As the time approached for his departure, Tor watched the young men of the village for signs of a leader. He did not want to make any of the older men leaders because the village had floundered before, if it were not for Lucius at the helm. He needed someone kind, yet strong, who would make the village prosper.

Before he left, Tor had a promised job to do. Move the village to a new location with resources like good land for growing, ample firewood, and abundant animals to hunt. The old abandoned village location that Rena told him about seemed like a likely place.

Packing began in earnest. All the boats that could be secured were loaded and people that were incapable of making the walk were placed in the boats. Everyone carried something, and young men promised to come back with the horses and get whatever was left that they couldn't take on the first trip. It took two cycles of sun of hard work to get everything ready to move. Much had been gathered with what the clans people wanted to take with them. Much of it cumbersome like beds and benches.

It took another two cycles of the sun to make the journey. On the second night fall, they came upon the ruins of what had been their village within the memory of a very few older people. It took another three cycles of the sun to get the grain crops in and then begin restoring the huts that were badly damaged by time and needed work.

Hunting parties went out and declared that there were many species of game available to harvest. One party even saw a small herd of Auroch, a very good sign. Small animals, birds, wild food, medicines and spices were in abundance. The river was heavy with fish.

When everything was ready for the village to settle into a normal daily routine, before the campfire, after a meal of good food where sacrifices were offered up to the gods, Tor held his last meeting with the men, sending the women and children to their beds, except for Rena.

He spoke. "My good friends and villagers. Tomorrow, I will leave with a party of young men to get the last of those precious things that were left behind because we could not carry them. We will take the horses and sail the favorable boats upstream so that we will be able to bring all that anyone wants back with us. I'm asking for volunteers. I would like to see those of you who wish to go, raise your hands."

Tor saw that Darian, while young, was one of the first to raise his hand. Tor had been watching him. He was a natural leader, and had learned much from him about how to make the village prosperous. He also had shown eyes for Rena, with great respect knowing that she was always at Tor's side, like tonight.

Upon seeing who would go, Tor continued, "It is set then. We will leave as soon as we have prepared the horses and boats tomorrow morning. But there is another matter that I must take up before we all get some rest.

"With the approval of the elders (He called them out by name, there were only three), I am naming Darian as my successor as your leader. I will not return from our trip to the old village. And I may never return again here to all these sorrows.

"But Rena has been sent from the gods to help me. It is her wish to stay here where it is safe and familiar, rather than take a dangerous journey into the unknown with young children. So Darien, when I leave I put Rena in your charge. I trust that you will take very good care of her and her children."

Even in the firelight, Tor could see Darian light up. He called him from the group to stand next to him and Rena. They clasped hands and Rena was as pleased as Darius with what was happening from the smile on her face.

Tor went off to bed and left them, giving Darian a chance to speak to the others. He tried to sleep, but couldn't, trying to think of everything that he had to do in the morning before they would leave.

In the morning, Tor sailed a boat with half grown Thin at the bow adorned with the Ibex horns. Also, with three others that he had taught to sail. Their headway was slow against the current, so the horses and the men walking with them arrived first at the old village and began gathering what was left to bring back.

When Tor and the other three boats arrived, the young men and some women companions had packed everything except what was going to go in the boats. He helped them do that task after unloading his supplies for his ongoing journey.

He had thought long and hard about it, but had decided to let Tsen continue to be the alpha stallion of the small herd with two beautiful new foal traveling with their mothers, making the herd nine. He selected the stallion that Tsen had challenged to take with him. Roan had already been trained by him and would make a good traveling companion.

Tor said his goodbyes to everyone and wished them well in their new village. He had to tie a rope to Thin for the first time as he left with a very heavy heart. The feisty little dog had never had a rope on him before. But Tor did not want him running back to join the other dogs. He also led Roan, for the same reason. Both animals were not bonded to him sufficiently and might want to return to their kind.

By nightfall, he had journeyed far from the old village and the sorrows it contained. When he didn't sleep, he called to the gods of the starry sky, "Why?" 

They did not answer. It was at least a moon before the challenges ahead took over and his melancholy subsided. As always, he provided for himself and for his partners. But he was going through the motions. He no longer saw any adventure ahead for him. Only escape from the past. That never quite left him in his memory, nightmares, and even good, dreams.

Except for the gorge people who he could not avoid, he skirted all encampments and quickly passed anyone on the trail without so much as a friendly greeting. The gorge people were glad to see that Thin had grown and was already becoming somewhat trained with a bit of puppy reluctance still in him. Everyone cried when he had to tell them about what happened to Shea.

When he passed the pyre of Shin, Tor stopped to leave some sacrifice to the gods and to his slain partner with some food that  Shin adored. He tried to tell Thin what he was doing, but the young dog just wanted to be petted and nuzzle

The mountains lay ahead, but Tor was so familiar with them that he made good time until he came to that treacherous scree that had not improved since he had come through with Shea.

Tor knew what to do--move fast--and crossed gingerly with surefooted Thin right behind. When he got across, he signaled to Roan. But like Tsen before, he was reluctant. And certainly not as experienced with slippery rocks.

First testing the loose stones with his right front hoof, and then backing away and circling, Roan finally took the lunge that carried him halfway until his hooves went out from under him. Screaming, he slid down the mountain to the edge and disappeared.

Thin was confused. Barked and circled around, wanting his companion to come back. Heart fallen, Tor just watched helplessly as his horse, who had not yet conquered a mare, was gone in a mere instant like Thad.

With Roan went the Ibex horns, a supply of meat, warm bedding for the mountain trek, and some tools he would have to make again. Sadly, Tor moved on. Once again, heartbroken.

Before long Tor came to the stream that had been so much trouble before. At this time in the summer it was only ankle-deep. He walked across hardly getting his feet wet. But in the process, the memory of Thad was strong on his mind. He cried silently for him with no one to see.

Without encumbrance and with Thin at his side, Tor made good time throughout that summer and arrived, with a few more cuts and bruises, tangles with insects, wild animals, and slips and falls, to the place he was born.

What had been the Thal winter camp was totally vacant and forlorn, grown over with vines and tall grass. The lodge still had its bleached great bear head over the doorway. Its ribs were still showing with all of the wood, mud and stone falling away. Some of the ribs were down on the ground as if some great creature had knocked them over.

Tor found his life tree still standing after all of the wood gathering in the cycles of the seasons since. He carved his additional notches on the tree, but wasn't sure exactly how many. When he counted all the notches on his fingers, Tor was amazed. He was growing old. And when he went to drink from still water, he often saw that his beard and hair had turned completely white like the elders who he so looked up to wherever he went.

Copyright 2021 © Ronald W. Hull

8/20/21