The Native Child BOOK I

I stood at the top of the hill staring into the deep blue sea that lay in front of me with the sun setting making me smile softly as I rubbed my leather-made dress with the tips of my fingers before I heard my best friend calling my name.

“ Shenandoah, Shenandoah!” I turn my head to my far left hearing my name being called out. I take off running realizing my father needed to speak to me- how would I forget he must be worried sick!

“ I’m coming Simi- I say repeatedly for a few minutes until I reach her laughing as she stares at me.

“ Oh hush, your father is summoning you..” I widen my eyes as that was never good for me, always for him. My father is the chief of our tribe Tucka meaning breaded warriors in our native tongue that has been almost lost to us, we only have three native speakers including myself as my father made sure I would carry on our ancestors' tongue. My mother speaks the language along with our warrior.

“ Oh no, do I look presentable?” I ran my hand through my thick brown hair that reached to my waist almost. Simi fixed a few pieces and then nodded ushering me forward as I was already late, and nobody wanted to make the chief wait.

I walk into my people’s crowd, families by manmade fires along with my father sitting in the center on his thrown what felt like with his two trusted warriors by his side. On his right was Topac who had his sides cut leaving a long strand of hair at the top that was braided, he was the fittest and the same goes for Toupk who was on his left whispering something into my father’s ear, he looked up making eye contact with me smiling softly and I took that as my cue.

“ I’m sorry I am late father.”

“ A chief’s daughter must never be late Shenandoah.” I nodded staring at the ground. I knew I shouldn’t have gone far, but it was just so beautiful- it reminded me of my mother.

“ I wandered too far father, it won’t happen again.”

“You're right.” I looked up not understanding his meaning. He motions to Topac who stares at me deeply making me uncomfortable.

“ I don’t understand.”

“ You will be much too busy with the wedding preparations to wander off anymore.”

“ Married! Father I-“ he held his hand out stopping me mid-sentence.

“ Enough, I have decided that Topac will be a good man for you, you aren’t getting any younger Shenandoah.”

I stared at him, I did not like being set up even though this has been our tradition for as long as we can remember.

Couldn’t we women choose our men?

And is it so wrong to remain unmarried?

“ I will not be getting married.” I lifted my chin staring at my father in the eye that held sadness.

“ Shenandoah!” I turned my back on him as I ran back out, knowing I just embarrassed myself and my father in front of all our tribe members, but as of right now that did not matter. What mattered was that I was getting married, something I refuse to do unless I love the man- and I do not love any man other than my father.

I would be forced into this, and there is only one thing I can do that will hopefully successfully prevent this.

I need to run away.