Zachary Bonine age 13
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Alnus shielded his eyes against the glare of the white snow as he watched the dark figure of his father disappear behind the snow clad towards the mountains. Alnus's dog, Laturan, tried to struggle free from his collar in order to follow.
“Quiet.” Alnus whispered, “He will be home before the solstice arrives.”
Alnus had a strange habit of speaking to Laturan as if the dog could understand his every word. However, even with the comfort of his dog a shadow of doubt hung over him. He cared for his father more than anyone and he and his family had been hearing wolves in the mountains through out the past few nights. The howls were eerie and strange. Alnus feared what would happen if the wolves caught his scent.
“No.” Alnus told himself. Even if the wolves did catch his father's scent they would have to find
him and if the wolves found him they would have to face his bow and arrows. Those arrows had meant death for several creatures and wolves were no exception
Alnus turned and walked back to his village with Laturan at his heels. The village that used to hold the people of Norvia consisted of ten small houses, a large barn, and the meeting house. The one thing that separated this village from any other in the north lands was the cold silence. No children played in the newly fallen snow. No fathers or mothers went about their work on that day. Now, the only sign of life in this cold waste land was two plumes of smoke rising from the western edge of the village.
In the first house lived a boy named Caryaus and his two sisters named Caltia and Caltha. Alnus passed their house by and walked up the steps of the second house. He pushed open the door and stepped inside. Alnus took one step forward and slipped on the ice that had accumulated in front of the door. A boy about his age instantly sprang from a seat by the fire and helped him up.
“Thanks Ulmus.” Alnus said.
Ulmus was a alf child that Alnus's family was charged to care for. Alfs were strange folk from up north they were said to dwell by a great lake at the foot of the mountains. Alnus did not know any more about them.
Alnus's mother was standing by the stove washing that morning's dishes. By the fire sat two other figures. The taller one was Ulmus's sister, Mirya, the smallest person in the room was Alnus's little sister, Ilia. Ilia was trying to watch Mirya teach her to use a drop spindle but Laturan was trying to
find a place by the fire. Alnus wished his father was there whittling some wood or telling a story.
“Did Da give any instructions on feeding the animals?” Ulmus asked.
“No” Alnus replied, “He only said that he would be back by the winter solstice.”
Ulmus grabbed his cloak of its' peg. “I suppose it is time to feed the animals.” He said. Then he walked out the door into the cold. Alnus called Laturan from his spot by the fire. Laturan stood and followed his master into the cold snow.
After Alnus recovered from the chill of stepping outside, he proceeded to meet Ulmus, Caryaus,
Caltia, and Caltha on their way to the barn. The five children were soon joined by Mirya.
After they reached the barn though the deep snow they each ran to do their tasks. Alnus run to milk the cow. Mirya lightly sprang up the ladder to the hay loft to look for eggs. Ulmus went to feed the chickens. Caltia and Caltha walked to the horse stall. And Caryaus followed Mirya to gather hay for the cows and sheep.
Alnus thought while he milked the cow. He remembered the last time his father went downstream to hunt the beaver. That time Alnus had gone with him. They had traveled downstream for a day and then found the beavers' lodge. They then chopped a hole in the ice near the entrance. Then they waited for a beaver to pass under the hole. Alnus's father had always stood ready over the hole with a spear in hand. Alnus usually stayed on the bank. Any movement at all on the ice would scare the beaver away.
As the milk hit the bucket, Alnus wondered how he could make his father's job easier than kneeling on the cold ice, holding absolutely still while waiting for a beaver that may never come, and skinning a beaver with cold hands.
Alnus lost his thoughts when Mirya came in to the cow's stall and said: “I could not find any eggs today. I think a predator might be eating them.”
Alnus was about to speak when Ulmus came in. “I think you had better come see this.” He said.
Alnus leaped to his feet and followed Ulmus through the barn to the chicken house. When they reached the chicken house Caryaus was already there. He stepped aside to let Alnus, Ulmus, and Mirya through. Alnus bit his lip and tried to breath. Eight chickens lay dead with their heads eaten. Three others were wounded. Feathers and crushed eggshells when scattered everywhere. A faint musky smell hung over the room.
While Alnus examined one of the dead bodies, Mirya searched a patch of dirt in the corner. She motioned for Ulmus to help her. They both looked at the ground and discussed the hunting habits of weasels.
Finally Mirya stood and stated that animal responsible was probably a mink. Caryaus smiled and started to draw in the dust. Alnus knelt down beside him to see better. What he saw was a strange device. Caryaus explained that it was made of two jaws that snapped shut when the spring were released. Alnus knew that Caryaus was a good blacksmith and good with mechanics. The design seemed to make sense. He only had two questions: “Will a larger design work for a beaver? And are you able to make it?”
Caryaus answered by leading them to the work shop and began making a fire in the forge.
That night after Mirya helped Caltia and Caltha home, three hammers still rang into the night.
The next morning Alnus was tired. After Ulmus and Caryaus left he stayed alone in the smith's shop. He had been so intent on his work that he did not hear the wolves howling louder than ever. Now Alnus
had two good traps. His father would not need to stand over an icy hole to hunt beaver. Alnus hid the traps under the hay stack and ran home to eat breakfast.
Six days passed, five had passed since the winter solstice and Alnus's father had not returned. Alnus was worried. So when Ilia asked if Alnus would fetch a green fir tree he left for the woods at once. For Alnus's family, green was a color of hope. So having a green fir tree was in a home was considered a symbol of undying hope. Also Alnus was tired from swinging the smiths hammer for these past few days and was glad for the break. He now had ten traps to give to his father.
Alnus knew these woods very well and it did not take him long to find a good tree. After he chopped it down he slowly dragged it back to his house.
That evening Alnus was eating supper when a call rang through out the valley. He knew the voice although the cry was wordless. Alnus ran outside and saw a familiar person walking easily through the
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