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  CHAPTER 12 – A NEW HOME

  The next morning Angelica reappeared dragging a large rabbit. She presented it to Soren who slung it gratefully over his shoulder. It would make a fine meal when they stopped to make camp. Angelica seemed impatient to be off. Soren was too. He rounded up his people and urged them to get going.

  It proved to be a difficult day’s journey and they had to rest frequently. Instead of choosing the low ground along the river, Angelica seemed determined to take them up and over the hills. The weak and weary people panted over the steep terrain, but Angelica never wavered in her resolve to climb higher still. On and up they continued, eventually reaching the peak of a small mountain.

  As they reached the summit, another taller mountain loomed on the horizon. The people were tired and a bit disillusioned. Soren let them rest for a while. Some of the stronger young men chose to scout the area while the others rested. No fewer than three of them returned with freshly killed game. Angelica had run down another rabbit and Aric had speared it. His father had killed a hare. Another hunter brought in an elderly deer.

  The tribe erupted in jubilation when the hunting party returned. The pickings of this unfamiliar mountainous terrain were rich. Their spirits were rejuvenated by the prospect of a good meal. However, Soren would not allow them to cook and eat the game there and then. He could see that Angelica was eager to press on.

  On they trudged over the cold white landscape, heading for the distant blue mountain, climbing higher and higher. By evening though, they were exhausted and they seemed no closer to it than they had been at midday.

  They were eager to eat and Soren decided to camp for the night under the shelter of some stunted trees. The men butchered the freshly killed game and the women turned it into the most mouth-watering meal any of them had ever had. The aroma of roasting venison filled the air. Everyone waited in eager anticipation for their share of the meat. That night the tribe feasted and celebrated. The weather was mild and even quite pleasant for a change. Things were getting better and better.

  In the morning, though, it started snowing, but only lightly. Soren saw fit to press on towards the distant mountain to which Angelica seemed to be leading them. As the morning wore on, the snow stopped and the way grew clearer. The tribe could now see that it wasn’t just one mountain but a whole range they were heading for. Slowly the little band of people wound their way up into the snowy mountains following the cat as she lead them ever onwards and upwards.

  Day after day they continued. The land grew steeper all the time. Sometimes it snowed lightly but the weather was never so bad that it hindered their progress too much. At least there was meat to be hunted in this strange and unfamiliar territory. There were not many animals, but to the tribe, which had been, so deprived of meat for such a long time, it was abundance. Nobody went to sleep hungry these days, a little cold maybe, but definitely not hungry.

  There was a growing sense of excitement and anticipation in the tribe as they conquered the mountains one after the other. Although the terrain was getting tougher, the weather seemed to be vastly improved and animals were becoming more and more abundant.

  The tribe had been travelling for nine days and were camped just short of the summit of the tallest mountain yet. Aric sat by the fire with Angelica in his lap, listening to the stories of the elders who, although weary and footsore, were eagerly optimistic and quite rejuvenated by the rich pickings of late. They told tales of great hunts from the time of their youth. They spoke of journeys they had made to find new territory and new hunting grounds. All of them agreed, though, that none of the adventures they had had compared to this great journey South through the mountains! Instead of being exhausted by the trip the old men seemed to have been invigorated. Eventually drowsiness caught up with Aric. He pulled his fur blanket over himself and Angelica and drifted comfortably off to sleep, dreaming again of the beautiful valley.

  On the following day, the sun rose gloriously over the mountains. It was going to be a beautiful day. As always, Angelica was impatient, eager to get going. She nipped ankles and shot out her paw, raking gently at calves and shins here and there, urging her tribe to hurry up. By mid-morning, Angelica, Aric and Soren were the first ones on the summit. What they saw took their breath away.

  CHAPTER 13 – THE GREAT HUNT

  “My valley,” sighed Aric in wonder. “It’s the valley I keep dreaming about. It’s real! Angelica must have given me those beautiful dreams,” yelled Aric with excitement. “It is exactly as I dreamt it. She knew! She knew all along! That’s why she brought us here. She tried to show it to me in my dreams.”

