In the morning, they tied ropes to three boats, and then, Tor's, and began dragging them, against the strong current, upstream to where the fires from the day before were burned down to coals. With charred ribs and other bones protruding to be picked at by the ravens and chewed on by mice and other rodents to get at the calcium and other nutrients. It was a ghastly sight that no longer smelled as bad. But the memory of that stench remained in everyone's nostrils.

But they weren't there to survey the dead. They were there to gather the spoils under the direction of Pell who had watched her tormentors bring back so many things from their many raids. They were stored in two large huts and some of the implements and weapons were regularly used in the camp. Right away, Tor spotted one of his mother's large pots. Nila's decoration was unmistakable.

He pointed the pot out to Pell. "I'm taking this one. It is my mother's."

"No you're not! It's my favorite!" She howled.

Munk jumped into the conversation to explain in her language. "I see many pots. This one was made by Tor's mother. Don't you think you could give it up to him for a remembrance?"

"Guess I could… Maybe I could… Okay… I will." A bit dejected but willing with so much to choose from.

And that wasn't the only thing from Nila. Familiar ladles and buckets, grinding stones and knives with distinctive markings, all made and used by his mother came into view and he tried to collect them all into a large bag for Shea to take back to the boat. There were some necklaces and armbands made by her, as well. It was a treasure from his mother that Tor was so grateful to recover. He began crying with Shea comforting him as he found familiar item after item.

For Munk and his crew, it was the same. Many things taken from their encampment by the waterfall at the headwaters of the Rine. It was both joyful and sad to recover so much that was both sentimental and useful.

Munk, seeing there was so much, had to begin deciding what they would take and what they would leave.

"The gold is very pretty, but it is soft and very heavy. We shouldn't take very much except to make pretty things to wear and images of our gods. Not much use, otherwise. Silver is hard to work and turns black. Not much use for it, either. But I do like the copper because it is easy to shape. And even looks good when it turns a dark green when not in use. All of the stone tools are really nice. Fine craftsmanship… Will last a lifetime. It's almost too much to gather. We will have to leave so much behind." He sighed.

The second hut was filled with weapons for both war and hunting. Tor was interested in flint for fire making and obsidian for how sharp it was for arrowheads, spearheads, and the like. He had no use for so many heavy stone clubs, but those that could chop wood caught his eye and he picked out the best.

It took them all day to sort through and pack on the boats what they would take. Tor's boat had the lightest load, leaving some of Nila's implements behind so they could travel downstream. The three of them in the same boat and not sink. Finally, they decided to pull another smaller boat so they wouldn't overload theirs. By the end of the day, the Canyon crew and the survivors sealed off the two huts, promising to return later to get more. Knowing that as a place of death, others would steer clear once they saw the bones bleaching in the sun.

They all returned to the makeshift camp where snares had caught their evening meal and it was supplemented by fresh fish moving upriver in the thousands and easy to catch by hand. A light rain started, making everyone quite uncomfortable, but that's the way it was when not in camp. Sometimes wet and miserable when cool air accompanied the spring rain. One day hot. The Next day cold. While the elderly could feel a front coming in their bones, only the seasons were constant. The weather, day to day changed.

It rained for three days. But the rain gave them all time to pack carefully, just what was needed for travel. The three boats for Munk would have to be pulled upstream to the Canyon. It would take days and he enlisted only the strongest to pull the boats against the strong current. The rest would go ahead at the pace of the three sisters, knowing that it will be difficult for them to make the journey.

When the sun shined from the east and in their faces in the morning, they all began their journey and were well prepared and provisioned to make it. Munk hugged Shea as though to never let her go, while they both cried. Patted Tor on his shoulder with a stern look in his eyes, and bid them a good journey with the gods watching over them.

Tor, Shea and Tia, already putting meat on her bones, were busy making sure that their boats were not overloaded while they crafted a pack for Tsen's back so that he could carry something, too, as he followed them along the bank. It had to be both sturdy and smooth so that it would not catch on branches and hang him up when they could not see him. Tor would make frequent stops by the bank, rather than continue on. Ensuring that if he was entangled, they could go back and find him on land.

As they used Tsen's strong swimming strokes to get them across the rapid tributary, Shea and Tia waved frantically at their loved ones going the other direction. On the other bank, Tor untied Tsen's harness, and he shook the water off, glad to be free except for the pack on his back. It smelled of and weighed similar to his master. Tsen carried like he owned it.

Pushing off again, the increased current from the three days of rain, took them swiftly downstream. They could have made a long way that day except for frequent stops for Tsen to catch up when he couldn't trot at their speed along the bank. But it was a small price to pay for having the great steed travel with them. Tor knew that he might be of great assistance in towing the boat back upriver when they had run its course. In any event, he would never leave his hard-working partner behind.

Because of the many raids of the evil marauders, the trail on the north side of the Rine was more pronounced and Tsen seemed easily to keep up, sometimes crashing through the brush that had grown up with little effort to stop his momentum. He was at his peak strength now and in good health. Tor saw to that. Making sure that he had rest and time to graze on spring flowers. That's why they always stopped early at night. To hear his whinny of pleasure as he arrived in camp.

Very soon, after only three suns, Tor spotted a familiar sight on the other side and they pulled in early that day. 

