Noatak was up before the sun rise that morning. He couldn't sleep at all. He tossed and turned, restless at the thought of what once was his home. He could never go back. He wouldn't go back. Yes, he would have his own bed to sleep in, his own clothes to wear, but he would also have his own heartless criminal of a father and a scared weakling of a brother. He hated them. Hated that they weren't what they should have been. If they had been, he wouldn't have been alone. Or better yet, he wouldn't have had to leave home at all. None of this would have happened.

He got out of bed, shuffling around the room as quietly as he could, trying to find his boots and jacket in the dark before remembering that Yena had taken them from him to hang in front of the fire to dry. Entering the main room, he found his clothes with ease in the glow of the fire. Little shoes were scattered around the fire, perhaps a little too close, before Noatak kicked them gently away to a safer distance on his way out of the house.

The harsh chill that came before the sun rose hit him hard in the face. Silently he thanked Yena for the dry jacket and boots, still toasty from the fire, and made his way to the stables. Inside the buffalo yaks slept, each in their own stable, breathing thick clouds into the cold air. He sighed, grabbing a shovel to start his chores. However, he quickly learned that despite his determination to get his work done now, sleeping yaks do not like being disturbed, and an occupied stable is almost impossible to clean. So he'd have to wait. Maybe he'd sweep some of the hay off the floor, maybe he'd fix the squeaky stable door, but he'd have to wait to clean the stables.

In the quiet of the dawn he began to wonder how much easier it would be to just leave this home. To take Nola or one of the other buffalo yaks and make a life somewhere else. Somewhere far away where he didn't have to worry about his father possibly finding him, somewhere where he wasn't always reminded of the home he was leaving behind. It would be easier, he thought, to just be alone. What was he going to do the rest of his life? Stay here and do chores for this family he barely knew? Try to forget about this ability he has in him and start a new life? It was highly unlikely, he thought, that this wouldn't end badly for someone.

He sighed. He couldn't stay here. He needed to get out. He quickly opened one of the stable doors, untied the buffalo yak inside and tugged for it to follow him. The sleepy yak resisted, snorting loudly. "Come on," Noatak insisted, but despite his efforts, the animal did not move. "Come on," he whispered harshly.

"Noatak?" A voice came from behind him toward the entrance of the stable, startling him. He quickly turned around to find Kahota staring at him with furrowed brows. He could see her big, confused eyes jump from him back to his hands pulling on the rope. "I had this thought that maybe you would have taken one of the buffalo yaks and left," she said, eyes now on the ground. She let out a small chuckle and played with the straps of a small leather bag in her hands, her feet kicked at the floor. "I-," she paused, seconds later taking in a huge breath and sighing. "I was just- I was just worried that.. That if you did…you might not have enough food or be warm enough out there. You know, with the frost coming and everything." Kahota's eyes found their way back up to his. A pang of guilt hit him. He looked at the buffalo yak, not wanting to see her face.

A silence fell between them. Noatak slowly turned to face her once more, ready to tell her he was leaving. "I have to take Kato to my dad," she said pointed at the yak he was holding, bit her lip, and then pointed to the buffalo yak in the next stable over. "But Nova doesn't get out much… He was my brother's… I'm sure he would appreciate you taking him out.." Noatak just stared at her. The girl walked toward him and gingerly took the reins from his hands, replacing it with the leather bag, and he let her. "For when you get hungry," She said, referring to the bag. She smiled a tiny smile. "come on, Nola," she commanded, and lead the two animals towards the entrance before turning around to him one more time. "Noatak?" He gave a slow, tiny nod. Kahota's face contorted, obviously conflicted about what to say, before she finally spoke. "Stay warm." She hurried out of the stable, the buffalo yak following next to her in a small prance.

He opened Nova's stable, grabbing his reins, and pulling him to follow. The animal did this with much less resistance than Kato, gladly prancing next to him. Noatak lead him out of the stable, slinging the bag over his shoulder on his way out, only to stop at the sound of Kahota and Hasook talking.

"I'll be traveling out to the next village to trade goods so I won't be home until after sunset. Remember to mind the time and—"

"- and don't let anybody see me. I know, papa. I'll be safe just like always."

"That's my girl." Noatak peered around the corner at the two. Hasook towered over his daughter as he gently cupped her chin in his hand. She smiled at him, and he smiled back proudly. His love for her radiated.

"You'll bring me back a treat?" Kahota asked, grinning at her father. He let out a warm chuckle.

"Of course. But only if you don't tell your mother." The young girl laughed and nodded.

"I love you, papa."

"You too, kuluk" He hugged his daughter tightly, and then began his trek to the villages as Kahota waved him off.

Noatak could feel a ball of anger build inside him. His throat became tight as the pit of his stomach twisted. It was the same feeling he got when he ran away from, Tarrlok not following behind him. The feeling he got when he thought about his own father and how much he sacrificed for a man who would never care for him the way he was supposed to. It all made him sick.

In the distance Kahota had mounted Nola, preparing for her fishing trip. Noatak watched as the girl stalled in the snow for a few moments, looking back in the direction of the stables. Remembering the bag, he peered in to find several fish wrapped in white cloth, enough food for a couple days. He looked back up at Kahota holding tight on the reins before finally galloping away on the animal.

And then, so did he.

I realize it's literally be years since I updated. Honestly, I totally forgot about this story during college, but after re-reading it, I've decided to continue it again. I loved writing the first 7 chapters, and I'm eager to continue writing more of it. Hope somebody out there still wants to read this!

R&R

Bea