  The weary travellers had reached the end of their long, perilous journey. They were on the edge of a vast escarpment, and stretching before them rolled the meadows and plains of the great valley teeming with game of every description. Soren sat down with a thump. His legs did not seem able to hold him up. As leader of the tribe it had been his responsibility to ensure their survival. He had chosen to have faith in the boy and his cat and the gamble had paid off. Everyone would survive now. He felt tears of relief welling up in his eyes as the burden lifted from his shoulders.

  There was not even snow on this side of the mountains. This pocket of land seemed to be protected from the bad weather by the arc of high mountains that surrounded it. Cascading down the side of the mountains to the west was a raging waterfall. It fell into a pool at the base of the mountain and meandered off in a river across the plains and into the distance. This lush, fertile island in the snowy wastelands seemed to be the haven that all the animals had fled to.

  It took the tribe a long time to find a secure path down into the valley below. They had to move carefully down steep, treacherous gulleys. On the morning of the eleventh day, everyone was finally, safely down on level ground.

  The men split up into small parties to scout the area for a suitable place to build their new homes. It was decided that the shores of the little lake at the base of the waterfall would be the best place to live. There were huge shelves of rock jutting out which would form fine shelters under which to build houses.

  They would plan a hunt during the next few days and the bones and hides from the mammoths they would kill would provide the materials they needed to construct their new homes. On the far end of the plains, the river disappeared into a thick stand of forest from which they would cut branches for support structures and for firewood. Every detail of their first mammoth hunt in their new land was meticulously planned. The whole tribe would participate.

  The day of the great mammoth hunt dawned. The scouts were back, reporting that the mammoth herd was in its usual place, gorging on the rich pickings of a little meadow at the entrance to a narrow ravine. The boulder team left to take up their positions and to check that all the carefully manoeuvred boulders were still in position on the rocky ledge at the narrowest part of the ravine. It had been very hard work to roll and lever those huge rocks into place. All of the men and boys had helped and so had the stronger women. The boulders were delicately balanced just at the lip and now needed only a firm push to topple them over the edge.

  The torch team checked their torches once more. They made sure they each had a glowing ember and enough fine kindling to start a flame and light the torches at a moment’s notice. They practised the drill one more time. Soren was satisfied that they would all act in unison when the time came to light the torches. He personally checked the weapons of each of his spear throwers. Aric stood among them, bursting with pride. He was the youngest to have been chosen for this most dangerous task of all.

  Brin glared at him. The torch he held seemed so pathetic compared to Aric’s mighty spear. Aric was quick and agile and his throw was accurate. Soren had chosen him because his spear had hit its target more consistently than that of any other hunter during the practices. Brin was envious and hungry for revenge.

  At last, Soren gave the signal and led his team into their extremely dangerous adventure. The oldest people and the younges
t children were safely tucked away under one of the rocky ledges out of harm’s way. All hands would be needed to process the meat and hides once the kill had been made, but for now, they had to stay out of danger.

  The mammoths had become used to the people in their territory over the last few days and did not react with alarm when they smelt their scent. Closer and closer the people crept keeping low in the thick grass. The atmosphere was tense; everyone fully aware that this could be their last day if something went wrong. Hunting mammoths was the most dangerous thing a tribe could do and most of the time there was a serious price to pay for the benefit of mammoth meat. Any one of them could be seriously injured or killed by a stampeding mountain of flesh.

  They waited, tense, crouching in their positions and ready. Aric’s heart pounded in his ears. He feared for Angelica beside him. She was so small but she had refused to stay with the children, no matter how much he shooed her away. Soren’s left arm shot up and pointed forward. All at once everyone started shouting. In an instant the torches were ablaze and the tribe in unison started running towards the herd making as much noise as they could. The children who had been deemed old enough to join the hunt hung back as instructed but beat sticks together and screamed at the top of their shrill voices, while the adults advanced with their blazing torches and their spears.

