by Marius Thue
On top of the hill, Garnek and the others can see the silhouette of the beast behind the smoke and flames. It seems to be looking down at them. A huge, dark monster in the night. Garnek stands up, causing the boat to rock, but he doesn't care. With an open mouth and a chest full of dread, he regards the giant antlers on the beasts head. All of Horvag’s stories come to life. Carefully, he whispers some words to himself, words he somehow couldn't keep in his mind.
“We're doomed.”
CHAPTER 11
The sun shines through a hole in the hut’s wall. Thoke wakes and is blinded by a sharp light. He turns to Neera, who's also awake. They both smile as their eyes meet, and they remain that way for quite some time.
“To think that almost twenty years have passed since I found you bloody in the stream,” Neera says with a soft voice. “Only a couple of winters now and you will have seen more than forty of them, and except for your bearded face…” she grabs the knot on his chin “…you still look just as young as you were then.”
Thoke struggles for words. Clearly she expects a compliment in return for that.
“And you're just as pretty.” He smiles, happy with his choice of words.
“Good save.” Neera giggles.
The now ten-year-old Larii suddenly jumps on top of Thoke, who has learned to protect his most vulnerable area over the years. Larii is, in contrast to her parents, very active in the mornings. Rhekir is as usual already up and out of the hut. It's been heavy years for the tribe. The threat of the ravages constantly follows them like a shadow. Even though the tribe has wandered far, it seems the ravages’ territory grows larger every day.
The tribe has grown in size over the years. Children have been born and died, as is common, but Diseni and Sevi has both birthed two children each whom live.
Two of them came last winter, with only a few days in between. Not long thereafter, the tribe received a potential new heir in the form of Gerak and his wife Droma's son, Gornak. Not surprisingly, he was named after his great grandfather, grandfather, and father.
It's been strange for the tribe not to return to their island in the summer, but still they have managed to find calm lands on the other side of the great mountain.
The winter will return soon. Thoke can see it in the smoke coming from his mouth and from how low the sun lies even late in the day. The tribe once again will have to pack up their things and leave for new hunting grounds. These last years they have been keeping well away from their old areas, but limited access to game, without any way to get to the ocean, and weariness from other tribes, makes it necessary to travel dangerously close to the ravages' territory. This way they at least get to hunting grounds they know well.
On the great plain lies the hunting facility that Sernak, in his time, erected. There he built hunting posts and traps for hunting caribou. They will have wandered the plains in massive numbers for a while now, so that's where Garnek intends to be before the winter.
Thoke climbs out of the hut. It seems they are the last to rise this morning. The sun rests on the horizon, lighting up the frost that lays as a carpet over the heather. It will take quite some time to melt away on this day.
Thoke steps over to Garnek, who is in the midst of a conversation when he gets there. This is an important time for the tribe as Mekar and Sevi's daughter, Tireni, and Hiro and Diseni's daughter, Mileni, are being given away to two men from another tribe.
Tireni has already seen eighteen summer pass by. A match for her was supposed to be made many years ago, but the threat of the ravages has made people shy away from other tribes.
Giving members away is common among these tribes, as it helps build friendships and keeps the blood of newborns clean, as the shamans say. Normally, the girls are given away at a younger age, like the now thirteen-year-old Mileni. Boys often leave the tribes to start their own if the numbers grow too large, but this has not been the case for years.
Garnek has arranged a deal with another tribe, which was struck last winter. They are to meet at the foot of the great mountain, where the fjord ends in the sea fifteen days after the first frost. Part of the deal includes the now nineteen-year-old Terot getting a woman of fifteen from the other tribe.
“Morning, Thoke. I see you decided to get up early today,” Mekar says jokingly.
“Old men rise early, you know. So I might still sleep through the day,” Thoke responds with a smile, and Mekar smiles just as wide.
