So Came the Fisher

The gathering crew wandered along the trail which led in and out of the oaks, picking up akarns by the handful. Their bags were just about full, when Dipuc came upon a gruesome site. A small dog had been savagely torn apart, and partially skinned, not typical of the predators of the region. After looking carefully at the carcass, Hantar directed the others to bury the remains while he went about looking for any tracks the animal attacker might have left. Though the ground was frozen and it took him awhile, he finally found a single bloody track left on a bed of oaks leaves.  He was surprised, but immediately recognized the track to be that of a pequam,* long thought to no longer live in the forests of the region. When he told the others about his discovery, they at first doubted him, but when he showed them the print, they knew it was too large for a puvana.**  He decided it was best to head back and seek counsel from the other elders.

“Our charge here is largely complete, so we will return and tell Atnas of our find.  This beast is not common to us and does not know of our ways, and it may quickly entice the tall ones to seek it out, if it continues to prey upon their animals.” 

Hantar motioned to Retsbrew to release the lodge dove. The bird would fly directly to the holding lodge, and alert Atnas of their need to return.

When they reached the clearing, the crew was greeted by the matrons, who took the bags of akarns and began sorting them to size. Hantar left the group and headed up the hillside to the holding lodge, where he found that several of the elders had already gathered, waiting for his return, wondering about the hurried need to meet. 

-------------

*Pequam - Said to be another term for a Fisher (Aboriginal derivation). Fishers are members of the weasel family, though considerably larger. They are voracious predators and will prey on many other animals, including larger ones like fox and raccoons.  Usually found in the boreal woods of Canada and the most northern areas of the U.S., fishers (also called Fisher Cats) have recently been documented in SE Massachusetts, including Cape Cod.

**Puvana – No direct translation for this word could be found, but given the context in which the term is used, it might well mean weasel or mink.

Forebodings

Atnas stood watching the younger members of the clan preparing for their hike to the oak forest of the east. The warming southwest wind had melted much of the snow, and it provided a chance to gather more akarns,* which were so bountiful this past season. While the ground in the forest was littered with the nuts, Nubbins leave much of the crop for deer and other animals to use during the winter.**  When the weather gets warmer they then collect the remaining akarns from areas where there is excess. The Nubbins were pleased to find that the white oaks had been especially productive, as they were preferred over the black oaks which have more tannin in them. The akarns can be stored for many moons, as can the flour ground from them; thus, this opportunity to insure ample food supplies for the future was never overlooked.

The crew was soon on its way and Atnas waved to them as they followed the path through the thicket, but as he dropped his arm, a sudden chill came over his body and he began to shake violently, so much so that the crow sitting on his shoulder hopped to ground cawing for the others.  The birds quickly arrived, but the episode just as quickly subsided.  Atnas gestured to them to indicate that everything was alright; but the elder had never experienced such an event, and he wondered if this was a sign that his time was soon to be upon him.  He climbed up on the stump which hid the entrance to the lodge, and sat down.  Another wave of cold overcame his body.  This time he did not shake, but an apparition took hold, and for a brief second he could see the lifeless body of a very young Nubbin lying in the plowed field of a tall one.  The vision tore at his soul and he immediately awoke from the trance.

“Never has it been recorded that a Young One would pass before he reached the age of knowing.  No illness do we suffer.  Why has this event been brought to my mind?”

He thought back to his conversation with Restbrew, who had voiced concerns over the changes that seemed to be more frequent and dire.  Then it was suddenly apparent, as if the great one had just sent the answer:  The concept of ‘worry’ had become part of their culture and being.

Unknown to them for centuries, and always accepting of events around them, this new emotion of worry was now upon them.  No word was had for it, but Atnas now felt it, and he recognized that it had become a part of each elder’s demeanor.  It was this that had them wondering about his journey to meet the great one.  It was this that led to their questions. The impact of this new feeling was in need of discussion, and he decided to consult with the others upon the next full moon.  

---------------------
*Akarns (acorns) are the food staple of the Nubbins, similar to a number of early Native American populations.  
**Nuts like acorns are referred to as ‘mast,’ a botanical term for either the vegetative or the fruit/nut parts of woody trees and shrubs that are consumed by wildlife.  There is ‘hard mast’, such as acorns or hickory nuts, and then there is ‘soft mast’ like leaf buds, berries and rose hips.

The Kindness of the Kiln!

