When They Return

by Luc Reid

And at last, on the eighty-first day of their travels, the village came into sight through the trees, incomprehensibly peaceful and familiar and dull. The two surviving members of the quest limped, exhausted, toward the council house.

They didn’t have to announce their arrival: awed children–Second Trout, the flinter’s son; the orphans Birch-Leaf and Birch-Bough; Small Badger; and the others–coalesced around the adventurers with shrieks, clapping their hands excitedly against their thighs. Their families and neighbors left hides curing, grain half-pounded, roofs part-mended. By the time the two reached the council house, the Elders were already hurrying in, and almost the entire village trailed behind them in a raucous parade.

The younger traveler collapsed onto the cool dirt floor, laughing weakly. Two of the unmarried girls brought him water in a gourd.

The older traveler, Broken Tooth Wolf, gripped the center pole for support but remained standing. Under his free arm he held a hide-wrapped bundle somewhat larger than a man’s head.

“Broken Tooth Wolf!” said the Eldest as she creaked into a sitting position on a reed mat. “Where are Red Tailed Hawk and Bullfrog and Turtle Beak?”

“They’re dead, and their bones are scattered and trampled in places we don’t dare to return,” said Broken Tooth Wolf. Another elder opened his mouth to ask a question, but Broken Tooth Wolf spoke quickly. “We don’t have much time. Our journey was not successful. I have only been able to bring back one thing to help us, and you will see that it is not what we hoped for.”

Broken Tooth Wolf loosened the hide wrapping of his package, then threw it to the floor, where the coverings fell away to show what it was. The council house went quiet.

The Eldest looked up at Broken Tooth Wolf in surprise. Broken Tooth Wolf nodded, wearily.

“It is all we have,” said the Eldest. “We will do with it what we can. War chief, kill Broken Tooth Wolf by the black rocks and bring back his head. You others, get to work now. We must be prepared before they find us.”

Broken Tooth Wolf went unresistingly with the war chief. At least his lot would be easier than that of the ones who would stay to fight.