Gasha is a girl that is almost fifteen, and that is the age that most boys undergo the Shamoca. The Shamoca decides when a boy is a man and can join the hunting party. The boy must go out in the wilderness and live on their own for three days, facing monstrous animals and the fate of not having any water supply at the time. Nothing could be brought with them but clothing, a spear, and faith.

The boy’s journey begins at the dawn of his birthday, and he returns after two dawns. However, most of the boys never come back.

Gasha isn’t like the other girls in the tribe, which is called Shamoocan. She refuses to go with the gathering group, and instead stays at her family’s hut. When they are gone, she sneaks off and spies on the hunting party. Gasha admires their stealth movements and how they capture animals. She wants to be part of the hunting group. On her fifteenth birthday, she will somehow go do the Shamoca, and she will be a hunter.

It is absolutely forbidden for any girl to join the hunting party or do the Shamoca. Gasha’s mother always complains about it. Girls are required to lead the children in the gathering group and tend the fire.

Gasha only has five days before her birthday. She has two plans. Tonight, she is going to carry out one of the two plans. She is going to ask the tribe leader, to allow her to do the Shamoca.

Gasha walks up to the leader’s hut, neither afraid, nor nervous. “Hershaw, shooma bein?” “Hershaw, are you in?”

Hershaw responds, “Coomin midear.” “Come in, my dear.”

She slowly walked inside the dim hut. There was a small controlled fire on the ground in front of Hershaw. He says, “Gasha, yu celeba comsoom. Nowis tim yu moost tel meh wot laborite yu wahnt.” “Gasha your birthday is coming soon and you must tell me what job you want.”

Gasha answers, “Iwa wot totoke Shamoca ande bea hunter.” “I want to take the Shamoca and be a hunter.”

Hershaws eyes widened. “Yu knawtha itis forgiden. Itwa to dan ger forma whoman. Thewa laborite thate yu dois mawka weapins.” “You know that it is forbidden. It is too dangerous for a woman to do. The only job you can do close to that is making weapons.”

Gasha’s face turned red in shame. “Itwa tim forma twa,” she whispers to herself. “It is time for plan two.”