Unwelcome Surprise

School and life ensued in the small tribe lead by me and my husband. Its highly likely that my son will take my spot when I am no longer in the world. It will be a great honor for that to happen.

The days pass and the dreadful month of August ensues. I don’t follow the traditional birthday celebrations in my tribe and everyone agreed that there isn’t a point in celebrating something that has been the death of others. Why should we celebrate the fact that we got to live just because of when we were born whereas many others have died without living a day or, even, a few hours?

I sigh as these thoughts come to mind. My son, Aspen, comes to me and smiles. “Mummy! It’s August today! I’m going to be older and stronger,”he says innocently, I smile at the precious quality.

Snow and Blaze are playing outside during their lunch break. All the children I have haven’t gained the quality of excessive intelligence like myself but I don’t mind. They are getting to grow up slowly and enjoy life which I have always wanted for them.

“I’m glad you are getting stronger,”I say sweetly, “do you mind sharing that day with this little one?” He shakes his head vigorously, “I don’t mind.” I smile and nod happily. The gong sounds and he runs off to his classes with his siblings.

Storm rushes into the igloo with a solemn expression and tears fill my eyes. He hugs me tightly. “I don’t want to see him. I’m scared,”I say honestly and he sighs. “I know but we will protect the child if we have to and we will make sure that everyone gets out with their lives,”he says honestly, I smile while tears fall down my face.

The day slowly comes to its end and everyone goes to bed. The darkness doesn’t come, but we all fall asleep despite knowing that August has ensued and lives will ruined, ended or saved.

The next day comes and the children run to school in the cold. They had a bath in the cold streams that still flow before heading to their classes. I decide to head out with my husband when he comes back so we can go bath as well.

When he comes back, we head towards the streams and I hastily bath myself while my husband does the same. After drying myself and dressing, I feel a sharp pain and shout out to Storm. “Oh my! The 2nd of August,”Storm says and his smile falters. He grabs me and puts me on his back. The whole tribe watches as he takes me into the igloo. Tears start flowing as I wonder if I will have to run with the tribe again.

Storm looks at me knowingly, “Don’t think about it now. Worry about the child for now.” I nod but sob uncontrollably. After a few hours of labor, I hear the cry of a baby. The sound I hate the most, yet, love the most is the sound of a baby crying. A smile spreads on my face and I sigh in relief until I look at my husband. His eyes are dark and unsteady. He rushes out and I notice him talking to the tribe’s men. I sigh as the woman hand me the little girl.

I cry and say, “No one will take you away from me. No one will hurt you. No one will kick you out to be left for dead.” The baby hasn’t been wrapped in any clothing but is as warm as the sun. A smile forms on my face, “Whistle.” Storm walks in as I say the words, “Isn’t the baby cold?” “No, she’s like me,”I say and smile, “unable to feel cold.” He smiles and nods at my happiness. “We will have to flee,”he says honestly. I sigh, “That’s all we ever do. So many people die trying to protect these children’s’ lives and, yet, we always end up leaving the one person who deserves to die alive.”

Storm nods and says, “It isn’t fair but nothing is. We both know that very well. Whistle will learn that too.” “What if I don’t want that for her?”I say seriously and tears fall down my cheeks. He sighs. “What if I don’t want us to keep fleeing? What if I want her to live normally? What if I just want something different?”I say seriously as the anger builds up inside me.

“We all want something different. We all can’t have what we want so we have to live in fear,”He says seriously. “Why do we have to be the only ones living in fear?”I say seriously and he just looks at me like I’m crazy, “what if we fight back instead of fight to escape?”

”Its a great thought,”he says honestly, “but at what cost?” “We already cost ourselves so much,”I say seriously, “lots of people have died so why not kill him so we can save the rest?” I look at Whistle and tears fall. “We can suggest it to the tribe. I know someone else had a child today as well so maybe everyone will agree,”Storm says seriously, “but I will have to stay and fight. I might not make it out. I will do it for you if everyone agrees. I will do it without them if they don’t agree.”

Tears drop from my eyes at knowing I will lose him but a smile forms knowing we will save everyone else. I don’t want to lose him because we’ve been family since forever. He was my first family. He will be my last family.

“I...will miss you if your gone but your name will never be forgotten for saving the world,”I say seriously, “I don’t want our children to grow up alone, but I have to be with you when you take that murderer away from this world. I want him to know their are survivors and that if he survives that there are people out their ready and waiting to kill him.”