Cave Bear Mountain

by Jo Sandhu

  ‘I may find this a little too hot,’ Kaija said. She was already sweating and finding the heated air hard to breathe in.

  ‘Go out when you need to. We have put baskets of cold water outside with ladles. Scoop the water over your head, then come back in.’

  Noora threw some more water on the rocks where it hissed and steamed.

  Another girl smiled at Kaija. ‘We go out and come back in several times. Sometimes we swim in the river, even in Winter. It keeps you strong.’ She turned to the others. ‘Do you remember last year, we had those traders from Otter Clan stay with us? The river was already frozen and we had cut a swimming hole in the ice. It was so funny to see them running through the snow to dive into the icy water. Our men were surprised. They like to think they are the only ones brave enough to jump into the ice.’

  The girls talked softly amongst themselves as Kaija slipped out to tip some cold water over her head. When she returned to the lodge, she joined Noora and her friends. One of them turned to smile at her.

  ‘I was just saying to Noora you remind me of the healer we had here just a few days ago.’ She glanced quickly towards Kirsi, but she was sitting with the older women.

  ‘Maybe that’s why you thought we had met,’ Kaija said to Noora.

  ‘You’re right. I think it must be your hair. Not many people have hair as light as yours.’

  ‘You mean white like an old woman’s hair?’ Kaija asked.

  ‘No!’ said Noora, and the girls laughed and then smiled at each other as they were shushed by the older women.

  Tarin sat in the shadows. The warmth of the heated stones seeped into his bones and the low murmur of voices as the men talked softly amongst themselves was like a song designed to send him to sleep. How long since he had slept a full night, without worry and sorrow?

  The wolves had been shut outside, but Tarin could still hear them scratching at the door and snuffling at the wooden walls of the lodge.

  ‘Rohk! Nilkka! Shhh,’ Luuka murmured to them. He moved restlessly. ‘This is too hot, Tarin. I think I’ll go and swim.’

  Tarin nodded as he left and turned his attention to Kai and the Musk Ox men.

  ‘We will continue towards the Summer grounds tomorrow,’ Kai said. ‘Arriving late is better than not arriving at all.’

  ‘Agreed,’ Timo said. ‘We will have missed our people joining, and much of the trading and competitions, but the Earth Mother had different plans for us this year.’

  ‘I’m not sorry,’ Kai said. ‘We were meant to stay to meet Tarin again, and his companions. And if we hadn’t stayed, we would have missed Noora. We were meant to be there for her.’

  ‘Trust a Spirit Keeper to talk in such a way,’ Petri said with a laugh. Then he sobered and lowered his voice, so only the men would hear. ‘I can’t help but wish those reindeer traders and their healer had been a day earlier for you, though.’

  Osku shook his head sadly. ‘I doubt it would have made a difference. Even a healer cannot help if the Spirit has already gone.’

  ‘It is a strange time of year for traders to pass this way,

  isn’t it?’ Aatos said. ‘Usually by now they would be further towards the mountains, chasing the reindeer.’

  ‘True,’ Osku said. ‘These traders had come from far south, from where the rivers meet the great sea. They were now on their way to the settlements of the Bear People.’

  ‘The Karvkh!’ Tarin exclaimed, remembering Luuka’s stories. ‘Then they are real.’

  Osku gave him a curious look.

  ‘Of course they’re real,’ he said. ‘But they’re a strange people. They keep to themselves.’

  ‘Why were the traders heading there?’ Kai asked. He sprinkled more water over the stones and steam rose around them. ‘The Karvkh don’t usually welcome travellers.’

  ‘They said they were taking their healer back to her people.’ Osku groaned and got to his feet. ‘You young ones can stay and boil yourselves, but this old man needs a swim in the river and some warm furs to sleep in. It has been a sad day, but a good day.’

  ‘A sad day, but a good day,’ Kai agreed, and the men parted.

  ‘I wanted to ask you something,’ Kaija said, as she and Noora changed into fresh clothes and prepared to sleep. ‘But if you don’t want to answer me, I understand.’

  ‘Now you have me curious,’ Noora said. ‘What did you want to know?’

  Kaija pulled a twig through her hair, separating a tangle before she spoke. ‘I just wanted to know – what was in the parcel you put in the grave?’

