Lake Michigan Region

The lake was still and sparkling in the sunlight. All the trees were colored with yellows, oranges, and reds. There were four lakes all around and behind this one that her people had seen at one time or another in their travels. This was the time of year that the hunters gathered from all the nearby tribes to stave off starvation through the winter.

Venetta was no hunter; however, she and several women went with the men to process the animals that the warriors dispatched. She was not looking forward to her task, but it was an honor to be chosen.

Packing her skin covered carrying bag, she blew the stray strands of hair away from her brow. The hunters were ready to leave and would start their journey at dusk. Joining the other women, Venetta waited patiently for the ritual being performed to bless the endeavor of the men; to bring enough meat to last until the first thaw of spring.

"You think you are something special?" her aunt Morenca whispered in a venomous tone. "You know as well as I do I should have been chosen to go this year."

"I am sorry that you weren't chosen, Morenca, but there is nothing I can do about it." Vanetta answered in a whisper also.

She tried to ignore her aunt, but it was hard when all your life someone belittled you. Vanetta never knew when or in what form the torment would be delivered. More than not, there was a physical blow involved. Vanetta was just glad that they were at a gathering and not alone. Vanetta turned back to face the chief who was standing beside the Holy Man who was blessing each of the warriors that were about to make the journey. When the rite was completed, the party started through the forest toward their hunting grounds in silence.

This is the way they would travel most of the journey. She glanced toward her parents having the feeling that this was the last time she would see them. Turning back, a chill came over her, and, even though she looked straight ahead, she could only see the vision that had formed in front of her. Her feet carried her on, but her eyes saw darkness. Suddenly, there appeared a mist out of the darkness and when it cleared; there was a strange symbol that seemed to be on a wall of some kind. She had never seen it before, and it frightened her. The symbol was all in black with a line going horizontally across the top with a vertical line attached to the end of it going down. Just as suddenly, the vision disappeared.

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