Morning Sun rose from the mountains in the east, shining over the glittering Great Deer Moss River, and lighting up the broad, sprawling camp along the riverbank as well. The brutal, savage slaughter from two days ago, that dark-red, congealed ice-blood, had all been covered by the newly fallen white snow.
Wisps of cooking smoke rose from the camp that had changed masters, and everywhere were busy hunters, tribespeople, and captives. The vast herds of deer circled the outside of the camp. They lowered their heads docilely, rooting aside the thick snow, quietly eating the damp, icy moss, as if nothing had ever happened.
"Zuwaro! My son-in-law, the weather is getting colder and colder, and there's more and more wind and snow. Counting the days now, the real great blizzard won't be far off! We're not planning to winter here. We'll take all the gains and return to the warmer mountain camp farther south... Right now, the hunters are packing up supplies and taking down the tents. We'll drive the dogs, the deer herds, the tents, and the sleds, and take all the captives south..."
Hunting Captain Mu Quan frowned slightly. Looking at Zuwaro's grave expression, he asked in a deep voice, "Ancestors witness! Are you really going to take men north at a time like this? Before the great blizzard comes, you want to go to the snowfields and coasts occupied by the Deer Tribe and look for some big ship by the sea? With so many captives and deer herds, the Tribal Hunters in the camp are rather tense..."
"Main God bless us! Mu, you know it. Mu Tu has returned from the north with the hunters who were capturing prisoners and keeping watch. They routed a group of Deer Tribe hunters who had come as reinforcements, and