The shadows grew long as she returned that evening. She had been anticipating the smell of the cooking fires. Instead she smelled smoke, and as she came to the entrance trees, she saw that her village had been burned to the ground. Frantically she searched for her mother and father, but they were both dead. She could not find her brother. She looked for her uncle, her girl friends, but no one was left.
The next morning a neighboring tribe found her and took her to their home. She was a good and obedient girl. But she seldom spoke and no one saw her smile.
Each year at the same time she disappeared for a few days. Only the medicine women seemed to take much notice. One year after the young girl had disappeared again, the medicine woman decided that it was time. She went to where she knew the young girl would be.
The young girl sat between the two trees, spent with weeping. Softly the medicine woman approached. The young girl looked up. "It's time to leave this place behind," the medicine woman said.
"But how can I?" the girl protested. "I can never forget them."
"I have something for you," the medicine women replied, handing her a smooth grey stone. "This", she told the girl, "is for your father." Holding the stone, the girl felt her father's quiet presence and heard his voice. Then she felt a resolution, and he was gone.
Next, the medicine woman handed her a piece of soft leather.
"This," the woman said "is for your mother." As the girl held the leather, she felt her mother's gentle caring. There was an exchange, and then her mother too was gone.
"And this," said the medicine woman, "is for your brother."
She handed the girl a feather. It was as light as her brothers laughter and for a moment the girl felt as though she and her brother were running about the village playing. Then there was a good bye and her brother was gone.
"There is a reason why they were all taken and you were left on the earth. You must find your purpose and live."
The young girl put the stone, the piece of leather and the feather into her mother's pouch which she kept tied at her waist. Then, leading her pony she followed the medicine woman out of the clearing and into the wood.
If you look carefully you will see that, yes, she is talking now. She is asking questions.
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