Rejoin in the celebration

Ishkoisi rejoined the celebration, her husband's hand and her's entwined. Most of the tribe had already begun, but a few had waited for the newly joined to return. Chatan waved to them and let out a call Ishkoisi imagined he would use after capturing his prey. She gave little care to what his shout meant for her. Ishkoisi trusted her young husband; her grandmother had warned her that he might act in such a way, but it is to be accepted. In truth, it didn't bother her much at all. She was more preoccupied with trying to find her grandmother amongst the revelry.

She wanted to see her, for her to ease her nervousness. Never before has Ishkoisi had so much attention. The whole celebration was for her and her husband. Such conditions would make anyone anxious. See began to worry that she was mad at her. Perhaps she shouldn't have fought—but what harm was there in it? She could not see any, but her grandmother likely would.

Chatan guided her by the hand to their spot at the edge of the dancing circle. He motioned for her to sit. Ishkoisi squatted down onto the ground, her husband sitting after she had. The dancers in the center, all young men and women, joined in a shout after Chatan sat down next to her.

She saw her husband clap excitedly before turning to see if she shared in his cheer. Ishkoisi smiled back, lightly clapping her hands together. Chatan then started a chant to go with the dancing. The tribesmen forming the ring joined in, knowing the chant, and the beating of drums was added. It was a man's chant, a song about Hlampko's defeat of a pack of wolves. Ishkoisi joined in. It was not forbidden for a woman to sing such chants, but the opportunity rarely presented itself. Chatan grinned warmly, seemingly pleased with her decision.

Nanaiya appeared from her tent, twenty yards from the circle. Ishkoisi waved, drawing her attention. Her grandmother nodded in acknowledgement, then went to her.

"Singing wolf songs, eh?" her grandmother laughed. "Your mother liked that one too." Nanaiya continued laughing, at what, Ishkoisi could not be sure.

"Come sit with us," offered Chatan, motioning to the opposite side of Ishkoisi.

"No," she declined, "no need to tempt fate any more than we have. Ishkoisi, I'd like to talk for a moment. Come with me," she commanded.

Ishkoisi complied, rising to her feet, then giving her husband a soft kiss. "I won't be long," she told him.

They went off to the side, away from the celebrations. Ishkoisi waited for her grandmother to speak—it was her who wished for this.

"I want you to have something," she started. This was not what Ishkoisi was expecting. She thought her grandmother was going to scold her for her aggressive antics during the ceremony, but it appeared that she had other thoughts. Nanaiya carefully untied her necklace. The white pearls shined from the sun as she handed it over. "This is my peace necklace. I want you to have it."

"I am not deserving," Ishkoisi admitted. Her grandmother was the peacekeeper, and she, she was the drinking deer—her first and only name—and now wife to a hunter. She felt unworthy.

"I want you to remember my teachings—to live by them—to bring peace wherever you go." Ishkoisi took the necklace and moved to put it on. She was already wearing a necklace however, her mother's from when she was a young girl going through the ceremony. As she heard, her mother had beaten her man with the stick before accepting him; she was the hunter after all, him the gatherer.

Ishkoisi gently put the necklace in her pouch. "I'll keep it with me always, but today I honor my mother."

Nanaiya nodded, proud. "If only your mother had such respect for her own." She embraced her granddaughter, laughing again. "Come," she told her. "We wouldn't want your husband to worry."

Chatan was singing another song as Ishkoisi and Nanaiya returned. She didn't know this one, but from what she heard, it appeared to be about the skinning of a bear. For the song's sake, she hoped there was more to it than the simple task of skinning.

Ishkoisi took her place by her husband's side. They continued singing, Chatan leading the group. Ishkoisi joined in with the ones she knew. The other songs she would try her best to hear her husband's voice, his beautiful, passionate voice. She figured she could only grow to like it more.

After the celebrations was the feast: Banaha bread, persimmon stew, acorn pudding, poke salad, and jerky, both pork and deer. Ishkoisi noticed how much her husband was eating. Such an eating habit could be a problem, but for now he is active enough to allow it. Unlike her husband, she ate a modest amount, eating a small portion from each offered dish. When the night set in, the feast ended. Ishkoisi let her husband take her hand as they went back to their tent.