The Young Men Learn to Ride

Tohma and the neighboring youths learn Van’s methods, transforming an unfamiliar herd into a shared project and passing on a tradition shaped by observation.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Difficult Beginning

Lessons in the Forest Fear gives way to attention Tohma and Kiya’s nephews follow Van in silence, uncertain of the stern stranger. Van teaches them to watch the herd rather than force it into submission. Yuna breaks the tension When Yuna returns with berries filling her mouth and even her nostril, the adults laugh together. The incident makes Van seem less forbidding and gives the young men permission to relax.

Watching Tsupi Calve

Learning by Witness A successful birth The youths watch Tsupi bear twin fawns and see the newborns struggle to stand and find milk. Van lets them observe rather than interfere. Knowledge becomes shared The sight turns breeding from an abstract hope into a practical skill. Their excitement binds the group to the herd and to one another.

Choosing a Future Mount

Judgment Passed On Chida notices a difference Asked which fawn to raise, Chida chooses the secondborn because it walks faster. Van confirms that its stronger posture suggests greater suitability as a mount. Confidence grows The youths learn that good judgment comes from careful observation. Van’s knowledge is no longer only his own; it begins to live in the next generation.

The first summer in Oki

Early summer

Later in the same summer