Chapter 13: One Last Stop

Till glanced back. “I don’t know, he was better, yet now, he’s still all over the place.”

Anna nodded, not wishing to look again. “Yeah, it’s why we left him, helping with the training. The concussion’s still there, though he always responds best when he’s busy. Doing something focuses his attention, while when there’s no immediate pressure, he starts backsliding.

“Honestly, it’s like most men back home. They’re single focused, though when they lose their job, either through retirement or injury, they often lose their way. For too many, their work is their entire life, how they define themselves.

“For women, when we lose one position, we’re still responsible for dozens of others, so we can more easily shift between them. Men just aren’t wired the same way.”

“Uh oh,” Till warned, straightening, “here she comes again.”

No one needed to say who, as Liah, fearful of losing her new husband before their marriage, was fretting incessantly.

“Have you seen him?” Liah waved, indicating Ty training the new girls. “He’s no better today than before. Yet, yesterday, he was conducting raids, overthrowing village chiefs we didn’t even know existed. And now, he cannot find his way along an open path!”

Anna signed. “I was just explaining, he’s suffered a concussion, a blow to his head, which often causes some temporary mental impairment.”

“He’s stunned, still dizzy,” Tanya translated for her. “He needs time to recover.”

“Though yesterday, when he perceived danger nearby, it focused him and channeling it he was like he normally is. He’ll get better. It’s a relief he keeps us all safe, yet he still needs to heal.”

“He’s still sick,” Tanya continued. “It will pass, just not immediately. He’ll keep us safe, but without danger, he relapses.”

“Gah! You are no help!” Liah exclaimed, her eyes flickering, nearly panicking.

Till spun around, staring at the distraught girl. “Look! He’ll be fine. He’ll always be there to help, he’s just recovering, which takes time.”

“So he not ... wackoo?”

“No, he’s not,” Anna assured her. “And the term is ‘wacko’, isn’t a suitable term for describing your future husband.”

She hung her head, realizing her position was still, despite her assurances, tenuous. “You are sure, though?” she pressed.

“It’s an unusual case. The fact he flips from one extreme to the other is unsettling. If it were anyone else, I’d say they were burning both ends of their candle. It’s not sustainable for long. I don’t know what they did to him before he left, but I’m unsure how stable he’ll be in the long run.

“The fact he functions normally ensures there’s no lasting physical damage. However, his potential psychological, mental or spiritual harm is uncertain. You can’t keep burning on all cylinders without the flames entirely consuming you. Which is why we need to ensure nothing else disturbs him till this evening.”

Anna turned to Liah. “An essential part of being his wife is his being able to depend on you, trusting you. Which means, like us, when he leaves on a mission or isn’t well, he needs to trust he can leave you in charge, without fearing things won’t go further awry.

“You need to keep things stable whenever he’s, distracted. What’s more, when he’s ill, you have to guard and protect him like a ... like a cornered mother Ligor, protecting her ligor cubs!”

Liah’s eyes widened at the visceral analogy, eagerly nodding, realizing the necessities.

“You need to realize certain things can never be spoken of outside of his innermost circle. There are details you’ll have to learn, though not until we’re all sure you can be trusted with them. He has many deeply unsettling secrets, such as how we arrived here, only a week apart, almost to the minute.

“We haven’t back since, so there’s no telling whether someone else arrived too or what’s become of them. So far, they’ve been people he knows and trusts. Unfortunately, an unfortunate side effect of the transfer process is we lose our memories. Luckily, each seems to trigger specific memories, while Ty triggers similar memories in us. So the exchange is a necessary component for each of us ‘returnees’.

“Being away so long is ... dangerous, though hopefully not catastrophic. We should be able to recover, though it’s not assured. In the end, the more Taylor and we learn about our past, the better our future. There are too many aspects we still can’t recall, which I suspect will most define our future success.

“Those who sent us here did so for a reason, and while we seem to be on tract, there’s no way to be sure.”

“Don’t worry,” Tanya assured her. “I’ll explain whatever you don’t understand. Sometimes, we’re so used to conversing rapidly, we forget others can’t follow it.

“The information is vital, so it’s essential we all understand it. While we may miss certain details, any of us can catch an essential missing link, making things clearer, so together, we’ll understand more than we would, alone.”

“I’ll try,” she assured them. “I’ll ensure Ty and all of you trust me, I won’t let you down.” She hesitated, again glancing back. “So, what do we do between now and Lo-res? Should we remain here until he recovers or keep going, like everything is fine, even if not?”

“That’s the other thing,” Till added. “None of us are ever quite sure, which is why we’re better figuring these things out together. The smallest missing piece may prove essential, yet each clue helps fill in the total picture. It’s why you need to be involved with everything. If you aren’t contributing, you’re just dead wood, slowing us down. One of the central things his girls do, is putting things in perspective here, countering some of his more outlandish ideas.”

She nodded solemnly. “I won’t let you down. There is much I do not yet understand, but I will do better. I think it will take time catching up though.”

“For now, Ty is doing what he does best.” Anna waved her arms, indicting everyone surrounding them. “Working with others, helping them and working with his animals, who calm him, as we need to do. He is under such stress, we need to restore him before each new adventure, so he’s ready for whatever occurs.”

Liah giggled. “I know how to do that, if I have the chance.” She straightened, demonstrating her focus on the issues. They’d all make mistakes, yet many eyes spot subtle missing details, ensuring nothing essential is missing, or not for long. Nothing in this age was certain, yet they were doing the best they could and trusting it would continue.

The hunt proceeded as expected, relying on different teams hunting separate regions, with their many assistants transporting the life-sustaining food back for their upcoming feast. The second of what appeared to be many. As anyone, or any society, has to first walk, before it can run.

