Sisterly Advice

Ehawee goes in search of her sister-in-law. Magaskawee is busy with her daily chores, but she smiles when she sees Ehawee approaching. "Good to see you feeling better," she says.

"Thanks to you. I'm feeling much better." Ehawee grins. "Since you didn't say anything about it this morning, I'm guessing you haven't heard the news."

"I know that Kohana seems very happy about something," Magaskawee says with a sly smile.

Ehawee's grin gets wider. "He asked me to marry him this morning. And Father gave his approval. He's talking to the Council now."

"Oh, I am so happy for you, Ehawee!" Magaskawee says, clapping her hands together.

"I still can't believe it. I keep thinking that I'm going to wake up and this will all be just a fever dream."

"So, pinch yourself," Magaskawee says with a grin.

Ehawee gives herself a good pinch on the arm. "Nope, still here. Oh Magaskawee, I'm so excited. And a little nervous. What's it like to be married?"

"I think it's different for everyone, but for me, it makes me feel complete."

"I keep telling myself that it can't be much different than taking care of Father and Takoda." Ehawee flushes a bit. "Except for, you know..."

Magaskawee chuckles. "Yes, there is that. And that is a good thing," she says. "That is the easiest way to feel appreciated there is."

Ehawee looks both curious and nervous. "What's it like? Will I know what to do? Were you nervous, your first time?"

"I was nervous, yes. The rest is hard to explain," Magaskawee says, continuing with her hide work.

Ehawee bites her lip. "Does it hurt terribly?"

Magaskawee stops and stares at Ehawee. "After what you went through at the lodge, you're worried about that?" she says, a look of incredulity on her face.

"A little," Ehawee admits. "I guess it is kind of silly when you put it that way."

Magaskawee nods. "The first time might be a little uncomfortable, but only the first time."

Ehawee looks relieved. "Thank you. I just wanted to talk to someone who was already married." Her expression saddens for a moment. "I really miss my mother right now. She would know what to tell me."

"I know, but I can tell you. Relax, and have fun," Magaskawee says with a smile.

"All right. I really am happy. I guess I'm just afraid I won't be a good wife. Although I could hardly be worse than Maka." Ehawee smiles mischievously. "I wonder if she's heard yet?"

"I haven't heard any screaming yet," Magaskawee answers.

Ehawee laughs. "She has no grounds for being upset. She left him, after all. Not that that will stop her."

"I don't think she'll dare to attack you again."

"I'm not sure pushing me in the river counts as much of an attack, but I think you're right." Ehawee shakes her head. "That feels like it was such a long time ago. So much has changed."

Magaskawee nods. "Not all change is for the bad," she says. "So, when is the wedding? I can see I'll have to hurry, if I am to have the first grandchild," she says in a teasing tone.

Ehawee blushes. "Soon, I think. Kohana is speaking to the Council now. He asked me if today would be too soon." She grins. "I think I'll need a bit more time to prepare than that."

"He must really miss Maka's cooking," Magaskawee says with a laugh. "You should start packing your things then."

Ehawee nods. "I guess I should." She gets up to leave, then stops and turns back. "Oh, I almost forgot, can you show me how to make the paste you used on my face? Since it seems to be helping me so much, I thought I might use it on Kohana."

"I can. I'll get the ingredients ready and show you when you come back."

Ehawee smiles. "Thank you."

Ehawee walks back to her father's teepee and begins packing up her belongings. It is a slow process, as she lingers over certain items and the memories they invoke in her, but she is given no reason to hurry. One of the last objects she finds is a doll from her childhood that her mother had made for her. It was one of the last things Mapiya was able to do for Ehawee before her death, and Ehawee holds it for quite some time. Although she has been making an effort as she packs to leave her childish things behind, she can't bear to give up one of the final gifts from her mother. She tucks it away carefully with her other belongings, careful to make sure that it will not be easily visible. She just knows Takoda would tease her if he spotted it.

After a time, all of Ehawee's belongings are neatly packed. Her father's teepee looks strangely empty, and she can't help feeling a bit sad as she looks around at her childhood home, touching a few items here and there. But she's too excited to be melancholy for long, and eventually she sets her belongings to one side and leaves the teepee, searching for Magaskawee again.

Ehawee finds Magaskawee still sitting in the spring sun, doing her sewing and mending. Ehawee sits down next to her and smiles. "All packed. The teepee looks kind of strange now."

"I understand," Magaskawee says, patting Ehawee's hand. "Are you ready for the paste recipe?"

Magaskawee spends the next half an hour or so explaining where to find the ingredients, how to process them, and in what ratio to mix them. Ehawee pays careful attention to everything, making sure she understands not only how to make the paste, but how much of it to apply, and how often. Fortunately, it's not horribly complicated, and Magaskawee says Ehawee can always ask her questions.

Just as Ehawee has the ingredients memorized, she sees Kohana walking in their direction. He is smiling. Ehawee smiles herself when she notices this and watches him approach, commenting to Magaskawee, "It must be good news if he's smiling like that."

Kohana squats down opposite from the two women. "Apparently the elders think it is a good idea that your sister-in-law marries," he says to Magaskawee.

"The elders are wise," Magaskawee answers, both of them looking amused at Ehawee's expense.

Ehawee looks at them innocently. "And who do the elders think I should marry?"

"Maka," Kohana says, and then falls over laughing.

Ehawee makes a face, and throws a handful of grass at him. "Very funny. Just wait until she finds out. You think she was screaming before..."

Kohana sits up looking a bit pained, a hand on his wounds. "Oh, I'm not worried about her," he says. "The elders think we should both go through a cleansing ritual first, though," he says, a bit more seriously.

Ehawee's smile fades. "Oh? Because of what I did to you?"

"They want to prepare both of us for the spirit in you. It's good that this happened," he says. "Without it, I'd be stuck with Maka, and you wouldn't have known about your spirit. With the ritual, we can both be prepared for what lies ahead."

She nods, seeing the wisdom in this. "What must we do?"

"We will both go through a sweat lodge, and the shamans will purify us and prepare us for the union."

Ehawee is a little startled that she would be allowed to go through a sweat lodge, but reminds herself that she isn't wholly a woman anymore. "When do we begin?"

"Two days, on the full moon."

She smiles slightly. "I guess you were right about today being too soon to get married."

"Some things are worth waiting for," he says as he stands. "Plus, I've got two days to check my traps for new skins, which I'm off to do now."

She grins at that. "Good luck. Is there anything I need to do to prepare for the sweat lodge? I've never done anything like that before."

"Meditate on your place in the circle of life. That ought to keep you out of trouble for a while. I'll see you when I get back."

She nods, then scrambles to her feet with the paste she and Magaskawee had just made and holds it out to him. "You should take this with you. For your face. It will make it feel better and pain you less."

He takes the small basket gourd from her. "Thank you." His eyes linger on her. "Would you show me how to apply it?" he asks, after a moment.

She nods. "I can do so now, if you wish."

"Thank you," he says as he holds his hand out to her.

"Deadwood"
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All text on this page is © 2000 by Kris Fazzari.

Last modified on December 31, 2000 by Kris Fazzari.