SABIS the SURVIVOR

Chapter 13: Warm Haven

Chapter 13: Warm Haven

With every step that Sabis pulled Daris on his makeshift rib sled, he became more aware of his body's vital functions and more tuned into the scenery. First, all the blood rushed to his head and his eyes developed a pulse in sync with his heartbeat. Second, the colour of Daris' face mirrored the orange-yellow-red hues that striped the increasingly warm sky.

His mood rose with the changed sky colour but fell with the longing ache he felt for home.

He breathed long and slow while he opened and closed his eyes to make certain that he was not hallucinating. With each step forward, he began to perspire. This contrasted with the cold-sweat that had caused him to shiver so far on his journey. Could the warmer climate be a gift from Mother Earth? Had she granted him his prayer?

Sabis did not want to stop moving for fear that he might lose his new-found forward momentum. Though his sore feet protested and his mouth and throat screamed for water, he continued forward despite his overwhelming urge to lie down. But he slowed his pace to conserve energy. He hummed a tune from his younger time to soothe his soul, if not his body aches.

"Fire, oh fire! Be still, fire. Flame that glows, flame that's so old. Mother, oh Mother! Be kind, Mother. You are the fire, stories have been told. About strength and your zeal, and your power to heal. Mother, oh Mother! Carry me home, carry me home."

Daris let out a yip, yip! He seemed more interested in disembarking from the makeshift sled. Plodding on with a tired limp, Sabis could hear the muscles squeezing the air out of his lung passages.

"You don't have a song to buoy your spirits, my friend. We'll rest now and then resume our journey soon, okay?"

Just then Sabis saw a clearing near to a large tree. He did not see a nest of birds or any insects to indicate a vibrant life pattern in this more temperate zone. He unharnessed Daris so his friend could stretch his legs and body.

"Daris, go easy on that hind paw."

Just as he was opening up his knapsack to retrieve another ration snack, a mysterious figure appeared from behind the large tree. It was a young woman with long, flowing auburn hair and a robe to match. Her mellifluous voice resembled the singing of his Mother's lullabyes from his earlier time.

"Hello. Who are you?" the woman asked.

"I am Sabis and this is my friend Daris. We are on a journey to that white mountain in the distance. What is your name?"

"Sabis and Daris, pleased to meet you. I am Elaris. How did you find this place? It is only for the bravest of the brave. You are quite young to be so brave. Usually the people who arrive here have been in a battle with weapons or a battle with illness."

Sabis did not know what Elaris was referring to but he played along.

"I have participated in many battles with weapons, some of which were to the death for my foes."

"I see." Elaris was keeping her thoughts to herself.

"If you can spare us some beet or yam soup and perhaps some rations for the next part of our journey, then we would be very grateful."

"I think that can be arranged for you two. Why don't you rest under this large tree? It is just the right fit to protect you from the elements."

Sabis kept staring at Elaris' ruby red lips and her hazel green eyes. Her lips called out to Sabis, 'Red as the sea,' he mused, referring to the red tide in the Sea of Snails that marked the thaw cycle at the onset of each hunting season. Her eyes beckoned him to see the truth and his mind filled with the following message,

"Greener than any valley is where you will find the answers you seek."

Sabis' head fell to one side while his ears hummed with Elaris' warm and soothing words,

"Rest under that tree."

Finally, just as he was about to nod off to sleep, he noticed an almost blinding white flash. Then he felt a thump and heard a loud thud.

Sabis awoke to Daris' yips and warm tongue covering his face. Sabis had fallen asleep while leaning forward walking. He had tumbled into the snow and ice causing Daris to fall off of his new sled. Daris did not want to eat Sabis nor disturb him but as Sabis lay asleep, the snow still fell and covered Sabis to the point where he would soon suffocate. So Daris had made the move to alert Sabis with his yips, lips, and tongue.

"Oh, Mother Earth! I fell asleep while pulling you on the sled. Daris, you don't deserve me as your tribal leader."

Daris continued to yip while Sabis shook the snow off and dusted off Daris with the back of his right hand.

"What a dream I was having. We were in some warm haven and this young woman called Elaris was going to feed and tend to us. Amazing stuff. Too bad it was all a dream."

Sabis tried to recall what Elaris had said to him about how only the brave find their way to this haven and about that green valley and finding answers. He took a deep breath, let it out as long and as slow as he could, then re-harnessed Daris to the sled and pushed forward.