Eril's Story

Day 22

I woke up refreshed to a slumbering camp, unsurprisingly being the first to awaken as I most often did. Soon though, everyone was up and breakfast was being cooked, piping hot and distributed to each in a small wooden bowl. We ate a large portion of mashed grains, mixed with a few savory fungi Cyrith had found on the first day in the woods, simple but filling - it was the same meal we had the previous mornings. The warm food contested the chill of the air, it would be some time before warm summer mornings struck their claim over this land.

Hiking onwards, Balar seemed to know the area quite well, pointing out landmarks as we journeyed on - a tall rock formation, game trails, a lightning struck tree, burnt to a crisp. One sign in particular seemed to grab his attention, bringing with it an 'ah' moment, and that was when we found a wide swath of trampled land that seemed to indicate some sort of mass migration. I didn't quite know what it meant, and Balar was purposely silent on the matter, telling us to, 'Wait and see.'

From that point on we doubled our speed, a pace I hoped we wouldn't have to sustain for very long. I was certainly outclassed physically by both my fellow travelers. Balar, even though older, seemed very much up to the task, long legs providing a quick stride, with lungs that never seemed to lack for air. Cyrith being in her youth was spry and energetic, and having packed lighter than us was less encumbered, easily matching Balar's gait. I solidly brought up the rear.

A few hours and one break later, I saw smoke on the horizon, and a short while later, many structures all scattered about on an open piece of land. Balar nodded in approval, his tracking skill and sense of direction remaining undisputed. We made our way into a small village that had no indication of being there any more than a couple of days.

All the houses and small towers, and the various sorts of tents, were made with travel in mind, being on wheels or on large carts, with hulking bison, presumably to move them, grazing nearby.

Within the village everything was arranged in a neat and orderly array, with small trampled down streets and intersections subdividing the homes, with everything surrounding a giant bonfire, blazing away in the center, giving off a pleasant smoky smell to the whole area. Impressively, these people had both the ingenuity and coordination to live in such a remarkable way.

The logistics of moving such large structures would be daunting to most. Limited in the range of terrain that could be traveled, and having to find viable routes that were traversable. Carting large tents that would be assembled and taken down at each stop, the owners' possessions being drawn in a wagon alongside the thick cloth and poles used for their home. What I found most fascinating though were large flat carts filled with soil, in which gardens full of useful plants were growing from and actively being cultivated.

As we walked through towards the bonfire, a few people shouted out, calling Balar by name. He smiled and waved, greeting each in turn. Clearly he was known around these parts. When we got to the fire, we found an open area to deposit our things and settle in, indulging in some food from our packs. Around us, groups of people were milling about, and I Picked up on a feeling of anticipation that hung in the air, that people were waiting for something to take place. When I asked Balar, all I got was more frustrating secrecy, saying, 'It's a surprise.'

While we were sitting around passing time, a family came up and greeted us, welcoming us to the community and inviting us to visit with them in their home. I for one was very eager to see what the inside of one of these houses would look like on the inside, the others were also excited, more at the prospect of being indoors and all the comforts that came with it, especially after days of traveling.

From the outside of the wooden house it looked somewhat plain, though the sloped walls and curved roof told a different story. Stepping inside, a warm glow encapsulated the shapely interior. A small metal stove that held a bed of hot coals was tucked away in a corner, food cooking on it, and giving off a radiant heat to the entire home. While further in, colorful tapestries hung from the roof, subdividing the home into small private spaces.

At the very end, a small loft was perched over the living area, crowned with a comfortable looking bed. The rest of the furniture complimented the compact nature of the house, being built into the siding of the walls, or foldable, to be hid away completely when not in use. Whenever another surface or seat was needed during the visit, one would be magically retrieved from some unseen nook.

We stayed for awhile, talking and sipping on a well prepared tea. But then it came time for the main attraction of the evening, back outside. Following the sound of a trumpet blast, and the slow solemn beat of drums, our hosts led us back to the center which now housed a fire that was twice the size as before, glowing on the faces of the hundreds of townsfolk surrounding it.

I asked around to find out what was happening, learning that it was a celebration of the hunters that were about to embark tomorrow. A little surprised, I found myself amused by Balars secrecy, clearly waiting for this moment of revelation on my part - that we would be joining others, and that there was now a ritual recognizing what would be my small part in the upcoming event.

A chorus of horns and stringed instruments struck up a lively tune, seasoning the night with flowing melodies as more people gathered around. The music played, entertaining the crowd, many swaying or joining in dance with each other. Gradually the tempo picked up, the players reaching frenzied speeds. When the music reached its peak, from the shadows a band of hunters emerged with a shout - startling some of the smaller children who unwittingly joined in on the cry. Dressed in vibrant garb, consisting of bone and feathers, over top of their normal plain outfits, they paraded in front of their captive audience

My excitement grew as I watched them enact out a hunt for the wide eyed watchers, most of whom would never get the chance to have the experience in person. As the show built in intensity, I was fully enraptured, feeling the fire in my chest and the desire to adventure - I would have even left that very night if that had been the plan. The energy and athleticism these hunters possessed as they leaped and stalked about, all while brandishing their weapons, was most impressive.

We sat and watched until, then as all things do, the show ended, the energy of the gathering wore down, and people trickled away to their homes. The three of us made ourselves as comfortable as possible by what was left of the bonfire, still keeping our distance because of the heat of the coals. Then we slept, awaiting the big day.