“Greatfather Winter and Eche’ro: The Wild Ride of Winter Veil”, as told at Tall Tales & Epic Fables
Lohkawas Wildmane arrived in Bloodhoof Village early in the evening to prepare for the visitors that would come to share stories around the central bonfire. He feels a bit out of place standing in front of the fire and knows he will have to tell the best story he can remember about Winter Veil from his home in Highmountain, for he must make up for the great stories that his mentor, Brave Firetotem, normally starts the evening with. After greeting everyone as they arrive for Tall Tales, he politely asks if anyone would like to tell the first story, but a few of the visitors insist that Lohkawas will have the honor of starting off the evening. Lohkawas smiles and kneeling opens and sets his backpack on the ground beside him.
“I have a story from back home to share with everyone. Obviously,” hepoints to his illustrious antlers,”I am from Highmountain. We have a few tales we tell for the Feast of Winter Veil. One about Greatfather Winter and Eche’ro can be told in a few ways with different endings. So if you have heard this one before, maybe this version will surprise you.”
Lohkawas takes a deep breath and begins
Many winters back, a young Shu’halo was having a tough time. His father was on patrol near Bloodtotem lands and his mother took ill. Additionally, many presents had already been prepared for the holiday gift giving and seemed to disappear overnight. These included small hand carved ornaments and totems for the whole Tribe.
The Tribe came together, as should happen, and cared for the youngling while the Mystics tried to determine what was wrong with his mother. She was not that old and though the winter weather was fierce that season, she had been hearty and whole. Worried but trying not to let it show, the Elders sent a rider northwest to the hills where her mate was on patrol to let him know, while others tried to puzzle out the whereabouts of the missing presents.
His mother’s condition worsened and sometimes he woke in the middle of the night feeling like there was someone else in their small tent and would hear his mother murmer, “No… no… no more,” while watching her hands try to push something or someone away from her. But over time her attempts grew feeble and even the youngling knew that if something was not done, she would not last another full cycle under Mu’sha’s watch.
The next night, he forced himself to lay silent until the Mystic caregiver left the tent. A short while later, his mother made the same weakened motions, and, on a hunch, the young calf rose swiftly and charged into the space beside his mother’s body! He ran into something, something so large he bounced back with a sharp outtake of breath.
Lohkawas demonstrates by charging forward and then staggering back with a loud “ooooooph” rocking back on his heels, eyes widened in surprise
Coming into focus before his eyes was a suddenly very large Highmountain Shu’halo male a large bulky pack on his back, and in his hands a vial of liquid that was half-spilled on the ground when the youngling bounced off him.
The unknown Shu’halo whisked out of the tent opening, and the youngling raised the alarm!
The Tribe responded, sending Braves to track down the intruder, and Mystics entered the tent to collect and determine what had been in the vial.
Many questions were asked of the youngling as he stood by the tent’s entrance, only wanting to go inside and be by his mother’s side. The youngling could only answer that the Shu’halo was Highmountain and not of the Tribe.
The Mystics emerged with grim expressions. There is no doubt, they agreed. “She is being poisoned, little by little. We can devise a cure, but the herbs we need are spread throughout Highmountain. Time is not on our side. Send word again to her mate. He knows many paths and herbs, and near his patrol is one herb we must have first and foremost. At best she has until Mu’sha sits full and bright in the night sky, so we must hurry.”
Word was sent immediately to the father. The next morning, the young Shu’halo was shown two more herbs and allowed to join a gathering party, for he had often gathered herbs with both his parents, and the Elders thought it best the youngling stay busy to quell his fears.
Lohkawas paused in the storytelling and gives the audience a charming grin. “And now the famous poem to end the tale, which I am sure you all know already.”
Lohkawas clears his throat and begins to recite “Greatfather Winter and Eche’ro: The Wild Ride of Winter Veil”
Searching through the bramble
Shu’halo alone did scramble
He came upon the herb he sought
After many a battle had been fought.
More foes swarmed in the distance
But beside him into existence
Lohkawas glances to his left as the image of a Hunter and Eiderhorn forms into being and begins to walk his way
Appeared a blessed eiderhorn
Gift to Highmountain’s antler adorned
The beast beckoned him with bended knee
To clamber up and from the trap break free.
To escape, thorns and vines fur did cut
They rode hard through deep dark thicket
Lohkawas reaches into his pack and tosses strings of holly onto the hunter and Eiderhorn. And as he sprinkles a shimmering dust on the image it transforms into the Spirit of Eche’ro carrying the hunter, glittering under Mu’sha’s light.
Antlers, now wrapped with garlands of holly,
Both rider and mount engaged perhaps in folly?
But what else could they do
Except ride all day through.
And as his tribal home did approach
Shu’halo spied the hidden treasures poached.
So down he reached, the pack did grasp
And continued east did Eche’ro fast.
Without break they reached his home at last
Beating Mu’sha’s climb that mother’s end forecast.
Medicine was quickly mixed and tended
The pack emptied of presents splendid.
The youngling smiled to see his father
And all rejoiced when rose his mother.
Eche’ro stood antlers in the light
Of Mu’sha’s gaze, loving and bright
While in the distance Greatfather Winter
Banished all enemies who sought to embitter
And so the Tribe stood gratefully expressing
How truly wonderful The Earth Mother’s blessing.