Art by Keta Merkviladze
The day began to break, surrounding area was covered with sunbeams. Muna opened her eyes, stretched out her body, glanced at her friend lying on her side, who was still semiconsciousness and probably was having a sweet dream. “Get up, you lazy one! That's how you want to become the king of hunting?! Get up now!”- and poured a little water on his head. Hok'ee jumped out suddenly and stared with wide-open eyes.
“Now we are starting the real hunting!” - Muna exclaimed and grabbed the bow. She came out of the cave and ran down. Happy Hok'ee jumped happily and followed the master. Having passed the mountains, a big thick forest appeared. “Let's walk a little quiter, as real hunters do, otherwise we will frighten the beast. You know, what a good sense of smell and hearing they have and If they notice us, they will immediately be startled and run away” - Muna warned him. A small river was flowing in the forest, where forest lodgers quenched their thirst. Deer herds used to gather exactly on this area. Muna and Hok'ee waited in an ambush. Shortly after, they heard the rustling of leaves and saw deer running towards the water. Muna silently pointed out to Hok'ee to sneak on them. After seeing so many animals together, the still inexperienced wolf became so happy that he ran towards them like crazy. He joined the deer herd, as if they were of his kind. At the sight of the wolf the deer got frightened. Suddenly a hart dropped Hok'ee underfeet and kicked him with all his strength.
Poor Hok'ee fell on the side. Muna did not get confused. The herd had already scattered, but she still managed to wound one of the deer with an arrow. The woman turned her steps towards the loot with exclamation. Meanwhile, bruised Hok'ee came to his senses and helped his master to knock down the deer. He proudly put down his paw on the killed beast, as if he killed it and began howling with satisfaction. “Well then, shut up! Do not appropriate my loot! You will be punished today, because you almost ruined the planned hunting. I want you to know that, I will not give you even one leg of the deer, this deer belongs entirely to me” - that's how Muna scolded her friend. The woman made a sledge out of the wooden pieces and placed the loot on it. Then she tied Hok'ee to the sledge and made her way home. As soon as they reached the cave, Muna started skinning the deer. She saved one part of the meat in the cave and prepared the other part for frying. When the night began falling, she lit the fire and fried the meat. Hok'ee still thought, that the beloved master would not doom him to the end and would give at least one small piece. The cave was filled with the smell of fried meat.
The poor wolf was troubled by the smell and began to twist around in one place. Muna looked at him with great love and affection. “Glutton, did you think that I would not share the meat with you and I would eat the whole of it? It is the truth, that you do not deserve it, but passing the first exam is always difficult. Even I had a hard time when my dad had first taken me for hunting. I almost ruined the hunting and was severely punished. My father tied me to the tree and did not give even a tiny bit of food for two days. He gave me only some water, in order not to die of thirst. So, my little friend, I will forgive you the first mistake. From now on, you will make more efforts and pay more attention to the task assigned”. Muna patted him on the head with affection and handed out the long piece to Hok'ee. Hok'ee ate it well. Then he became restless and held his breath with pleasure. “Now, it's time to sleep. Let's sleep, tomorrow is a new day” - Muna said to him. Hok'ee began howling, once again licked the beloved master and lay down beside her. Soon both fell asleep in front of the died down fire.
Chapter Two from the short story
Muna, the Native American chief's daughte
Comentarios