Chapter 13
Burnt Offerings
~~~~~~~~~~
Brun observed the return of the hunting party with a sinking feeling. There was not nearly enough food stored up for winter, and not enough time to make up for it anymore. When he had been leader, the clan had never gone hungry over the lean months. The variety of their diet may have been limited, but there were always stores of food. He was getting old, and possibly would not last to see summer, especially if food was scarce.
The scant fresh meat was welcomed gladly. All were aware of the scarce stores they had for the winter. Their homecoming was subdued by the tenseness of the men.
None of the men would tell the women what had happened, or how their leader had been humiliated. Nonetheless, it stung Broud's pride and he took out his frustration on his mate. Oga shifted uneasily as she prepared to serve her mate his food, knowing whatever she did, she'd be cuffed. Gingerly, she set the food in front of him. Broud tasted the stew and spat it out. It was a meaty stew and prepared well, but nothing would have pleased him. Abruptly, he turned and cuffed his mate.
"Woman, this stew is too cold," he motioned over her cowering form.
Thonolan was on his feet in an instant. Indignant at the unfair treatment of the females, he felt obligated to champion them. With a mischievous grin, he went near Broud and used one of the new skills Sela had taught him. He made sure that Oga was on the other side of the hearth, so she wouldn't be blamed. Quickly, Thonolan tipped Broud's bowl over onto the leader's lap.
"Ahh!" Broud shouted as the steaming liquid burned his legs and other parts. "Oga!" he looked around, seeking to place blame on her. As he turned angrily, Thonolan stuck his foot out and watched with glee as Broud fell flat on his face.
Quickly taking in the scene, Uba gathered some herbs to use for his burns. She looked at Durc in annoyance as his lips drew back and he showed his teeth. Remembering how her sister used to make that face when she was happy, she relaxed. Carefully, she approached the leader's hearth and dropped down in front of him.
The tap came quickly and impatiently. Broud didn't want his burnt areas to be permanently damaged. He'd lose much status if his man parts were didn't function properly. Uba quickly went to work; adding hot water to dried horsemint. She wished she had snow or something cooler for the raw burn.
"Oga, get some cool fresh water," she demanded.
Broud sat motionless as the medicine woman went to work, not showing any sign of discomfort. His thighs were raw with blisters, and the rest of him...he couldn't look. The clan was not unaware of the happenings at their leader's hearth and waited uneasily to see what would happen.
Strange how the bowl just tipped over when Broud was sitting still, Goov mused. When he fell, he tripped over packed dirt, but it seemed like something invisible was in the way. Could this be a sign from the sprits? Were they unhappy with their leader? The hunt today made him realize that perhaps Broud should be leader no more. He'd need to spend time meditating on this.
Oga quickly rushed back with cool water, receiving a nod of thanks from Uba. The medicine woman poured the water on the burnt area to cool the skin. The burn looked bad, the stew must have been boiling, she thought to herself. Uneasily, she wondered if all the skin would grow back. After she had done all she could, she packed the raw area with a poultice to draw out any infection.
"The blisters need time to heal, the skin will become chapped and raw before new skin grows. If this man moves around too much, the burns may not heal properly," she motioned nervously, "the leader may want to stay close to his hearth until the blisters are gone."
Broud glowered at Uba angrily and motioned to dismiss her. He fully intended to heed her warnings but chaffed at the idea of being idle.
Goov motioned to Vorn and the two went outside. When they were far enough away, Goov stopped and expressed his growing concerns.
"Broud will not be able to lead the hunts for awhile." Vorn nodded, this had concerned him also. "You will be leader while Broud heals."
Thonolan was overjoyed. At last, the Clan would have a new leader, one more competent than Broud. If Thonolan had anything to do with it, Broud would not regain his leadership. He grinned gleefully as he thought of his next plan.
He smiled to himself. Though the mother hadn't told him specifically what she wanted yet, he'd been making good use of his time. During the hunt today, he'd dogged Broud at every turn he could. He recalled the perplexed looks on the men's faces when Broud had been unable to get close enough to their prey. In the end, Vorn stepped in and led the hunt to its successful conclusion. The hunters were losing faith in their leader's ability to hunt successfully and a loss of face in other aspects as well.
"Ha! Playing watcher over a bunch of filthy animals. Haven't you learned anything yet?" Thonolan shot up and looked into the face he'd hope he would never see again.
