American Solace

An eccentric young man gains the affection of the war chief's daughter. Little Owl breaks taboos, disturbs evil spirits, and raises the ire of his elders. They say it is time for his Rite of Passage, where he will learn what totem will govern and guide the rest of his life. But his uncle warns that the Rite is rigged. He'll end up with a war totem and be sent off to fight their ancient enemy, something Owl is not prepared for. Uncle recommends an alternative, a vision quest in which his nephew will discover his true totem. However, it is an ancient practice which no one since the last age has undertaken, so it will likely be more dangerous than the Rite. But at least it will be authentic. Reluctantly, Owl agrees to go. After days of fasting and ceremonial purification, he begins a perilous journey through mysterious forests. Meanwhile, their fearsome enemy is spotted nearby. Aware of Owl's departure into the wilds, the chief's daughter pleads with her father to send an escort. He refuses. But Willow is a powerful warrior in her own right, who may just take matters into her own hands. What will she do next? Far from home, Owl gains tantalizing clues about their deliverance into the present world. But the truth surrounding the end of the last age remains shrouded in mystery. An unexpected visitor joins him on his journey. An old friendship is rekindled. They press on, to an ancient village, the subject of Owl's imaginings for as long as he can remember. The people of the fifth world had abandoned the old town. It was a place to avoid, a place where lingering ghosts and bad spirits were thought to dwell. As they unravel the mystery, the situation grows ever more dangerous. During Whippoorwill Moon, the sun lay gently over the land and the people eagerly left their longhouses to weave quillwork and to sculpt their earthenware in the warm light. However, despite the welcoming earth and lengthening days, the people were troubled. A threat loomed in the forests surrounding their town. The trees tossed about ominously and river pools bubbled where they should only mirror the moon's perfection. Storehouses were dwindling, fishermen were coming home with empty baskets, and for the first time since entering the sixth world, the farmers were clearing new fields. And they were finding peculiar artifacts in the soil. Little Owl was content to fish and amuse himself by collecting the shells of freshwater mussels, but a long-held mystery about the end of the last age and their deliverance into the present seemed ready to unfold before his eyes. Change seemed imminent for the people. It was time for Little Owl to find his totem. Should you give it a try? I write what I like to read. Here are some elements: action, conflict, diabolical villain, strong female lead, romance, falling in love, sacrifice, mysterious woods, dark gods, visions, water play, an unexpected twist, and new beginnings. Just a heads up. If this already sounds good to you, then you might want to check out reviews or start reading the story now. What follows is a short technical summary and although it's not exactly a plot spoiler, it might tip you off to a twist that occurs midway through the plot. It's more fun without preconceptions. You may enjoy the story more if you stop reading after this paragraph, unless you like technical descriptions of fiction. Character types/roles(logical, emotional, mentor, tempter, rebel, warrior, intellectual male lead, strong female protagonist) Themes(coming of age, falling in love, sacrifice, visionary, mystery, new beginnings) Story Tone(post apocalyptic, far future, mythic, adventure, romance, visionary, mythology & folk tales, Native American) Setting(Far future, Post apocalyptic America, Wabash River, Indiana) I'm sure you'll love this Native American, coming of age, strong female protagonist, post apocalypse romance as much as I loved writi