It was strange, getting used to their new village.

While they had been leading them there, the men took them through the forest, their steps quiet and precise. Migisi had tried to match their natural grace more than once, but it had not been an easy task in this unfamiliar terrain, where there were so many fallen branches, big and small, laying about on the ground. There were also various leaves that lay on the dirt, roots erupting from it, and rocks scattered about.

She had decided she did not like that ground.

The village itself had been just as strange too, and while Migisi had spotted some familiarities as with her birth tribe, this was different. For one, the Na'i lived in the forest, so the sun barely peaked through the trees. For another, the people dressed differently, with their long clothing, their hair various lengths, and their shoes steady and protective from the earthly elements. Then, there were the people themselves.

They were...odd.

When she, Honan, and Kwanita were announced to the Na'i tribe, many of their reactions varied depending on who they were addressing.

For Kwanita, the people, specifically the elders, immediately recognized her and immediately paid their respects for her in various ways. Kwanita herself greeted them in their language, and Migisi found herself feeling frustrated that she couldn't understand anything they were saying, but she kept it in check.

But then, when the people looked upon her and Honan, Migisi was unsure if she was supposed to be afraid or even a little relieved, as the people actually looked curious at their appearance, but then again there was the sort of hostility about them that reminded Migisi of their last tribe.

Her entire body felt like it was ready to collapse to the ground upon seeing that, those horrible looks that she had been hoping to get away from, what her mother and Honan were hoping to get away from.

But, either way, the people seemed to greet them warmly, or what Migisi hoped was a warm welcome.

She wouldn't have been surprised if that welcome had been solely for Kwanita, but it still hurt.

Still, it had been difficult, getting used to their new life. The work was the same, but with the Na'i, she was expected to work with the boys as soon as she was able, helping them carry the baskets upon baskets of weapons and even going with the men for hunting. The work would take all day, and by the end of the day, Migisi would collapse onto her mat as soon as she saw it, and would lose herself to the land of dreams shortly after.

Second, learning the language had been easy but difficult at the same time, and although the people were patient with her and Honan, they were very strict with her whenever she made a mistake. Those experiences had not been pleasant, and it wasn't something Migisi wanted to experience again if she could help it.

And finally, the customs were different from the ones she had seen with the last tribe. It wasn't just with the work, but she had been expected to learn a dance that celebrated the birth of the forest god, Ereth'e, a dance that all genders had to learn, not only to appease the god, but also to make them desirable for the opposite gender and create marriages. Of course, strangely, Kwanita was allowed to not participate, but her children had no such thing.

It was horrible enough that Migisi knew that would probably never happen, and if they were even lucky, the tribe wouldn't attempt to cast her, her brother, or Kwanita out when she and Honan fail to age like the other children. Still, the thought of having to participate in this dance was painful for her.

It reminded her that she was still living a lie, a lie that was created to protect her from others, including Honan.

Honan. He still didn't know, and Migisi didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

But she supposed it was neither, but that did not dull the ache in her chest.

In fact, sometimes she would cry herself to sleep at night, so quietly that no one heard her of course, and when morning came her face would feel dry and cracked, like dry ground. She would instantly wash her face when no one was looking before she would go about the duties set out for her.

The work proved to be a wonderful distraction, despite how hard it was.

Now, they had been here for months, and by now Migisi was starting to get used to her new life. She would wake up, have breakfast inside the tepee, then go out with Honan and the men to either work on weapons or be taken out of the village to learn how to hunt.

Hunting.

The first time Migisi saw the large, beautiful elk collapse to the ground and take its final breaths, she had been struggling not to cry. The elk was so beautiful, so majestic, and yet they had to destroy all that so the village people could be fed.

She understood why they had to do this, she truly did, but it still hurt.

Then, as they were heading back, one of the men took Migisi aside. He could be considered handsome for his old age, but there was still this strength about him that enabled him to keep going in his existence. He also wore a patient smile on his face that immediately put Migisi at ease, and once they were away from the other men, he spoke to her.

"What troubles you young one?" he asked kindly.

His question surprised Migisi, but moments later it became a struggle not to cry as she forced herself to reply.

"We're hurting him," she said. "I know that we need to eat, but it...he looked like he was in so much pain." Migisi could feel her shoulders trembling as she continued her fight against her tears.

She couldn't appear weak in front of this elder, not here, not now.

But the man just smiled patiently and placed a hand on her shoulder. "This is your first time encountering death, is it young one?" At Migisi's nod, he continued. "I understand your feelings boy, watching a living soul perish is no easy sight, not even when you encounter it many times. I suppose it gets easier as the years pass by, but the pain will never dull. I'm glad to see how much you care for all living things young one."

Migisi smiled weakly.

"However, you must remember one thing." Migisi looked up at the man in confusion. "When we have to kill our animal brothers and sisters, we always ask for their forgiveness for having to end their lives, and we pray that they will understand, but we need their meat for food, their hives for clothing and shelter, and their bones for weapons. One day, you will be expected to take a life young one, but you must remember to ask for forgiveness, or else a restless spirit will curse you."

Migisi shivered at the thought, but nodded with a weak smile.

The elder smiled slightly before standing back up. "Now, we must return to the village before the men wonder where we have disappeared to."

Migisi nodded, and as they walked back to the village, she looked back up at him.

"What is your name T'iat?" she asked respectively.

The man looked down at her. "I am called Li'at young one, and you are called Migisi correct?"

Migisi nodded.

"Well, it's an honor to meet a child of the goddess. I look forward to talking with you in the future."

When they finally got back to the village, Li'at disappeared, leaving Migisi alone to return to Kwanita, who had awaiting her and Honan's return. That was another tradition of the Na'i, as soon as the men return to the village, the women and younger children would greet them and welcome them home.

This was so different from their old tribe.

"Why are you smiling Migisi?" Kwanita asked after she greeted her children and Honan went to go play with the other children, staying within sight of his mother and sister.

"Hm?" Migisi hadn't realized she had been smiling all this time. "Oh, I have met a man named Li'at."

"Li'at?"

"Yes Mother, I think I have made a new friend."