But Ila felt a new urgency in the air. Their time was running out, and they all knew it. The storm would be here soon. One day Noah sent Ham and Japheth into the woods to collect kindling. Ila helped Naameh stir hot tar so Shem could lay it on the Ark. As they worked, Ila noticed Naameh glance toward the woods several times “Are you worried about the boys?” Ila finally asked her. Naameh nodded. “They should have returned by now. They have been gone for a long time.” “Perhaps they are playing a game or chasing deer,” Ila reassured her. “I’m sure they will return soon.” Soon Ila headed into the woods herself to collect buckets she had hung on trees for sap. Just then Japheth burst through the trees, racing toward the clearing. He was alone. “Father! Father!” he yelled. Noah looked up from where he was helping the Watchers stack firewood. “A huge man came to us in the woods!” Japheth’s words tumbled out. “He has battle scars everywhere, and there were warlords and families with him.
