Sixth Son and an Adventure

I take care of my brother, and I have done so since our mother died when he was still a baby. Sixth Son is a good boy, and I am proud of him. I worry, too. Am I doing a good enough job? Am I teaching him everything he needs to know? Is he getting everything he needs from me? I guess everyone who raises a child worries about these things, but they have even kept me from sleeping at night sometimes.

Sahnka brought my brother to me at the First Fires, and I was proud for them to meet him even if he was honey covered and dirt smudged. Cana, and another Elder I met that night Tarra, both said he was a good boy. It means a lot. I know he is, but I am his sister. I am biased. Hearing them say it was like a weight of worry lifting. If the Elders call him a well raised boy I am doing it right, right?

Sixth Son also helped make me more comfortable. It is hard to focus on being nervous when you are trying to keep a six year old boy out of mischief with new people. That allowed me to speak with people it would have taken me days to do so otherwise. I met a lovely woman named Mezoo, I met another woman named Kaeli, and I saw two women get claimed this night. There is a celebration to be planned, and I need to tell Mezoo that I will be happy to help with that. I have some warm blankets I made to trade, but I will send one to each of the new couples to celebrate their new life together, too.

Sahnka, now that is another matter all by itself. One that is going to need thought.

A Blanket of Sunshine

Cana, a woman of the First Fires, asked that I make a saddle blanket for each of two of her daughters. One is to be yellow and the other blue. I finished the yellow one, and I have to say I think it turned out wonderfully. I am sure that a young girl will enjoy it. It looks like a blanket of sunshine. I will have to seek Cana out to give her the blanket, but first I will do the blue one next.

I also met a man named Sahli. He is of the Drummers, and I will be making a blanket for an infant for him. I think he and his woman must be planning on either having their first child or another child. I didn't exactly ask if they had any children already. The look of anticipation on his face was beautiful. It is odd to use the world beautiful when speaking of a man, but it fits in this case. The look of anticipation of the birth of this child is a beautiful thing. I am delighted to be a part of it even in some tiny way.

My brother, my father's Sixth Son, wishes to be a Drummer. He thinks he does. It is hard for a boy not quite six turnings old to know what he wants. I asked Sahli for a drum in trade for two blankets. That and to let Sixth Son spend some time with him, and with the Clan. It will let him decide if this is what he wants. It is a good trade. One I'm proud to have made.

My time at the First Fires, so far, seems to be going very well. I have enjoyed meeting each of the people that I have so far. The list is not long. Yamka, Cana, Fonce, and now Sahli. It is a short list, but it is a good list. One thread at a time. That is how life should be. One thread, one knot, at a time. If one tries to rush through things the entire pattern is destroyed. We never know what the pattern of our life is to be, so why would we risk rushing it?

All In a Day's Work

The batch of yellow came out beautifully. I was very pleased with it. The color turned out cheerful, bright, and still not too bright. It is easy to make yellow too bright if you are not careful, and even I mess it up sometimes. This yellow turned out with the warmth of a spring day. I think the woman, Yamka, will be pleased with the result. I dyed the ribbon for her, and I dyed a batch of thread large enough for the blanket for Cana's daughter. I am looking forward to getting started on that project. I hope that she realizes that it takes time for a blanket to be woven.

Quality just takes time. I learned that when I was younger. If you want the weave to be good, strong, and true you take the time to make it so. It is the same thing with life, I think. Anything worth doing is just worth taking the time to do it right. I have been invited to visit the first fires, and I will make my way there today or tonight. It has been worth the time to make sure that each step of this process is done right. This is one path that it will not do well to take a misstep on.

Things in the outter wagons are tense. There was a death. A murder really. The men are more watchful of the women, even those that are not of their wagon or family. It is to be expected. I can't imagine what the man who lost his woman is going through. I, like many of the women, have sent over food for him. It seems a simple thing, but when one is grieving they forget to eat. We are one people, we are one Tribe. I wish it could be more that we do in this time for him, but we do what we are able. I just hope that the Skies will bring him peace at some point.

Threads Beginning to Weave

"Every thread of gold is valuable, so is every moment in time"
authorn Unknown

I met a few that are from the First Wagons today. Two women and a man. The women were Cana and Yamka, and the man's name was Fonce. Fonce was helpful enough to tell me that Cana was the women to inform me that Cana is the one to help with the trading with those of the First Fire. She seemed very nice, but there is something bout her that seems almost sad. It is not my place to speak on it or ask. I do not know her well enough, and such things should not be spoken of by someone who is not a close friend. Maybe it is just that I tend to prefer to keep my own thoughts on such things private coloring my judgement on this, but I refrained from asking out of courtesy.

The woman Yamka seems pleasant, too. She likes yellow, and she is going to repair my bridle in exchange for two yellow ribbons. It is a simple, humble trade. It is also a good start. I will have to dye the thread for the weaving of the ribbon, but I had planned to do some dye work tomorrow anyway. It is not a hardship to do an extra yellow batch. The woman Cana has also asked me to weave two blankets for her daughters. Saddle blankets, one of blue and one of yellow. Both are to have flutes woven in around the boarder of the blankets. It will be a challenge, but I look forward to it.

The Warrior Fonce seemed nice enough, too. Something tells me that his sense of humor leans to the off kilter, and possibly even a bit to the dark side. That is fine. He was a quiet one, and he left shortly after I met him. I did not speak with him long, but I am sure if I get to do any trading I will see him again. If I am lucky he will point out others who might have use of the work of a Weaver.

All in all it is not a bad first day. The threads are beginning to wrap together. Maybe the fabric of friendships will begin to form. It is too soon to say, but the hope is there.