The Animal People

While Manuel approached The Elder's house he studied it carefully, though for no particular reason. He looked at the stacked dark brown logs, laying sideways, which made up the four walls. He studied the way that either end of any given log was carved to fit into the others both above and below it, as if the structure were a large, three dimensional puzzle. The upper layer of logs on top of the cabin, which went from one side of the house to the other, had grooves cut into their undersides every foot or so, while the lower layer of logs on top of the cabin, which went from front to back, had grooves cut on their upper face which fit into the grooves from the upper layer of the logs, thus creating an interlocking criss-cross for a roof. The four logs which made up the top layer of the walls had flattened upper faces, and the roof, which extended almost six inches from the house all the way around, had grooves cut to fit the top log snugly within them, providing the house with a sturdy feel.

The Elder's gate was made of pairs of logs which had been driven into the ground parallel to eachother every few feet. Small trees which had had their limbs removed had been stacked horizontally on top of one another, with a small walkway in the center of the gate for an entrance. The wall was nearly five feet high, and extended from the front corners of the house in a diagonal manner, then cut back toward a center point, about twenty feet away from the house.

Manuel also noted, as he entered the gate, that the doors to both the gate and the house were leaned up against the front wall of the house, meaning that The Elder was certainly home.

"Hello," Manuel said to the bed, which was a box comprised of logs fitted together like the walls of the home and then densely packed with straw, and the in-ground fire pit inside the dimly lit house, having not yet seen The Elder.

"Hello," The Elder said back from a rocking chair in the back right corner of the single room which made up the inside of the house. In his right hand he held an intricately decorated pipe, from which a thin wisp of smoke twirled delicately into the air. "How are you today, Manuel? How is Ellie?"

"I am well," Manuel informed The Elder. "Ellie is in considerable pain, however. I worry about her."

The Elder let out a little laugh, and took a draw on his pipe and allowed the smoke to wander and puff out of his mouth while he spoke. "Manuel, she is pregnant. That should not be too hard to remember." All of the smoke had escaped The Elder's mouth, but it still danced around his head for a bit before fully dissipating. "All you have to do is look at her, and that fact should be rather clear." The Elder laughed a bit more, then drew again from his pipe.

"I know," Manuel said, looking around for another chair. He found one near the other end of the room, and went to fetch it while he continued speaking. "But that does not alleviate my concern. And not only am I concerned for her, Gerald, but I am concerned for the child."

"Why so?" The Elder asked as Manuel set the chair down a few feet from him and seated himself onto its contoured seat. "We have plenty of food, as I have assured you of many times before. And besides, your child will only need breast milk for long until after the winter has passed." The Elder offered his pipe to Manuel and Manuel took it, thanking Gerald before drawing from it's mouth. He allowed the smoke to reside in his lungs for a moment, then let it out in a heavy sigh, feeling much more relaxed by the herbs in the pipe. He passed it back to The Elder, but the act was greeted with an open hand in a 'no thank you' gesture.

"What I'm worried about is how the child will grow up. Will I be able to teach him the things he needs to know?" Manuel asked.

"It takes a village to raise a child, but regardless I'm sure you will be a fine father," Gerald said as Manuel took another drag on the pipe.

"But I am a Hunted-you know this. I am not cut to be a father."

"Ah, but quite the contrary, I can assure you. Being that you were a Hunted, you will be all the more prepared to teach your child how to survive in this dangerous world." Gerald assured in a gentle manner.