For Them, Everything has a Place!

When the elders were all assembled,Atnas lit the vessel holding the incense and its smoke soon circled the long table.  Each elder bowed and then sat as was the custom. Atnas took up the ledger and stood for several moments looking at the faces of his fellow Nubbins and then did the opening reading for this night of the moon.

“Oh great one, you have given us this place in time, and we once again understand the light of the night orb is not always whole, and approaches darkness. Yet, we have learned through many generations that it will return to fill the sky again. The waters will rise to honor its glory, and recede to acknowledge its power.*  Thus, we are reminded of our place here and the charge you have bestowed on us.  Let our gathering this eve be fruitful and may our decisions prove worthy of your blessing.”

Atnas turned to the elder at his right.  “Hantar, you sought out our counsel.  Tell us of your concern.”

Hantar cleared his throat.  “My brethren, we were sent to gather the akarns now left after the season’s snow lost battle to the sun.  It was here in the forest to the south, that we came upon a dog, slain and torn apart. The animal was owned by a tall one; we knew it to be so, for the collar around its neck bore the badge of ownership.  This death was not the work of the silent flyer of the night, nor was it that of the howling wolf.**  My search for its mark was rewarded by one print, left only because of a blood soaked paw.  It was the mark of a pequam, and there is no doubt.  The others also witnessed my find.  This beast has not been among the forest of our realm for many years, though our legends tell us it was once so.   It does not know our ways, and if it continues to prey at the door of the tall ones, then they may seek out this hunter, coming nearby our lodges to find it.  It is this reason that I have asked for your judgment.”

Atnas stood, and with a motion of thanks, bowed to Hantar and turned to the others.  

“This is a just reason for our calling together.  What do you say to this event?”

Retsbrew stood and Atnas nodded to him to speak.

“The pequam of lore is like others we know once roamed these forests.  Its place here may well be proper, as we know the tall ones took many such creatures for their fur, like those which spent much time in the sea.***  Their traps took all of them.  I say we must approach this pequam and provide it a safe place much like the great cat.  It has no cause to harm us.”

For several seconds there was complete silence, and then each elder stood one by one and bowed to Retsbrew.  This was the sign of their approval for what he suggested.

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*These words once again show the Nubbins understanding of the moon’s phases and the effect upon the tides.

**The ‘silent flyer of the night’ is a Nubbin phrase for the great horned owl and the howling wolf is likely a reference to a coyote.

***This description indicates the Nubbins were well aware of the demise of the sea mink, which were once bountiful in New England waters, yet went extinct in the late 1800s as the result of over-trapping.