Flynn Cadara looked up at the sky. It was getting dark. He knew that he needed to head back to the cabin. It would be dinnertime undeniably, and he didn’t want to miss it. “Tam!” Flynn called out. A large, wolf-like dog appeared, heading toward Flynn at a slow trot. “It’s time to head home,” Flynn said. “Did you find anything interesting?” “There’s a large herd of elk not far from here,” Tam said to him, looking up at Flynn’s face as they headed up a low hill. “You should tell your father. Winter is coming, and he hasn’t been able to get much meat.” “I’ll tell him.” “Also, bear tracks,” said the burly dog. “Agh, blast and confound it all! Why bears!” “Just tell the bear to stay away from the sheep and the horses,” Tam said, unconcerned. * * * Tallinn Cadara, Flynn’s father, peered into the darkness from the porch of a small cabin. He saw Flynn come out of the dark and into the warm glow that the oil lantern was casting. The boy was tall for his age, ten, and was skinny and lanky. He was wearing tough britches cut just below the kneecaps, and a short-sleeved shirt, and no shoes. His hair was a gray-brown color, and his face’s details were sharp. It was getting dark. He knew that he needed to head back to the cabin “What took you so long, son! And what have I told you about those, those… pants! Winter’s not a month away! And you don’t even have your boots on!” Tallinn called out in frustration. “My boots are too small, and these pants are more comfortable!” “Oh, well, we’ll go into town tomorrow to get you some more boots, but if you wear those, those… shorts anymore before winter is over, I’ll burn them. Come inside, we’re having supper. Your mother is worried sick about you.” Tallinn was a strong man, a kind but firm father. Flynn understood that he didn’t want him to get pneumonia or anything, but his “shorts,” as Tallinn had called them, were much more comfortable, and his legs didn’t get hot or stuffy. Flynn came inside and approached his mother, Selenia. She was setting the table with stew and bread and pale cider. When she saw Flynn come in, she crossed her arms and gave him a large scowl. “I have a mind to not let you eat, young man,” she said in a voice shaking with concern. She hugged Flynn and sat him down at the table. Tallinn came in and sat down. Selenia said the grace, and they all began to eat. Flynn had worked up an appetite, and he ate large portions of food. Tam, who had found his bowl, was tearing at the slab of meat ravenously. “Did you see anything interesting or important today?” asked Selenia, to see if Flynn had an excuse for being so late. “Yes. There’s a large herd of elk, not far from here,” he said, slurping up a spoonful of the stew. That seemed to redeem Flynn to his father, who was grinning widely. “Get the bows ready, and we’ll head out tonight!” A spark shot through Flynn. They were going to go hunting! This meant that they could go farther than he was normally allowed, so he would be able to explore more. What’s more, they were going at night. He felt bad, though, for the elk, as they would be killed. “No, you won’t leave tonight,” Selenia broke in, “at least not until my son has had some sleep.” “Selenia! I don’t nee- ” protested Flynn. “Don’t you argue with me, young man. You’re not going hunting until morning, and that’s that.” Flynn knew that he had lost the argument, short as it was. He went to his small bed in one of the corners of the two-room cabin. He pulled off his clothes and crawled under the warm blankets. He thought about all of the familiar territory he had crept through that day, all of the birds and squirrels he had chatted with. He thought about his strange ability to talk with animals, something that he had not shared with Tallinn or Selenia. He pondered this subject for a long while before he fell asleep. * * * Flynn jerked up in the middle of the night. He hadn’t told Tallinn about the bear, and he hadn’t yet had a chance to talk to him. The sheep! He dashed up, pulled on his clothes, and dashed to Tallinn’s bed, which was across the room from his. Selenia was slumbering fitfully, but… Tallinn wasn’t in the bed. Flynn looked over at Tam’s small bed. Empty too. “Come on, are you coming or not!” whispered a voice below him, making him jump. It was Tam. “What?” Flynn whispered back. “We have to get to the elk as soon as possible. We won’t have this chance every day. C’mon!” “Selenia said…” Flynn began. “Don’t pretend that you don’t want to go hunting, Flynn. I’m sure Selenia will understand when she has meat for the winter. Convinced, Flynn hurriedly put on several layers of clothes and rummaged under his bed for his old, small pair of boots. He grabbed his wool cap and then followed Tam outside, where his father was waiting. “Ready to go?” asked Tallinn, rubbing wax along the string of his long hunting bow. “Yes.” “Good.” They headed out into the thick woods as silently as possible, Tam trotting ahead, showing Flynn the way to the elk. They made good progress, speeding through the woods. Flynn couldn’t bring himself to tell Tallinn about the bear, for his father would undoubtedly kill it when he most certainly did not need to. All Flynn could do was hope that they came across the bear before it killed any sheep. “Flynn! Up ahead!” Tam barked. “This is where the elk were,” Flynn told Tallinn, pointing ahead. “Now we must go slowly and
By Hugh Cole, Illustrated by Anna Welch
