Wednesday's Words on a Friday

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over by a moveable feast of participants when Delores had computer troubles.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write, a story, a poem, whatever comes to mind.
If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along and read it.

This month the words are supplied by Delores and can be found here.

This week's words are:

1. clan
2. hoary
3. pretend
4. sponge
5. destruction
6. bones

and/or:

1. blank
2. transient
3. indulge
4. train
5. gooseberries
6. painful

Here is my story:

 The clan trudged wearily onwards, along a narrow path lined on both sides with thick thistles, hoary with frost. There was no chatter now, no more laughter from the children. No one could even pretend to be happy, the painful sorrow of the destruction had settled into their very bones.
The winter earthquake had destroyed everything; as the people grabbed what they could and scrambled to safety, cliffs and caves had collapsed. Cooking stones, sleeping furs, all buried.

The clan was once again transient, not stopping for more than one night at a time as they searched for a new home.
Blank faces occasionally showed the tracks of tears as they indulged trains of thought, memories of those lost beneath mountains crushed into rubble. 

By midday on the fourth day, they reached a thicket of wild gooseberries which they picked and ate until they were stuffed. a few of the children began to chatter, full bellies loosening tongues and laughter was heard.
As the weak noon sun broke through the clouds, they turned their faces upwards, soaking in the meagre warmth like sponges.