As they arrived back at the village they were met by the villagers. All were amazed by the size of the kill. There would be plenty of meat for everyone for a long time to come. Mara scanned the hills looking for her beloved Hulderic. It was only when all the hunters were looking downcast that she suspected that there was something wrong. When she was told her cries echoed throughout the village. Many of the villagers joined her in her grief.

Still life did have to go on an there was a kill to skin and gut and prepare to smoke. Ermentrud, Gerhild and Heinrike were the three women whose position in the village consisted of preparing the kill when it was brought back. They were so experienced that they could do in an hour what would take five men two hours to do.

Quickly they prepared their instruments and began to skin the Schlange. in half an hour they had managed to completely skin it. Next they would gut it before cutting it into smaller more manageable portions. Then it would be passed on to the smokers. Deftly they slit the Schlange from head to tail and began to open it.

Their screams could be heard throughout the village and people came running from everywhere to see what the commotion was all about. None could believe their eyes and each looked to the other for confirmation. Yes it was true. Even Mara came to see what was happening and when she saw she almost fainted.

There on the ground trying to slowly raise himself to his knees was Hulderic. It was Hulderic but he was bleached white as a ghost and even his blond hair was snow white but apart from that he seemed to be fine. Mara rushed to his side and wept as she hugged him. There was joy throughout the village and there would be stories told for years as to how Hulderic cheated death. That night there was feasting like there had not been for years.