[alaklondewen]

Settlers

The old healer crouched as he silently stepped out from his tent, leaving Cuilad dozing inside. The rain had brought him a small rest, and for that he was grateful. Collothion and Cuilad had been performing double duties since they arrived, but the rain had alleviated their work in helping with the town hall, at least for the moment.

Shivering, Collothion stretched his long limbs and searched the heavens with his eyes. The clouds were breaking over the lake revealing the clear blue sky behind the thick layers of gray. Beams of light fell into the water causing the man to shield his eyes from its brilliance.

A northeastern breeze swept off the lake and swirled around Collothion’s head, whistling in his ears and lightheartedly dancing with his hair. The man shivered again. The prolonged winter in this new home worried the healer, and he hoped his fellow settlers’ physical defenses would not yet deteriorate. Coughing could be heard coming from his neighbors, which was not uncommon in the settlement. Collothion had been very pleased to find that the pungent needles Calumdril offered him seemed to soothe some of folks’ breathing when the fumes were inhaled. The healer would be sure to thank the soldier when he saw him next.

A rustle was heard behind Collothion. Pivoting on his heels, the man was just in time to see Cuilad’s head protruding through the split in the tent. The boy stepped out and stretched in the same manner as his father: first pulling his arms over his head, and then twisting his torso with his hand on his hips. Neither of them ever noticed how similar their mannerisms were.

Cuilad motioned to the sky, wiggled his fingers as he lowered his hand, and placed his fist firmly in his other palm. “Yes, it stopped, oh, close to a half an hour ago.” Collothion answered. “Can you smell the freshness in the air?” Cuilad nodded and rubbed his eyes with his knuckles, but Collothion continued without noticing. “The ground is soft and the trees and grasses are clean. This would be a good time to search the edge of the forest again. We could see how the earth comes alive after the rain. What do you say?” The older man turned over his shoulder and saw his son sitting with his back against the exterior of the tent…Cuilad had fallen asleep.