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PROLOGUE

Around 5,000 B.C.E

Children, ranging in age from being able to walk only with the assistance of others, to the boys and girls verging on adulthood, waited patiently as the elder readied for the day. The room they were in was large and circular, with a small fire blazing at it's heart. The walls were painted in bright colours, depicting images of the natural would outside, as well as the stories of the people. Pottery, some very old, lined the walls, carefully and lovingly looked after by the elders.

Finally, an elder woman took the large wooden seat before the children and the fire looking down at her gathered, captive audience. She smiled to herself slightly, just light enough that the children would not notice. They were children of all the clans and nations in the surrounding lands. Some, a small group huddled together in the back were likely from further away that this. The elder took a long strong wooden poll to prod the fire, bringing it to greater life. It's light bringing life to the cool night that engulfed the world outside.

"I have been here, since the world was young." The elder began slowly. "Our people, all of our people, once lived far away from this place in a different land." She used the stick to point at one of the paintings on the wall. "We lived once, on the banks of a great lake, many generations ago. Our people were cold, and hungry. But we pressed on. Our chiefs, and our mothers refused to let the people die. Our enemies were many, and they pressed to take us from this world." She pointed again at a different picture, this time of men and women grouped together. "A great chief, who could commune with the spirits called out to them. It was the spirits who are in the north winds, and ice, winter and snow who took pity upon him and our people. And the froze the lake by which our people lived so that they people could cross. With us came the animals we used for food, and our homes and clothing. When at last we had crossed the ice, the chief again asked the spirits for their help. And this time, it was the spirits who are in the South Winds, and fire, and in the sun who answered his call. And the hard ice that had carried the people melted, so that our enemies could not follow.

We were given a new land. A new world, free of our enemies. With new rivers and mountains, grasslands valleys for our people to live in and watch over. And so it came to us, to be the care takers of the land, and it's animals. We would honour them and care for them as they would for us. Their meat would fill our bellies, their furs and hid would warm our bodies, their backs would carry our people far. The plants that grew in the soil would be protected with in our walls, and make the people healthy."

The light of the moon filled the room like a flood, as the skins that covered the doorway were cast aside. A younger man stood there, looking down at the children and at the elder. "My greatest apologies elder. But I have been sent to humbly ask of you to hold audience with the chiefs." He placed a hand over his heart as he spoke, a lowered his head in respect. The elder lowered her stick, and looked to the children before her.

"I will return, and we will finish the story on another night. Be safe young ones. All of your relations." She said standing slowly, using the stick as support. "All of your relations." The children echoed. The elder walked next to the younger man, leaving her stick but taking his arm for support. The two walked out of the round building, looking down at the city built on the banks of the great river known as "Misiziibi" to the local nations who depended upon it for all things. Most buildings were already going dark, but light still filled a few dotting the small city like stars at night. The air was cool, and filled with the smell of smoke and food wafting up from the trade region near the river. The elder stepper out onto the dirt path but was pulled back gently by the younger man, as a man road past on the back of a large horse.

"Thank you Teppi." The elder said patting his arm. "Speak with me as we walk. How is your wife?"

"She is well elder. We have had our first child. A daughter to who we gave the name Adsila." Teppi spoke of his daughter for the whole walk across the small city, much to the pleasure of the elder.
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