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Chapter 4 - Finding Rayraw Island - Natia Emory

I grabbed the next branch up. It was worn from my familiar grip. The next branch was always tricky, there was a small spike in it, close to the trunk,that formed when a small branch broke off and left a stump. I was used to that though, i just went around it. This tree was my favorite. It was taller than the other trees that surrounded it. It was one of the only trees that weren't pine as well. I enjoyed watching its leaves turn different colors with the seasons. They also blew in the air with the wind, the colors blending together. I finally got to one of the stronger branches that was thick and held my weight well. I situated myself so i wouldn't get a splinter in my butt or a rip in the bottom part of my swimming suit. Last thing I needed was going to talk to Niyol with a hole in my clothes. I looked around for a while; watched some squirrels eagerly climb trees and chase one another. Sometimes they would steal each other's nuts and attempt to hide from their victim. Victims. I didn't want any from my decision to find something that is just a story. It may not just be a story though. Grandma said that Takoda has a scar. That scar could be proof that there is something in the East. Only other witness that there is something out there would be his brother, but he left the tribe five years ago. Nobody knows where he went either. It was out of the question to go off to find someone who wanted nothing to do with our tribe. I wanted to go see this island though. It sounds like it is abundant in supplies, something that we need desperately for our growing society. We only have so much territory to move to for new resources, and we just recently relocated. This is also something for me to do. I want to prove myself that I am more than just a good swimmer in the tribe. I can do more than fish. I could provide our citizens with new land to live and thrive on. I leaned back onto the trunk of the tree. I could feel its bark digging into my fur, but not enough to hurt. I let my leg droop down over the edge so I could swing it back and forth, get my blood moving some. I always need to be moving. I need stuff to do. The break from running around the trails and swimming in the morning was just turning into the boredom now. "Hello up there!" I heard that familiar voice. "We were supposed to meet on a trail, not high up in a tree," shouted Niyol. "Maybe I like to change things up once in a while!" "You act more like a black bear cub rather than an otter sometimes. You know most of us can't climb." "You want to learn?" I proposed. "Maybe some other time," he declined as usual. "So do you have a story for me today?" "I'll tell you if you get your butt up here." "That's a crappy bribe!" He stood around for a second and then decided to give it a whirl. I climbed down a couple branches to help him get up. "I can figure it out." "Alright, Mr. Independent." I watched him get a few feet off the ground before he started hesitating. "Come on, you can do it," I encouraged as I leaned down more and took his bicep. It was strong for woodcutting, but not accustomed for climbing. I used my tail for balance as I helped pull him up. He didn't like being helped but I didn't care, I didn't want him to fall. I pulled him up a couple branches, hop up some higher ones and continue to keep pulling him up until we were both on my favorite branch. "Well that was a little nerve racking, if I may be a little honest," he said, trying not to shake. "So how about that story?" I told him about how Takoda went on that journey with his brother and found the beautiful island and how they were attacked. Then I told him how I believed that Rayraw Island really does exist and that I wanted to go see it. "By see it, do you mean canoe by it or actually go stand on it and feel its sand between ur webbed toes?" "Not only do I want to feel the sand, I want to explore the rest of the island." "How do you think you're even going to acquire a canoe to even get close to it though? If your father was there to hear that story, I could bet you next month's clams that he would never let you take his." "Well don't you think you could make one for us?" "Us?! I don't want anything to do with this forbidden island!" I knew he wouldn't be ecstatic in coming with me. "Natia, I know you're curious about this and it's going to be really hard to talk you out of going but I am certainly not going." "I know, Niyol," I leaned my head on his shoulder. "I know that you hate danger and all that, I just wanted to see what it was like. I need more to do that just climb this tree and swim in the shallow area of the coastline." "Well why don't you swim in the deep end," he poked my knee. "Because I'm daddy's little girl who can't be in any kind of danger, which includes swimming in deep dark waters where you can barely see and possibly get caught in the kelp." "I don't want you in that kelp neither, but I can see why you're frustrated as well." "So you won't go with me?" I said, disappointed. "I guess I can think about it, but don't count on it." I smiled a little and looked up to the sky again. "I think it's about time to head home, don't you think?" "Depends if you'll help me from here," he said, getting shaky from looking down again. "What if I don't?" I grinned deviously. "Then I will definitely never help you with no consideration," he counter attacked. "Bummer, I guess I'll help you," I hopped down a branch and took his hand to lead him where he needed to grip the tree. After ten minutes of coaxing and helping him down, we finally touched the ground again. I really needed to get him to do this more. Talking to myself in a tall tree gets lonely after a while.