Ava's Chronicle - Risks
Every summer, salmon migrate from the ocean inland, running up the northern rivers by the millions to lay their eggs. And every summer, the people of the peninsula would travel north, camping along the rivers, to intercept them. Salmon are packed with protein and vitamins, are relatively simple to catch in large numbers, and, when smoked, keep quite well; a perfect food source, and the primary staple of their diet. Caribou were hunted for meat as well as leather, but, according to anthropologist Jonn Breselle, salmon comprises over 50% of the Star-Fire clan's diet, caribou, a mere 7%.
Without the salmon, he concluded, they simply could not survive.
Understandably, when the Clan elders announced that, this year, the Star-Fire clan would head southwest, and not north, the decision was met with some resistance. The Elders explained their position to the various family leaders, who, in turn, explained it to their families.
Avlynka's dress was soaked from her knees down as she walked along through the high grass, drenched from the morning's fog and rains. Her rifle was slung over her shoulder, fighting with her pack for room on her back, which contained her clothing and few personal possessions. As Avlynka walked alongside her family's creaking trailer, piled high with their dismantled home and furniture, as well as Kyllsa's, and pulled by their snow-machine, she explained the rationale behind the decision to Jonn.
“We are going to cross the mountains that form the spine of the peninsula.” she said, pausing to take a bite of her dinner, a piece of smoked caribou. “And spend the winter along the southern coast of the peninsula, in the forests there, along the Nyakii River.
“So... why now? From what I have been told, you have always spent the winter much farther north, correct?” Jonn asked.
Avlynka sighed sadly. “The Krusual have pushed farther into Sebiestor land. We would be too close to them if we went north... maybe next year they will be gone.”
“Ah.” Jonn replied. “Makes sense... wait, aren't your Tribes allies now?”
Avlynka took another bite of meat and shrugged. “Maybe wherever you're from, we are. Here...they will still attack us if they have the chance.”
“Oh.” Jonn said quietly, nodding as that sank in.
The sound of footsteps shuffling rapidly through the glass announced Sukki's approach, as she walked quickly to catch up with them. She walked between Avlynka and Jonn, likewise carrying a pack loaded down with her belongings. “Hey.” she said happily, handing a chunk of vya to Avlynka, and another chunk to Jonn.
“Oh!” Avlynka said happily, smiling as she took a bite. “Mmm....”
Jonn sniffed it, then gingerly nibbled at it, his apprehension disappearing immediately as he chewed. “Oh, my, that is tasty, what... what is it?”
“Vya.” Sukki replied. “It's made from berries, mostly blueberries. You smoosh 'em all up, into a paste like, and then spread it out and let it dry. Dad usually adds a little syrup or sugar, too.”
“Berries, you say?” Jonn said, thinking out loud. “Must be packed with sugars... energy...”
Avlynka laughed a little, as Sukki's teasing began. “Better watch it... you're gonna turn into one of us, if you keep eating all our food.”
“Hehe, I doubt that will happen. Nonetheless, thank you. It is delicious.” he replied.
Avlynka looked Jonn over, noticing the wretched state his clothing was in. “You may wanna start dressing like us, though.” she said. “The constant wet and wear seems to be ruining your clothes.”
Jonn looked down at his knees, visible through his badly torn pants, his skin covered in scratches and cuts from the sharp tundra grass. “I suppose treated leather is more durable than Luminairian cotton, hmm?”
Avlynka smiled and looked at Sukki. “Give it to him yet?”
She grinned. “No... should I?”
Jonn stopped in his tracks, his hands on his hips, trying to hide his smile. “And what, exactly, are you two playing at now, hrmm?”
Without a word, Sukki stopped walking, and Avlynka rummaged about in her pack-basket. After a moment, she tossed a folded bundle towards Jonn. “Here. Put that on.”
Jonn carefully unrolled the bundle and smiled. It was a long leather pullover, similar to those worn by the men of the Star-Fire, carefully sewn and decorated. He nodded, slipped his own backpack off of his shoulders, and-with a bit of help from Avlynka and Sukki-pulled it over his head and fastened the clasps down the front. It hung to his knees, the sleeves to his wrists, and fit him quite well. “Thank you.” he said, genuinely meaning it.
“Well...” Sukki replied, shrugging. “You're like, part of our family, right?”
Jonn put his pack back on, and the three resumed walking. He had no idea how to respond to that, so he simply smiled and said, “Well, you have certainly made me feel as though I am.”
“Here.” Avlynka said, smiling as she handed Jonn another bundle, a pair of loose pants, made of the same treated leather. “These will keep you from getting all cut up.”
“We will make you some new boots when we get to the Nyakii.” Sukki added. “And get you winter clothes, too.”
“Winter?” Jonn replied.
“You are staying, right?” Sukki asked, blinking. Avlynka also looked on, eager for his reply.
Jonn took a look around, a good, long look. Before him stood two members of a family who had, indeed, made him feel as though he were one of them, who had shared their food, their home, who had endured his questions, made him clothing. As far as the eye could see, the rolling tundra met the grey sky, the mist and rain only adding to the beauty of the place.
He looked at the little band passing them by, watched as Tarja and Uro walked alongside Olno on the snow-machine. Uro was talking with Tarja and Olno, getting to know his new in-laws, smiling over his shoulder at his young wife-to-be. He examined the small trailer, its simple thin rubber tires making narrow paths through the high grass, piled high with the weight of two kenkii, furnaces, furniture, all carefully stowed. He watched the shaman, Kyllsa, walking along behind the trailer, watchful in case anything should bounce out, carrying her own rifle and pack, quietly playing her part.
To stay with an amazing group of people, to share their story, to live with them in the beauty of northern Matar... or to return to the “civilized world”, with its wars, politics, crime, laws...
As an anthropologist, Jonn had been trained to examine societies with some measure of detachment. He had studied their language, their music, their rituals, and of course, their food and clothing, their migrations and political structure and patterns of subsistence.
He also knew, however, that the greatest human need was to be part of something greater than the self, to belong, even to be loved.
He knew which one mattered more.
“Of course I will stay.” Jonn replied, smiling. “For as long as you will permit me.”
“Good.” Avlynka replied. Sukki nodded in agreement, beaming.
They resumed walking, talking, laughing, as the Clan continued its trek south. The Clan had never been to the region they were moving to, so this was as new an experience to everyone as it was to Jonn. Nyakii was a strange new world, a new world that held the promise of safety from their ancient enemy, the promise of plentiful salmon from the sea. It would be over three weeks, over a thousand kilometers, before they would arrive at their new home.
If Nyakii failed to fulfill its promises, they wouldn't have time to move again before winter.