The tree trembled is the morning sun as Eoin reached the upper branches, each step shaking the ancient boughs like they were caught in a strong spring wind. As he broke free of the dense forest canopy Eoin surveyed the vast rolling landscape of the valley. The sun had set three times since he arrived and he employed the majority of the daylight hours exploring the flourishing land around the quiet river. Eoin held his hand up to shade his eyes from the sun, in the distance he could see a dust cloud rising from over the hills to the north. Whatever it was it was a long ways off, perhaps a stampede or just the wind rushing across dry ground, either way it did not concern him. Meticulously he has studied the land and prepared supplies for a return trip to his village. The valley will be an ideal place to move his family, if even for a short time, till the drought passes. Making mental notes of key landmarks and resources Eoin shimmied back down the tree to the thick underbrush below.
The smoke from his crude smokehouse filtered softly into the warm summer breeze, drifting across the river and up over the hills across the dismal plains. He carefully cut thin strips of meat from latest kill, a small boar, and hung them upon the sticks that crossed through the sod covered tepee he was using to cure the flesh. He tossed some green leaves and wood chips onto the coals and thick white clouds of smoke billowed up enveloping the meat. While the meat cured Eoin set his focus upon a litter he had made from some long branches and the deer's hide. He would have preferred to properly tan the hide but that could take time he did not have if he was going to retrieve his family before they succumb to starvation.
Eoin spent the rest of the day preparing for his trip, he had made two new water-skins from the bladders of the deer and boar. He counted on this being enough for his trip home and then back to the valley. He labored long into the night ceaselessly, taking only but a moment to relieve himself behind a nearby tree. His work completed he lay down on his soft leaf bed to rest for a few hours before the sun rose. In a few moments, under the twin moons dim light, Eoin was asleep.
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