Tech-Taters

Anya and Kalik

Anya glanced nervously down at her sister Kalik. She was tugging at the rim of Anya’s thick fur jacket recently made by Anali, one of the only people in the Bear clan who was skilled at making clothes. Some people said that Kalik, only four winters old, had animal sense. Anya could tell now. Her sister felt something bad was coming.

And suddenly, Anya saw a quick shadow run through the winter woods. It was the coldest season of the year, and Anya knew she should be helping set the fire. Oh, why couldn’t Pa be home from work with the hunters? I want him to come home for the first meat of the year…

Anya saw it, barely. Its white coat blended in perfectly with the snow, except for the black, concentrated eyes staring right at her. A wolf.

Kalik started whimpering. “Kalik,” Anya called, “Go back into the hut. Don’t be afraid! I will come when I am done.” She didn’t feel as strong as she sounded as Kalik ran into the hut. How was she, only 11 winters old supposed to scare away this large, terrifiying wolf?

The wolf approached her and the hut. She wondered whether the wolf had passed through the rest of the huts. She hoped not. She didn’t want anyone to have been hurt. But even her hooded fur coat couldn’t stop her from being numb all over and make her brain think straight.

Anya thought through the possibilities of winning. She couldn’t fight it or kill it because Pa hadn’t taken her on hunting lessons yet. She would have to use her smarts. She didn’t know that that was one of the best things to do.

Running inside, she saw the first thing that could help her, her father’s extra bow. But no, she didn’t know how to use it and wouldn’t dare waste it — they take so long to make. But the next thing she saw, she knew would work. She grabbed it quickly and ran back out.

The wolf started to growl. Its beady eyes said, I will conquer you. Anya had never felt this way. Pa had always done this kind of work. And he did it with such ease. Why wasn’t he back yet?

The piece of fresh meat was in Anya’s shaking hands. She had to throw it, as far as she could, into the woods. But what if it didn’t work? She would have wasted her whole family’s dinner.

She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to see the wolf. It came closer — she heard the wolf’s silent steps. Even closer, she could feel its breath. Pow! Her arm went up, and with all her might she flung the meat into the forest.

When she opened her eyes a crack, the wolf was gone. Just as she had hoped, the wolf had run after it.

She stumbled into the hut in complete disbelief. She had done it! Kalik was there. Anya knew her sense had told her the whole thing. Kalik was giving her a great big hug.

by Claire