Now that winter is here, Talia can't help but worry about the future of her family. The two little huts they built after the fire have lasted them through the Autumn, but they are a big family, and end up tripping over each other with so little room inside. As the weather gets colder, the children spend more and more time indoors and the lack of space is getting more obvious.
But later that day, while walking the boundary of the village, she comes across some kind of ancient artefact. A gift from the gods maybe? Have they heard her prayers and cries for help?
And when she rubs the golden object, a purple figure unlike anything she's seen before bursts out in a cloud of sparkly smoke. To begin with she cowers in fear, but the figure assures her that he is here to help - to give her three things that her heart desires.
What a question to ask her. She gives it much thought. To begin with, she wonders about asking this minor deity to bring back Storm. Surely that would be an easy task for such a powerful being? But perhaps that is a selfish request. She would be tearing Storm away from his rest... and for what? To struggle through the winter and watch his children suffer?
No, she has to think of the future, of the future of her children and the future of her tribe. Firstly, they will need a strong leader. So she prays for a strong will and mind - the resilience needed to guide her people. Secondly, she will need to protect her children. So she prays for the ability to guard them from the powers of death. And thirdly, they will need a warm and spacious home for the winter. So she prays for the means to build.
The deity tells her it is done and grants her lifelong peace of mind, the power to defeat death, and the resources to build. As then, as quickly as he appeared.... he is gone, taking the artefact with him.
With the stone and wood that the deity provided, the tribe sets to work. Maybe it is the lasting power of the gods, but the work passes easily, and in no time at all, they have a longhouse - strong, sturdy and warm.
The central fireplace not only warms the home but also provides room to cook. And Talia also sents up a small workspace where she can experiment with making clay pots and plates to sell to passing traders.
And just in time, because the first snow of winter starts to fall. After the endless summer since time began, this is a new and confusing moment for the tribe.
Rabbit sets to work making the last of the preparations for winter... keeping the fire going...
Bringing in the meat of the last hunt...
And collecting the last fruits of the family vegetable patch.
And at last the family are prepared to snuggle down for the winter.
But when the family are all asleep, a thief appears, lured by this new longhouse and potential treasures within.
Rabbit confronts the stranger...
Risking his life to defend the tribe.
and thankfully all of that axe throwing and chopping has paid off and he is able to defeat the would-be raider, sending them fleeing empty-handed into the night.