The matrons spent that day molding the clay, which was mined from the pounds the days before, pressing the substance into a variety of bowls and other vessels that would be used in the coming season.  These would then be fired in the open pit kiln constructed by Dipuc and his work crew.* A pit three feet deep is dug in an open area at a distance from the lodge, then lined with kiln stones across the bottom and halfway up the sides.  A layer of wood shavings, thatch and seaweed is placed on top of the stones.  Clay pieces are set on top, followed by more shavings and seaweed, then dried grasses and pieces of kindling.  Finally the remainder of the pit is filled with firewood. 

Once a strong fire is going, several large stones are placed around the perimeter of the pit to hold a wet deer hide cover.   The cover is left open at one end for ventilation.  The positioning of this opening is determined by the wind direction, and is so placed to have smoke moving away from the dwellings of any nearby tall ones, though the unusual odor of the firing has been reported by some of their townspeople.  Periodic wetting keeps the hide from burning, and firewood is added to insure that the coals remain very hot.  The whole process of firing the clay bowls and other wares begins at sunrise and continues well into the night, when the fire is finally allowed to burn out.  Once the coals have completely cooled, the pieces are removed and lined up for the elders to inspect and hold in ceremony. The ability of the fire to harden the clay is considered a gift and is recognized in a simple ceremony, where each piece is handed along, one elder to another, while they quietly chant:

"Fearns...nun...duor...Fearns...nun...duor."**

After the ceremony, the wares are set for use.  Lacking a glaze, they do not hold water well, so they serve primarily to aid food preparation and serving.

The open pit kiln is disassembled on the day following.  In older times these pits would be kept in place, but the need to move the lodges, due to the constant encroachment of the tall ones, has prompted them to adopt this practice.  The stones considered magical for their purpose are kept in a holding lodge until another pit is required.

----------

*Of note here is the similarity of the Nubbin kiln construction to that of early Native Americans and other ancient civilizations.

**The exact meaning of this chant is unknown, but some believe that the similarity in sound and spelling would indicate Celtic terms and cadence where they are saying:  Alder...ash..oak.  These trees in Celtic thought symbolize, in order:  guidance and protection (alder), locked in the events of life (ash), security and strength (oak).

Those Saved and Those Taken

The early mornings of the next several days were spent sending out patrols.  A snow storm had intensified and then exploded east of the region.  High winds were impacting everything from the ships of the tall ones to the flights of the sea birds just offshore.  The Nubbin guardians were now patrolling the outer beach just before dawn, on the watch for birds which might be blown ashore and injured   These birds are known to the tall ones collectively as Alcids, and include such species as: the razorbill (alcs to Nubbins), the common murre (urs to Nubbins), dovekie (ales to Nubbins), Black Guillemot (Cepts to Nubbins) and Puffins (finups to Nubbins).   

On this day, the north patrol came upon a group of ales strewn across the upper beach near the place known to the giants as Newcomb’s Hollow. These are the smallest of the hardy seabirds and are more often blown ashore than others.  Only about 9 inches in length, with a wingspan approaching fifteen inches, this storm was just too much for the little birds.  Though weakened and fatigued by their ordeal, they were in fair shape, aside from one who was found to have a broken wing.  All were gathered and taken back to the holding lodge where they would be warmed, rested, and fed, and when the wind eventually subsided, released off the beach where they were found.  The one mending a wing would bide its time at the lodge until ready for flight.  

The south patrol came upon an alc, but the bird had already succumbed to the test of nature.  It was picked up and wrapped in a blanket and carried to where those "taken" would be buried following a sending ceremony atop the bluff overlooking the open ocean it once roamed.  Despite their role as guardians and the effort given each day to help maintain the natural order around them, Nubbins are very accepting of death, recognizing it as a process on the continuum of life.  Nothing has a place for all time, but the value of the time given is precious to the Nubbins, and so they honor that time in all species.

Peace Threaded Together by Simplicity

Another night of heavy snow had softened the features of the landscape into a blanket of white, and the valley was unusually quiet; even the birds were silent this morn.  Yet, two gathering crews were already assembled at the main lodge.  The younger group was to go with Hantar and the cutters to gather wood for the open kiln to be fired the days next, as the wind which comes after the snow is best for carrying the smoke away from the nearest dwelling of the tall ones.  The other group would head out for the pounds*, and here upon the cliff face they would carefully gather the clay needed for the summer pots, which were to be molded and then fired in the kiln.

