Author Journey: December 9, 2022 - Updates & More

 Welcome back, dear readers and fellow writers! I've got a few things to share with you today. I hope you'll enjoy this trip down memory lane as I recap what's been happening this past week. 

Author Journey: Author-y Things I've Been Working On

This past week, I didn't get to write a whole lot, but I managed to start a new story. I've been working on it a little bit here and a little bit there as time allows. I think it might be a good story. We'll see. 

The blog has had a facelift! I went back to using my old header photo because it already included the colors I wanted to incorporate. It takes so much time to revamp a blog. I'll probably work up a new header photo in the early part of the coming year, though. What do you think of the refreshed look?

Writer's Life: Spartacus, Mundanity, & Back to Sewing

This past week, I went back to working part time at my old job. My hope was to never have to go back to that, but times are tough and money's tight. It is what it is and I will choose to live life joyfully, even when the job site might make that difficult. I can't do that on my own, though. There's no way I could do something so difficult without the help of the Holy Spirit working in me. And my prayer is for God to be glorified by the life He's granted me. 

Spartacus is growing well, as you can see. I think maybe I've been feeding him too much. Either that, or the people caring for him while we traveled to visit with my husband's family for Thanksgiving were doubling up without realizing it. So we popped some fresh batteries into the laser and have been helping him exercise. He's having a blast!

Just Keep Writing: Friday Fascicles

If this is your first time participating in this kind of writing exercise, you're in for a treat. If you've done this with me before, just keep scrolling for the prompt.

Rules:

1. You can use any/all of the words and/or the photo in the prompt below to create a unique written work. Fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose, even lyrics are acceptable.  
2. Please keep the material you write clean (ie. nothing R-rated or worse) if you wish to share the link to your work here, as well as if you link back to my site. I strive to keep my site free of such things. My readers know and expect this. I respect your right to write whatever you feel you need to write. And you're free to use my prompts. But if your material is graphic, I'd rather not view it, and most of my readers will not wish to. 
3. Have fun! This type of exercise is perfect for growing in the writing craft, or for helping through a rough patch in your current WIP. If you're looking to push your author limits and you normally write in nonfiction prose, try a whimsical collection of lyrics. If you normally write poems about real life events, try your hand at a fanfic. Give yourself some room to explore.

Don't forget to leave a link to your creation (unless you're writing graphic material) so my readers and I can check out your work. I'd appreciate a link back to this post to help me reach more readers, but it's not required. 

Photo by Egor Kamelev

Sadly, we've come to the last mushroom photo for this week. Do stop by Egor Kamelev's photo gallery on Pexels.com to view a wonderful collection of macro photos and more.

Just Keep Writing: A Strange Proposal 

Things you need to know:

• This story has been lightly edited...very lightly. Mistakes are likely.
• The people of Clan D'Koruyi don't use contractions. So all the dialog in this story reflects that. 
• Clan D'Koruyi consists of hunter/gatherer nomads who are divided into tribes and follow the herds and flocks. 
• The words from the word prompt for that day were brink, trend, and retreat. I'm happy to say I included them all and only one was used blatantly.

Pronunciation Guide: 

• Dahlsikin (DAHL see keen) - seasons
• Kanaki (kah NAH kee)
• Ara’oma (ah RAH oh mah)
• Kai’yanga (KIE yahn gah) - Creator’s name in D’Koruyi
• D’Koruyi (dKOR oo yee) 
• Tsimikin (TSEE mee keen) - years
• Moreb - (MORE eb)

A Random Collection of Tales - Story Four - A Strange Proposal

Weather trends were shifting into the warmer dahlsikin. Kanaki could smell it in the air, feel it under her bare feet. Her closest friend Ara’oma squatted close to the ground and ran her hand gently over the short blades of grass which were beginning to show some green at the base of their pale brown stalks.

“Do you think this time he will notice you?” she asked, looking up at Kanaki.

“Who can know that but the great Kai’yanga? But I will do all I can to make certain he does. And I will pray. It is the only way I will be able to change my name.” 

In all of her fourteen tsimikin, Kanaki could not remember a dawning when she was treated with the same manner the others in her tribe were afforded. It wasn’t until her seventh tsimikin that she discovered the reason. The only hope she had was to excel in every task she was given and try to catch the eye of the right man. Changing her family name would go far in encouraging her people to see her worth. 

A twisted ankle she received two nainda past during a hunt hadn’t done her any favors, though, and she feared her goal would have to be put on hold once again. Clan D’Koruyi didn’t appreciate hindrance of any kind. All worked together for the benefit of the tribe and the clan. She knew this even as a youngling, was taught this thing by her parents. 

So why had her pareh and morah not followed the teaching? They had been caught stealing from the tribal stores. Had a drought occurred, or any other natural disaster resulting in a lack of food, those stores were meant to feed their own people. Did they not love their people? Did they hate her, their own flesh and blood? 

“I hope you are ready,” Ara’oma said with a hint of laughter in her voice. “Here he comes.” 

Kanaki scowled. Things were easier for Ara’oma. She only had a useless arm which she kept tied to her side in a soft, hide sling. She’d become adept at managing the chores she was assigned and Kanaki admired her determination and resilience. Neither of them were hindrances on normal dawnings. And yet, they were both looked at with contempt. But because of the severity of Kanaki’s family’s sin against the tribe, they treated her far worse than Ara’oma. 

The time for dwelling on unpleasant things was passed. The object of her personal hunt had spotted them and headed their way. Moreb was a fine example of D’Koruyin spirit and citizenship. He was held in high esteem because he was thrifty and never seemed to make bad decisions. As soon as that thought, passed through her mind, Kanaki’s hope faded. Accepting her request to join as life-mates would be considered a very bad decision. No wonder no one had expressed interest in her yet. She hung her head, sorrow overwhelming her so much she knew she’d never be able to hide it from anyone watching her. That, too, was a failing. 

