Can You See Me Now(Julisa) Another glorious day in the village of Kituwah, my brother Denali once again being praised for every little thing that he does. He could be the worst person in the world but everyone here would still praise him. You know why? Because he's my older brother. Guess I was the accident child. Oh man, I'm sorry, we haven't even met yet how rude of me. Well, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Calain and I'm just gonna give you a quick rundown of my life. Since I was younger My parents have always favored my older brother because he is next in line to be chief of the Cherokee tribe. They have trained him to be the best leader he can be since he was six years old. Teaching him how to hunt, how to fight, and even teaching him the way of the forest. Now I, on the other hand, have always wanted to be chief but my father refuses to train me and my mother refuses to convince him. They tell me the same thing everytime.
Mom and dad say, “ This is your brothers destiny not yours”
So what if it's his “destiny” what if they're wrong. Just because I am younger by a year does not mean I dont have what it takes. One day I'll show them I got what it takes. My grandmother Fala always saw something in me but unfortunately she died when I was four. But enough of my past I have to make it to my fathers meeting or else I'll get lectured.
Running through the village as fast as I can trying not to knock people over. I finally make it while huffing and puffing not realizing my father, brother, and all the elders are staring at me in disappointment. Which are looks I've seen before so i'm not embarrassed. I head to my seat.
Chief says sternly, “You’re late”
Calian bites his apple then replies, “it was crowded, though you never invite me to these meetings anyway so why do I have to be here.”
My father, the Chief, announces to everyone that Denali will start the hunt tomorrow in order to become chief. You have got to be kidding me? My brother walks into the room and everyone applauds him. I don't because I don't think thi is fair at all, I wish I was in a tribe where you had to prove yourself to be chief. My father notices but I don't care. I stare at him with a blank expression on my face as I proceed to leave. I've got a secret cave I've been going to since he was younger. Only reason I've been able to hide there for so long is because most of the time nobody comes looking for me. Well besides my brother, he found me here once when we were younger and swore to never tell anyone about this place. Suddenly as I walk in I am attacked by an animal and fall to the ground.
Calian says, “Pala I told you to stop doing that, your a big wolf now and your to heavy”
I then pet her. Pala is my friend wolf, she may not talk but she understands everything. No seriously, I tried hiding my snacks from her and was thinking out loud saying where it was to make sure I remember and the next day poof they were gone. But me and Pala go way back, I've known since she was a cub. Honestly she's my bestfriend and I'm not ashamed to say otherwise. Oh well there was this one time– oh sorry you're in the middle of a story about me duh i'll let you get back to that. Now back to where I was, in my cave petting pala when he heard footsteps coming. figured it was his brother Denali since Pala did not perk up and was relaxed.
Denali walks in and says, “hey–’
Calian cuts him off saying, “Why are you here Denali”
Denali responds, “when I become chief, I want you to be my right hand man”
Calain says, “ Having to take orders from you? No thanks i think i'll pass”
Let me explain to you what this “right hand man” is because I can already hear some of you. “Calian why wouldn't you want to, your closet to the chief.” sure but basically it's a fancy saying servant in this tribe so i'm absolutely not taking that position.
Calian stands up, looks at him and says, “Do you even really want to be chief? And don't say yes just because you had to train for this all your life. I want your authentic answer.”
Denali replies irritated, “well it is my natural born purpose, I have no choice I am the first born. You will never understand what it's like to have to be perfect all your life. No room to fail!”
Calian says upset, “ well you don't understand what it's like to not be seen or acknowledged, not being able to do something because of a title, not even getting a chance to prove yourself! You are loved by everyone Denali…. I am not. You don't even want to be chief and you know it.”
Denali replies while walking away, “ My hunt begins tomorrow night, I hope you'll be there. And my offer still stands.

