Story told by Nehrie - Atysmas Storytelling Assembly in Jena Year 2586 (2015-12-20)
The First Atysmas in the New Land
I watched the moon rising over the ridge to the west. It seemed to fill the whole sky. So huge. So different than back in The Old Lands. There it seemed as though the moon was a small, distant orb floating inaccessible in the sky. Here? Well... I felt myself lean back looking at the moon that seemed to almost be bending over me. The sound of the waterfall across the inlet soothed my tiredness.
It was the first time we'd had to stop for a long time. We'd been traveling since we'd left the Old Lands. Every place we went we had to struggle to avoid Kitins. Our daily survival in constant question. I missed the ones who were gone. Life Giver! I felt guilty for each and everyone that was gone. I forced myself away from those thoughts. I would think about that later. Maybe in a little time I could bear to look at my ghosts. Maybe with a little time it wouldn't hurt so much my family, was gone...
In the mean time I had to think of what to do for the others in the clan. We're all we had now. We're the only ones. What's left of homins.
I thought of all the old traditions. Atysmas was almost here.
When I was a child we would plan for weeks of surprises for each other. What a good feeling to do something for someone else!
I looked back toward Windermeer where the clan was resting. I wondered what the future held for us.
Then I heard a loud splash right beside me on the dark side of the beach. Water splashed up over my head. Suddenly, I was surrounded by loud voices, bright lights, people clapping me on my back. I think it was friendly.
As my eyes adjusted to the light I realized I was surrounded by a group of Karavan Dissidents we had meant the night before. I couldn't help being apprehensive. Were they really on our side? Were they going to decide to kill us? A perfect time for an attack! Right after sundown on the first night we had to rest. We simply weren't prepared!
"We thought of you this Atysmas! We thought of your children! We come to bring you gifts! We know it's early but on Atysmas we must be home with our own children! We hope you don't mind we bring you gifts!"
"Gifts!?" I echoed blankly.
"Yes, come! Where are the others? We bring gift for everyone!"
I tried to hold back the tears that burned my eyes. I think I was successful.
This simple kindness after all we had been through was more than I expected. There were indeed gifts and food for everyone. At long last I felt hope we had found a home.
The First Atysmas in the New Land
I watched the moon rising over the ridge to the west. It seemed to fill the whole sky. So huge. So different than back in The Old Lands. There it seemed as though the moon was a small, distant orb floating inaccessible in the sky. Here? Well... I felt myself lean back looking at the moon that seemed to almost be bending over me. The sound of the waterfall across the inlet soothed my tiredness.
It was the first time we'd had to stop for a long time. We'd been traveling since we'd left the Old Lands. Every place we went we had to struggle to avoid Kitins. Our daily survival in constant question. I missed the ones who were gone. Life Giver! I felt guilty for each and everyone that was gone. I forced myself away from those thoughts. I would think about that later. Maybe in a little time I could bear to look at my ghosts. Maybe with a little time it wouldn't hurt so much my family, was gone...
In the mean time I had to think of what to do for the others in the clan. We're all we had now. We're the only ones. What's left of homins.
I thought of all the old traditions. Atysmas was almost here.
When I was a child we would plan for weeks of surprises for each other. What a good feeling to do something for someone else!
I looked back toward Windermeer where the clan was resting. I wondered what the future held for us.
Then I heard a loud splash right beside me on the dark side of the beach. Water splashed up over my head. Suddenly, I was surrounded by loud voices, bright lights, people clapping me on my back. I think it was friendly.
As my eyes adjusted to the light I realized I was surrounded by a group of Karavan Dissidents we had meant the night before. I couldn't help being apprehensive. Were they really on our side? Were they going to decide to kill us? A perfect time for an attack! Right after sundown on the first night we had to rest. We simply weren't prepared!
"We thought of you this Atysmas! We thought of your children! We come to bring you gifts! We know it's early but on Atysmas we must be home with our own children! We hope you don't mind we bring you gifts!"
"Gifts!?" I echoed blankly.
"Yes, come! Where are the others? We bring gift for everyone!"
I tried to hold back the tears that burned my eyes. I think I was successful.
This simple kindness after all we had been through was more than I expected. There were indeed gifts and food for everyone. At long last I felt hope we had found a home.