"I have to cross the river here check on some people. I told them to leave, but if they haven't, I need to check on them," Tor told Shea and Tia. "We will have to leave Tsen here and paddle across."

Shea knew not to question Tor in matters like this. She knew he had the experience of being there before and she only knew what he had told her. But the story of killing the cave bear was intriguing… "I'm really looking forward to it." She answered. "And to seeing the Black Forest."

Tia did not know what they were talking about because she had not heard the stories. But she was beginning to enjoy this adventure and was willing to go wherever Tor led her. So different from her journey as a captive. Around every corner was wonder that she could enjoy and not fear anymore.

There was no rush, so they made camp and Tor had dreams of what he would find. Hopefully, Alt and the others would be okay since they were free from the cave bear and prospering with the advice he had given them, but the opposite also bothered him. He woke up in the middle of a dream where the Black Forest and the evil gods in it had engulfed them, gasping for air. Shea woke and rolled over. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing, just a dream about where we are going." Tor hoped that was all it was, a dream.

And, he had another concern. They might stay on the other side more than a day or two. His rope to tie Tsen was was only as long as it needed to be. So that he wouldn't get tangled up in brush while grazing. But he would quickly eat all of the grass and flowers where he was tied and be vulnerable to night attack without a fire and the protection of Shin and Tor.

"I've changed my mind," Tor announced as they ate their morning meal before leaving. "I'm going to let Tsen swim with us. He is in the prime of his life and well conditioned by keeping up with us on the trail. I'm beginning to think he won't have any trouble at all crossing here. I know the current is strong from all the rain, but so is he."

Shea smiled, "I was hoping that you would change your mind. Tsen deserves to be with us every bit of this journey."

That settled, Tor tied Tsen's pack on his back while the great horse sensed something different. It showed in his master's eagerness to get moving again. Made him eager, too.

"We will have to paddle hard now, not like we did before. But it's okay for us to drift along as we go because where I want us to land is further down on the other side, anyway."

With the boat put in and the other one tie to the bank with everyone in place, they started paddling toward the south bank. Tsen, ready to follow along the bank, started to, but then, when he sensed that his master was leaving him behind, went down to the water, tested it with a hoof, and then, plunged in.

It wasn't long before Tsen was swimming alongside the boat, matching strokes of the paddles with snorts from his flaring nostrils and ripples of his mighty muscles working hard to reach the other side. The trip was accomplished more quickly than Tor had expected and they landed just downstream from the small tributary that led to the Cave Clan, what was left of it.

As they crossed, the forest on the other side grew taller and darker and Shea got an eerie feeling as she looked into its dark depths, wondering what might lurk there. But she knew that Tor had been there before and knew what he was doing when it came to facing the gods. Shin, on the bow in front of her, whimpered a bit, echoing her thoughts as well. He remembered this place. Smelled it.

Leaving their boat on the river, Tor was anxious to see his friend, Alt, and the others. But he held little hope that they were still there because there was no telltale campfire smoke. Still, he had to find out. Tor took off on the trail at a fast pace to reach the campsite and caves as quickly as he could.

When Tor came into the main part of the camp, it looked long abandoned. Checking around for human bones or other human remains, they found none. Also, the lack of implements and cooking utensils, led him to believe that they had left voluntarily like he had hoped they would, shortly after he left in the other direction.

"All is well, Shea. They have left downriver to where I told them to go. You will get an opportunity to meet them and others that I know, soon. On the water we are moving very fast." He gathered up Shea and Tia and they hugged.

But off to his left, something caught his eye. Because the others had left, the black forest trees were still intact. But Tor's cave bear skull was still there, lashed to the stub of the first huge branch that he cut off that tree. Leading the others, they approached the tree and he quickly climbed up. Taking his obsidian knife, he cut away at the weatherworn rawhide lashings and the great skull fell to a soft landing on bushes that had started to grow with the sun reaching under the tree again.

After that Tor took them to the cave that they stayed in. The shelters were still there. He showed Shea where he had attacked the bear and acted out the kill for her. Shin growl vigorously as he did. Still smelling what remained of the beast's blood on the floor of the cave. After his performance, she hugged and kissed him to Tia's curiosity. Not seeing the significance that Shea saw, thinking it was silly.

Tor was glad that Tsen was with them. So that he could carry the skull to the boat. When they got to the boat, Tor set about lashing it to the knob on the front of the canoe.

When Shea inquired why they were taking that cumbersome thing with them, adding weight. Tor replied, "It will help me overcome any hostility we may encounter. And cast away any doubts about my skill as a hunter."

"You do not have to prove that to me, but I think I see your point." She offered. And then smiled, lovingly.

With no reason to stay there and face the night with the Black Forest at their back, they crossed back over the other side. But on the way, looking at the other side, Tor, for the first time realized that the forest had crossed the river as easily as he was and they would be following it for some time ahead. At least as far as he could see.

By nightfall, they were back on the other side, had retrieved the other boat, and making camp. This time, the Black Forest loomed above them. Tor told them, "Do not be afraid. This is just different." Shea and Tia shared the same secret. They didn't believe him.

Copyright 2021 © Ronald W. Hull

6/15/21