Atnas led a marsh patrol, for the extreme cold now held fast the slough holes with ice, and the birds like the blue herons (known as Ardans to the Nubbins) might be in need of assistance, now that there were so few places available for feeding.   The herons had wintered there in recent years, where the winters had been mild.  In fact, the little men recognized that the population of the bird, which nests nearby in the summer, had grown in the winter beyond that of olden times.  But this latest settling of arctic cold air had caught them off guard.  The birds stand about four feet tall and have a wingspan that exceeds six feet. They feed mostly on small fish and can be aggressive in nature if disturbed when nesting, but they are accustomed to the Nubbins, and welcome their presence.

As Atnas feared, they found one male heron, barely able to stand.  The bird was warmed using their heated blankets and given a paste mixture of ground up fish; then the members of the patrol went about with their axes breaking the ice in numerous slough holes and opening the small channel so the next tide would free up the upper reaches of the marsh.

These patrols and work details are part of the communal nature of the little people, who each possess clothing and daily life materials, yet do not understand or know of the concept of ownership.  Their life among the living things of the forest brings with it an understanding of a shared nature.  There is no need to attain, for their spirit of purpose is unlike that experienced by the tall ones.  They are content with each day’s events, and hold the knowledge that everything has a reason and all is connected in the end.  And so the Nubbins live without the strife that so often engages and consumes the giants.  There is an understanding among them that the eldest is the leader, yet he rarely has to lead as such. He gathers around him the other elders for their consultation, and at times there is the call for a vote.  There is little dissention or attrition, nor is there self-ambition.  The gathering of what nature provides is all that is needed, and contentment abounds in the life that surrounds them.

----------
*See brief description from Thoreau's Cape Cod.

Accepting the Time

His crows flew ahead, checking the valley for intruders, as Atnas made his way to the fox den.  This red fox (or Reinars, as the Nubbins call them*) lived in a den just north of the old field once farmed by the tall ones; and the animal would often accompany Atnas upon his walks, sharing with the crows the role of surveillance, given his ability to catch the scent of the giants.  Reinars are easily trained by the Nubbins and are known for their trickery and tenacious nature. The variety of barks and wines of the fox are among the first animal calls learned by younger Nubbins.

This day in the deep snow, Atnas would follow the fox along his hunting path which went into the dense thickets of the swamp.  Here even the small Nubbin had to bend over to make his way through the low hanging snow-covered branches and vines. Their destination was the Acceptance Wall, moved to this almost forsaken place about seventeen full sun cycles before, when fear arose among the Nubbins that the giants would see no purpose in the assemblage of stones and destroy it.  The wall had been moved once before, but even the elder Atnas did not know of its original location.  About eighteen feet in length and four feet wide, the wall consisted of both round and rectangular stones.  Among the rocks were the more unusual stones of the elders, those chosen many suns ago and who had accepted the wish of the great one to join him in his world.  Each of these stones bore the mark of the elder, a mark which would go unnoticed by the casual observer. Given the nature of its content, the wall had a special power and could accept unto itself the spirit of the elders, and they would then find comfort in the house of the great one.

When the fox and Atnas reached the wall, the little man stood at the north end, as he had done every new moon since meeting with the spring eagle.  He raised his hands in the air and spoke aloud.  

“Oh, Great One, my time you have chosen is near.  I come to this place and accept your calling and when that time comes, let me carry my stone and set it here among the others who traveled your way before me.”

Atnas then walked around the perimeter of the wall, as was the custom, and knelt where he began.  The crows flew in and sat on the four corners cawing away and the old fox gave out its contact call of wow-wow-wow!

Then all were silent and nothing was heard, but the rustle of branches, and the snow falling from them, as the wind began to pick up.  Atnas stood, picked up his staff and headed back to the lodge. Another moon had come, and his place was still set in this time.  He was now well prepared for the journey and accepted both the unknowing of when and the gift of more time, for it was known to be so.  Rarely does the Great Spirit give notice, but simply comes at the precise time so destined, and leads you away.


----------------

 *The Nubbin term Reinars for red fox is of interest.  European folklore relates the tales of a red fox named Reynard, a symbol of trickery and deceit (see, as example, Aesop's The Fox and the Crow).  In a poem dating back to 1150, a fox named Reinardus appeared in verse entitled Ysengrimus. See also: Ysengrimus.