those who did not have a good yield or with the old ones in the village who had no families to provide for them.
Mothers continued the raising of the children, grooming their sons to care for their own families someday and their daughters to be strong in themselves so when the day came to pick a mate, they would pick the best provider. Raven was maturing fast, and it wouldn't be long before it was her time to take her turn around the circle to choose a mate. But for now she helped her mother care for the twins.
Audra grieved the loss of Willow and became withdrawn and ill. Days went by without her eating. She became so weak, she could barely care for her own needs, never mind care for children. She knew Willow had no choice and had to go; it was promised. It was the reason the villagers were so successful when the boats went out and returned with their nets laden with fish. Audra knew the truth but could not share it with anyone. It was a secret only she and Willow shared. And now Willow was gone, and she was left alone with that knowledge.
She rocked in her rocking chair in the moonlight each evening, hoping to hear Willow call out to her, but the only sounds she heard were of wind and the crashing waves. Occasionally, she thought she heard laughter, but it was only the sounds of the night and not her Willow speaking to her in the way only they could.
If only she could know Willow was OK; knowing she was happy would mean the world to her. If only they could still communicate the way they once did, even between the two worlds. Tears began to stream down Audra's face in her desperate attempt to call out to Willow. Raven came up behind her and gently put a shawl around her shoulders. For a moment, she thought it was Willow, and then she noticed it was Raven. Have I forgotten I still have children at home who love and need me? She thought. Is this what Willow would want for me to do—sit and mourn? No!
She turned to Raven, gently took her hand, and stood up and walked with her back to the house. She called the girls into the kitchen from their lofts. Seth was with his father fishing and would not be back for a few more days.
"My daughters, I am so sorry. I love you all and have been so distant since Willow has been gone. Please forgive me." They all hugged their mother. Audra fixed a big pot of warm milk with honey, and they sat together at the table and shared the day's events once again. When the children returned to their lofts, Audra kissed each one and pulled the curtains of their lofts. And they drifted off to sleep.
Audra too climbed into her loft and pulled her curtain. The moon was bright, and she thought of her husband and son on this moonlit night and hoped they would be looking at the same moon she was—her way of connecting with them.
Soon Audra drifted off to sleep—a deep sleep, yet such visions filled her sleep. She dreamed of a bright forest with what seemed to be rock trees without any leaves and water that flowed freely through them and strange creatures weaving in and out in the forest. Strange as it seemed, it was calming.
Then her dreams changed to a vision of her husband and son on their boat. Creatures drifted around the bottom of the boat as if to herd the fish into the nets as Nyle and Seth slept. For a moment, she thought she saw someone under the endless waters with long, golden hair that swished as if blown by the winds yet under the water with such grace and ease. Her whole body seemed to sway with this image of being under the water, as though it was herself in the water.
The next morning, she was up early but could not get the vision of her dreams out of her mind. Such beauty and grace and joy radiated from Audra that morning. The children told her she looked so much younger; she must have had a very good night's sleep. Audra smiled and said, "Yes, I did."
That morning's meal was filled with fresh berries and oats covered in warm milk and honey, which was normally set aside for special occasions. "What are we celebrating, Mother?" Nara asked.
"We are celebrating being together. I love you all with all my heart," Audra said. "But we have much to do to get ready, for your father and Seth will be returning with a very large catch this day."
"How do you know this, Mother?" Ciara asked.
"I just do," replied Audra.
Audra could not remember all of her vision from the night before, but there was something about it that made her come alive again inside. Something gave her back her strong will and purpose. It was up to her to keep her family together and well while her husband was out on the endless waters. But it was more than that, and she wasn't quite sure what it was, but her spirit was lifted for the first time since Willow had left. It was a knowing of something good, although she was not sure what that might be.
The children were each given their chores that day. Now that Raven was the oldest daughter at home, she carried more responsibility and care for her younger sisters. She made sure they were dressed each day and walked with them to the gardens to gather fresh food, since they were still young and often made mistakes and bring home food not yet ripened. Raven accompanied them to make sure they could identify what was ripe and what needed to stay longer for its full freshness. Then they would walk to the edge of the forest to gather fresh herbs for their mother to use in the day's meal as well as to stock her medicinal pots.
When they returned, it was time for the midday meal, which was berries and nuts and greens from the garden. There was a sense of excitement once again in the household, and everyone could feel it. After their meal, Audra sent Raven to the smokehouse to make room for the catch that would soon be there. Raven did not question her mother's request; she went out and rearranged the meat and fish that had been drying for some time. Some had been crusted in salt harvested from the endless waters and placed on the back racks for special events in the village. Raven had cleared much of the racks by layering the salted fish and hanging some of the meat.
Nara and Ciara crushed dried herbs that Raven brought in from the drying racks to put into clay pots for their mother. Audra sent the girls to pick fresh flowers to place at the entrance and on the kitchen table. She spent all day tending to things that had long needed to be fixed, mended, and cleaned. She wanted her boys to return to a home that reflected the love she felt for her family.
As the day became late afternoon, the girls were exhausted but felt the same excitement their mother felt. Audra had fish and vegetables cooking in the large pot that swung over the fire. The embers were hot but not flaming. It simmered the stew the way only their mother knew how to do. The aroma not only lingered through the house but drifted through the open door into the path that led up to the house.
Audra gathered her children and walked down to the water's edge. It was the first time she had gone there since Willow had left. As they approached the knoll where Audra had said good-bye to Willow, she paused. She could see the whole event again as if it were the day before. She briefly felt sorrow, then another feeling of joy. She wasn't sure why.
Nara cried out, "I see father's boat—they're coming!" Audra's thoughts returned to the present. They rushed to the shore and stood as the boat came closer and closer. It seemed smaller than they remembered, yet it had only been a few days.
The boat came closer and closer. Then they could see Seth waving, and soon Nyle reached up and waved. The girls were so excited—especially for their father and brother to see what they had done to the house in preparation for their return.
As the boat came near the shore, Nyle stopped and lowered the smaller boat they carried aboard. He rowed to shore and left Seth on the fishing boat. Audra and girls were confused as to why he had left the boat offshore. He landed on shore and jumped out, running to greet his family. He appeared more excited than they were. How could he possibly know the surprise they had for him?
"Raven, get some of the villagers. We will need help with our catch." Without saying a word, Raven turned and raced back into the village.
"Dear wife, come see what has happened." Audra left the girls on shore and rowed out to the fishing boat with her husband. Her eyes grew wide with shock. The boat was heavy with the biggest catch she had ever seen. Though she was shocked, there was a sm
all part of her that knew. But how did she know? How could she have known this happened, and yet she had been preparing for it all day? Such a bounty would feed the entire village for months.
They looked back to the shore and saw the villagers coming over the knoll. They all waited on the shore, wondering what the urgency was. Audra and Nyle approached them with the news, and soon the villagers rowed their boats out to aid in bringing the catch back to the village. The fish were loaded onto tables in the center of the village in big, hand-woven baskets. Each family filled baskets with fish and delivered shares to the old ones. Many of the women stayed with the old ones to salt and hang the fish to dry, then returned to fill their baskets for their homes. Never had any of them seen such a catch. Certainly, this was a reason to celebrate. A big feast was planned for them to give thanks for the abundance.
Audra linked her arm with Nyle's as they all returned to their home. The stew she had started early that morning had simmered on the embers all day, waiting for Nyle and Seth to return. She had most of her family home safe, and that was good.
After the meal, when everyone had retired to their lofts, Audra returned to her rocking chair before going to bed with Nyle. In the still of the