The meeting of the Elders had been going on for a long time. It was taking place in the cave so that there would be enough room for us all. If the subject under discussion did not affect some Elders they would stay away and the meeting was then held in the Chief Elder’s shelter. But today’s meeting affected everybody, there was only one topic, whether the group should move south before winter set in.
Many people were getting scared. We could not afford another winter like last one. It had been so long and the coldest anyone could remember, even Ikaseraz. How he had survived it I just did not know. Perhaps he hadn’t, his death even though at mid-summer may have been caused by the stress of the cold during the previous winter.
In direct opposition to that was the fact that nobody wanted to leave the cave, or rather the spirits, and move away to where the spirits were unknown. The land would also be strange, making hunting, trapping and collecting foodstuffs harder. The best land would be occupied already, which meant we would have to join another group - they probably would not welcome us - or do our best with unproductive land. The only alternative to that was to fight them for the good land and our numbers were already depleted.
The arguments went one way and then the other. Some people seemed committed to going, but would later argue for staying. So even individuals were half for going and half for staying, never mind the whole meeting. I said very little, just let the meeting know that, whatever the circumstances I would stay at Gabillou. I gave no reason for my decision, but I would never leave Hare. That made their decision making harder, because if they went they would not have the Enchanter.
It was getting dark earlier as we went into Autumn and I could see through the cave entrance that dusk was already falling and the meeting must end soon. Chief Elder rose to summarise.
"No agreement has been reached. I will give my opinion. I think we should move away south while there is still time to do so before winter storms. The child Sinotsu should act as our Enchanter. We should all speak to everybody who is not at this meeting and tell them that a decision will be taken ten days from today. If we cannot agree by then, I will declare my opinion as our decision."
Everybody said "Yes" to agree that that was the outcome of this meeting. I walked back with Father who was upset.
"This is the worst thing to have to decide. And only ten days, then we either go or not. I felt the mood was more for going even before Chief Elder said he thought that was the right thing to do. Several will be swayed by his opinion. You know I don’t want to go, if we can’t get enough to eat here where we know the hunting, I think it can only be worse elsewhere. But your mother wants to go, she is afraid of the cold especially for Min and Oskol. We have more sense than to argue about it, but that doesn’t go for some families."
"I’ve heard that there have been fights. Families splitting can only make it much worse. I’m not one to talk, but we should be together on this whatever is decided. But I can’t possibly go."
"I understand why you can’t, dear. And the Enchanter is always a separate case. You wouldn’t leave your spirit-guide and on top of that you will still want to consult Ikaseraz in the spirit-world. It is not thinkable to leave him either."
"It doesn’t seem possible that you and Mother could be at odds."
"Essentially we are not. Whatever is decided we are quite agreed that we will do that. But I think it will be for going and I just can’t imagine what is going to happen to us all, us away in strange places and you here on your own."
"I will not be on my own."
"Of course not." said Hare in my mind.
"Not for company of course, but you will have to survive by your own skills, like an outcast. What if something were to happen, an accident and you were injured? There would be nobody to help you."
"But you always said that life was about managing risk, didn’t you?"
"Oh, don’t be so sensible. And using my own words against me, I should have said a lot less obviously." We smiled and parted.
I found Sinotsu in my shelter with the meal nearly ready. It smelled good and I was ready for it.
"Do you know how old you are Sinotsu?"
"Ten. I think. Nobody seems to be quite sure."
"I think you are probably ten too. It is a bit young but these are unusual times. Do you think you are ready to be initiated?"
"I… er… I hadn’t thought about it. I thought there was a year or two to go yet."
"So did I. But you have learnt a lot and I think you could be ready. But you must say if you think you are not."
"You must be able to judge better than I can. I had hoped for more practice, but I’ve looked forward to it of course. Yes, I could do it."
"Good. I’m pleased you agree. We will have to work very hard. An emergency has arisen, it was what the meeting was about. You must have heard talk that the group might be going south?" He nodded.
"In ten days we will know. The decision has to be made while there is time to go, if that is what is decided. Whatever the decision I shall stay here. I cannot leave. So if the group goes south the Chief Elder wants you to be their temporary Enchanter. You could do that uninitiated, but I think it would put you in a stronger position if you were an initiated enchanter. Of course they may decide to stay, but that would be no harm except for a lot of hard work which we could have put off until next year say."
He looked stunned.
"So, if we go south, I would have to do everything without you?"
"Yes. I know it seems alarming. But you can do it."
"Do you really think so?"