Observing, Liah had much to learn, yet no one was ready to trust her, not yet being tested. While she was adapting, they’d later let her hunt with the others, proving how well she was adjusting to the many new things they were introducing her to.

She seemed bright, yet intelligence wasn’t as essential as young and adaptable. Being the chief’s daughter, she was too set in her ways, potentially never fully fitting in. If so, they’d have to deal with that too, along with everything else.

As usual, they had no idea what they’d taken on. Yet they were likely to feed many hungry villagers, which was what counted. Several of the others were proving quite adept at determining which native plants, herbs and fruits were most valuable, as well as identifying where to find and best extract them. Which was similarly required vital information.

For now, Ty’s travois were essential in conveying everything required. They were so simple to work, even by a single person, it allowed them to carry a substantial load, rapidly without breaking down, needing frequent replacing.

Their new recruits were pleased with the results and what they learned by participating, the most vital element. Making everyone feel valued and allowing them to be involved, proving their worth so they’d feel more confident in the future.

As they say, feeding someone only helps for a day, teaching them helps them for the rest of their lives. Though they had many things to teach, they also had more people, so the tasks continually grew more complicated.

Returning with their kills, the response was astounding. Those waiting didn’t await food to be doled out, they were active, busy and excited. And rather than Ty drifting in and out, unable to focus for long, he regaled everyone concerning whatever they asked, even what they never considered asking!

The others shook their heads. The villagers would appreciate the food, yet not as much as they hungered for hope—which Ty was best at. He warned of potential dangers, yet his confidence infused others with hope regardless of any risks, their enthusiasm further fueling his.

With a ready, receptive audience, who could focus on themselves? With so many to educate, each eager to learn as much as possible not just about one specific field, the questions and answers were varied and widespread.

They wanted intel on their new home, what life living in the wilderness was like and how it differed from traditional village life. For these, that question was paramount and the answer was typically they had more options, not fewer.

Thus everyone was excited, not just for themselves but for their friends, family and neighbors, whether they cared for them or not. Their joy was spontaneous and infectious, spreading rapidly, multiplying by orders of magnitude, not individuals.

As the hunters’ helpers called out to their friends, the focus shifted to them. Not the hunters themselves, but carrying burdens and relieving their loads. The hunters, like the food, were secondary to the celebration. For them, the food was merely a means to an end, providing the energy to emigrate to a new life elsewhere, either Ty’s village or accompanying him on his adventures. Rather than identifying the most qualified, they were fending off volunteers.

And those refused shifted to other areas they could assist, as there was no shortage of necessary tasks requiring assistance. Ty again varied his approach, adapting and changing for each while never far from the same befuddled, distant stare. Still, the constant distractions benefitted rather than hurt. Though the presence of so many prevented his animals from providing him their safe, supporting comfort, worsening his situation.

Thus he was better on his own than with anyone supporting, aiding or comforting him. He so easily flitted from one to another, switching from what distracted to what most naturally fit.

Standing back, awaiting an opportunity to intervene, you’d wait forever. Yet just diving in and joining the fray, you too adapted to each situation as he did. Though no one adapted quite as freely or frequently as Ty.

In the end, the returnees hovered, unsure how to respond, while his girls, always trusting him to adapt on his own, never needing to adapt until assigned a specific task. It was like watching a magnificently choregraphed production, as everything moved swiftly, focusing on any specific exchange.

Liah, however remained unsure who to trust and who to join, ending outside any group, never finding a place, nor knowing which side to observe and learn from. Thus she worried more about her role than if alone, without advisers.

Once the food arrived, Ty’s role was again singular. The villagers brought the requested kindling, as he lit and prepared both the fire and the food, others helping as best they could, no one else knowing quite what he needed, till asked. Though they were eager to learn, listening to his every description. The other returnees realizing they needed alternative fire-starters, such as flint on flint, or his survival blade kit wouldn’t last. Yet, it was so handy relying on him, they never more than fret over it. Before choosing, he’d started, not waiting for anyone else’s intervention.

Throwing up her hands, Till joined her father, like the other villages, doing whatever he asked. Yet eventually, the women were so curious and excited, they focused on those ever-present questions, rather than incessantly worrying about what they weren’t doing.

Before long, each lent a hand, dealing with whomever they were interacting with, as Ty was. Moreover, the villagers were so excited, you needn’t worry about other concerns. Instead focusing on the next question rather than anything else, the oncoming meal, like everyone else.

And once the food began cooking, everyone gravitated to the delicious wafting aromas, captivated by the smell and anticipated novel tastes. The others thus focused more on ensuring everyone ate than about themselves or Ty.

The new chieftain was not only the center of attention, she was ready to help whoever asked, knowing who could best help with each. Acting more like a motivating traffic cop than chieftain, solving problems rather than pontificating or championing themselves. Doing whatever was necessary, rather than merely assisting.

Once they’d eaten, they started wondering what became of Ty. Yet there was no sign nor evidence of him anywhere. They asked, yet no one noticed he wasn’t present, any more than they had. Several searched, yet not knowing where to look, were as confused as the others.

Becoming desperate, worrying what may have happened, they began actively calling for him, scouring the village, before assuming he wasn’t there either. Not knowing where he’d likely head, they were further flummoxed. Yet again, his girls, Beks included, were unconcerned, relying on Ty to tell them what he needed, when required. If he needed anything, they knew he’d ask, which was sufficient.

Of course, such flippant responses annoyed everyone else, yet Liah decided to trust his girls over everyone else, following their lead, patiently waiting, ready for anything. Waiting, she finally felt comfortable, easing her mind.

Thus while everyone else searched for him, his current and future wives ignored the growing chaos, enjoying their solitude, saving their strength for when most needed.