Cloven hoofs stopped right in front of them. She refused to look up. 

“Kanaki. Ara’oma. What are you doing out here?” His voice was smooth, not the harsh clip he often used when discipline was being meted out. Perhaps it was safe to just look at him.

Slowly, Kanaki raised her eyes to meet his. Moreb’s mount was tall and the man himself was tall. She had to look far and away up. It was also a wasted effort. The suns were behind him, casting his face in shadow. She turned away. 

“Is it forbidden to walk the plains, Moreb?” Kanaki could’ve bitten her own tongue off for the bitterness tainting her tone. Kai’yanga take this cursed emotion from her!

The rustle of fabric was the only warning she had before Moreb’s bare, tan, torso marked with symbols of her tribe and their clan blocked her view. She looked up again, confused. 

“There is no law which states you cannot walk the plains. You know that. Why are you here, though, for I cannot see a reason. There are no weapons on your waists or backs. No gear for trapping. No baskets for gathering, though this is not the season for berries and seeds. So,” he hunched down until his dark brown eyes were even with her own hane’en colored ones, “why?”

Kanaki blinked in surprise and murmured, “Waiting for you.”

Great Kai’yanga Most Holy! What had possessed her to tell the truth? Heat rushed into her cheeks, then tears filled her eyes. It angered her, but what did it matter, he would be the same as the others. 

“Is your ankle hurting?” The gentleness in his tone confused her. 

She shook her head and swiped angrily at the tears now cascading down her cheeks. “We are fine. You can go back to your work.”

“But I thought you were waiting for me.” He said nothing else for the space of two heartbeats. Then, “Why were you waiting for me?”

“She needs to ask you something,” Ara’oma reminded Kanaki of her presence and Kanaki scowled at the ground, wishing she could swat her friend. 

“What would you like to ask me?” Moreb gently prodded. “I have a little time before I need to continue on my way.”

After mumbling the truth only moments before, words now failed Kanaki. What could she say that would not make her look more pitiable than she did now? How could she ask this fine warrior to be the life-mate of a person who could not contain her own emotions as she should? He would likely laugh. 

But then she remembered something. Raising her teary gaze to meet his, she spoke the truth and prayed that Kai’yanga would guide her words. “You know of me, know my situation. You also know ways I can regain my honor among our people.” She bowed her head, gathering her thoughts and then continued. “I thought to ask you for something I do not believe I should ask for now. But is there a way you can help me? One I haven’t thought of?” She hated retreating, but there was no other way. This man was too good, too noble. To join with her, to cover her shame with his own name would be to bring him down. 

When he made no answer, she sighed. “My thanks to you, Moreb, for your courtesy in stopping to listen to one such as I. There was only a little hope, but I had to try. It is always possible Kai’yanga will shine light on a dark situation. But sometimes, we must continue to walk through, trusting in the Holy One’s guidance to get us to the goal.” Without looking up, she spun on her heel and took two steps, before her elbow was trapped in his grip. 

“Wait. You know what you asked me.” It was no question, but she nodded anyway. 

“This is why I chose to avoid the actual asking. In this way, there was no request you had to excuse yourself from or outright deny.” Kanaki kept her shoulders stiff and her face toward the horizon. Smoke from the cookfires rose in three places. She should be at her own small tent. 

“Kanaki, will you look at me?” There was a strange rawness to his tone which struck her as wrong somehow. She turned, but slowly, afraid of what she might see.

She should not have worried. His emotionless mask sat firmly in place. She shivered. “What is it, Moreb? I do not wish to keep you from your tasks.”

“I will do it.” The words were simple, unadorned, and plain, as a D’Koruyi’s language should be. But they surprised her still, and she gasped. 

“What?” she whispered.

He stepped closer to her, his grip on her elbow switching to her shoulder. “I accept what you were offering. In return, I will give you my name.” 

Shocked speechless, tears threatened again, but she did her best to force them back. So long! It had been so long since anyone besides Ara’oma had used any care or concern on her behalf. 

Warmth covered her cheek and she realized his free palm now cradled it. Wonder filled her, and peace for the barest moment. Then doubts struck. 

“This is real, is it not? You will be saying the same thing on the morrow, yes?” She trembled, almost afraid to hear his answer. 

“My decision will stand on the morrow. I speak the truth.” 

There was no stopping the tears then. They pressed through her barriers and once again poured down her cheeks. Reaching up, she covered her face with her hands and sobbed as quietly as she could. Warmth surrounded her from the front as strong arms folded her into a hug. Then another warmth wrapped her from behind. Her precious friend. She would have no trouble finding a mate now. Instead of Kanaki beside her, Moreb’s mate would stand at her back. 

“My thanks to you, Moreb. My thanks to you, Ara’oma.” 

And in her heart, she praised Kai’yanga for the way her needs had been met this dawning. 

I'm so glad you visited my blog today. I hope you enjoyed the post, maybe got something useful from it or were entertained by the story. 

As I was rereading this one, it occurred to me that its a pretty picture of a forgiving savior and a contrite heart. In that, God is answering my own prayers to present stories which include both characters people can relate to, as well as characters they can seek to emulate.  When I noticed that, A Strange Proposal became that much more dear to me. 

If you're enjoying my blog, I'd like to invite you to return on Monday. I'll have a new round of writing prompts to share with you next week, as well as a couple book reviews on Wednesday. I hope to share another short story with you, as well, on Friday. 

Until next time...

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