Join Ikola Erelaria as Caroline Thies tells the story of a young girl journeying to a land with her family to find their home. This striking tale from the past written in diary form tells that home can be found in the midst of the wilderness.

Dear Diary, February 2

Oh, Leather Journal, Hear me cry! How the wind howls ferociously and the cries of children sound so real, yet the reality is that they are at my side as Ogo rests. We travel on the ice every day and never before have been in so much need. Mother is ill and this icy terrain has no food on it to heal her. We can't even start a fire for we have no wood, and if we burnt our cloathes we would freeze. Though we wish for warmer weather, we know we are far north and therefore warm weather will not come and if it did come, the ice would crack sending us to cold deathes. Baba perserveres and tries his hardest to get us journeying. The tents we have fashioned keep out some cold and our only night is the moon. We nontheless journey on to where our destiny awaits us. Home.

Dear Diary, February 3

We have traveled 2 days on the ice and Omam still breathes. To loose her would be like losing part of my soul. The landscape has long seemed endless, and with little food and water we must tear on. Thankfully, today we spotted a spot of land, small, but enough. We shall be able to reach it soon and will then celebrate. Maybe that is where our destiny awaits us. Maybe it is home.

Dear Diary, February 4

The land is not snowy, as a matter of fact, but herbs to cure Omam's illness are nowhere to be found and she struggles. Ogo is losing energy as am I, but Father seems as spry as always. I don't know how Baba does it. He always awakens at the crack of dawn and is out to pack up so we can move on early. Our journey continues south again. The path is rough, and Baba can tell that this is real land, not ice. Today we reached water, and must sail.

I enjoy sailing when it is only me, though I have never done it. I know I would because now I must care for Ogo and Omam as well as the Pinian clan. But the waves are rough, and the clan fears the dangers that lie ahead. But Baba knows. He knows our destiny. Home.

Dear Diary, February 5

We have no ship and little time. Haisha predicts danger in the path ahead, and we try to calm her, but she will not calm. Baba worries, and that worries us. Ho Pinia brought together Ho Borhurst, Ho Fairden, Ha Airavia, Ho Allerakin, Ha Ekkarria, and Baba (Ho Erelaria) to bring up their men to begin construction on several boats, one for each man. Ho Pinia favors Ho Allerakin and will be assisting him. I aspire to help Baba, but he says no, I must help Haisha, Mother, and Ogo. Baba Left this morning early to find supplies with his men. Haisha knew where they were and told us, but not Ho Pinia and Ho Allerakin. Haisha doesn't like Ho Pinia, and Ho Pinia likes Ho Allerakin, so Haisha doesn't like Ho Allerakin. Haisha is one peculiar woman.

Dear Diary, February 6

Haisha is acting very strangely lately. She frets all the time about what is to come. She worries all of us. Omam's illness progress in its state, and now she is hot with the fever. Haisha cannot help as much as we ask her to, for to her what is to come is more important to her. we got in a fight today. I feel guilty for I started it.

"Haisha, why can't you tell me what ails Omam?

"More important things are at stake."

"Look at her, she lies there in turmoil and struggles to live."

"Things to come will change us, in the worse if we don't act."

"Can you just tell me where to go to find medicine."

"Spare yourself, Ikola."

"My name is Ikola, Lo will keep me safe. I am ever so faithful to him and he will always be at my side, as all Ikolas."

"Lo is only a myth, don't you see? Ikola really means tree, that be so. It means you are our Hope, you are always faithful."

"Then who answers our prayers?"

"I don't know, you see."

"You are Haisha, you know all."

"No, I do not. Trust me here. The thing on its journey here will say. "

"But what is the thing? How do you know something is coming if you don't know everything"

Baba walked back into the tent at that very moment and looked at Haisha and me. He carried a sack made from a animal's bladder, I could tell, but I couldn't tell what in his left hand and several more in his right. He handed one to me and then Haisha, then Omam and Ogo, but he just played with his. I was going to open mine when father hurried Ogo and I to bed.