  The mammoths panicked and ran for the shelter of the ravine, all except the old cow who led the herd. She turned and bravely faced her attackers, defending her herd. Soren’s heart sank. He had hoped this would not happen. He hoped she would run and lead from the front, but she was brave and acted exactly as he would have done if his tribe was attacked.

  The herd trumpeted in anxiety, pouring into the ravine through its narrow entrance. The boulder team let them pass one by one, waiting for the old bull with the limp and the huge tusks. They hoped he would be the last one in and the easiest target. He appeared as expected but there were others behind him. In an instant, Elya, the leader of the boulder team made a decision and gave the signal. As one, the six heavy boulders toppled from the cliff top, bouncing on the ravine walls. One landed squarely on the back of the old bull, breaking his spine and killing him instantly. Another thudded into the shoulder of a young cow. She toppled over screaming. With the way now blocked, the remaining four mammoths turned and charged wildly back into the meadow joining their leader. People scattered in all directions looking for cover.

  In the chaos, Soren managed to rally his hunters and gave the signal to target the largest bull. Spears flew and thudded into his thick hide. One lodged just behind his flapping ear. Patches of grass had caught alight where torches had been dropped and that added to the chaos. Three of the mammoths escaped past the attacking people and the flames and fled out onto the safety of the plains. They rejoined the rest of their herd which had managed to scramble out of the top end of the ravine and were now headed for the safety of the forest at the far end of the huge valley.

  The pain-crazed bull and his leader charged at the hunters. They were heading straight for Isthan. He had launched all three of his spears and was weaponless. Aric felt his mouth go dry with fear for the safety of his father. He cut straight into the path of the charging beasts. They turned on him as their new target. Another volley of spears flew. The leader took a direct hit into her right flank. She screamed in pain and fell onto her haunches, the weight of her body breaking off the shaft of the spear. In agony she rose back onto her feet and limped off after her scattered herd trying to rally them.

  The large bull was almost upon Aric who carefully took aim with his last spear, waiting for the bull to be almost within touching distance. It opened its cavernous mouth and trumpeted in fury. Aric threw his final spear with all his might. It flew straight into the animal’s mouth lodging in its throat. A fountain of blood erupted and sprayed over Aric. The animal toppled beside him, choking, its massive leg splaying out and knocking him over. It swung its huge hairy head, aiming for him with its massive tusks. In slow motion Aric saw the dirty ivory tusk coming straight at his belly. He was on his back and he knew he would not be able to roll away or get up in time. So this is how it would end; this was to be his last moment.

  CHAPTER 14 – NEW BEGINNINGS

  At that instant, a ball of grey fury launched itself at the gigantic head and tore at the eye of the beast altering its motion. The heavy tusk slammed into the ground embedding itself deeply in the soft earth, grazing Aric’s side as it went. A trickle of blood appeared under Aric’s ribs where the sharp tip of the tusk had grazed him. Isthan was upon the beast, whipping out his flint knife, hacking deeply into its throat. A leg lashed out at him. Isthan’s shin snapped with a sharp crack.

  Meanwhile Angelica had attacked the other eye. The blinded beast thrashed about then finally lay still, its lifeblood draining away. Aric and his fellow hunters carried the injured Isthan out of harm’s way.

  Soren took stock of the situation. They would have been satisfied with the elderly limping bull. The cow which had taken the blow on the shoulder was still alive and had to be finished off. It would be an easy task, though, as she was barely conscious. The bull with the huge tusks was an even greater prize.

  The tribe had suffered relatively little injury. No-one had been killed. Isthan had a broken limb but the medicine woman was already attending to it. She was very skilled and had mended many a broken limb in her long years of experience. Soren was confident that although Isthan would never be able to hunt again, he would still be able to walk when the bone had healed. He would be more useful to the tribe as a tool and weapon maker now that game was so plentiful. It would be to everyone’s benefit if Isthan passed his days practising his considerable skill in shaping flint, bone and wood for tools and weapons.

