It had been a long cold winter with families huddled in the cave. Dum and his friend Grunt hunted animals and the women caught fish so they survived. Grunt liked his spear but it had to be sharpened, so he asked Dum for some flint chips. He had none suitable so they went the forest again to search for more.
The forest was not so dark in winter with the leaves fallen and the streams flowing strongly and noises heard more clearly. Then all of a sudden there was a rustle and a snort as a wild boar rushed toward them. Grunt threw his spear which just reflected from its back as Dum stood his ground as the pig charged at him. Dum then raised his axe and brought it down on the pigs head and fell sideways to avoid the animal.
Grunt watched with amazement as the boar kept going then suddenly collapsed some way from them. So he rushed up to it to make sure it was dead. It was; and although not fat it would feed the cave people for a few days. Dum pointed to the tusks and said perhaps they might make good spear heads or their woman might like to use the curved ones as an ornament.
Grunt hadn't seen that far ahead but Dum knew the women would be pleased that the men thought of them while they were hunting. Spring was now coming and Yum's mood would change and he knew she would wash herself again soon after the privations of winter!
264 words
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Another fascinating episode. I had to grin at the last sentence.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you set the scene, Robin, with the families huddled in the cave, and I was so taken in with the description of the forest in the second paragraph, I jumped at the wild boar! What a piece of luck, to be able to feed the cave people for a few days – and the genius idea to use the tusks as spear heads. The final sentence made me smile too – it must have been smelly in that cave!
ReplyDeleteSurvival, and how naturally instincts flow. Another nice episode
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday
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much love...
Enjoying the episode!
ReplyDeleteperhaps that's really how our ancestors lived...
A feast and a bath, I think, is upon them!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Grunt could use the tusk to sharpen his spear.
ReplyDeleteOur Museum of History has a scene of a caveman family. I think of it when I read your tale! You depict it all so well.
ReplyDeleteYou know, my dear Robin, you are the most romantic of romantics. Hunting for food has been a necessary but sad business. The thought of using all the animal has to offer, and seeing the hunter think of his lady, add a hint of humanity and, yes, romance to the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteFresh and clean, smelling sweet ~~~ oh, I know what means.
ReplyDeleteLol. I doubt the smells deterred them. A fun write.
ReplyDelete