  Noora grew still, then she nodded. ‘I suppose that did look odd,’ she said. She looked around for Kirsi, but she was nowhere close. ‘When Kirsi’s daughter, Sini, was killed, she was exploring the woodland on the other side of the river with her good friend, Yaba.’

  ‘But that’s an Esi name,’ Kaija said in surprise.

  ‘Yes,’ Noora said. ‘How did you know?’

  ‘We lived with some Esi during the Winter. I didn’t think there were any clans left this far north.’

  ‘There’s not,’ said Noora. ‘Yaba’s people were the last. They moved away after Yaba and Sini were killed. Some of our men blamed the Esi because they had hunted the bear that killed the girls and only wounded it. Anyway,’ Noora said with a shrug of her shoulders, ‘after their sky burial, all that remained were two bones. One of Sini’s arm bones, which the Esi took with them, and one of Yaba’s leg bones, which Kirsi kept. It might seem a strange swap to make, but the girls were like sisters, and until the bear attack, our clans had been friendly. The mothers arranged it between themselves, to honour their daughters’ friendship.’

  Kaija thought for a moment. ‘So it was Yaba’s bone that you buried with Elli?’

  ‘Yes. I thought it was time, and Kirsi agreed. Kai rubbed the bone with red ochre, and we buried it, in memory of Sini, and as a way for her mother to finally say farewell.’

  ‘It’s a sad story,’ Kaija murmured. She pulled a reindeer pelt over her and lay back, staring upwards at the ceiling. By her side, Nilkka and some of the children lay in a pile of little bodies.

  ‘A sad story,’ Noora agreed, and the two girls slept.

  Tarin couldn’t sleep. He kept thinking about Elli, lying cold in her grave, but each time he pictured her, it was Saara’s face he saw. He tried to think of something else, but then he thought of Asa and the elders, forever asleep, the snow gradually covering them in a white blanket. He wondered about his father’s injuries. People didn’t survive attacks by dagger-tooths, but then, people didn’t survive cave bear attacks, either, and Kalle still lived.

  His heart ached for his family and he tossed and turned until Petri’s snores drove him from his furs. Rohk opened a sleepy eye and growled deep within his throat, but Tarin laid a comforting hand on the wolf ’s back and he settled once more.

  Outside, the air was crisp and Tarin’s breath curled about him in a cloud of mist. Summer would be short this year, he thought. He found a rock in a good place to overlook the river, and sat with his chin on his knees, his thoughts flowing as quickly as the water below.

  ‘Today will be a day of farewells, Tarin of Mammoth Clan.’ Kai came up behind him and joined him on the rock.

  Tarin nodded slowly. ‘I will thank you now, then, for everything you’ve done for us.’ He reached to grip Kai’s hand.

  ‘You can thank me by giving my love to my mother and father.’ Kai returned Tarin’s grip. He held his hand a moment longer and looked at him thoughtfully. ‘Mammoth Clan needs you, Tarin, but don’t return with hate in your heart, my friend.’

  Tarin didn’t answer straightaway. His gaze followed the river, twisting past alder and pine trees. It wasn’t the same river that flowed past Mammoth Camp, but Tarin could almost imagine it was.

  ‘How can I not have hate in my heart?’ he finally said. He studied the loose end of one of the straps around his leggings where it dragged in the dirt.

  Kai gripped his shoulder. ‘Honour Asa a
nd the others with love, but leave thoughts of revenge behind. It will solve nothing and will gnaw at your heart like a wolverine.’

  ‘I have made a pledge.’ Tarin’s voice caught in his throat. He pressed his lips together, disgusted at how weak he sounded.

  Kai sighed and shook him. ‘Leave that to the Earth Mother, Tarin. She has a plan for us all.’

  ‘What plan could she have for me? She rejected me at the mountain,’ Tarin said. To his ears, he still sounded like a scared child. He jumped when a wet nose pressed into his hand. Rohk and Nilkka had come to find their breakfast. Tarin scratched Rohk’s ears, before the wolf ran down to the riverbank to see what his sister had found. The two of them leapt through the water in joy of the new day. Kai’s gaze followed them.

  ‘You said that if the Earth Mother accepted the Offering, she would give you a token, didn’t you?’

  ‘That’s what Old Father said,’ Tarin agreed.

  ‘How do you know She didn’t?’

  Tarin scratched his nose. ‘Because . . .’ He paused, thinking. ‘I received nothing. No token, no sign . . .’

