This became her new routine throughout the last ten years; work, eat, sleep, train with her mother, move back to the forest once the winter was replaced by spring, and repeat every day. It was something that gave Migisi a sense of purpose, even though she had not grown any bigger.

She would have been four-years-old now physically, and now, more than ever, Migisi wished that she was bigger.

She liked to believe that she was completely human, that her mother and brothers were completely human, for that way she would not have had these powers, this body, or this existence.

She almost wished that death was a constant companion to her too.

During the end of her ten years, she had witnessed death claim another life, the life of a person Migisi looked up to.

The village was solemn, but no one openly mourned. Migisi had taken notice of this, and did her absolute best to not start crying herself, else that would prohibit the dying man's spirit from passing on to the afterlife. So, everyone focused on their work or their hunting, and right now Migisi was with Honan and the other boys and braves in the forest, searching for any potential food. No one spoke a word to each other, not even the siblings, and Migisi was sure that it was killing her as well.

They eventually found a deer, which Honan shot dead while Migisi forced herself to watch. It had never become easier seeing animals die just so they could live, and she immediately prayed to the animal's spirit for forgiveness.

Then, while they were hauling the carcass back, a brave began to walk alongside her. Glancing upwards, Migisi took note of the man's braided dark hair, his rich complexion, his hardened body, and his sharp dark eyes.

And those very eyes looked down at her as well.

Migisi immediately looked away, suddenly ashamed that she had been caught looking at him. Then she almost jumped when he spoke.

"You know of Li'at, do you not?" he asked.

Migisi looked back up at him, her eyes wide in surprise. "I...I do," she said. "He is a close friend of mine."

The brave nodded, looking ahead now. "He is a respected man in our village," he said. "He may not be our chief, but he is one of the best warriors the tribe has had."

Migisi knew this much. From the way the older man was respected, she could tell that he must have done something to achieve such status, as it was not easy. He also made it clear that he had seen much in his long life, something that Migisi prayed she never would have to see, though he never talked about himself much, though that was likely Migisi's fault, for she never really found the time or the energy to speak to him whenever they weren't hunting or feasting with their families.

She barely knew him, and now he was dying.

Her eyes turned downcast, and she watched as her feet took one step in front of the other and repeated the action over and over as they walked back to their village. The brave did not say another word for a little while, but he did.

"Is he your father?" he asked.

Migisi jumped. "Wh--n-no, he is not."

The brave raised an eyebrow at her. "You are close to him, and he taught you many things. Is he not your father?"

Migisi wanted to answer, but she wasn't sure what to say. She knew what a father was, she would have to be stupid not to, but there were so many kinds of fathers. A father who created one, and the father who taught one all they needed to know so they could pass it onto the next child. It was something that Migisi knew was important in this tribe.

She had no birth father, she knew this. No man conceived her, just as no man conceived Honan or Elsu, and that left only Kwanita to raise the three of them. Migisi suddenly wondered if the man who stole Elsu became his father, teaching him everything he knew, making him like him even.

But...who was Li'at?

Migisi looked up at the brave, a solemn look on her face. "I do not know."

It was the only answer she could give.

The brave looked upon her for many moments, before closing his eyes and looking away from her.

"I see," he said. "Then I hope you will find your father soon little one."

He then walked off once they arrived back to the village, and all before Migisi could even say anything to him. All she could do was watch as he walked away with the rest of the braves, likely to get the deer ready for the feast tonight, and that left her alone with Honan, who eyed her with concern.

"Are you okay Migisi?" he asked.

Migisi didn't answer at first. "Honan," she began, "who is our father?"

Honan's lavender eyes widened in surprise, and he stared at her in confusion. "What do you mean Migisi?"

"Do we have anyone who taught us the way Mother has?" she asked. "Was there a man who taught us all we needed to know?"

Honan stared at her a moment, before he looked into the distance with thought. He didn't say a word for a few minutes, then he shook his head. "Would the braves here be considered our fathers?" he asked.

Migisi looked at her brother hopelessly. "No, one man, one man who oversaw our progress, who taught us everything we know."

"The braves did that Migisi," said Honan. "Why are you asking these questions?"

Migisi couldn't answer. She turned away from her brother, praying that her tears weren't present for all to see. "Please forget I asked then," she said. "I am not thinking clearly at the moment."

"Migisi..." But Migisi was walking away before her brother could say anything else, looking for her mother. They always go to their mother when they are finished with the hunt, and they were to help her with any other farming there was left.

Migisi needed the work. She wanted to forget her emotions, the fact that Li'at was dying in the farthest tepee in the tribe, a precaution to not allow death to affect anyone else, and, most of all, she wanted to forget the painful truth about death and life.

Why did dying have to be so painful?

Eventually, Kwanita came into sight, and she was walking with the rest of the women and young girls towards the village, a basket of corn balanced perfectly on her head. When she saw her children approaching her, Kwanita walked towards them, a smile on her face, and knelt down, placing the basket next to her.

"Hello my children," she greeted warmly. "Did you catch anything?"

