Erek was a bit better than an average hunter, Lorne and Gorman were passable as well, the three were out hunting with One dog as there escort. The dog smiled as much as he could, he knew he would find his master among these two-legs, he just didn’t know when. He stayed with his pack, this small group felt right to him, he wanted to protect them, even the one no one liked. When the men set off to hunt in one direction he went with them, the One dog watched as the two females went in another direction to hunt, he was torn but decided to stick with the big sad man for now. The weather was clear, the sky was the best blue winter would allow, the breeze was slight and the temperature was bitter. The One dog used his nose to help the men find game, they thanked him with pets and small treats if they had any, it was a nice day, one of the nicest that One dog could remember. The crunch of the snow beneath their feet, the feeling of camaraderie was strong among these men, the One dog was happy
“His farts smell worse than the ass of a menstruating skunk.” Gorman pretended to pinch his nose. That wasn’t why the girls were laughing.“How do you know what the ass of a menstruating skunk smells like?” Asked a puzzled Talia.Everyone burst out laughing, even Talia laughed, although she wasn’t sure why this was funny. Erek snorted the loudest snort that Rollins ever heard, louder than the ones the buffalo make. Gorman blushed, his already rosy cheeks turned redder, he laughed to, eventually. Kaya nearly pissed her pants, she was enjoying the food so much that she didn’t want to get up to pee, now she really had to go. When she got up, she said between laughs, she was going to pee, Rollins went with her. They walked a safe distance from their camp site, even though it was winter, each time they had to relieve themselves and this time was no different. They laughed loudly towards the spot they all used to do their business, they were too comfortable, they were acting careless.She g
She turned and saw the others had gotten to the ones that must die, a big male shot her with arrows, she knew what they were. She had seen the two-leg hunters before, she was curious about them, and so she watched the hunters on several occasions. They used sharpened sticks that flew through the air, they pushed them with another stick into flight through the air. She witnessed some of the two-legs who were extremely accurate with them, she faced one of them now, when he let the second arrow go she turned her back to it. As soon as she turned the dog was there, his teeth were not as sharp as hers were so the dog tore her throat out more than biting it clean through. She fell to the ground, the fight draining out of the hole in her throat, her memories flooded back to her in a flash. Her mate being killed, her killing her cubs before she followed the two-legs, all of the sport kills along the way to the river. That river, she had jumped towards that last rock knowing she would not make
“It has to mean new, like the dawning of a new day.” Said Erek to Kaya, Rollins, and Lorne.“There are a few names that carry that meaning.” Stammered Lorne.“Yeah Erek, I like that thought, he is like the first rays of light to hit the ground. He is such a good baby.” Kaya tickled the little boy until he smiled, she held him in her arms while they spoke.“He is a good little eater to,” Talia reflexively rubbed her breasts, “very good eater indeed, he’ll be big like you Erek, what name where you thinking of?” The healer asked.“Arun, I was thinking of naming him Arun.” The second time he said it out loud he knew it was the right name for his son.“Arun.” It rolled nicely off of Kaya’s lips.Erek didn’t realize how much it mattered to him what Kaya thought, he wanted her to like the name he had chosen, it felt strange to him to want her to like his idea.“Arun it is then.” Said Erek.“Doesn’t Arun mean rebirth?” Asked Rollins.The grip that winter held over the Land was severed as the
The valley they were in was not populated with much game, there were animals there but they were small. The likes of squirrels, rabbit, or pheasant would not feed the entire caravan’s remaining six hundred plus people. The hunters needed deer, elk, and antelope; the bigger game animals were scarce in the early days of spring. The Land was unfriendly to the travelers, they must move or some of the people would starve. If the food was not the problem that it was, the valley would entice the eyes of all who gazed upon it. Lush green grass that the livestock fed on, the trees wore all of their leaves, and the flowers were all in bloom. Talia found a small bouquet on the ground in front of the shelter she shared with Rollins and Kaya, not sure who it was for she took them as her own. The valley was alive with animal life but the travelers still suffered.Rollins knew that the buffalo wouldn’t return until the spring melt was over, in about three more weeks, she also knew about the pass tha
“Now look at that,” Miro pointed to his foot, it was still in the pile of pooh, “spring has given it moisture. I’m going to have to make a new pair of moccasins.”Woorak laughed until he saw the opening in the mountain, “bless Utoo, there is the way Miro. There’s the way.”“You still pray to Utoo? No one in my house prays anymore.”“What are you talking about? Miro, we just found the way east, What difference is it what I believe?”“What?” Oscar had to shake Sir awake, “Oscar, what do you want?”“Um,” Oscar had a handkerchief, “you have some.” He dabbed Rognvald’s mouth.“Would you stop that.” Rognvald flailed his hands at his caretaker.“The way east has been found.”“Wonderful, simply marvelous. Would someone get me a beer.” He yelled.“We still have some work to do Sir.” Oscar already began preparations to move before he told Rognvald, he knew that Sir would want to move right away. When the last two scouts returned with good news, Oscar ordered everything to be made ready to move
The pass through the mountain was going to take time to traverse, the pass was wide and beautiful to behold, and it would take three weeks to get to the other side. The travelers do not look at the mountain with wonder or awe, they remained uncomfortable in the splendor they traveled through. With no knowledge that would let the travelers understand how this pass was created, nervous trepidation was common while they spent the next three weeks between the mountain. Large vultures perched on craggy cliffs; they menaced the travelers from their high vantage point. Small mammals lived in this place, nothing bigger than a badger, the largest land predator here was the fox. The only things bigger than the vultures here were the eagles, vultures were a meter and a half tall with a wing span of not quite two meters, the vultures were large enough to grab a small child and still get back in the air. The golden mountain eagles were two and a half meters tall, when full grown, the had a three m
Everyone enjoyed the rest they had been afforded, Rollins caught up with the caravan, she had brought a fresh kill in with her, a ninety kilo doe. She set up her own tent next to Kaya’s cart, Kaya had since made her own tent which she shared with Talia. The One dog still stunk up the men’s tent every night. Erek and Kaya had gotten closer, they laughed more and there were more friendly touches between them, Talia noticed. Erek liked Kaya but she was nearly twelve years younger than he was, but he liked it when she touched him, and she was becoming a good leader. More of the travelers took her seriously now, even after Rollins returned and the Blue eye stigma came with her. Kaya dismissed everything by saying, “Rollins was not with you when any of the misfortune you went through happened.” It usually shut people up. Rollins had noticed Erek to, noticed how he had moved in on Kaya while she was gone, that made her predatory instincts kick in. “Why is he touching you?” Rollins asked Kay