In the chaos, warriors grabbed bows, arrows, tomahawks and anything the could find to try to fend off the charging animals frightened by the shaking ground.
Trees crashed to the ground as the rumbling continued. Bushes and shrubs shook and uprooted or were smashed by the thundering hooves of deer and bear.
Yelling war hoops at the top of their lungs, warriors hurled arrows and spears at the animals, trying to steer them away from the village. Spears felled some of the large animals as most of the hurdling dark mass veered just north of the town.
Still, several bears bears charged helter-skelter into the community, knocking over cooking pots and racks of drying fish and animal skins.
Houses shook, some falling. Others moved intact some distance from their original spot.
Women grabbed young ones and dashed into shelters as the terrified beasts charged through the village.
Timpoochee ran for his own house.
“Swift Deer!” he yelled at the top of his lungs. “Mother! Run for cover!”
He ran with all his speed toward the house in the center of town as the echoing thunder of moving earth and trampling beats tore into the plaza.
Across the way, Old Hunter and Grandmother Ama were slowly making their way toward safety in Yufala’s house. Old Hunter struggled in his pain to help his old friend reach safety before a wild creature ripped them apart.