Shelter in the Storm

Bard tried not to be agitated at their slow pace. The slowest individuals were let on the horses to help speed them up. There was a set of cliffs that would prove to their advantage if they could reach them, but the winds began to pick up and children cried.

Bard had Sen and Kai ride ahead to set up camp, they would need the extra time since they had more people to protect. Due to the sheer winds near the cliff, the fires would suffer, but there was less snow on the ground, which made it easier to travel. Those cliffs ran along their route, so Bard wanted to take advantage of that. As they came nearby, the winds picked up then died down suddenly. The ground was nearly visible and Bard noticed Sen and Kai were father than he had expected. Kai ran back to greet them, unloaded by Sen. He took point and guided them to an overhang that Sen and him had found and Bard felt more relieved, this would make it easier to protect everyone against the elements and the dark. As people moved in, there was audible relief at the break from the gusts of wind and sheer chill from them.

Several of the more able-bodied souls, volunteered to help set up the sunstones and fires. Bard directed, feeling odd not helping build them as much, but with the sheer quantity and the amount of people he needed to direct, he wasn’t able to lift much.

As night settled, shades swarmed outside. They hadn’t gone far since the attack, but there was no sign of the six eyed one, or any shades Bard felt worried about. These were the grunts. Several children and mothers were frightened by their sight, however, so Bard had Kai lay with his back to them and the mothers and children stayed on the other side.

The night was filled with little sleep, as he was called to soothe and explain things to the others.

Bard noted that their group consisted of over three hundred adults and several children per household. The horses were twenty-five in total.

“We’re going to need some tents,” he muttered as he sat by Elvira and Ruegar. Sen came over and sighed.

“With more adult trees, I could have them sheltered, but it would be hard to keep the shades at bay with the branches. The flickering of firelight is just too risky,” Sen commented. Bard hummed as they looked at the horses. The people had carried more than Bard had initially thought.

“If it be a tent, some of da folks brought canvas. It’s typically worn as work clothes, but can be made int’ basic tents,” he said, pointing to three of the horses. Bard looked back and saw different clothes that had been tied into bundles and set nearby. The fabric looked heavier. Bard looked at his own supplies that had been unloaded from Kai. He had his felted material as well. He would want to make more of it if the chance arose.

The sounds of fires began to lull him to sleep, and he placed his head in his hand, resting on his knee as he sat. Sen came over and comforted him.

“You should rest, Bard,” Elvira teased. “As a leader, you need to be an example.”

“Yes, but leaders also well sacrifice their own comforts to ensure others have theirs,” Bard remarked.

“Aye, that be true, but you’ve gone and sacrificed enough today.”

Bard didn’t feel like he had done much. If anything, with Sen and them, he felt all he did was direct where they should go.

At their insistence, he walked to Kai and snuggled into his fur.

As he lay there, nearly asleep, a few kids came over and snuggled into Kai’s fur, being at the very edge. Bard sighed and rose himself, ushering the kids further up, so Kai wouldn’t have to worry about moving his legs in his sleep. The kids in their eagerness joined him and buried themselves in the fur. Bard looked out and located the adults who were watching, likely the parents, with their thankful smiles.

Bard then rested as much as he could before sunrise, keeping alert enough to Kai’s instruction.

When morning came, Bard noted that several families seemed tired. They tried to brush it off, but Bard instead decided to stay at camp for the day. He had Sen and Kai go hunting for food as many hadn’t packed much food, and then the adults he organized into groups with Elvira, and asked who would be willing to offer their materials to make tents. Once they left the shade of the mountains, nothing would protect them from the elements. Since they had a few heat oriented sunstones, those would be placed in the tents to keep people warm. Right now, all sunstones were out to absorb sunlight, and were away from the cavern, except a few to ensure ample light.

Some asked if they could just stay here and make this their new home. Bard paused and thought about it before explaining.

“We are only a day’s walk from Holger and the others. While we may benefit from seeing friends and family we have left, there is no guarantee that those we left behind will come after us. More distance will be needed, and the location I picked out earlier will be by mountains, but allow for more trade with the Catfolk.”

“We also seek to establish a village that can live in harmony with Dryads. Sen’s people will join us, so we are going about halfway between our home and theirs. There is an old forest that will provide us with much supplies and herbs, meaning we can care for the sick and elderly. It will be safer to bear children and grow as a people than it has been. It won’t be without challenges, but it does offer solutions to the struggles we faced in our homes.” Elvira’s words rang out and many began to talk and discuss amongst themselves. It sounded like it was mostly agreeable, which left Bard with some relief.

Some of the younger women nearly cried, and Bard noted that some of the boys who caused trouble the other night were here, comforting them. There wasn’t any hostility thrown his way, which Bard took as improvement, but he did worry what would come. This was a large group and many people meant many different ideas for what was ideal.

“Since today is a day to prepare for the rest of the journey, make sure to rest, build the tents, and process any food we have. Dry food is easier to transport and with the abundance of snow, we can make broths and rehydrate them,” Bard instructed. With some of the willing, he taught them further and elaborated. They in turn went to their groups and helped to direct the others.

When Sen returned, he had several able-bodied men carve the hunt and then, with some of the women, set up structures to have the heat sunstones dry the meat. The rest was cooked and given out to different people. Bard was amazed that someone had the wherewithal to bring a pot, medium-sized that it was. His amazement lasted until he found out it belonged to Elvira, and she had it brought on one of the horses. She used it for brewing concoctions and medicine, but for now, it was used to make soup.

After making sure there was enough to go around, Bard had the wood Sen and Kai brought, and introduced a Catfolk-inspired contraption he called a pole-sled. He showed the group how to lash two long, sturdy poles together at one end, forming a wide V-shape, with the broader end resting on the ground. Crossbars of thinner wood were tied between the poles, and a layer of canvas was draped over them to create a sturdy platform for carrying supplies. The narrow end of the poles was secured to Kai and the horses, allowing the structure to be dragged behind them over the compacted snow.

“This will let us carry the food, tents, and more without overburdening the horses,” Bard explained, demonstrating how the pole-sled’s design distributed the weight evenly, making it easier to traverse the snowy plains. It would be slow, but no slower than their current pace with so many on foot. After detailing it, they brought some folks over who were able to grasp it easier and took the hides and made strange spiral cuts to make ropes. Bard was fascinated as he hadn’t seen this before. They dried it over the fires, making sure to stretch them, but finished the drying away from the heat.

When Sen returned, the sun was nearly about to set, and they set up the lights once more before beginning on the tents and other structures. Water was gathered from melting snow in the pot. Having established the main routines they would adhere to, the group slept more soundly and Bard felt they would be ready in the morning.