Just Another Day

The hunting party was met with cheers and praises when they returned to the Heyen village. All of the clan came out to help work the materials that were brought back. What meat and organs were not to be consumed or used within the next few days were carefully smoked or dried, the hides were separated depending on whether they were to keep the hair or not, sinews were being spun into string, and bones and hooves were taken away to be made into tools.

Tanning the hides fell mostly to the dams, and they were quick to begin. Zihna had come back to the village with her daughter Bena to assist Makehe after the hunt, and Shanku and Ina were sent to help Katari with the bison he had taken.

"You got a goood one, Katari!" Shanku applauded him as she helped him unload his baskets. "This will feed us on the road for quite a while."

"Of course, I'll be giving a lot of parts away to the Heyen since most of it we can't carry with us," Katari said.

"Naturally," Shanku nodded. "They're kind enough to put up with us, gotta do something in return, no?"

"What will we get to keep?" Ina asked curiously as she grouped the baskets together based on their contents.

"All of the hide, which I'll be tanning since that's part of my duties back home. A bit of the meat, the brains, some fat, maybe some sinew for sewing and repairs, and perhaps a bone to carve. I'm pretty happy with my wooden bowl, so I don't think I'll take any hoof bowls."

"Why the brains?" Ina asked.

"Because every varmint has enough brains and fat to cure its own hide," Katari replied, which made Ina cringe.

"I had to do a bit of sewing back home. I think I'll tackle that part," Ina nodded and began to sort out the sinew. "Come on, Hilael, you can help. I figure these two will be all over the yucky parts." Hilael actually appeared to be a little relieved, and gladly sat down with her to start working.

"Have you ever worked sinew before?" Katari asked.

"No, but I've read about it," Ina replied.

"Alright, first thing, pound it out with a round rock until it's a pile of fluff, then give it a good quick chew, let it dry a bit, and then start spinning or braiding it."

"Tasty," Ina giggled, and she and Hilael followed his instructions.

"I've done plenty of skinning, butchering, and jerky, but never much tanning," Shanku said slowly as she scratched the side of her head. "What do you want me to do?"

"Food," Katari nodded to the baskets laden with meat. "The hide is mine, and that should have us set."

"Aye, aye, captain," Shanku grinned and began sorting the meat baskets.

"Good hunt," Kya said as she strode over to Katari. "I highly doubt you have your own frame, so you can bring your hide over to my place. I have a spare you can use. I'm next to Rajé and her family, and they could use help with their hides as well."

"Much obliged," Katari nodded and followed her when she took her own hide away. He stretched the bison skin on the frame she allowed him to borrow and started scraping away bits of fat and other residual bits he had missed after it was freshly skinned. When he had finished, he began working on a solution of brains and fat to apply to the skin after it had a chance to dry and stiffen in the sun.

"You seem to know what you're doing," Kya gestured to him the day he was able to start applying his tanning solution.

"It's what we hunters do, as you should know," Katari said as he rubbed the paste into the hide. "This is my first time with a bison, but I've done deer, goats, rabbits, and many other animals."

"I have worked with bison, antelope, rabbits, and a few coyotes," Kya said as she worked on hers. "What are your intentions? I'm needing a new cover to my tipi."

"I haven't decided yet, honestly," Katari replied. "I suppose for now we could use it as a type of blanket or even part of a tent while we're out. I'm sure there are other game we can take if we need new clothes, although I'm tempted to make us some rain coats. I doubt we'll be able to weave any cloth the next few years, and I guess I'm our tailor now."

"What is your cloth made from?" Kya asked curiously.

"Mostly sheep's wool, and some of the outlying villages grow cotton, hemp, and flax. I prefer buckskin and leather," Katari said. "Much less rough and itchy compared to wool."

"I wonder if the Scissortails would be willing to trade some bison skins for some of their cloth?" Kya wondered aloud.

"Probably," Katari shrugged. "This hide is huge and would be very useful back home."

"I think I'll bring it up next time we winter in the Nyre," Kya said cheerily.

Ina and Hilael had finished with the sinew thread, so Ina wandered around to find Katari and Hilael went back to shadowing Bara. "Can I help with anything else?" Ina asked eagerly.

"Do you want to help rub in the brains?" Katari asked.

"Do you need help with anything else?" Ina asked nervously as she began to fidget.

"Go help Shanku smoke the meat, you can help me rub the stuff off after it's cured," Katari laughed.

"Thank you!" Ina chirped and went off to find Shanku.

"She'll be plenty useful during the next part," Rajé remarked as she finished rubbing down her own hide. "There! That should do it. I think we have a nice set over here. Why did you keep so much of the neck and legs, Katari?"

"I need a few small bags," Katari explained. "These will be a good size to stitch together."

Rajé nodded and stretched. "Mother's stew should be about finished, so I bid you a good night." Katari and Kya nodded to her, and before long were finished with their own and retired for the evening.

Makehe had supper ready for her family and Sylvan guests as they came in shortly after sunset. She would not admit to it verbally, but she was quite pleased with how easily they had fit in to Heyen society and readily tried to pull their weight around camp. Katari had given her a few good slabs of meat from his kill to compensate for several meals she had provided to them, Hilael had gathered many fresh herbs and greens for her, Zihna had made some butter from the milk urych Dai had given to his in-laws earlier that year, and Makehe saw to it she had a stout meal ready for her large brood.

"I could get used to having house guests," Vikeso remarked after supper.

"I could get used to living out here," Katari said contentedly. "I miss the trees, but life is pleasant on these hills."

"I miss bed," Shanku said tiredly and excused herself for the night.