Foster and Lidia had planned to be on the road by nine in the morning, so at around eleven thirty they started extracting themselves from conversations and began the first round of hugs and kisses of many that were to slow them further as they walked down the trail to where their truck was parked.
They were not allowed to carry their own bags obviously and the flock saw to that. Lidia had spent days sorting through the gifts that she had been given and had decided what would stay and what would go with them. Between that and some things that Foster had picked up they ended up with a bit more than they arrived with.
They chatted and laughed as they walked and no one, not even Foster was in any great hurry. Members of the clan would step out of the forest to pay their respects and wish both Foster and Lidia a quick and safe return before stepping aside and letting them move on.
They made it to the truck at about half past twelve to find six large garbage bags, filled to bursting in the bed of Foster's old Power Wagon.
He looked around at the gathered crowd and asked, "And what the hell is that?"
Njal shrugged. "Guess you're just gonna have to take a peek then, aren't ya cousin?"
Foster sighed deeply and reached over and grabbed one of the bags and was shocked by how light it was. He stared at it as he untied the cotton cord that held it closed and peered inside and whispered, "Hell fire…"
It was filled, completely with hundreds, perhaps thousands of perfect honeysuckle blooms. The scent that wafted out of the bag was intoxicating and try as he might, the only reaction Foster was able to muster was laughter.
"The wine didn't last very long." Njal said, sounding rather sad. "I figured if you got it started as soon as you got home, it would be drinkable by the time y'all came back… Am I wrong?"
Foster shook his head. "No, you're not wrong but you see I have at least…"
Njal interrupted him. "And we had a dozen or more of the kids scouring the whole damned mountain for those. There ain't a honeysuckle blossom left on all of Halfsong Mountain, so you refusing to do it might be considered some kind of sacrilege, what do you think, Sky Hair?"
Sky Hair hid her mouth behind her hand to disguise her laughter and nodded as seriously as she could manage. "Oh yes, of course. A very slap in the face of tradition if you ask me." Then she leaned out and patted Foster on the shoulder.
"So, just to be safe, you should probably go ahead and make that batch. Don't want to conjure any bad luck or ill feeling from the mountain, you know?"
Lidia started to giggle and Foster shook his finger at her. "Don't you laugh missy. You know who is helping me get this monster batch of wine going TONIGHT when we get back to my place?"
Lidia instantly stopped laughing and her mouth fell open and Foster burst out laughing. "Welcome to the clan." But then he pointed at her again. "I meant every word though. We are going to have that in the bucket before we see sleep tonight."
Lidia sighed and shrugged and then nodded her head. "Yes Chieftain sir."
The burst of laughter that came from those gathered was a roar and soon Foster and Lidia had both joined in.
By the time it had finally died away they all knew it was time and one by one they began hugging each of those and saying their farewells.
Knut took a long time releasing Lidia but when he finally did he kissed her lightly on the cheek and signed, "I'll be waiting."
Lidia choked back her tears and nodded, saying to him quietly, "I'll be back. Soon as I can. I promise."
Njal embraced his cousin and Foster told him as they stood there. "Hold it together for a couple of months, like you always do and when we get back, we'll start things moving. I love you my brother."
"I love you too. Be safe down there and don't let your guard down. You spent a lot of time down there, but this is your home."
Justice grabbed Foster one last time before he went to climb into the truck and poked him in the ribs. She whispered in his ear. "My womanly wiles says it's gonna be a cold winter up here. Get your ass back here to keep me warm. I don't want to have to find me another blanket or another man."
He squeezed her extra tight and whispered back. "You won't need either my Love."
"See that I don't."
Lidia climbed into the truck and as Foster turned to do the same he was greeted by Knut who stood vast and silent before him. He wasn't signing but his face told the story.
Foster reached up and put a hand on the young giant's shoulder. "I'll protect her with my life and she isn't the little weak princess either. I'll bring her back here to you before the first snows fly."
Knut touched his forehead to Foster's and nodded solemnly.
Foster swung up into the truck, pumped the gas pedal and turned the key and the big V-8 snarled to life and fell quickly into a smooth rhythm.
When he put the truck into gear, the crowd around them parted and let them pass.
Foster drove in a big circle and pointed the truck into the barely there road that led down to the river and back to the world.
As they crawled down the mountain, they would catch glimpses of members of the flock standing in the dappled sunlight of the forest with their hands raised.
Foster watched out of the corner of his eye as Lidia wiped tears from her cheeks and at one point he reached over and squeezed her hand and said softly. "Soon. Soon we'll be back here."
"I know…"
As they rounded the curve toward the river crossing Foster stopped the big truck and stared. Lidia looked forward to see what had stopped him and there about ten yards down the road stood a buck, massive and powerful, its antlers still covered in summer velvet.
It snorted twice, pawed at the earth with one of its coal black hooves and then bowed its head low once before leaping off of the road and disappearing into the undergrowth.
Foster eased the truck forward and Lidia called out in the direction that the buck had gone. "Thank you Tass. We'll miss you too."
~
Just after dark Foster decided that they should stop for gas and a bathroom break even though they only had an hour or so to go until they reached home.
As Foster filled the tank, Lidia went in and used the ladies room and as she was walking out she paused to look in the coolers at the rows and rows of beverages, but after her time on the mountain, nothing there appealed to her in the slightest and so she decided to skip buying anything.
As she turned to go she accidently bumped into someone that was walking toward the restrooms and nearly knocked them into one of the displays of chips. She caught her balance and reached out for the person, but he was already righting himself and moving on his way.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I didn't even see you there. Are you alright?"
The man, of average height was wearing a gray military style jacket with the hood up and she caught just a brief glimpse of pale freckled skin and a flash of ginger hair before he walked on.
As he rounded the corner into the hallway leading toward the bathrooms he called back, "Lidia Elkins, you look after yourself now darlin'." And then he was gone.
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The End.
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Now this is the end of this particular saga, but next week there will be more to it, but you will have to tune in to find out exactly what I am talking about. For now though, I want to thank you for joining me on this amazing journey that is in itself, merely a beginning.
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2022 Lance Cheuvront
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