer until they have nowhere to hide.”

I back up until I feel a cold rush of water encircle my feet and seep into my shoes. I take a step forward, closing what little gap there is, to get out of the water, looking up to meet his colder gaze. 

Yep, it’s run out, but I’m not going to keep letting him get away with talking to me like this. I don’t know his problem or why he feels the need to be so mean to me. But if that’s the game that he wants to play, then so be it. 

“I’m not sure what I did or said to you to treat me this way,” I tell him, putting my hand on his chest to slightly shove him. “But you’re not the only one who’s good at hunting if that’s how you want to play it.”

I can feel his heart beating fast under my fingertips as I go to push him. Is he that mad, or am I getting to him? I take it a little further and lean in a little closer.

“I’ve learned how to make use of the whole body, and I don’t think you’re that skilled yet,” I whisper into his ear. 

I think that was enough to settle him down and leave me alone. I step back and look at him. I’m so close to him now, I don’t think I’ve really seen him this up close yet. How deep and dark his hair is, the smooth brown of his eyes, his cheeks almost carved out of his face. His ears, face, and neck are redder than the berries I was eating earlier. I look up, and his head is down. 

Why am I paying this close enough attention to him anyway? I forgot I didn’t push him, and my hand is still on his chest. His heart is beating like crazy now. And his fists are so clenched his knuckles are losing color. Is he going to punch me? Well, if he does, then he’ll get in trouble and not me because I was just following along, and I don’t know any better. It’s not my fault he lost his temper.