A Way to Find the Unexpected

Chapter Ten (Part One)

          "That's what I've heard."

         "Just don't forget us, will you?" he looked at Kateri with crinkled eyes, looking much older than he really was. She widened her eyes and took his hand.

         "Of course not, Makuakāne. I couldn't forget even if I wanted to." They started to walk back to the cave when she saw Talavera talking with all of her equally old and wrinkly friends.

        "Oh, Kateri! Come here." she waved Kateri over.

          "What is it, Talavera?"

          "My friend Aikane has had a premonition of you. Come, my little pearl, and hear about your future." Talavera said. Kateri rolled her eyes. Aikane was known for her "premonitions". As she got older, the more frequent and wild they were; no one really took them to heart, they just humored Aikane out of respect for the elderly.

          "What have you seen Aikane?" Kateri sat by the wrinkly old woman.

          "I see..." Aikane shut her eyes tightly, impossibly adding more wrinkles to her face. "I see one watching you from behind, I see one watching you from above. I see one watching you from across the way. One holds insight. One holds hope. One holds your future. All hold secrets."

          "Woo, that's pretty scary. I'll keep a lookout for those three when I'm on the quest. Thank you for the warning, Aikane." I widened my eyes to look scared, then quickly walked away from the old biddies.

         Once the sun had nearly risen to it's midday spot, all of the tribals going on the quest were gathered at the entrance to the caves with their packs. It was a rather small group compared to other years. Quest years were always anxious times for the tribes. There was always the chance that one of their children wouldn't come back, either out of choice or because they hadn't survived. I took a deep breath. I hoped to come back a different person. A better, evolved person. Finally, Chief Kalani stood in front of the group, his deep booming voice vibrating throughout the land. Kateri didn't doubt that you could hear every word of his miles away. She closed her eyes, memorizing every word. She would miss all of this.

          "From this moment, you all are no longer children. You will receive your respective tattoos to guide you on this quest from your respective tattoo masters.. For the past week, you all have been strong and have learned from each other. You all also have fasted and gone through a period of cleansing in preparation for this moment. I know I can speak for everyone when I say we are all extremely proud of you, and we wish for you to come back safely from the quest. Your tattoo will be a representation of one of your ancestors, an ancestor who will protect you against all harm and guide you to your destination. As soon as you receive your tattoos, you may make your final goodbyes and begin your quest.Don't take too long with your goodbyes. Daylight will not last. Let the ancestors watch you." Chief Kalani let out a breath and stepped off to join his family. Kateri turned her attention from the chief and looked for Kaipo, the Libani tattoo master. Kaipo was someone Kateri always looked up to growing up. The tattoo master was as holy as the shaman, and would spend years training under the former master. Tattoos were how the tribes gained their power, told their stories, and expressed themselves. It was tradition that once a nymph came of age, they would receive a tattoo that would help guide them for the rest of their life. Once they came back, they would receive another tattoo. It was a holy art reserved for special occasions, and the more tattoos you had, the more prestigious and impressive you were. Some warriors were heavily tattooed, as well as the chiefs, including her father. The art they carried with them was beautiful and extensive, but Kaipo was absolutely covered in impeccable lines, swirls, and pictures from head to toe. If Kateri came back from the quest, she might consider apprenticing under the master.

          "Kateri! Over here." Kaipo called her over. Kateri saw Kaipo's hand wave above her head and ran towards it. Once Kateri got to the master after shoving people out of the way, Kaipo grabbed her hand and practically dragged Kateri to the mat set out with the tools. "Sit down here. I'll take care of you." Kateri sat at one end of the mat cross legged, and Kaipo sat at the other end. "Set your hand here in between us." Kateri set her hand in the middle of the mat while Kaipo got her tools and ink. She had a comb attached to a stick and a hammer. The comb would be dipped in the ink made out of burnt candlenut shells mixed with oil. The tattoo was excruciating. She sat there while the master tapped the inked comb into her skin with the hammer, trying to hold back screams and tears. Kateri gained an even higher respect for those with extensive tattoos. The pain they had to endure must have made them mighty. After what seemed to be ages, Kaipo was done and wiped away the blood. "Okay, all done." she said. The tattoo was still fresh, angry red, but it was beautiful.

         "What is that?" Kateri said. She had never seen a creature such as that. It's head encompassed the back of her right hand, with eight arms wrapping all the way down her forearm. It's arms seemed to have no bones, made up of shark teeth an ocean waves. Shark teeth represented power, shelter, ferocity, and adaptability, and the ocean waves represented life, fertility and persistence. It's head was made up of spear heads, representing courage and fight. It was a powerful tattoo that would surely call upon the ancestor's guidance.

          "I came from the Mokuna tribe. After my quest, I married Ahe, a Libani. He died a few years later in battle. Anyway, growing up, my tribe ate a lot of creatures of the sea. This creature, an octopus, has no skeleton. This means it is very flexible and can adapt to attacks easily. It can survive a severed limb, and it can change it's color to blend into the surroundings. This tattoo is often given to one who has suffered a great tragedy. I don't know what you will encounter out there in the woods, but you will need to adapt to change easily and quickly. You don't change unless you want to, Kateri. It can be your strength sometimes, but it can also be your weakness in the wrong situation. You must learn to adapt." Kaipo wrapped Kateri's hand in a cloth. Kateri was trying to hold back tears, both from the pain and from Kaipo's analysis of her.

         "Thank you so much, Kaipo." Kateri gave the master a tight hug.

          "You don't have to thank me, Kateri. Now, it's time to go. You have a quest to go on, and daylight doesn't last forever." Kaipo patted her on the back.