“Age will get you too one day, Thoke,” Garnek says. “The frost has set in, and we need to get going. This trading of women are a sad thing, but I want us to be there within ten days. The frost may have set in earlier, further north. We must strike a deal for Rhekir as well. He's fifteen already. We must do it now while we have the chance. Who knows when we'll meet another tribe again?”
“It's never fun to see a tribal member leave,” Mekar states. “Dread it, Thoke, the day Larii leaves us.” He shakes his head and kicks the ground.
“Luckily that's still some years off,” Thoke answers.
“Nonsense!” Garnek exclaims. “My mother was given to my father at a ripe age of eleven summers. We've been way to slow about this, I say. People are too twitchy these days.”
“Larii won't be taken away, I think,” Thoke says with a chuckle. “She'll most likely raise her own tribe and rule these lands herself.”
Garnek rarely argues with Thoke. He's become as trusted as Mekar and Janeg, perhaps even more so by now.
“What of Renai? Your sister is still here on occasion,” Mekar says.
“She had a man once.” Garnek's gaze grows distant. “When she was fifteen. Father arranged the whole thing with a tribe we barely knew, but he insisted they were to be trusted. We never got to meet the man himself, but he was supposed to be the greatest hunter in their tribe and was therefore almost always out hunting. We thought he would be a good man for Renai, but he died before putting a child in her. She wasn't gone for more than a few days before she came wandering back. Father decided she would stay with us that day and stepped down as chief, becoming our shaman instead and making me chief.”
Thoke sees the change in Garnek then. He becomes stiff and seems almost scared, as if he just remembered something horrible.
“Renai lost her man, you lost a wife and daughter in the same day, and Janeg lost his woman in the frost. No wonder Sernak began devoting himself to please the gods,” Mekar says and shakes his head.
“So let's keep it unspoken and leave him to it,” Garnek says, before tearing his gaze away from the distance.
“What happened to Renai's man anyway?” Thoke asks, a question he's often pondered.
“She probably killed him as he tried to mount her,” Mekar blurts out without thinking. He quickly wipes the smile off his face.
“Silence, Mekar. Don't test me now. Renai may be a bit different, but she's as good as any. I won't have anyone speaking ill of her. Get everyone ready. We make for the fjord today,” Garnek barks before entering his hut.
While the tribe is packing up the last of their gear, Thoke sits looking at his daughter running around with the other children. He calls her his little ray of sunshine, inspired by her happy face and long blond locks. She reminds him of his mother more and more every day. Sadly, she doesn't seem to have inherited any of his father’s abilities, though.
Larii is running around the forest. She doesn't like packing. As soon as the others began, she ran off. She's only allowed to run as far as she can still see the camp. In her hands she holds a stick shaped like a spear. Larii intends to become the greatest hunter the tribe has ever seen, so she trains her thrust and throw every day.
Today, like many other days, she runs too far in her excitement. She looks around but can no longer see the camp. For a heartbeat she panics but then remembers what her father has thought her; when one cannot see, one must listen.
She closes her eyes and tries to find the right sounds. Something is out there, but it cannot be the right direction. It kind of so
unds like moaning. Maybe someone is hurt, she thinks. With her stick clutched in her hand, she runs toward the sound.
The moaning grows louder as she approaches. With ease, she leaps over a fallen tree but somehow gets her foot caught on a branch. A thump echoes through the woods as she goes face-first into the dirt. She's woozy for an instant. She grabs for her stick, but it's just out of reach. A hand stretches down and grabs it. Larii looks up in fear but releases a sigh of relief when she sees who it is.
“Diseni?”
“You must be careful, Larii. How many times have we told you not to run this far?” Diseni says, helping Larii to her feet.
“I'm sorry. But it sounded like someone was getting hurt. Maybe mauled by a bear or something,” Larii explains.
“I heard no one,” Diseni shakes her head. “You must have let your imagination run before you. Come now, let's go back.”
Diseni drags Larii after her, but the little girl is not convinced. She pulls some twigs out of her blond hair and throws them behind her.
