Tevun-Krus #48 - StonePunk

An Adventurer's Return - A Short Story by @ChristopherArmstron8

I had never in all my life thought that I would find myself doing what I was. Four seasons had passed since I had set out across the Greuht Bluh and left my brother and the people of the Greuht Bluh. Perhaps it was the sense of longing for friends and family, or that I had learned much and wished to share with the people of the Greuht Bluh. Whatever it was, I was only three four or five knuckles of sunlight from them, provided the Greuht Wustrrly Whindh continueed to aid me.

Looking towards the horizon and confirming that I was still on track, I looked over at one of my baskets and smiled. During my traveling I had come across some of the finest flint I had ever seen. Mined by the people of the Wustrrly Hiells, I had traded my bow and arrows to them. Bows were replaceable and it had not taken me long it what I assumed was what would become  the county of Whales to collects a stave for a bow. This trade was not the only one I had made during my traveling, nor were the people of the Wustrrly Hiells the only people I had encountered. Many of the baskets I had stacked on the desk of my small craft were filled full of things I had gotten or made during, my time with the had dozen different groups I had encountered.

Not all of the goods I now possessed were for me. Jade and quartz jewelry along with strong flint blades I would give to Wauhvh and Breehzh. Jasper and Ecko would both get axes made from a strong stone that I could not identify but the people of the Wustrrly Hiells used for mining flint. The stone was far superior to the flint that the people of the Greuht Bluh had access to and I hoped that it would help my brother and friend further strengthen their households.

Thinking about the four of them brought back the last time I had seen them, the day I had left on my journey. Wauhvh and Ecko had understood why I had to leave, and we had parted on good terms. Breehzh and Jasper I had not given the opportunity to stop me, as they would have tried to stop me from leaving. Neither of them understood the heartache that I was going through and would have continued to suffer if I had stayed and watched them be happy together. Besides my leg had not improved in the four seasons and I knew that it never would. Such a condition would never be fair to push on Breehzh when Jasper would and could do much more for her.

Wanting to get my mind off Breehzh, I tossed a medium sized fishing hook into the blue water beneath me. It was nothing much, just a two pieces of wood that I carved with my flint knife and tied together with a piece of dried animal intestine. Despite the fact it was not much, I was never  surprised when a fish hooked onto it. Such a fish did just that as my braided grass line jerked tight. Smiling at the thought of dinner just a few feet away, I jerked tightly on the line to secure the hook in the fish.

Using the muscles that I had built over the last year, I quickly pulled the fish out of the blue water. It fought back but I had it in the boat within a few moments. Small in size I figured it weighed about seven or so pounds. Such a fish would provide me a few meals or would serve as a good present to Wauhvh and her mate Chuff, the leader of the people of the Greuht Bluh. I no doubt would be welcomed into the village and a feast would be hosted in celebration of my return, so the fish was not needed. Still it would make a good gift and so opening a tightly woven basket and dipping it into the water to fill it partially, I placed the fish still alive in it.

Curious if I could get another, I tossed my line back into the water. While it floated below the surface, I checked my course and remaining time. Before i could scan the horizon for land, my line jerked and i set to work pulling in a second fish. Braided cord moved through my hands as I hauled in the second larger fish. Unlike the fish which had been a blue in color this one had silvery scales that shined in the light. Pleased with it I was about to toss it in the basket when I heard a noise.

Looking up I stared in surprise at the figure standing on a beach not more than a tenth of a knuckle from me. Tossing the fish into the basket before I forgot about it, I pulled out my paddle and began paddling for the beach. Shortly I was within range of the figures words and heard him yelling, "Uh puhrsun uhpruhhuhs uhn Greuht Bluh." Translating it into my native tongue mentally I understood that he had said, " A person approaches on Great Blue."