  ‘Don’t be too sure about that,’ Kai murmured. ‘The Earth Mother speaks to us in many ways. It is up to us to find the way to listen.’ He raised his hand to stroke Utu’s soft feathers as he crouched on Tarin’s shoulder. His eyes glowed.

  Utu chirruped and nipped Kai’s finger lightly. ‘He likes you,’ Tarin said.

  Kai smiled. ‘It would be quite a thing, don’t you think? For a Spirit Keeper to have such a companion?’ He looked at Tarin thoughtfully. ‘You made quite an impression that first day, standing there with your wolves and your owl. I think you will make quite an impression on Mammoth Clan as well.’

  ‘Especially if they think me dead,’ Tarin said with a snort. ‘They might chase me away.’

  Kai gripped his shoulder again. ‘If things don’t work out for you at Mammoth Clan, you are welcome to return to us, Tarin. And Kaija and Luuka and all your animals. You will always have a home at Musk Ox Clan. But make no decisions until you see what your return brings.’

  Kaija woke early and decided to make some tea. Today was going to be another long, hard day, she thought. Today, they would be continuing their journey towards Mammoth Clan, and parting from the dear friends they had made at Musk Ox Clan and at the Ungirski camp. Her heart felt heavy, yet she was excited as well. She knew how eager Tarin was to reach his home, although she understood his fear as well. What would he find when finally he returned home? Kai’s news was not good. Mammoth Clan had suffered terribly. Maybe they suffered still. But the only way to find out was to complete their journey.

  She set water to heat and bent over the lodge’s supply of dried herbs to decide which to use. The rest of the lodge stirred and Kirsi came to sit with her by the fire. She smiled, but didn’t speak. Her eyes were shadowed, and her face was grey and lined.

  ‘Good morning.’ Noora yawned and stretched. She studied Kaija bent over the steaming tea, stirring the herbs as they brewed, first one way, then the next, then held her hands over the brew in blessing. ‘You know, it’s not just your hair that reminds me of the healer. It’s the way you move your hands.’

  Kaija suddenly felt cold without knowing why. ‘What do you mean?’

  But Noora turned to Kirsi. ‘Don’t you agree, Kirsi? Kaija looks just like that healer that was here. She moves the same way, and when she dropped those herbs in the water, it was just the same.’

  Kirsi nodded. ‘I thought my old eyes were playing tricks on me,’ she said. ‘But Noora is right. You look just like Senja.’

  Time stopped for Kaija. Then the cup of tea she had lifted to test crashed to the floor. Hot liquid spilt over her leg, but she hardly felt it.

  ‘What . . . who . . . did you say?’

  Noora looked at her in concern as she mopped up the liquid. ‘Are you hurt? That must have burnt your leg.’

  ‘What did you call the healer?’

  Noora chewed her lip and looked worried. ‘Senja. It’s an unusual name, but she said she was from the Bear People.’

  Kaija felt as though suddenly there was not enough air to breathe. She brushed her hair out of her eyes with a trembling hand.

  ‘And . . . she looked like me? She had fair hair?’

  ‘And the same blue eyes,’ Noora said. ‘But like I said, it was more than that. It’s the way you move . . .’ Her voice trailed away.

  ‘Child? What is it?’ Kirsi took Kaija’s cold hand and

  rubbed it.

  ‘It’s . . . it’s . . . impossible!’ Kaija jumped to her feet and rushed out of the lodge. She had to find Luuka. She had to reach him. Her heart pounded in her chest and she couldn’t breathe. ‘Luuka! Luuka!’

  Tarin and Kai were still sitting by the river when they heard the cry.

  ‘That’s Kaija!’ Tarin jumped off the rock and started running. The wolves thought it was a game and ran with him. They reached her just as the door to the lodge burst open and Luuka rushed out.

  ‘Kaija! What’s wrong?’

  But she was shaking so much she couldn’t speak. She stumbled and Luuka caught her as she fell. She hadn’t stopped to put any coverings on her feet, and the rocky ground was hard.

  ‘Oh, Luuka! They say . . . they say . . . our mother! She was here!’

  Luuka stared at his sister and his own face paled. ‘But . . . she is dead.’

  ‘The healer!’ Kaija shook his arms fiercely. ‘The reindeer trader’s healer. Her name was Senja. She looked like me. Luuka! It must be her!’

