The Sickness

Chapter Two - Page Two.

Nothing was wasted. The skins would be cured and fashioned into waterproof tinder pouches; the eyes and bones would make glue; the livers and roe would provide a delicacy at nightmeal, and an offering for the Guardian and the spirits of the salmon.

Elsewhere in the forest, other clans camped by other rivers to take part in the bounty. Boar Clan, Willow, Seal, Viper. And where the people did not camp, other hunters came: bears, lynx, eagles, wolves. All celebrating the running of the salmon, which gave them new strength after the rigours of winter.

This was how it had always been since the beginning. Surely, thought Taka, one sick man couldn't change all that.

Then he remembered the cantered face and the pus-filled eyes.

At that moment, Osa emerged from their shelter, and Taka's heart leapt. Osa would know what to do.

But to Taka's astonishment, Osa hardly listened as he blurted out his story, seeming more engrossed in re-tying the binding on his fishing spear. "You say the man was Boar Clan," said Osa, frowning and scratching the back of his hand. "Well then, his Mage will take care of him. Here." He tossed Taka the spear. "Get down to the stepping stones and let me see you take a salmon."

Taka was bewildered. "But Osa -"

"Go on, go!" snapped Osa.

Taka gave a start. It was unlike Osa to get crossed. In fact, it never happened. Osa was a huge, gentle man with tangled hair and a slightly alarming face, having lost one ear and a chunk of cheek in a misunderstanding with a wolverine. It was just like him not to blame the wolverine.

'My fault,' he'd say if anyone asked. 'I gave her a fright.' That was Osa.

He and his mate, Vix, had been the first to offer Taka a place in their shelter when he came to live with the Ravens, and they'd always been kind to him.

But Osa was also the strongest man in the Clan, so Taka made no further protests and took the spear.

As Taka did, he saw something that stopped him dead in his tracks. The back of Osa's hand was covered in blisters.

"What's.. that on your hand?" he said.

"Midges bites," said Osa, scratching harder. "Worst I've ever had. Kept me awake all night."

"They don't look like Midges bites," said Taka. "Do they.. hurt?"

Osa was still scratching. "Strange. Feels as if my name-souls leaking out. But that can't be, can it?" he peered at Taka as if the light hurt, and his face was fearful, and childlike.

Taka swallowed. "I don't think you can lose your name-soul through a cut; only through your mouth, if you're dreaming, or... sick." he paused. "Are you sick?"

"Sick? Why would I be sick?" A shiver shook Osa's whole body. "But I can't hold onto my souls."

"I'll fetch Sayler."

Osa scowled. "I don't need Sayler! Now go!" Suddenly, he wasn't Osa anymore. He was a big man looming over Taka, clenching his fists.

Then he seemed to come to himself. "Just.. leave me be, eh? Go on, Theo's waiting."

"All right, Osa," said Taka as levelly as he could.

Finished on — A Saturday, 8/2/2025. 11:51 am.

Words — 545.