"I do. You are not afraid to try new things and you have a creative mind. You are going to need it because a lot of what you have learnt is specific to Gabillou and its cave. The spirits here will keep you under their protection as far as they can. But you will have to meet and propitiate new spirits as you move south. Everything will be different for everybody so you may have to improvise. Particularly with hunting rituals."
"Oskol may be able to help, telling me about the hunting as it changes."
"That is good thinking. See, you are the right person for this."
Sinotsu had never worked harder than in the following week. I gave him all my time, though I was always wanting to be with Mother and Father. It seemed all too likely that we would soon be parted and we all faced uncertain futures. I kept to myself the fact that I was almost certainly pregnant. Mother would have wanted me to stay with them so she could be there to deliver me. And of course I wanted that too, but nothing could make me leave and I didn’t want to spend our short time together arguing about it. Oskol and Eraminpe seemed to want to be off on what they saw as an adventure. I went along with them, it would have been cruel to suggest that it could go badly wrong. Somebody needed some optimism.
I think I was even more nervous than Sinotsu when the day came for his initiation. But my own had been so recent that I remembered everything and just did for him all that Ikaseraz had done for me. Though I left more warm clothing by the passageway entrance and food for him when he came out, I remembered how deeply cold I had been.
While he was in spirit-world I went up to the stone circle to visit Ikaseraz. He didn’t speak in my mind but I could feel him giving me a sardonic stare. I felt he doubted my ability to cope with pregnancy and childbirth alone and I thought he could well be right.
Oskol saw Sinotsu coming dreamily back from the cave and called me. We went to meet him and each with an arm round him took him into my shelter. I got a hot drink for the three of us but Oskol left soon after drinking his when he saw that Sinotsu was unlikely to speak. He spoke very little even when there were only the two of us. Before he left for his own shelter to sleep he just quietly said
"It’s a crane."
It was a surprise, though I don’t know why. We often saw them, though more in the past like a lot of other things. I smiled to myself because it seemed so fitting now that I knew. Sinotsu was an elegant dancer and often showed off about it, so like the bird. Perhaps they would dance together.
"Neither of us is much of a dancer." said Hare, and I had to agree.
"Cranes are great travellers. He may have to start that too if they decide to go. Do you think they will, Hare?"
"Yes, and so do you."
Father, Sinotsu and I went together to the ten days later meeting of the Elders. Sinotsu was quite excited at going to his first meeting, but Father and I just looked at each other with dread. All our suspicions were confirmed. Many waverers joined the Chief Elder and the decision was taken to go south. I wondered how many other groups might be deciding to do the same thing. Perhaps Ukitu’s group would go. I felt fairly certain she would never leave the Cave of Bulls and her bison.
Sinotsu really wanted to go, but now he had the pull of wanting to stay with his crane. I persuaded him that such a strong flyer would be able to keep up with him. He would have to find places on their route where the barrier between worlds was permeable, like our cave, and go through there to meet his crane. I couldn’t let him go without an object of power to help him. He would find others on the journey but he had to have something to start out with and to draw them all back here to their home cave. I would have given him the white northern bear’s claw, but he had always been afraid of it. After considering all our objects with care I gave him the swan’s skull. He seemed overwhelmed and I knew he would use it wisely.
The next few days were hectic with preparations. Sinotsu’s things were few and some were in a pitiful state. I replaced such as I could, as I had more than I could need with Ikaseraz’s as well. But mostly I spent my time with Mother and Father. Like everyone else they were taking anything too heavy to carry to store in the cave. I helped them to carry some items and felt happier for it, I would have a slight link to them still and, more importantly, it signalled that they would come back. The intention had always been to come back when it got warmer for a good length of time. But I secretly feared that the group would find a better place than here and decide to stay.
Mother wanted to take at least one trap, but Father insisted that they could make new ones. Even some tools would have to stay behind. He gave me the precious three-edged blade, and spent some time carving on my new harp. He had meant to do it before and now this was the last opportunity. And I thought that concentrating on the carving probably reduced his anxieties. He wouldn’t let me see until it was finished.
The last evening came all too quickly. They would all set out early the following morning. Everything had been said over and over and we were just looking at each other. Father brought out my newly carved harp and asked me to play for them. There were carved woolly mammoths walking all round it. I have no idea how he knew to do that. Of course I burst into tears and that started Mother off and then Wolf started howling. It was some time before I could shakily start playing. Mother joined in on her flute and it was a good idea of Father’s, a good farewell where we couldn’t find any words.
The next morning they all left and Hare and I were alone.
