Valrein Gudrun
Character
"It is not a good time for a child! Can you not wait?"
The woman laughed, the gentle sound in stark counterpoint to the desperation and exasperation in the man's voice.
"You're son does not care if it is storming, he is impatient, like his father."
"We have so few supplies.. The Shaman has not reached us yet.."
"We have enough, and she is old, the journey is many days even in fine weather. Women have babies every day."
"Other women! Not you!"
"No, but we must all start somewhere yes? One does not wake up with a full herd."
"What if something goes wrong?"
"You heard the Shaman's prophecy, our son will be fine, strong, a leader. His herds will multiply and spread across the Tundra."
"I- yes. The Shaman said."
The man nodded once, decisively, before resuming his pacing, crossing the ground within the modest fur yurt in three long strides before turning and doing it again. In the center, a small fire lay banked, ensuring that the tent was warm and cozy. A very pregnant woman reclined on the ground, piles of furs around and under her.
"Come, sit, you will wear out your shoes, and I will not be making you new ones for several days."
She teased him, holding her arms out. He went to her immediately and gathered her against himself.
"When?"
He asked.
"Soon."
The woman laughed, the gentle sound in stark counterpoint to the desperation and exasperation in the man's voice.
"You're son does not care if it is storming, he is impatient, like his father."
"We have so few supplies.. The Shaman has not reached us yet.."
"We have enough, and she is old, the journey is many days even in fine weather. Women have babies every day."
"Other women! Not you!"
"No, but we must all start somewhere yes? One does not wake up with a full herd."
"What if something goes wrong?"
"You heard the Shaman's prophecy, our son will be fine, strong, a leader. His herds will multiply and spread across the Tundra."
"I- yes. The Shaman said."
The man nodded once, decisively, before resuming his pacing, crossing the ground within the modest fur yurt in three long strides before turning and doing it again. In the center, a small fire lay banked, ensuring that the tent was warm and cozy. A very pregnant woman reclined on the ground, piles of furs around and under her.
"Come, sit, you will wear out your shoes, and I will not be making you new ones for several days."
She teased him, holding her arms out. He went to her immediately and gathered her against himself.
"When?"
He asked.
"Soon."