Tending to the Dead

JP with Winteroak and Gonyaul:

It was a long night. The Bonecaster kept singing and beating his hand to his chest. A few times during the night he actually had to stand up and scare scavengers away from the bodies.

It was clear to Gonyaul that the the rites of the Odsier were different from what he had witnessed before. But he couldn't help feeling the man was doing the best he could with the limited resources available.

The next morning the man simply dragged the bodies of the dead and placed them all next to each other. And with some final words over them he turned to Gonyaul and bowed deeply.

Months later Gonyaul would discover that the Odsier would watch over the bodies of their deadb for a few days to ensure their spirits would return to Erewhon's embrace and after would raise platforms of wood, around 8 feet high were they would they would remain up to a year.

Gonyaul stayed up all night with the Odsier as he continued his last rites for the dearly departed. He observed every detail and intricacy, storing them away in his memory.

His support was raised from just silent observer to active participant when the Odsier had to fend off scavengers. From that moment on, Gonyaul guarded the bodies from any future pest attacks so that the man didn’t have to worry about it anymore.

Gonyaul didn’t realize it until everything was concluded, but generously being of service to the man and staying busy had distracted his aching heart and his thoughts on anything else but the tasks at hand. He helped drag the bodies and perform any other acts of service the man would allow.

This included tending to the man’s basic needs so he could focus more on grieving and the funeral process. A drink of water, a bite to eat, or a short break, Gonyaul was actively trying to make things better without getting in the way.

Gonyaul would still find time to honor his customs throughout the day. Meditations, dances, training, and newly added prayers were fit in whenever he could between the work and any necessary rest.

He was also able to gain permission to look through the area from the Odsier for anything that might prove useful. Gonyaul was able to scrounge together resources, from the slaughtered tribe’s possessions, for very meager meals to share; rationed so they would last longer. He was also able to find a few items that would make travel and camping easier.

When it was all completed, Gonyaul respectfully returned the bow and signed a blessing towards the man. They hadn’t talked much throughout the process, just enough gesturing and words to keep things moving forward to the end.

With his work apparently done. The exhausted man looked up at the sky and shouted a few words before turning to leave.
He stopped a few metres after looking back at Gonyaul, beckoning the young man to follow him into the the vast Plains...

Gonyaul followed. His chances for survival were much stronger with the natives of these lands and he was curious to know them better.