The Horse Painters by Peter Stockwell.
Category: Adventure
Paperback: 136 pages
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601458487
ISBN-13: 978-1601458483

"Umalik leaped up and ran past the fire, scattering sparks and ashes.

"Aariak, are you all right?" He shook her shoulders, but she was still.

Father was on his feet. "What’s wrong?" he shouted.

"Uirngut was here; he’s hurt Aariak."

Father went to Aariak and gently pulled the furs back. He lent over her for a long time, then stood up. "She’s dead," he breathed through clenched teeth. "How could this happen?"

Aku was crying softly, holding on to Grandfather. Umalik’s mouth was dry; he was blinking back tears. There was silence lost in the drip, drip of water somewhere in the cave. Father crouched down, stroking Aariak’s black hair. It was Grandfather who spoke, his voice quavering and sounding old.

"We are going to have to kill Uirngut. He has taken Aariak’s spirit. Without it there will be no more pictures, no more animals and we will have nothing to hunt. We will die. Whoever kills Uirngut will regain Aariak’s spirit and return it to her family. He will be the new painter. We must do this, we can’t all die.

The fire was out. Father was just visible by hazy moonlight filtering into the cave. He was still stroking Aariak.

"Who can do it?" he asked. "I must stay to feed you all. You are too old Grandfather, and Umalik is too young."

"It must be Umalik; he can do it." Aku was hopping from one foot to the other shouting.

Umalik’s stomach bounced, how could he keep up? Uirngut was much bigger than him. He would not have a chance.

Father sighed. "It might be our only hope. Could you do it Umalik? Tell us if you don’t think that you can. We’ll understand.""