His words had been spoken in the tongue of the people of the Greuht Bluh so I was confident that I was in the right place. Soon enough my confidence was boosted as I was able to recognize the figure as one of Ecko younger siblings. I did not know if he recognized me so rather than beach my craft where he was, I brought it in a couple hundred paces further down the beach.

My first sense was of the soft sand beneath my booted feet. I had missed the sand that ran along this beach and had not found anything that felt the same in my travels. Perhaps it was because of the memories I had of the place or of just being near my friends and family, whatever the reason I found my eyes watering as three distinct shapes came barking down the beach.

Choosing not to react I allowed myself to be knocked to the ground as Bewitched, Neptune, and Grey greeted me. The pups had grown in the time I had been gone, and had fully matured. Their playfulness had not changed, as they covered me in licks and tugged at my clothes and hair. I had not thought about them and was glad to have them as a welcoming committee.

After the pups had greeted me for a some time I gently but firmly pushed against their full coats. Smiling at them I stood up and made eye contact with Ecko. The younger boy had  like the pups grown in the time I had been gone and now was as tall as me. Before I could say a word he pulled me into a deep bone bruising hug. Knowing that he had probably thought I was dead I allowed him to break the hug after he was satisfied.

Ignoring the shouts form people making their way along the beach I greeted him, "Eht huhz behn uh luhng thiem myuh frieuhndh."

Nodding his head Ecko solemnly commented, "Weuh thutt thuhtt yuh huhdh dhiedh. Eht ehzz guhdh tuh knuwh thuhtt yuh urh ahlihv."

Nodding my head in understanding I smiled at Ecko as I remembered the stone axe i had for him. Commenting "Wauiht huerh," I climbed onto my beached craft. Pulling off the lid of the basket in question, I removed the tool before putting the lid back in its place.

Turning back to look at Ecko, I was taken back by the crowd that had gathered. While not everyone from the village was here, I still felt small. Ecko had been joined by his siblings along with his mother Wauhvh and his father Chuff. Next to them Breehzh and Jasper looked at me with mixed emotions in their eyes.

Wanting to distribute my gifts now, before things became chaotic with the celebrations or whatever was going to happen, I grabbed the other baskets. Placing them on the edge of the craft, I first handed Ecko his axe. While I transferred the smooth handle attached to the heavy stone head I stated, "Eht ehzz uh stuhne fruhmn uhcruhss thuh Greuht Bluh. Ih huhve nuht fuhnd eht huere, uhnly uhcruhss thuh Greuht Bluh."

Once Ecko had accepted it and both he and Chuff had given it a once over and a few swings, I handed Jasper his. Speaking in our native tongue that only he and I knew I commented, "I found it in a mine in what would be Whales. The people there use it to mine flint from walls in caves. It can crack flint the size of a person."

Knowing that my conversation with Jasper was best for a better time I turned back to digging out  my next gift. The jewelry and flint blades for Breehzh I would give to her and Jasper later, so I carefully moved them to a different container. Lifting the fur lined basket containing my gifts to Wauhvh I handed them to her while explaining, "Yuh wuhre guhdd tuh meh. Fruhm uhcruhss thuh Greuht Bluh ih huhve bruhht yuh juhdd uhnd flluhnt. Yuh cuhnt fuhnd thuh suhme huere."

Wauhvh took no time in opening the basket and both she and Chuff stared at the jewelry inside for many moments. While the jewelry work was not mine, the blades I had knapped myself after one season with the people of the Wustrrly Hiells. Their skill still surpassed my own, but to the people of the Greuht Bluh it was far superior to their own.

Pleased with Wauhvh and Chuffs reaction I watched as they allowed other members of the village to examine the content inside. Based on the words exchanged and looks of admiration, I had a feeling that I would soon be busy crafting blades for the entire village. It would not just stop there though, as I knew that at the gathering that would be held this summer, all the costal and other villages would gather would clamor to get their hands on my work. Being wanted would feel nice for a change and I knew that even if I wanted to I would never leave this village as long as Wauhvh had a say.