Scan hunting Calle probes a little farther north spotting a cliff. Next to cliff he sets up a shelter and two guard traps. In the morning one of the traps has caught a bird.
Heading east he comes to Damn Passage, where he fought the angry bear whose skull he gave a home and teeth are now guiding his hunting. Wolves had been seen around here. No game today. With a bit of the bear’s power with him Calle decides to disarm these traps. It doesn’t seem right to leave the traps to wound an animal that might not be checked once Calle moves on. That sort of thing might have angered the spirits in the first place.
Nearing the original Sacred Trail camp an elk is seen across a mire. Catching up works this time. Its a mother with a baby. A momentary consideration of leaving the mother to raise the cub is met with the needs to provide. A broad head arrow is loosed and misses. Those iron heads aren’t something Calle can yet make for himself. Luckily keeping up the track he finds it a few minutes later. As Calle tracks it into a spruce forest evening begins to close in. Calle decides that this is a good sign to stop this hunt of mother with child.
Day 2 of the 4th week to summer
Calle had slept at Sacred Trail. In the morning he disarms the traps here. It really feels like he has emerged from the challenge. Winter wasn’t over yet. Coming to these traps though was a bit more of a chore now that Axe Rapids was producing from fishing, local trapping and hunting. Spirits can grow angry if traps keep animals suffering. To a Reemi keeping ties to the spirit world are important. As thanks to Sacred Trail providing what it did, for it had, he puts out berries.
Calle made a wide circle around the cabin. He didn’t see any more large animals.
“You don’t always get a kill on a hunt,” Calle said, “It was good to see them. The forest and river are already providing. Time then for a big build project. A wooden punt, a finnish punt, seems good. Its durable, sturdy, can carry cargo yet can still be carried.”
(Finnish Punt is a modded item from the BAC based on real life Finnish boats
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW7BdhOZZ_c&t=4s )
A yelp. Another yelp.
Just after making that choice Calle scoots to see the source of the noise. A fox has been caught. It dangling on the fox board. Stuck up right to hold weight the top has a W shape. When the fox leaps a paw gets caught in the bottom notch. Bait is put on the center spike to encourage the jump. Its important the board be sturdy in the ground to stay upright on the leap and struggle. Calle hadn’t reset this trap in months. Is this a sign from the forest to support his choice?
Thanks are giving to the forest and water spirit of fox and grouse meat. Calle appreciates their being at peace with him. Amid the project work he can reset the traps here and fish. Maybe a day or two hunting for a break in the future.
Among the tasks for the project is to make an adze. This is different version of axe with the blade crossways to the handle. Without iron Calle will need a stone one. That takes a good stone. After hours of maintaining the Axe Rapids traps Calle heads to the mountain to the south west. There he goes through picking out suitable stones and rocks. A whetstone would also be good, a flat small grit stone for sharpening tools and arrows heads.
Days of work has seen Calle prepare a good list. A stone adze will be used in hollowing out a tree for the punt. A pair of wooden tubs, for crafting and trade. A sanding block which has been good with wood working.
The reindeer leather has started being used for clothing. Better three finger paws replace the rough bear ones. Calle had long wanted a pair of shin guards as shins get scraped by bushes and ice so much more than anything but your feet. A leather cap for rainy days if not wearing his furs and just that more warmth. Making a shirt would use up the six and half pounds of the reindeer leather left so Calle holds off that for now. That big section will join the craft work with the various bird skins being used until now.
< CALLE 031 Leather clothes>