The early morning light seeped through the thick cloud cover and turned everything dull and gray. The clouds hung so close to the earth that Tomlin felt she could almost reach up and run her fingers through them. The milky sunlight did nothing to improve her mood.
At least it was enough light to see by. She followed the old path, the only path out of the village, before clambering over the Sitting Rock by the last hut. She had a way to go before reaching her favorite fishing spot, and she hoped to make it there before anyone else did this morning. It wasn't a very good time of year for fishing, anyway, but Tomlin had never liked gathering lichen and she had spent three days in her sister's tiny hut helping raise babies, and she couldn't take anymore.
So she had slipped out before any of her sisters or her nieces could wake up. It wouldn't take them very long to realize she'd gone fishing but at least she'd have a day spent in relative peace, until she returned and gave her sister a chance to yell at her.
Tomlin sighed and continued to cut her way across the tundra. It was a cold morning, for summer. She wished the clouds would blow over, instead of hanging over her head all day. But she knew she couldn't be surprised. Whenever she escaped, nature seemed to conspire against her. The sun would disappear. It would rain. Or it would be windy. In any case: the weather would be especially miserable for her. And the day after the sun always shone, the clouds disappeared, and the wind died.
She reached her favorite spot without a problem and settled herself into a comfortable position on the rocks by the little river. She had been fishing for an hour or so when she heard a shout.
Zurna left the family tent early that morning, her twin nieces in tow. The girls were not awake enough to be their exuberant selves yet and allowed their young aunt to say her prayers in peace before starting the new day.
Cara danced about ahead, while Aliyah clung tightly to her aunt's warm hand. "Where are we going, Aunt Z?" Aliyah asked quietly. Up ahead Cara stopped her prancing to listen.
"We are going to gather some more peat for the fire," Zurna replied ruffling the youngster's hair. "Maybe if we have time after, I will teach you how to catch a fish."
Cara cheered jumping around in circles. Arriving at the stream, Zurna rolled up her sleeves and began teaching the girls how to collect and drain the moss. The trio worked hard, laughing and talking about daily life. It was the simple things that always made the day seem not so long and trying.
The twins were fascinated by every little animal and insect they encounter, asking question after question. Zurna humored them, catching critters and telling them stories about them. Finally, the trio finished their collecting and began to head further downstream where the fish tended to congregate. When they were nearly there, Zurna slipped on the wet moss and fell waist deep into the sludge of marsh water. Startled the twins cried out worriedly for their aunt.
Zurna fought between calming the twins down and pulling herself out. But, the more she struggled the more stuck she got. The cold wet of the marsh was holding her tightly in its grasp. 'There goes another load of moss,' she thought morosely as she looked at the sinking bundle she had dropped. "It's alright girls, just stay there and I will be out in a second," she tried soothing them. 'Just as soon as I figure out how.'