First Snow of Winter

Part 7: To the Winter Village
Morning came to the small IceLand village with a soft pale yellow light that flared up immediately to blinding white when it reflected from the new layer of snow that had covered the land. The snowstorm had raged for most of the night, burrowing the bases of the individual mounds and making intricate designs on top of the oval center. 
Tryl and Maryse, still young enough to stop and watch nature's art were soon lost in conversation. They were young and not used to waiting. Shyobahn was, she knew waiting. But even she knew they had waited too long. The air was too cold for travelling, they would surely lose some of the elderly on the heights where the air was thin and hard to breath. But they could not waste more time, conditions would only deteriorate as time passed.
"Vaughny! Koy!" she yelled at her two children and felt her heart jump when they came running back. She gestured to the two young women, "Tryl and Maryse will stay with you. Don't run off and keep away from the adults if they are working." She said and waved when she entered the center to get the last of her equipment. Maybe she was too careful with her equipment. There certainly were enough bones to make needles from and hides to spin threads from. But Shyobahn had never been inclined to waste even the smallest of her possessions. With skilled hands she packed her belongings and looked around the Oval Hall. They would not return for months and you never knew to what conditions they would be returning. Shyobahn could remember a time, she had been 10, when they had returned to a caved in village. But it was better not to linger on these sad thoughts. Shyobahn stepped outside.
"Shyobahn!" she suddenly heard Eyos call.
"What?" It wasn't like Eyos to yell.
"The first sleds are about to leave. I noticed they had some room left if you're interested in going with them. It might be exciting for Vaughny and Koy."
Eyos said, but he soon saw that his well meant gesture didn't reach it's goal. Shyobahn turned almost as white as the snow outside. Eyos could nearly slap himself on the head when he remembered the incident two years ago. Her sister had also ridden in the front.
"I... I'm sorry, Shyobahn. I forgot." he stammered.
"It's nothing," Shyobahn shrugged, "We will take the rear."
"Me as well." Eyos said, "You could use someone to help you with all the oldies and youngsters in the rear. I wasn't fast enough to get away this year." he laughed.
Each year it was custom to find a few riders who would take care of the slow-travellers while the front caravan would hunt and set up tents when they had reached certain points in the journey.  Eyos had always been able to get himself placed in the first group, but this year he hadn't been able to get away when the head of the village had cornered him.
"Tryl and Maryse are helping too." Shyobahn said, "They're out gathering kids as we speak."
And indeed, outside, all around the village Maryse and Tryl were playing a cruel game of hide and seek with the young IceLanders. There were just too many for two to find. Sure, they knew which ones were going to ride with them in the back of the caravan, but they kept running off again.
"I give up!" Tryl suddenly yelled.
"Yes, this doesn't seem the right way at all." Maryse sighed.
"How did they do it when we were little?" Tryl suddenly asked, "Can you remember anything?"
"Not really... I used to ride in the middle with my mother."
"I was in the front with my brothers." Tryl sighed, "Hey! I have an idea."
"What?" Maryse asked, willing to try everything.
In a loud voice Tryl started to speak to Maryse that it was getting late. They were sure to have the best kids with them. And that if they left one behind... well that wouldn't be that great a loss right? People would forgive them.
"Oh yes!" Maryse said, playing along. "I think they would forgive us."
Within minutes they had gathered most of the children that now stayed very close to them. The two friends grinned at each other and herded the youngsters to the last part of the caravan which was getting ready to leave.

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Lantessama Isle - Ryslen