  Kirsi came forward and wrapped a warm fur around Kaija’s shoulders. ‘I don’t understand, child. The healer said her babies had all died.’

  ‘She must believe us dead! We had to run . . . there was sickness in the cave, and our mother told us to run!’ Kaija’s words came in gasps.

  Osku put an arm around both Kaija and Luuka. ‘Let us go into the warmth, and we will talk.’

  Kaija let them place a cup of warm tea into her hands and Noora placed rabbit skin leathers soaked in cool water upon her scalded leg, but she was barely aware of either. She had grieved for her mother for so long, always wishing that things had been different, or that she could somehow see her once more. Just see her. Or touch her hand. Or hear her voice. Kaija shuddered as Noora smoothed a soft poultice onto her leg. It smelt of golden flower.

  She had pleaded with the Spirits to bring her mother to her in her dreams, or to please change things somehow, so that Senja and Retu didn’t die after all. And sometimes, she had even thought it would be better if she had died with them.

  ‘We have failed her, Luuka,’ she said, and gripped her brother’s hand. ‘We never should have left!’

  Luuka returned her grip but didn’t speak.

  ‘There may be other women, as like to you as a sister, who are also healers,’ Osku said. He looked at them gravely.

  ‘I know that,’ Kaija said. ‘But her name. Senja. Surely that is not so common.’

  Osku rubbed his beard and nodded reluctantly. ‘It is not that I’m trying to make you doubt. I just want you to consider all possibilities.’

  Kaija took a deep, shuddering breath. ‘I know.’

  ‘So you intend to follow the traders?’ he asked. His gaze went from sister to brother.

  Kaija chewed her lip. Her hands clasped and unclasped.

  ‘If there is any chance . . .’

  Luuka stirred and released Kaija’s hand. ‘How many days

  ahead of us are they? Three? Four?’

  ‘Five,’ said Osku.

  Luuka stroked Rohk’s fur thoughtfully. ‘Five days,’ he murmured. ‘It is a long start, with many different ways to go.’

  ‘Luuka! What are you saying?’ Kaija gasped. ‘If there is any chance, no matter how small, I need to know if our mother is truly alive!’

  Her brother met her gaze steadily. ‘It is her,’ he said.

  ‘How can you be so sure,’ Kai asked.

  ‘You said the traders were he
ading for the Bear people? For the Karvkh?’

  ‘That’s right,’ Osku said.

  Luuka nodded. ‘Do you remember that trader who came to River Clan and mother was asking questions?’

  ‘About the Karvkh! I remember!’ Kaija gasped in excitement. ‘Oh, Luuka, we must go, but . . .’

  She turned to Tarin in dismay, but he was no longer in the lodge.

  Tarin paused outside the lodge and drew in a deep breath. He could still hear the murmur of voices from within and moved further away to be with his own thoughts. It was natural, he thought, that Kaija would want to follow her mother, but what about his own pledge to return to Mammoth Camp? They needed him, now more than ever. Now, he would be able to hunt for them. He could tell his father to rest and regain his strength. He could be with his mother to help her through this sad time.

  Utu pulled at his hair and he shifted the owl from his shoulder to scratch in the dirt at his feet. But what about his new Clan? he thought. This strange, unlikely clan – himself, Kaija, Luuka, Rohk, Nilkka, and now Utu. They had found each other, frightened, injured, alone, and helped each other survive in this harsh world. They needed each other, too.

  The door to the lodge opened and Luuka joined him. He squatted down to tickle Utu and the owl hopped onto his hand.

  ‘We missed you inside,’ Luuka said, his gaze focused on the little owl. Utu preened as Luuka smoothed his feathers.

  ‘I thought it would be better if you and Kaija made your plans without me there,’ Tarin said.

  Luuka raised his head looked at him steadily. ‘Why? We are Clan, aren’t we?’

  Tarin bit his lip. ‘We are. We were. But . . .’

  ‘But.’ Luuka sighed and leant his cheek against Utu’s soft down. ‘She is frantic to find our mother.’

  Tarin nodded. ‘And you? Do you want to go after her?’

  Luuka frowned. ‘I . . . don’t know.’ He spoke slowly. ‘I’m not sure how I feel. I took comfort in the thought that she and Retu were together. He is too young to travel to the Spirit World by himself.’ He stared at Tarin bleakly. ‘If she is alive, then Retu is alone.’