Fast Paced Hoo-Nar Series Book II Chapter 3 Feathers, Berries, And A Heavy Stone As the Brother woodpecker pecked a store for his acorn treasure high in a deceased standing Great Pine, Hooy’s leg muscles gave way. Running the Great Race, the sleeping potion, Great Mountain Lion attack, and carrying this heavy golden stone had taken its toll. He dropped the stone with a pine needle sounding crunch. He would leave it there for now and if he could think of a use for such a stone he knew it was not going anywhere, laughing to himself. The Great Green Bear was snacking on some pine nuts straight from the green cone. That gave Hooy an idea to bring some green pinecones to cook… He had no fire what was he doing. It was going to be a long night. He rushed back to the shelter and had to stop in his tracks! He shouted a yells of approval as he saw a full south facing hillside covered in sphagnum moss interwoven with huckleberries, blackberries, wild strawberries and even tons of succulent live-for-ever. This had to be one of his ancestors gardens and to his surprise the brambles were covered to the tips, in local traded berries and carpeted in soft lime green sphagnum moss. Then there it was a perfectly square stone with a bear paw print on it. Hooy lifted it to find quartz fire starters, a large rainbow covered wonder-stone bi-facial knife blade and a chunk of pumice carved into a Great Eagle charm-stone. Hooy knew by the massive growth and density of the beautifully soft moss that it had been abandoned for human use, many hundreds of Great Moon cycles past. Hooy said a prayer to Wiyot for his incredible fortune and buried two big fat white acorns in a clearing at the garden so show respect to its creator. As he foraged for the dried and over-ripe berries he was careful not to drop of eat any. These would be preserved a winter stash and could help a bunch with hot tea on a frozen Winters day ahead. With a heave-hoe Hooy remove a burnt piece of oak stump that had been burned to a natural bowl shape big enough to carry hundreds of berries. He collected the ripe ones and covered them with cool moss for Hooy’s bed later. Happy with his finds he headed back to camp to start a ragingly warm fire to dry his future preserves. The Great green Bear was more than interested in his berries and Hooy made sure the massive friend filled his belly. He took the ancient quartz stones sparking a fire that filled his heart and body with warmth. Just then the Great Wildcat came in with a large duck he had preyed upon minutes earlier for its body was still warm. This Great Brother Mallard had green, brown, and, white feathers that Hooy carefully plucked as not to stain the feathers with blood. Thanking the Great Wiyot he added his new feathers to the Great Condor feathers he found when he got back to camp and placed them in the woven structure of the round slanted dirt filled cedar walls. This was not good enough protection for the valuable feathers but he would make a nice plant fiber bundle to hold them in the cold days when time will stop. At least that’s what Uncle Nose Hoo-Nar said of his quest long ago. He said it got so cold he dreamed of death to stop the pain, but the Great Wiyot was kind enough to help him live while the Great Bears slept the long sleep. Hooy knew this was coming, so thickening the walls of the half circle cedar shelter would be an everyday chore added to the collection of enough provisions for the long winter. Hooy took a long piece of cedar bark and washed it off to make a drying plate and started drying the berries, and duck blood to store. Then he roasted that duck to a moist pine resin flavored foul meat. The Great Wildcat loved his cook birds and would go out of his way to help Hooy. This would be a great help for Hooy, because the Great Wildcat does not take a long winter sleep like the Great Bear. It was getting late and Hooy had been through so much he was pulled to want to sleep the night away. He took a piece of cedar bark longer than him and stuffed it with pine needles then placed the soft moss on top of it. As he drifted to sleep with Little Brother Blue-Belly Snuggled up in his cut hair and the Great Green Bear and Great Wildcat warming him at each side, he knew the Gods would show him the sacred path of the Hoo-Nar. ;)
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 00:54:24 +0000