As she turns her head back, she glimpses Janeg among the trees. She pulls her head forward, not realizing what she saw, but quickly turns it back again. There's no one there this time. No way was it my imagination, she thinks.
By the time they get back, everyone is ready to leave. Larii doesn't want to get in trouble, so she keeps silent about what happened, and so does Diseni, it seems.
The tribe has to cross the fjord in order to get to the foot of the mountain. They glide across in their boats made of skin and drag them up on land once they reach it. The boats gets covered by branches so no one will find or steal them. Hopefully they will be somewhat intact when they return in the summer and only small repairs will need to be done.
With Garnek in front, they walk in a long line. Finally, he's back on familiar grounds where he knows exactly where to go. He follows the trails his family has been using for generations. In some places, they have marked trees. Here, like everywhere it seems, the mark for danger is etched into several trees. They cannot turn back, however, and keep on going.
Some days pass and the first morning snows appear. After six days of near constant wandering, they arrive at their destination. The snow lies thick on the mountain already, so they will make camp further down into the tree line, where most of the snow is held at bay.
Immediately, they begin to set up camp. Where there's a lot of trees, it's usually quick work. Mekar goes a ways up the mountain to scout for the other tribe. They must be ready for when they show up.
Garnek has gathered all the others and is ready to give out some commands.
“Renai, Thoke, and Neera, you're with me. We saw some caribou tracks not far from here. Might be that one or two wandered away from the herd. The plains are only a couple days’ walk from here. Hopefully some will walk into our traps up there. Janeg, you'll serve as chief while we're gone. Hiro, Gerak, Terot, and Serk, you'll patrol the camp. Bring bows and spears and scatter around. We're in the ravages’ territory now, so keep a sharp eye out. Diseni, Rhekir, Father, and Sevi, you shall gather whatever might be used within sight of the camp. Mekar has gone to scout for the other tribe. If they come, wait for us to return before doing anything. Now get to work!” he makes sure to yell his last words as assertive as possible.
The camp comes to life as everyone gets to work. Lately, they never stay in one spot for too long, fearing detection. Additional guards are posted, and they never get too comfortable in one spot.
Even though they have managed to avoid the ravages these last seven years, the horrifying stories from other tribes have kept their fear alive. Mostly, they have been avoiding other tribes but some interaction has been made. Those they have talked to tell of the black-striped demons attacking in the night. Most never know that they have been attacked until it's too late.
Sometimes it seems the ravages leave one alive, all though barely, just so they might tell the tale. Horvag's stories have been told in many different ways over the years.
Several times, the tribe has witnessed the ravages’ destruction firsthand. Huts get burned to the ground and only smoke, blood, and ash remain of the fallen campsites.
The four hunters gets ready and make sure their daggers are sharp and arrowheads are packed. Thoke and Neera say goodbye to their children.
“Why can't I join the hunt?” Rhekir asks. “I'm fifteen I need the training, or I could help defend the tribe. I'm tired of striking flint with that old man.”
“You have to wait for the next one. This one is too big, and it's dangerous out there,” Thoke explains. “When we get back, I'll help you fashion a good bow. Keep your spear close until then.”
Annoyed as always, Rhekir stomps off. He's grown to look much like his father but has his mother’s brown eyes. He has a neck-long black hair and some stubble of beard can be seen by his ears and on his chin. Soon, he might be as tall as his father, but he still has a long way to go in muscle and thickness.
The hunting party leaves the camp. Larii begins to complain and pout as soon as her parents leave her sight. She never liked being left with the others; like her brother, she hates chores around the camp. She would much rather run and hunt.
The hunters quickly find the tracks Garnek discovered the day before. The tracks lead them into a thick birch forest. This makes for great visibility as the trunks are slim and there are no low-hanging branches. After a while, the tracks disappear as the snow is replaced by heather and moss.
Garnek decides to hunt some down in the forest before going up to the plains. They'll do nicely to have some more food on their travels anyway.
