Quiet and calm, Kari is best described as a shy child. She's never truly been outgoing or confident in herself, whether by born personality or the hateful glare of her adopted mother, no one knows who is truly to blame. This inherent shyness, though, has also taught her a certain elegance that is highly coveted, and an inability to stand up for herself that is easily exploited. She has a lot of self image issues, having not known her parents nor her culture passed her Native American raising. It wasn't until just recently that a passing friend had pulled her away and helped her trace her lineage back, and her new sense of self has helped her truly flourish and come out of her shell. She discovered that her grandparents had been Syrian immigrants, who had fought long and hard for their American citizenship. Her mother was their child, and her father was Native American, born and raised in the village, and did not have a traditional last name. So when they wed, it was her mother's name that passed in the records. Through these records, too, she was able to find her grandparents and track them down; while they'd been estranged from her mother, they welcomed her into their home and showered her with affection. In less than 24 hours, she went from only having Ria to suddenly being surrounded by her family, her history, and her culture. She was home.
After this, she really began to shine her true colors. Creative, talented, and athletic, she took a strong affection to bellydancing, and was a natural in no time, to the point where they begged her to perform on a team from one of the nearby Mosque. She still displayed her humble and loving nature, and she became a well-adored member of the reservation. But all good things must eventually come to an end. Kari enjoyed nearly a year of peace and tranquility before disaster befell her new family; one of her cousins had gone to check on Riawhen as Kari was out at a ceremony. The stallion had begun to squeal and kick at his stall door, which was very abnormal for him, and the young man quickly went out, concerned for the DAM's safety. As he opened Riawhen's stall door and tried to slip in, though, the stallion charged out as soon as he could push through. It was only when the cousin turned around and saw him charging and fighting against a horrifying, monstrous creature that he knew he was in danger. The battle was short lived, as Riawhen was able to whip around a land a solid kick to the beast's face, cracking off a canine tooth and sending it fleeing into the darkness. Quickly he locked himself indoors, and left Riawhen loose to play guard dog.
When everyone returned home, the cousin quickly recounted the events, and for the first time the family saw Kari actually
cry. It had been nearly a year, and she was off of the reservation; she just couldn't understand why the skinwalker was still after her. So much against the wishes of her grandparents and the rest of her family, Kari quickly packed her bags with only what she needed and bid them goodbye; she couldn't risk their lives, not like this. It took days of travel, but finally she was able to track down a medicine woman that she'd only heard about in stories as a youngster, and from her she sought guidance. What she hadn't know - as the subject is considered highly taboo among the Navajo - was that the ritual the Chief's wife had performed was binding until it was completed, regardless of her death. The Skinwalker was going to hunt her until one of them was dead. So with Riawhen under her and the desert ahead stretched out infinitely ahead of her, Kari became a nomad, living as her ancestors once had, hoping to stay a few steps ahead of the Skinwalker. Her life depended on it.
But an unexpected ally would come on rays of solar light.
to be continued...
credits: [font] [flower meaning]
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