The days following the earth-sharking and bear rampage were dark days for Timpoochee and his people.
The restoration of the town, the public displays of mourning and ceremonies of burial were difficult, days the town had not experienced - ever.
Following the burials, the most celebrated of which was Old Hunter, the fire in the council house was extinguished and replaced with a new fire which would see the town through until Green Corn.
The entire community immersed itself in the water of Long Man to purify it from the tragedy.
Yufala’s family felt the pain especially hard. Old Hunter had been close to the family, a member really, because of Grandmother Ama. Now, as the oldest living member of the town she was taking the loss in severe pain, physical and emotional.
“How is Grandmother” Timpoochee said as he stepped gingerly into the house to help his mother apply some of the Medicine prepared for the old woman.”
“She is resting,” Swift Deer replied, quietly. “The Medicine is relieving her outward pain but not her inward pain.”
Timpoochee moved closer, bent down, kissed his grandmother on her forehead.
“Rest, Grandmother,” Swift Deer said softly. “I will soak your bruised arms and legs with this mud of frost-root and burdock.”
The sun was shining bright on the town, the first time it had done so since the ground-shaking. That was a good sign.
“Would you like to feel the warmth of the sun,” Swift Deer asked Grandmother, who could barely hear.
She knew the answer, of course. Timpoochee helped lift Grandmother Ama outside the house, into the sun where they reclined her on a palate already warmed by the bright sun.