It doesn't take long before they realize they're walking blind without any tracks to follow. The hunters spread across the forest, but Thoke never lets Neera out of his sight.
“You were up late last night,” Thoke says while they move among the pale trunks.
“The gods won't answer my prayers. It seems they have no intentions to grant us another child. Only twice your seed has sprouted inside me, while Diseni and Sevi have birthed nine children between them, and even lost some early,” Neera replies.
“At least we never lost any children, not even early. I'd call us lucky,” Thoke says in an attempt to cheer her up. It doesn't seem to succeed, however.
For almost half a day, they examine every corner of the woods for any sign of prey. The sun sits low on the horizon. Soon darkness will fall upon the forest. Thoke listens for prey, but only chirping birds can be heard.
Garnek walks through a small thicket. He goes down a slope and around some bushes. Thoke suddenly hears something up ahead, something behind the bushes. Something large.
As Garnek rounds the bushes, he finds himself face to face with a giant bull moose. Both man and beast jerk back as they almost walk straight into one another. Garnek instinctively grabs for his spear, but the moose is faster. It ducks down and shoves it's antlers between Garnek’s legs, and with a thrust it sends the big man flying into the air. The chief lands with a cracking thump.
Thoke reacts fast and runs full force toward them. Before he gets there, the moose attacks again. With its giant antlers, it scrapes the ground near Garnek, who desperately tries to defend himself. With arms and legs, he flails around to fight off the animal.
Thoke leaps from well over fifteen steps away. Garnek glimpses Thoke soaring through the air before falling down toward the now stomping moose. Midair, Thoke grabs his spear and thrusts it into the moose's neck as he lands on its back. Death finds the great animal instantly, and it collapses to the forest floor.
Garnek stares up at Thoke in disbelief, and Thoke looks back at him wide eyed. They both are breathing heavily, but they both stop as Garnek sees his thighbone sticking straight out of his left leg. The chief says nothing, only shakes his head.
Thoke bends down to inspect the wounds. Garnek is bruised and bloody all over.
“This doesn't look good,” Thoke states. “We need to get you back to camp. I can carry you, but first we need to
steady that leg.”
Garnek nods. He looks pale but calm. Thoke and Neera grab two small logs, place them on each side of Garnek’s leg, then tie it up with some spun wet bark from one of the many birch trees. Before it can be applied, Thoke shoves the bone back into place. The pain sends the chief into unconsciousness, but never as much as a whimper was ever heard. Thoke flings the large man over his shoulder and heads back to camp. Renai stands some ways in the forest, looking on with sharp eyes. With a snarl she begins to walk up toward the mountain.
CHAPTER 12
Back at camp everyone but Janeg, Diseni, and Mekar gather around the campfire. When darkness comes, they mostly stay together. Mekar still sits up on the mountain while Diseni is out foraging and Janeg is out on patrol.
All tribe members rise, shocked, as they look into the woods where Thoke effortlessly carries their massive chief over his shoulder. Garnek knows what Thoke can do now. There's no use hiding it from the others anymore either. He's heard the talk too. Many have already begun to suspect him.
“What happened to him?” Sevi asks as she runs toward them.
“Moose,” Thoke replies and then lays Garnek down by the fire.
“What of Renai?”
“She wandered off again,” Neera answers.
Garnek is eventually placed inside his hut, and Neera and Sevi remain there for quite some time. There's not much else to do other than clean his wounds and make sure the bone lies somewhat right. It probably never will heal right, if at all. The danger of infection means they must clean the wound with fresh water frequently.
Some days pass and Renai still hasn't returned, making the rest of the tribe concerned given where they are. Thoke has gone out in some halfhearted attempt to find her, but without any luck. He's been hunting on his own meanwhile and has found greater luck with that.
Gerak, Terot, and Serk are out patrolling. The tribe has remained at this campsite for too long, so no one is allowed to patrol alone anymore.