"Yes," said Honan, a beaming smile on his face that didn't seem to match his mood. "I caught a big deer Mother, the people are going to serve it tonight!"

How Migisi wished she could join her brother in his enthusiasm.

Kwanita looked to her, a frown appearing on her face. "Honan, go join the other children, okay? I need to speak to your brother."

Honan looked at her in concern. "Mother?"

"Please Honan?" asked Kwanita. "The children look like they want to play with you right now."

She was not wrong, Migisi realized as she looked towards the other young children, who were calling Honan to come join them. None were looking at her, and Migisi wondered what they were hoping to achieve.

Honan reluctantly looked between them and his mother, then nodded. "Yes Mother." He then took off towards the children, but not before he cast another concerned look onto his sister.

Migisi did her best to not meet his eyes.

Once Honan was gone, Kwanita turned to look at her daughter, a concerned look on her face. "What troubles you daughter?" she whispered.

Migisi bit her lip. She hated how easy she seemed to be read by her mother, no matter how well she tried to hide her inner feelings. Still, she forced herself to speak.

"Mother..." she began, pausing to take a deep breath. "Can I see Li'at?"

Kwanita jumped slightly, clearly stunned at her daughter's request, and suddenly Migisi felt guilty for even asking.

Kwanita was quick to compose herself however. "Why do you wish to see him?" she asked.

Migisi began to shake. "Mother..." Even her voice was shaking. "I'm scared. I'm really scared. Li'at is so scared, and he's trying so hard to hide from the people. He doesn't know what awaits him in the afterlife, if he will see his family members again, or if he even wants to pass on. He's so scared Mother."

Understanding flashed through her mother's eyes, and she looked upon her daughter with a warm yet sad smile. She then stood up. "Come with me," she said, gently taking her daughter's hand and leading her towards the tepee, a tepee that stood out from the rest with its white coloring and the symbols that surrounded it.

It was the tepee that every dying human would go last to protect their ascending spirit from any evil.

They walked closer to it, and Migisi took note that a couple unknown medicine men were guarding it, chanting ancient spells and dancing around the tepee, likely to further fend off any evil spirits and help Li'at's spirit pass on. Migisi thought the dance was beautiful yet so terrifying.

She gripped her mother's skirts harder.

Eventually Kwanita stopped in front of the medicine men, who ceased their ritual to face her.

"I need to see the dying please," said Kwanita. "My son is to accompany me."

The medicine men looked at each other before looking back to her, bowed to them, and stepped aside, allowing them access to the tepee.

Kwanita then led Migisi into the tepee, the flap leaving them almost in pitch darkness as it closed behind them. Migisi's eyes slowly adjusted however, and soon after she spotted a small fire burning, so dim that it barely showed the inside of the tepee, but it glowed a pure white color, another color Migisi never thought fire could take.

Then she spotted the buffalo hive, and the person inside of it.

Migisi barely recognized that gray hair, the frail body, and the feeling of death that very body gave off. But a moment more and she recognized that person anywhere.

Hearing them, the figure turned to face them, slowly too, like going any faster would quicken death.

Migisi could feel the tears coming now, despite how much she wanted to hold them back.

Kwanita also gently urged her forward, and Migisi collapsed to her knees beside the man, taking his much bigger hand into her own.

The figure gently squeezed back. "Is that...the Holy One and little Migisi?" asked the figure weakly. "I...have felt this hand...once...I recognize it anywhere."

Migisi smiled sadly. "It is I, elder, Migisi. I am here with you now."

"Ah," groaned Li'at. "I have been asking for you, and yet the medicine men would not let me...see you. It is...so good to see that...you are here with me."

Migisi knew the tears were streaming down her cheeks now, but she didn't care anymore. It was just too much anyway.

"Holy One," began Li'at. "What awaits me...after I close my eyes?"

Kwanita stayed silent a moment. "You will be with your family," she said truthfully. "I can see them, they are waiting for you now."

Li'at chuckled, though that was replaced by light coughing. "Ah, I have always wondered what the afterworld would be like for me. Still, I believe...it will be a wonderful place. I wish you could be able to see it...child."

Migisi could only nod, a sob escaping past her lips.

Li'at gently let go of her hand to wipe away her tears. "Do not cry for me child, you're going to make me cry, and I don't want my final moments being of crying. Come now, dry your eyes and smile for me."

Migisi looked upon the dying old man a moment, then took the deepest breaths of her life before forcing a smile on her face. "I'm sorry..." she said slowly. "I made you...so sad."

Li'at smiled in the dim light. "I made you sad my dear, do not blame yourself." They then spent the last several seconds in silence before the man turned to look at Kwanita. "Holy One, you understand...what this means, do you?"

Kwanita nodded. "I do."

"Then you know..." Li'at took another deep breath. "I feel...that something's coming, and it isn't good. Please, t...try to protect yourself...and your children. They need it."

Kwanita smiled slightly. "I will try."

Li'at smiled again. "Thank you..."

They stayed in that tepee for a long time until Li'at's eyes closed forever, and Migisi spent the rest of the night crying herself to sleep, calling for her father.

End of Arc 1