  One of the older women had fallen and hurt her arm. The medicine woman declared that it was not broken and would heal if kept tied up immobile in a sling for a few weeks. A young girl had burned her hand quite badly when fat from her torch had spilled out. It too would heal in time as long as she kept it clean and covered. Other than bruises and scratches to various tribe members, there were Aric’s exposed ribs. The medicine woman had plugged the wound with a special poultice of herbs and leaves she had found growing near their camp. He would always bear the scar of that wound, but he would no doubt wear it with pride.

  It took the tribe a long time to process all the meat and hides. Even the smallest children were kept busy. They had to help the old people guard the racks of drying meat and fend off the scavengers. Angelica played an invaluable role spotting thieving crows and rats and alerting the young ones who then pelted the thieves with a shower of stones. Older boys and girls armed with clubs were constantly on the alert for bigger thieves like foxes and ferrets.

  The adults worked and scraped the hides, preparing them for use in the building of shelters. Teams were sent to the forest to gather wood for fires and to cut branches with Isthan’s sharp hand axes for building shelters. The bones and tusks were cleaned, the hair collected and carefully stored for later use. Huge slabs of fat were processed for use in lamps and torches and for preserving fruit and grains. Eventually all the meat was dried or smoked and carefully wrapped and stored in the pits that had been dug for this purpose. A row of fine new houses made from wood, bone and hides nestled under the shelter of the rock overhangs.

  After many weeks, at last Soren was satisfied that the work was done and it was time to hold the ceremony of thanks. The tribe worked hard the whole day cooking and preparing for the ceremony which would be held at sunset. The wonderful aroma of roasting meat and herbs filled the air all afternoon. They dressed up in their fine new clothing. Carefully they painted each other’s faces with pastes made from blood and plant juices. The medicine woman had brewed a special concoction of rare herbs and roots.

  At last, it was time. Soren passed around the wooden bowl containing the potion. Each tribe member took a sip of the pungent fluid. Even Angelica lapped up a small mouthful but drew back her lips in disgust
after she had swallowed it.

  One of the elders stepped forward with his collection of bowls and brushes. He had been working all day making the brushes from mammoth hair and frayed reeds. He had checked and rechecked his paints, until he was satisfied that the shades were just right, adding a pinch of ground ochre here, and a dash of berry juice there. He now stepped up to the bare rock wall of the largest overhang where they were all gathered. He swept his brushes masterfully across his blank canvas and the forms of three great mammoths began to materialize. The tribe watched in awe as he manifested his talent, and nodded their approval when the unmistakeable shape of a small grey cat appeared on the head of the larger bull. Angelica had been accepted, and her brave deeds would be remembered in the stories the elders told each new generation.

  Finally, he was done. Soren stepped forward and solemnly thanked the great mother earth for her bounty. As they had done for thousands of years, the ancient people worshipped the earth. They had made clay statues representing mother earth. Soren thanked the spirits of the mammoths who had sacrificed their lives so that the tribe might live, and he wished them well on their journey to the world beyond the sky. One by one, each tribe member stepped forward and made their own solemn prayer of thanks to the earth and to the spirits of the animals.

  The formalities over, the feast began in earnest. The tribe danced and sang. They gorged themselves on the good food, celebrating their good fortune. The festivities and revelry continued until late into the night.

  When everyone had settled down in a mellow mood, their bellies full, Soren became all solemn as he usually did when he had something important to say. He cleared his throat and addressed his people, “I would like to commend you all on your bravery and hard work during the mammoth hunt, particularly those of you who took huge risks for the benefit of the tribe. As you all know, at the start of this winter, we were in a precarious position. I feared that we would not survive the winter and in all likelihood, that would have been the case had it not been for one brave young man who against all odds followed his heart. We all ridiculed him for his belief that Angelica was sent to lead us from our dreadful fate. Yet, he never wavered in his belief and thanks to him; the special, brave little cat has ensured the survival of us all. We owe our lives to Aric and Angelica.” At the end of Soren’s speech applause broke out all around. The people cheered for Aric and for Angelica, all except Brin.