Dear Diary, February 7

Those bladders were a slice of heaven on earth. In mine I found meat, Fur and bone of an animal. Mothers had a bark that coulf be used in a remedy, and Haisha's had the same as mine. Ogo had a soft fur, a piece of meat, and a blubbery thing that no one could identify. I kept mine safe and knew that the bladder could be used to hold water when we traveled. Now, perhaps mother would heal.

But the best thing father returned with was wood.

Dear Diary, February 8

Each man prepares a rowboat for his family. Haisha tells us to stay home, but we tell her that this isn't our home. She argues that it is too dangerous to travel, but father says we must. The row boat will be done tomorrow, and then we will depart.

Dear Diary, February 9

Omam is working on the medecine, trying to get it down, But it always comes back up. We have no more, and the fever has progressed and I must keep Ogo away from her, as he is young and vulnerable. The rowboats still aren't done, but I expect they'll be ready soon. Then Baba must present himself to Ho Pinia for permission to leave.

Dear Diary, February 10

The rowboats were finally completed, but when Baba presented himself to Ho Pinia, he said that we must wait to leave until all are ready. Omam continues to work on the medecine, but she is still struggling. Oh, book, why is the weather like this? Why is my Omam clinging to her life? Why do I have to care for all, though I have learned my lesson years past? If only you give me the truth, save my clan!

Dear Diary, February 17

I have not written for a while for the family has been in deep thought over what to do with mothers body. The fever killed her in her sleep and though we want to bury her when we find home, it might be aways and we can not carry her. My soul is no longer wholsome, and I live like a half being.

The Good news is that Ho Allerakin has finished the big boat he and his clan constructed and so now we have a reason to go. Ha Ekkarria's boat still is not done, but Ha Airavia and Baba have agreed to take some from her clan, so all is well. We sail tomorrow.

Dear Diary, February 18

I sit here, book in hand as a mist sprays my cheeks. The boats from our group are tied together so we don't lose each other. The water is smooth but Haisha is scared. I don't know where we are going, but we were up with the sun this morning and traveled until late in the night, 16 hours. Then we dropped anchor and will soon sleep, I hope.

Dear Diary, February 19

It is day now, and I just laid Ogo down for his nap. Our boat is full with 5 people: Me, Ogo, Haisha, Baba, and a man called Lirium. He is a strong man that is the same age as me and he and Baba row all day, never ceasing. The ropes tying us to the other boats are so loose that we can sail as we please and no one tries to pull us back or forward. The boat seems so big. Baba and Lirium are such good builders that they had time to make a luxurious boat with a lower level for sleeping. It has a low ceiling, food storage, and the floor is covered with animal furs to sleep on and keep us warm! On the upper deck is a Rowing bench where Baba and Lirium sit (and sometimes me!) sit when we row. Behind that is another bench and a wood slab to be used like a table and in front of it is a trap door leading to the lower level. So innovative!

Dear Diary, February 21

I am sorry that I did not write yesterday, but Ogo would not rest much, but when he did I had to row. I am getting tired of ship life. After ten days, we sail back to our previous encampment if we haven't reached land for we only have enough food for 25 days. Even if we do eat that 25 days, it is only 2 meals a day and it isn't like eating feasts but more like eating like a beggar. Thankfully, now, Haisha thinks that the thing to come is land, not some bad storm or something. I hope she is right! We have spent 4 days at sea.

Dear Diary, February 22

I am so bored that now we have a daily rotation. I will entertain Ogo while Baba and Lirium row, then Haisha will take Ogo and I will row so Baba can rest and eat. Then, I will continue to row, but with Baba while Lirium eats and rests and Ogo sleeps, and then I will eat briefly before Ogo awakens and then will perhaps rest and write quickly so when Ogo wakes up I will tend to him. Again, in the evening the rotation will go again until we set anchor in the late hours of the night. We eat only a piece of meat, perhaps, and a sip of water. We are scared that the water will run low before we reach land, for we only will take 2 cups a day. Though we filled the trough 50 cups, what if some leaves? It is our greatest worry. Today is the 5th day of travel. The most days we have left would be 20, if luck is here. But, we could find land tomorrow!