(VOH p. 412)
~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks again Rubber Duck. I know you're not the only one reading, and have the stats to prove it. ;)
Burnt Offerings
~~~~~~~~~~
Brun observed the return of the hunting party with a sinking feeling. There was not nearly enough food stored up for winter, and not enough time to make up for it anymore. When he had been leader, the clan had never gone hungry over the lean months. The variety of their diet may have been limited, but there were always stores of food. He was getting old, and possibly would not last to see summer, especially if food was scarce.
The scant fresh meat was welcomed gladly. All were aware of the scarce stores they had for the winter. Their homecoming was subdued by the tenseness of the men.
None of the men would tell the women what had happened, or how their leader had been humiliated. Nonetheless, it stung Broud's pride and he took out his frustration on his mate. Oga shifted uneasily as she prepared to serve her mate his food, knowing whatever she did, she'd be cuffed. Gingerly, she set the food in front of him. Broud tasted the stew and spat it out. It was a meaty stew and prepared well, but nothing would have pleased him. Abruptly, he turned and cuffed his mate.
"Woman, this stew is too cold," he motioned over her cowering form.
Thonolan was on his feet in an instant. Indignant at the unfair treatment of the females, he felt obligated to champion them. With a mischievous grin, he went near Broud and used one of the new skills Sela had taught him. He made sure that Oga was on the other side of the hearth, so she wouldn't be blamed. Quickly, Thonolan tipped Broud's bowl over onto the leader's lap.
"Ahh!" Broud shouted as the steaming liquid burned his legs and other parts. "Oga!" he looked around, seeking to place blame on her. As he turned angrily, Thonolan stuck his foot out and watched with glee as Broud fell flat on his face.
Quickly taking in the scene, Uba gathered some herbs to use for his burns. She looked at Durc in annoyance as his lips drew back and he showed his teeth. Remembering how her sister used to make that face when she was happy, she relaxed. Carefully, she approached the leader's hearth and dropped down in front of him.
The tap came quickly and impatiently. Broud didn't want his burnt areas to be permanently damaged. He'd lose much status if his man parts were didn't function properly. Uba quickly went to work; adding hot water to dried horsemint. She wished she had snow or something cooler for the raw burn.
"Oga, get some cool fresh water," she demanded.
Broud sat motionless as the medicine woman went to work, not showing any sign of discomfort. His thighs were raw with blisters, and the rest of him...he couldn't look. The clan was not unaware of the happenings at their leader's hearth and waited uneasily to see what would happen.
Strange how the bowl just tipped over when Broud was sitting still, Goov mused. When he fell, he tripped over packed dirt, but it seemed like something invisible was in the way. Could this be a sign from the sprits? Were they unhappy with their leader? The hunt today made him realize that perhaps Broud should be leader no more. He'd need to spend time meditating on this.
Oga quickly rushed back with cool water, receiving a nod of thanks from Uba. The medicine woman poured the water on the burnt area to cool the skin. The burn looked bad, the stew must have been boiling, she thought to herself. Uneasily, she wondered if all the skin would grow back. After she had done all she could, she packed the raw area with a poultice to draw out any infection.
"The blisters need time to heal, the skin will become chapped and raw before new skin grows. If this man moves around too much, the burns may not heal properly," she motioned nervously, "the leader may want to stay close to his hearth until the blisters are gone."
Broud glowered at Uba angrily and motioned to dismiss her. He fully intended to heed her warnings but chaffed at the idea of being idle.
Goov motioned to Vorn and the two went outside. When they were far enough away, Goov stopped and expressed his growing concerns.
"Broud will not be able to lead the hunts for awhile." Vorn nodded, this had concerned him also. "You will be leader while Broud heals."
Thonolan was overjoyed. At last, the Clan would have a new leader, one more competent than Broud. If Thonolan had anything to do with it, Broud would not regain his leadership. He grinned gleefully as he thought of his next plan.
He smiled to himself. Though the mother hadn't told him specifically what she wanted yet, he'd been making good use of his time. During the hunt today, he'd dogged Broud at every turn he could. He recalled the perplexed looks on the men's faces when Broud had been unable to get close enough to their prey. In the end, Vorn stepped in and led the hunt to its successful conclusion. The hunters were losing faith in their leader's ability to hunt successfully and a loss of face in other aspects as well.
"Ha! Playing watcher over a bunch of filthy animals. Haven't you learned anything yet?" Thonolan shot up and looked into the face he'd hope he would never see again.
(VOH p. 412)
~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks again Rubber Duck. I know you're not the only one reading, and have the stats to prove it. ;)