It is now after sunset and I have come up with a plan to prove everyone wrong. I am going to find the wildest animal, kill it then bring it back home and they will have to make me chief then. I began to pack my bags with food, healing herbs and a weapon. I tried to sneak out the cage without pala noticing but she's a pretty light sleeper. She stared at me as if she knew exactly what I was about to do. I needed a friend on this trip so I signaled for her to come along. I Made sure to leave without a trace and after a while I finally made it to the entrance of the woods then stopped and stared.
Calain says, “ I don't know about this Pala… I've never even been to the woods. Let alone actually fight.”
All of a sudden I felt this angelic presence, I felt terrified but at the same time I was at ease with this sudden presence. Like I have felt it before but not quite like this. When I looked up it was my grandmother Fala. falling to my knees why tears came down my face at the sight of her.
Fala says with a genuine smile on her face, “why do you cry child?”
Calian says why crying, “grandma Fala is it really you? Please tell me i'm not dreaming”
Grandma Fala came down to the ground and walked over to me.
Fala said, “rise child”
I rose, once I did she came to hug me, I didn't think she could since she was so transparent. She then pulled away and held my face.
Fala said, “ you are meant for this journey, I will be with you the whole way. Has no one the meaning of your name?’’
Calian replied, “no ma’am”
Fala said, “he who is a warrior of life”
That saying echoed into the abyss and before I knew it she disappeared. I wiped my tears, grabbed my bag and headed off into the woods. While walking into the woods he heard a voice say,
“Alright now let's get this adventure started.”
Calian says in a freaked out voice, “WHO WAS THAT!?”
Voice, “look down”
I look down and I realize it was Pala talking.
Claian says, “ Pala.. Y- you- you can't talk!?”
Pala, “Well you hear me don't you.”
I was in shock that my dog could talk this entire time. That explains so much now, the times I talked to him and he actually looked like he was listening to me.
Calian says, “ WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME BEFORE!”
Pala says, “we weren't going on an adventure before. Now let's go doo doo head”

We were in the woods for about two hours when I honestly felt like giving up until pala started to make out an unfamiliar scent. She told me there was something near and I got my weapon ready. It was a mountain lion, I couldn't believe it but that wasn't the only thing that shocked me. It had what looked like a human arm in its mouth. The rest of the body wasn't there. Fear grew over me and I froze. What was I supposed to do? I've never done anything like this before. Pala snapped me out of it by nudging my leg. I carefully went to a nearby tree then did a surprise attack on the lion. I stabbed the lion with my spear and it jumped up then roared while pushing me back. I got hit into a tree and fell to the ground. The lion then turned around and began running at me, but before it could get to me Pala attacked the lion on the side of its neck. If this lion wasn't already angry it definitely is now. I stood up while the lion was distracted with Pala so I could grab my spear. As soon as I was able to grab it I heard a yelp, when i turned around i saw Pala was smacked into a tree so hard that he knocked out.
Calian screams, “PALA!”
It was just me and this lion now, I had to remember why I was doing this. I had to think of Pala.
Calian says, “ He who is a warrior of life”
As soon as those words came out of my mouth it was as if a great strength grew on the inside of me. I jumped in the air and threw the spear right through the lion's heart. The lion fell to the ground and its breath began to grow slower and slower until there was no more left.
After making sure the lion was dead I went right over to Pala. She was breathing slowly.
Calian says while crying, “Pala no stay with me, your my best friend”
Pala recipes breathless, “You…did good… Chief”
Pala no longer responded and there was no breath in his body. I couldn't believe it, my best friend was gone. Thoughts of regret roamed my mind until I felt that same angelic presence again. My grandmother Fala came to me staring at me with a genuine smile.
Fala said, “Why do you cry child? Didn't I say I would be with you along the way?”
She put her hands on Pala and pala was breathing again. She got up like nothing just happens acting as her normal self.
Pala says, “Why the gloomy face kid”
I then cry tears of joy and thank my grandmother while hugging Pala. I ask my grandmother one last favor before she goes.
Calian says, “Grandma Fala?”
Fala, “Yes?”
Calian, “ Will you show your spirit one last time when we arrive home?”
Fala, “Of course dear”
When I went to pick up the lion and put it over my shoulders with all my strength grandma fala transported us in front of the woods and we walked home from there. Once people started to see me I could hear members of the tribe.
“Look there he is!”
The people started to make a way for me as they started at the spirit of grandma Fala. I began to see my father at the end of the line and once I reached him I dropped the lion in front of him. He was so shocked at me he almost didn't realize his mothers spirit was next to me. She smiled at him and then disappeared. My father then gave his staff and tribe hat to me and I Calian was made chief that day and everyone could see me now.

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