Sun Catcher

By Angela Dorsey and Marina Miller

When Lost River’s tribe is attacked by a strange creature that seems half man and half beast, she is terrified believing it to be the mythical Sun God. A deadly fire starts and soon Lost River is separated from her tribe. Confused and alone, she sees movement in the smoke. Maybe it’s someone from her tribe. Desperate, she follows – and finds herself alone with the beast half of the Sun God! But the beast seems afraid too. Maybe it’s not a god at all, but an animal, an animal as frightened as she is. An animal who is also running for its life.

Written by: Angela Dorsey and Marina Miller

• Language: English
• Publisher: Enchanted Pony Books
• Release date: May 8, 2012
• ISBN: 9781927100110

Book preview

SUN CATCHER

by Angela Dorsey & Marina Miller

Copyright 2012 Angela Dorsey & Marina Miller

www.aydorsey.com

Published by Enchanted Pony Books

www.ponybooks.com

License Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Sun Catcher

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Sun Chaser

Also Available by Angela Dorsey

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Chapter 1

Smoke billowed upward in great wafts, becoming lost to the star studded sky. Drums thundered. Hypnotic chanting rolled like waves over the crowd gathered before the huge bonfire. Sitting at the back, Lost River adjusted her position. She might as well get comfortable; there were hours left to her sister’s naming celebration. Blue Swallow was being initiated as a full member of the tribe, an adult, worthy of an adult name.

Through the crowd, Lost River caught glimpses of her father’s magnificent headdress, its glossy white feathers shimmering and fluttering in a long tail to the ground as he danced before the fire. Pride for his oldest daughter, Blue Swallow, was in every movement he made. Equal delight was alive on the face of their mother, seated beside the fire on Blue Swallow’s right. At least their brother, on Blue Swallow’s left, wasn’t completely glowing with pride. Still, it was obvious he was enjoying himself. In fact, everyone was having a great time. Everyone but Lost River. Her stomach felt like it was tied in knots.

What is happening?

Lost River leaned close to Grandmother. Father is doing the dance to the Sun God, she whispered. In the shadows cast by the people in front of them, she couldn’t see the milky white of her grandmother’s eyes. She was glad. No matter how much she loved her grandmother, the old woman’s blind eyes still made her uncomfortable. He is asking for good fortune and long life for Blue Swallow.

And our Blue Swallow. How does she look?

She’s seated in the place of honour, Mother on one side and Snow Bark on the other.

Yes, but how does she look?

Smug.

Grandmother chuckled.

Lost River’s hand flew to her mouth. I mean, she looks grateful for this honour.

Grandmother patted her knee. Do not worry, little one. Your day will come. Blue Swallow is not best at everything.

Lost River sighed. At least Grandmother believed in her. If only Mother and Father did as well. But then again, why should they have faith in her? She was always speaking when she should stay silent, burning the bannock, or spilling the water. She never did anything right.

She was nothing like Blue Swallow.

Now Father is dancing the Monster tale, warning Blue Swallow to never wander the lakeshore alone, she added, swallowing her unhappiness.

The chanting and drums stopped abruptly. Lost River held her breath. This was the part where the monster jumped out and took over the dance. With a crash of drums and a roar from the crowd, a man in a monstrous mask with long jagged teeth leaped in front of the bonfire. Her father faded back to stand beside his family.

Lost River couldn’t stop the twinge that touched her heart. She couldn’t stand with them because she wasn’t yet an adult – but inside her heart she felt the distance was much bigger than the gulf between childhood and adulthood. She felt like a disappointment to them. No, not felt. Was a disappointment. Tears beaded her eyes.

The monster finished his dance, fading away from the fire. Lost River’s father and mother stepped forward, then held their hands back for Blue Swallow to come forward.

Like a chief, Blue Swallow walked toward them, her nose in the air.

It is time, Lost River whispered to Grandmother.

Grandmother clasped her hands over her heart. Oh, what will her new name be? she whispered.

Probably Perfection, Lost River almost said aloud.

Mother and Father each took one of Blue Swallow’s hands, then Father cleared his throat. Blue Swallow, he said in a loud clear voice. This is the last time your child name shall be used. They raised her hands high. From this day forward, you are White Swan!

The drums boomed. Chanting rose into the sky.

Lost River smiled. White Swan. Of course. The most beautiful animal in existence. What other name would the Sun God give to the perfect girl?

No, not girl. Woman. White Swan was a woman now.

The crowd thinned around Lost River and Grandmother as people pressed forward to congratulate White Swan. Lost River rose to her feet, then helped Grandmother rise as well. Do you want to go forward now, Grandmother?

Grandmother’s voice was lost to the noise of the crowd, but she shook her head so Lost River turned back to watch her sister, the knot in her stomach even tighter. What name would she receive when it was her time?

Grandmother touched her arm and Lost River leaned toward her to hear her better. Everyone seemed to be getting louder. I… wrong… the village.

I cannot hear you.

Grandmother said something completely unintelligible again, and when Lost River shrugged, she pointed back at their homes, the branch and bark huts that would last the fishing season near the lake.

Lost River squinted back into the darkness, made darker by the light of the bonfire. What was Grandmother trying to tell her? Did she want to go back to her tent? She couldn’t have seen anything, but had she heard something strange?

Lost River inhaled sharply. Something was moving beside Rain Cloud’s hut. One of the dogs?

A person. No, wait. A lot of people!

White Swan’s yell dwarfed all sound. The Blackfeet! The Blackfeet are here!

For the first time in her life, Lost River didn’t care that her sister had done something first. Fear spiked through her heart and for a moment, she couldn’t think of anything but running.

Screams of panic and cries of rage sounded around her. The warriors of her tribe rushed toward the strangers, dodging women, almost trampling children. But they had no weapons!

A group of children ran past, heading for the nearby forest.

Run, Lost River! Run! Her best friend, Pale Moon.