Dear Diary, February 23

Today was beautiful. Ogo was in a good mood, too, and it was good to see plenty of smiles when we have been traveling 6 days and everyone in grumpy from sleeping with 5 others and all of our things. Haisha was eager, too, and I actually made lunch nice by getting out oysters to put the food on and chopping up the meat and salting it with sea salt. I guess that is what you get when everyone is in a good mood! I, in my free time, decided to get out my blade and see what I could do with that big bone from the bladder baba gave me. Whenever Baba kills an animal, he makes sure to give me a bone to carve in to something. My blade is actually a bone, so it is strange to cut a bone with a bone. I take it and the fur and cut out a pattern I designed in my head for a sheath, but don't finish. I put it away for tomorrow.

Dear Diary, February 24

Today is our 7th day and a cloudy one. Thank goodness it isn't windy, for if it was we may be blown off course. We still worry the wind will pick up, but I prefer to pretend the wind will cooporate. Baba knows if we are heading off course or are on course so he knows when to turn and he yells that command to the other men so they know, too, for they are always in sight. I am a bit bored and so when Haisha, Baba, od Lirium play with Ogo, I either cut the material or am sewing the sheath together with my bone needle and some thread I got somewhere. It looks quite nice, but maybe once we get to land I could color it.

Dear Diary, February 25

Day 8: Maybe we will see land, but I am really tired. Last night I stayed up late on the deck to look at the full moon and the stars. The clouds had cleared out a while before sunset so I coudn't help looking at the sunset and the moon rise and the stars come out and shine. When we got up this morning, the stars had cleared and it was getting warmer. It continues to get warmer the further south we get. Today Ogo was really pouty, but I made myself calm him though I wasn't so happy myself.

Dear Diary, February 26

Day 9: So much to write, so little time! This morning, everybody was grumpy except Ogo, because he was asleep. I worked on a belt with some animal skin that I can hook the sheath with my blade and the bladder through for water, and another spot so I can put another bladder to hold food. Then, shortly after my 2nd meal we heard a cry: "LAND!" Everyone struggled to the front of our boat to see what was there and, sure enough, there was a long mound of land stretching as far as the eye could see. Baba began rowing as hard as he could and it was only a matter of what felt like several hours before we reached the place. It was still very late at night so we put down the anchor and fell asleep for one more night in the boat.

Dear Diary, February 27

This morning was get up early for us. We rose at the crack of dawn as we do always, but got to stand on land for the first time in 9 days. It felt nausious, and I fell over. Baba laughed, but we got ajusted and all sat in the sand to listen to Ho Pinia's welcome speach:

"We are all glad that after 9 days at sea, sailing for approximently 16 hours a day, we have reached land. The Land seems very big, for just last night when you were all in your beds, I climbed onto that tall hill and looked out to see a long area of land. You all will asemble in your clans led by my children and will take and encampment on this beach to decide where to explore. When you have marked your land, Mark it with poles like this, connected by rope. I will stay here, and this beach will be myland. If you would like to help me make a map, stay here, and you will help me do that."

We all headed back to our boats, and those in our group sailed furter around to make and encampment. I wanted to participate in the men's discussion, but baba sent me off with the children to play. I did, but was bored. When the discussion was done Baba fetched me and told me the plan:

"Listen, Ikola," he spoke firmly."I will tell you our plan, but must be quick. We are going to sail to the south border of this to claim a small land there: We do not want it to be too big, but not too small, either."

"Is that all?" I questioned him as he took a breath.

