A Homecoming

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As Razor’s ship landed at the Limpet village with the rescued traders and the land searchers, Perri and Crusta, it seemed like the whole Gathering was waiting for them.  Excitement rippled through the crowd and loud, relieved voices hailed husbands, brothers and sons.  Cranberry was helping his younger brother Perri over the gunnels while Crusta gave Snail a boost.  Mus ran over to the ship, a smile beaming on her face.  She was happier than a bucketful of clams to see Perri back.  But when she saw what condition he was in she slowed down and a look of concern took over from the smile. “Perri” she said. “You look awful!  You poor dear.” Perri opened his arms for Mus and they hugged each other with a ferocity Mus couldn’t remember ever having felt before.  Tears were welling in her eyes.  Then she held him at arm’s length taking in his head wound, swollen ankle and the scratched up rash. “You’re home, Perri.  Home.  I’ll look after you now.” Mus led her smiling, yet miserable husband away towards the healing shed.   Fern followed.

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Daisy and Cranberry were hugging so hard one would not be amiss to think a rib or two might crack.  “I knew you’d make it” said a Daisy who only a few days ago had been crying her heart out on her mother’s lap, sure she had lost him forever.

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Shale had come out, crutch under one arm and Cranberry extradited himself from his wife and ran over to him, his face a mask of surprise, relief and happiness. “You made it, Shale!  We’d taken you for a gonner.  We thought the Skeena took you”

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Shale grinned and with an over casual shrug of the shoulders said “I’m tougher than that!  No river’s gonna take me down.”  The two men hugged, Cranberry trying not to knock down the precariously balanced Shale.   A weight Cranberry didn’t even know he was carrying lifted from his shoulders as relief replaced the worry he had been carrying too long. Snail came over, a little worse for wear and shook Shales hand as Shale announced to the two of them “Our baby was born last night!  See, if I’d waited around for you two, I’d not’ve made it back in time.  Had’ta do it my own way.”  He smiled a smile that almost split his head in half.

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The village hummed like a hive of bees as several children almost knocked Snail over as they hurdled into their fathers’ arms, his wife trying hard to get near her returning husband.  Raven leaned against a tree in his trademark arrogant fashion, arms crossed, one leg bent backward pushing against the trunk.  He had a satisfied yet condescending look on his face, a countenance that only Raven could perfect, knowing he had succeeded in organizing and completing a successful rescue.  He gave Razor a respectful nod, which was returned in kind.  He seemed to be the only one alone.

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But he was not.  No one appeared to notice the small, grubby women with the angry wrinkles and acorn hat hidden in the beach grass who glared at the mass of bog folk with malevolent intent.  There was a low, deep, dangerous growl in her throat.  Malice rolled over her like waves.  Viola was not pleased.