The Home Stone

On the eve of the third day, Roma’s pain grew worse. It became so bad that she could hardly sit or lie down. Randall did what he could to keep her warm and as comfortable as possible. He hunted for food and search out the best roots and cooked them over the fire. He knew that she would not be able to walk back through the pass in the state that she was in. He would need more help, unless she improved. Also the weather had not changed since Shannon and the rest left. The highlander liked her, because she was pretty and didn’t complain anymore, when the pain became unbearable.

He was tending to the fire after they had eaten, when from the bushes at the far end of the clearing where they had set up their camp, came a low growl. Immediately he and Roma threw on more wood to build up the cooking fire to a larger one and then backed into their little shelter, where their backs were protected from an attack. Randall had made the makeshift hut strong enough to withstand a pack of wolves from tearing through, but the growl he heard told him that this was no pack of wild canines. This was something else. Again the animal growled, only this time it was a lot closer, but still stayed hidden behind the thick bushes that encircled the clearing. Fearing the worst, the highlander threw most of the wood that he had collected that day into the flames, lighting up the entire area. There, not fifty feet across from them stood a white snow bear. Armed with only a spear and a long knife, Randall began to sweat. Water poured down into his eyes and he had a hard time keeping his vision clear to see what the animal was up to. Roma in the meantime had sat herself up and had a sword in one hand and her long knife in the other. Now both were ready to meet the bear. It came down to either they kill the creature from the Snowlands, or be killed and both hoped for success.

The bear moved out into the open and stopped again. Its movements showed the two that it had claimed this part of the forest for its own and would not tolerate any trespassers. Moving from side to side and growling, the bear slowly inched forward. It clearly did not know what to make of the two and this light that it feared, but it was not about to back down. Randall help the girl up onto her feet in an attempt to show the animal that they too will fight for this piece of ground, but again the bear did not falter and stood its ground. With his spear in one hand, Randall dropped his knife and grabbed a burning piece of wood and moved away from the fire. The bear, seeing this charged. Swinging the burning branch in front of the animal backed it up a few feet and the charged again. This time the highlander brought up his spear and jabbed it into the bear’s side. The animal reared up and roared, but it did not have any effect and swatted the lance aside. Now armed only with the burning branch, Randall brought it up to the face of the animal and rammed it into one of its eyes. In great pain the white bear backed away and left the clearing. Relieved that the fight was over, he picked up his spear and returned to the girl who had by now sagged to the ground in as much pain as the bear had. Now with little wood left, the highlander knew that he would have to stand guard all night in case the injured bear returned. He managed to brew some tea, from special leaves that he had found on a previous day. It would soothe the pain and let a person rest comfortably. This he gave to Roma and when she was asleep, he made himself comfortable and forced his eye to remain focused on the forest around him. Roma was sleeping quietly, when the bear returned. It came at them with a vengeance and Randall had just enough time to throw his spear that caught the animal in its right shoulder. Then he grabbed Roma’s sword and his shield and ran out to meet the oncoming bear. Blinded in its right eye by the flaming branch, Randall kept attacking from that side. He hacked away at the long reach of the animal until its right front leg became useless. Now the advantage became his and he worked on the bear’s hind leg. The bear swung its great paw at the highlander, but Randall raised his shield up to bear the brunt of the attack, thus opening up the animal’s side to his sword. He battled the creature for some time and for his efforts his shield was ripped to pieces. The bear did not fare any better, as Randall now using both hands to swing Roma’s sword, slowly cut through muscle and sinew to cripple the huge snow bear. Finally after what seemed a very long time, the highlander got the upper hand and slew the mighty creature. Tired from the fight he left the animal and returned to the camp where Roma was still sleeping to retrieve his knife. He then set about to skin the animal and cut away some of the meat, to cook. This was a bonus for now he only had to gather wood and not leave Roma to fend for herself while he was off hunting.

By the time Roma woke up, Randall was busy stretching the bearskin on a rack of strong branches that he had made earlier that morning.

“Did I miss something,” asked the girl.

“Yes you did,” answered the highlander, showing signs of deep gashes in his left arm and leg. “The bear returned last night while you were asleep looking for a good fight,” he continued with s smile on his face, “but he couldn’t beat me, so he gave his life instead so we could continue to live. How are you feeling? Did the tea help?”

Roma tried to stand, but never made it to a sitting position. With a cry of pain she lowered herself back down onto her bough lined bed. Something inside her told her that the injury was bad and if no help came soon to get her to a healer she would not see her farm again.

Another three days passed until another noise broke the eternal silence of the forest where the two had housed since Shamus asked Randall to stay and protect the girl from Storr. Randall grabbed his spear once more and readied himself for another battle, not knowing if he had the strength left to face another bear attack. The noise grew and now sounded like heavy boots pounding down on the soft undergrowth of the forest. Calling to Roma to be as quiet as possible, the highlander left the camp and moved closer to where the sound was coming from. Worrying that Roma would give herself away with a cry of pain, he was going to try and lead whoever was coming, away from the camp. Then he heard his name being called. Recognizing the voice of his friend, Gilbert, he stepped out into the open. There in front of him stood his good friend and six battle worn elves. He had returned to help get Roma back though the pass, because Shannon feared that if she did not get to a healer she would die. Relieved he brought the seven newcomers to where Roma was waiting. A few more days and a stretcher was built to carry the injured woman and enough food and wood was gathered for the long trek back up the pass and to the nearest village, so that the healers could tend to Roma’s injuries.