"No. We leave tomorrow. Now, we need to gather food. Whatever you can find." I set off right then, and wore my belt and carried a pouch I had made a while ago. I found a nut bush that I could tell that the nuts were edible from looking at them. I picked many and put them in the pouch. Then, a freshwater stream was near. I quickly found a large tree branch lying on the ground. With my 2 hands, I pulled out my blade and both bladders, filled the bladders one at a time using my left hand, and with my right I worked on whittling a hollow on the thick branch that was held between my legs. The bowl was done in no time, so I whittled another, filled the first one with water, filled the second one with water, and headed back to the boat. When I got there, I ground up the nuts and mixed them with water. We could have a warm meal today. I made a fire that I knew Haisha could tend to and put the nut paste on it insturction Haisha not to eat it. It had been so long since I had had a hot meal . Then I set off once more to fill my pack with more nuts. I returned when the sun was a short distance from the horizon and I put the pack back in the boat and went to the fire with a few more bowls to fill with the paste. I only hoped that Baba would soon return. I eat my hot dish's contents, then feed Ogo his while Haisha and Lirium eat. I see Baba coming as the sun skips over the sun and the fire has died down to coals. I get it started up again, he sits down and eats his meal. After dinner, we all go to bed in the sand.

Dear Diary, February 28

This morning we still got up early and go back on the boat, but Baba allowed me to walk along on land with some others. We had to walk quickly but it was better than spending a 10th day on the boats. I finally got to see my friend Aka again. Over the past month I had been so busy I hadn't had a spare minute to talk to her. We were so glad to talk again. We would run ahead together so we could stop and play when we were far enough ahead to have time. Sometimes, if we saw food we would gather it. When the sun reached its highest in the sky, the boats came in and we ate tree bark and fish. It was quite tasty. We were all really hot and decided to cool off by diving for oysters. Aka and I got a bucketfull. We returned our food that we had gahered that morning to the boat and then set off again in wet cloathes.

Aka and I found plenty more food in the afternoon: What we named Lacalobs: Brown, fuzzy balls, nuts, herbs, crabs that we hit on the head with rocks so they wouldn't pinch us, oysters, nuts, berries, bark, and much more. In the evening we got together all of the food and cooked a big meal for the clan. It's hard to believe that a month ago we were freezing in an icy terrain and now we are in a tropical fire. After dinner, we all pulled down the big tree leaves to be used as beds and settled down in front of the cackling fire to sleep soundly.

Dear Diary, March 1

Today was a day similer to yesterday, but we ate lunch of those Lacalobs on the go and Aka and I waded more and even swam a bit in the afternoon. It made us so tired that right when we went to bed on fresh leaves, I knew I would sleep soundly.

Dear Diary, March 2

I woke this morning to a raindrop patting on my face, so that means I would have to go on the boat to bail water if needed. We all ran to the boats quickly when we awoke only to grab our belongings, some food, and big Lacalob tree leaves. Then, we all st off together. Haisha sat in the bottom part in the boat with Ogo and I, and we were in the dark and had no light source. I begged Baba to give Haisha a skin to oil and I could cut a hole that we could place the skin on to let some light in. He finally gave in, and we tightened and pinned the skin on before I cut the hole and fastened cloth on like a trap door so we could open and close the window. Then I rowed, leaving Haisha, Ogo, and Baba to enjoy the light. When I finished, we pulled the boats together for a picnic. I got to see Aka's boat, and she was really wet as her supplies because she wasn't lucky enough to have a shelter. I begged Baba some more to let her come with us, and he gave in! I can always get him to.When we set off, we needed to bail some of the water that had acumulated there out so Aka helped with that and then we went down into the room. She was amazed by how cozy it was and how we stored everything there. She told me the terrors of sleeping outside where the stars shine but the water laps at the sides. On days like this, a covered shelter is helpful. We got dry and then together covered for Baba and Lirium as they caught fish. They got a good few and were hoping to cook them before they went bad. We were able to go back to the shore in the evening to sleep on land and eat, thank goodness.

Dear Diary, March 3

Today Baba led us east. He says that we will travel until the end of the day and then that will be the start of our land. Some will walk for a day, and then we will venture upward for 3 days diagonally with the posts to mark our land. All who do not do that will stay here and help us make our first village. I think I will be in that group.

Now that we have reached that land, I will see it for you. There is a sandy beach and then a hill with bright green grass. Trees are scattered about 50 paces up a hill once you are off the sand. There are bushes amung them and plenty ways to get food. 10 paces up the sandy part of the hill are lacalob trees, and I'm glad, because lacalobs are sweet. If you look straight, you can see Mountains in the distance. I hope we can claim those. Until tomorrow!