Destiny Mine Read Free

permission to speak to men in public. She wanted to tell them this practice of making girls into half-boys waswrong and cruel. Yet, she knew she felt this contradictory way only because Kionee was now included.
    How can a female forget she is a woman when she has breasts and a lovely face to hide and is confined in the Haukau between the full moons when blood flows from her lower region? Martay fretted. She knew the alleged reasons why tivas could not have mates and children. But if a girl must be a Hunter-Guardian, she should be equal with Hunter-Protectors in all ways!
    Martay rebuked herself for being selfish and angry, but she could not halt those emotions at this difficult time. If she had not been spared that rank by being born the second child in a family of only daughters, she would be a “man” this moon; she would not share a tipi and mat with Strong Rock. To never experience love, kisses, embraces, and children seemed a great sacrifice for only tivas to make. But the child of Strong Rock must not be the first chosen one to dishonor her family and people by refusing her rank or by fulfilling it badly. Martay realized she must pray and make offerings to Atah to give herself the strength and courage to do what she must, and to forgive her for wicked feelings and thoughts.
    Spotted Owl motioned for the group of over forty tivas to come forward. He waited and listened as they promised to do their best to train the girls for their future duties and to teach them to be obedient to their fates. Afterward, the group returned to its assigned place.
    Concealed behind rocks, the chiefs eight-year-old son and the boy’s best friend spied on the ritual with keen interest and amazement. They knew tivas of all ages but had not known they were girls and women until this moment. As they whispered back and forth, they guessed the secret was kept from children to prevent exposing it to outsiders who came into contact with the Hanueva.They talked of how other tribes would laugh at them for having female hunters and warriors, so they would never reveal the offensive truth. The secret explained to them why tivas did not swim and bathe with boys or men, and always kept their real images hidden. Wide-eyed and alert, they watched Kionee’s pretty face disappear behind one of those painted designs. They heard her declared to be a boy now! She would play, hunt, and train with them when the new sun rose! At times, they had been jealous of the “boys” and “men” with colorful faces who were said to be sacred “chosen ones.” Both boys sneered they no longer wanted to be tivas, and swore never to allow a girl to become a better hunter or fiercer warrior! When the climactic dancing, singing, and drumming began, the youths sneaked back to camp.
    After the dreaded ritual ended and her child approached, Martay gazed into the upturned and colorful visage of her “son.” A bitter fate had been forced upon them: from this moon until Kionee’s death, she would wear the Mask-of-the-Hunter and live only for the survival of others. To hide her inner turmoil, Martay forced out a smile, which the “boy” returned with love and respect.
    In a gentle but firm tone, Martay said, “You must go with Regim, Kionee; you will stay in the tivi tipi with the elders for a learning season. After you are trained and skilled, you will return home to us. This is a big task, little one, and you must do your best in it. Obey the tivas’ words as you obey mine and your father’s. Sumba will be with you in training.”
    Kionee smiled innocently and nodded before hugging Martay. She accepted her aunt’s large hand and departed.
    Martay’s burdened heart cried out, Good-bye, my little daughter; may you never experience the kind of searing pain which burns in me this moon.

1
    March 1813
    Wind River Canyon
    T HE SCENE BEFORE HER of three sisters working on a cradleboard for the first child of one of them became too much for Kionee to endure. As the women