Over the time he spent with Aunty and Uncle, Orn noticed several children come to visit. Their families would arrive just before their path day. Then they would stay for a few days or a week. While they were there, they would learn from Aunty and Uncle.

Again and again, Orn watched them taught the same things he was learning. They packed and unpacked the bag, helped in the garden, and went out hunting with Uncle. The difference was the speed at which they learned. Orn saw them achieving in days what had taken him weeks. Then, when Aunty and Uncle thought they were ready, they were taken for some sort of final lesson. Boys would spend time on a hunt their last day. Meanwhile, the girls would spend time in the garden with Aunty before going on a walk in the forest.

Apparently, whatever the girls were being taught was some sort of secret. A secret that Aunty always told them in the garden. A fact that excused Orn from his chores that day, a fact he wsa never going to complain about.

The latest visitors were a pair of twin girls from deep in the forest. As both were too shy to talk to anyone outside their family, Aunty imposed a set of rules for mealtime. “No one leaves until they have talked to someone else, and you cannot talk to any of your relatives.”

I wish Aunty had not made those rules. Orn thought again as he mechanically shoveled his breakfast into his mouth. They barely spoke when they arrived, now they will not stop.

The twin across from him was chatting excitedly with Jomie, while Gorud slid in comments form time to time. Meanwhile the other twin was rambling to Orn about a frog filled creek that was near their home. “...AND then there were so many frogs. They were everywhere. Papa said it would help with the bugs. I do not like bugs, but the frogs are slimy and croak all night….”

Orn looked up at his cousin Gorud pleading for help. In response his cousin focused on his half empty plate, suddenly fixated by the eggs on it. Traitor!

“Alright everyone.” Aunty said drawing their attention to her, and causing all talking to stop. “I need to say a couple things thins morning.”

Thank you, Aunty. You are the best! Orn internally cheered his aunt, as the girl next to him stopped talking for the first time that morning.

“Bena, and Reni.” Aunty looked at each girl in turn, “You worked very hard and I can see your skills are already taking shape. You are both ready to finish your time here with us. But I may not see you both again for some time, so I want to talk to you both after breakfast.”

After hearing today would be the twin’s last day, Orn’s mood lifted greatly. Reni was not a bad person, but recently she had singled out Orn as the person she wanted to talk at. She seemed to believe he needed to hear about everything that crossed her mind.

Seeing the chance at freedom Orn rushed through the rest of his breakfast. Picking up his empty plate, he contemplated what to do with his morning. Maybe, Kao is willing to spar like we did last week? We cannot talk since it is the front yard, and people are watching. But I do not think I can take playing another game with Jomie and Gorud. Even hittign tat ball gets boreing after a while.

Orn was halfway to the kitchen with his plate when Aunty directed her attention to him. “Orn, let Jomie take care of your plate.”

Handing his plate to his cousin, he could almost feel his free-time slipping away. “Yes, Aunty?”

“This is for you.” She said handing him an oiled canvas bag from under the table.

Orn opened the bag and found it was a fully prepared hunter’s bag. The various pockets and dividers holding everything in its place as she had shown him. He looked up at the smiling faces at the table. “I do not understand. I thought I had to earn my own. I have never made half of what is in here.”

She nodded, “That is true, but you have probably made enough pain powder to last me more than a year. Besides, not everything we need grows in in the garden. What you prepared helped fill the bags of many others. In turn they provided the jars and other materials for your bag. You are part of a family, and we take care of each other. Speaking of family, your Uncle also has something for you.”

“That I do.” Uncle said handing him a bundle.

He had seen this several times over the last weeks as boys finished their time with Aunty and Uncle. They would be given a bundle of arrows that fit their bow.

Am I done? Is it time to leave. Orn looked at the quiver and bundle of arrows feeling his heart ease its way into his throat. He wanted to go home, but he also felt suddenly sad about leaving. “Thank you.”

“Oh, do not thank us. I told you, you earned them. Gathering thorns and crushing them into pain powder is not an easy task.” Aunty winked at him and patted him on the back, “But you are welcome, all the same.”

Uncle cleared his throat, “You have finished your first bow, and you now have your gear. Are you ready to go into the deep?”

Orn felt a grin spreading across his face. “Yes.”

“Before you go into the deep, you will need one more thing.” Aunty reached into the basket she always had at hand and handed him a small bundle of fabric. “These are for you. A late pathday present from all of us.”

The bundle looked like the clothes he would borrow from his cousins to go hunting with Uncle. But unlike the clothes he borrowed, these were new. My clothes. Not borrowed ones, with Jomie’s misplaced snacks in the pockets, or Gorud’s battered hand-me-downs. These are mine..

His aunt cut into his thoughts. “This is real hunter’s cloth. It is a bit tougher than the ones your cousins have been loaning you. They will help keep you hidden and safe. They are rather durable, but that does not mean you should treat them as if they were armor. They are meant to hunt in, not take sword blows in.” She gave him a stern look.

Orn’s fingers ran over the mottled fabric, It feels durable, but who would mistake this for armor? “I can feel that it is stronger, but I cannot imagine it holding up to a sword. Why would anyone do that?”

She smiled, “Good because it does not. As for why, I do not know. But if you manage to get an explanation out of your father, I would love to hear it.”