Chapter 15: Of Punishment & A New Leader

Despite what Iega had told me concerning Broc's location and the estimated time of his return, Sheel thought it best to continue with the lookout schedule both day and night. But, now having five hunters as opposed to three (Treeya and Martreen were now considered hunters) and a few other clans women trained in the use of thrusting spears the schedule that night was very light for the five of us.

Sheel modified the hunter's schedule so that only one of us was out on guard at any given time, patrolling from lookout point to lookout point. This left me alone with three out of the four most beautiful, sexy women under the Earth Mother most of that night. In order to keep our minds away from the distasteful subject of Broc, we talked about more generalized things such as, long-term food storage, and my plans of finding a cave to winter in, rather than a long hut. We laughed, joked and generally had a good time.

Then while Roya was out on patrol, and just before I was scheduled to relieve her, Treeya excused herself, telling us she had something to take care of. She left, then soon after, I went to relieve Roya.

I found Roya, gave her a kiss then just above a whisper she said, "There's something you've got to see Dac. See that small traveling hut over there?" She pointed out a hut I had seen several times before. The hut was nothing more or less than any of the other traveling huts in the camp.

"Yes. What about it?" I asked looking in the direction that she was pointing.

"Walk around the back and look inside. There's something you need to see. I'll wait out here. Okay?" Roya told me giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"Okay." I answered shrugging my shoulders.

As I approached the rear of the hut I heard the sound of water splashing coming from inside. I cautiously edged in the direction of the sound and peered inside. The hut covering had a small split in its seam, affording a clear view of the inside. And what a view it was! Inside I could clearly see Treeya, washing herself out of two large bowls of water, her naked skin displayed goose pimples caused by the cold water. She was washing her hair, the suds running down her back into the valley formed by the perfect orbs of her ass. She rinsed her hair, picked up the soap and proceeded to wash her long curvaceous body. She reached down to soap up her long shapely legs giving me a clear view of her exposed womanhood, smooth, with a thin covering of downy orangey-red pubic floss over her mound, her labia blooming forth like the pink petals of a young flower. She put her hand holding the soap behind her body rubbing it over her ass. I could just make out the small rosebud of her anus. Then she soaped up both her hands and started to clean her anus, working one of her fingers around the small hole. After giving it a through cleaning, she turned her attention to her vagina, slowly caressing it. As she bent forward to allow easier access to herself I caught a glimpse of her large left breast. My cock fairly jumped in my pants. Then I felt guilty.

I quickly made my way back to where Roya waited and with a little irritation in my voice I ask, "Roya! Why by the Earth Mother would you send me to spy on Treeya?"

Roya laughed, "Don't you see Dac?"

"Yes, I saw. She was washing herself."

"I know that. But don't you get it? She hasn't stopped washing herself ever since she overheard me and Sheel telling Martreen how much you liked us to be clean. That girl is ready for you now Dac. I know she wasn't supposed to be of woman's age until summer, but if you don't do something, I don't think she'll make it to summer. At the very least she won't have any skin left."

"I... I..." I stammered not sure how to respond.

"Don't worry, Sheel and I will help you. Not that you need any help, but it may make Treeya feel a little more comfortable. I don't know, we'll see. I'll see you after patrol my man. Bye." She kissed me then left to go join the other women.

I spent the next two hours going about the business of patrolling moving from post to post and the remainder of my watch passed uneventfully, other than several troubling, negative thoughts concerning me having to kill more men. The dark side of my new mind seems to be a sort of sand pit turned to catch gloomy thoughts from all directions. Being alone with these thoughts made for a bad night. It was as if all the Earth Mother's vindictiveness were concentrated upon me as upon a personal enemy. I was feeling so depressed I forced myself to think about the good things, and by concentrating on them and reaffirming the truth about the pleasant things under the Earth Mother, I was able again to fill my thoughts with the fine and comforting things. I surrounded myself with thoughts of Roya, Sheel, Treeya and Martreen, I projected myself into the sunlight, into the midst of green, growing things, which ultimately saw me through the gloom.

The following morning while Sheel, and Roya patrolled and Treeya watched the children inside one of the long huts, Martreen gathered all the clanswomen inside another unoccupied long hut. She had asked me to join her while she addressed the women. Iega she had told to remain inside one of the smaller huts.

When I entered the hut where the women had gathered the conversations among them was noticeably stifled as they tried to figure out why Martreen had assembled them.

As Martreen looked over the women she appeared to be intolerant, but like me, the women knew she was actually a patient and pensive woman. She was devoted to traditions and her Earth Mother sight made her sensitive to the needs of this clan. Her deeply rooted belief in the ancestral and traditional healing lore handed down through the generations, bonded her to an unshakable faith in the whole.

I understood from Treeya that Martreen was considered among the wisest of all women and was often sought out for council or support by other women, and although not advertised, occasionally even by a man. Her advice was usually taken because she was extremely persuasive and seemed to be divinely guided in her instinctive wisdom. And though there was a natural fear of her, as Iega had told me, even by Threm, her presence also lent great comfort.

She loomed in front of assembly and said, "I've learned that a few of you have been subjected to late night beatings and mistreatment by Threm, Broc and a few of the other men over the last year or so. I'm... Ah, we're here," she waved her arm in my direction, "to let you know that it will never happen again, and that the men responsible will be dealt with accordingly so this kind of sick perversion can not grow legs and spread."

She paused momentarily and I noticed two things. One, the women were obviously surprised that another woman would speak to them when a man was present, and two, a few of the women's eyes fill with tears.

"By now," she continued, "you all know of Dac and what he and his mates are capable of. Dac is the greatest hunter that has ever lived and he has agreed to help us with our problem."

I looked at the surrounding faces with a reassuring smile, then once again directed my attention back to Martreen.

"But in order for us to accede to Dac and his mates help, we will need to identify every man that took part so each and every one of them can be eradicated. After that, I promise you, I will never allow another woman of this clan to be hurt again!"

"Ah... Martreen?" Asked a voice which wavered, then she cleared her throat, "Does that mean kill them?" The voice belonged to a woman with soft eyes.

"Yes," responded Martreen flatly.

"Good," answered the soft-eyed woman, "they are very cruel. It is what they deserve. I will help you." Then she stepped forward and removed all her furs.

What I saw made me sick, and all the guilt I had felt last night vanished. Thin red lines and welts decorated her breasts, and the insides of her thighs overlapping each other and stood in stark contrast to the girl's naturally light skin. She even had scabs in certain spots.

Covering her mouth so she wouldn't cry, the soft eyed woman said, "They did this to me." Sobbing slightly as her balled up fists rose up to her temples she pressed them tightly to the sides of her head. "I did nothing to deserve this. They do it only to satisfy themselves in some way."

Martreen looked at the tortured young woman compassionately, and as beautiful as she was, I could plainly see the pain on her face. Then Martreen took the woman into her arms and comforted her by assuring her she would never have to suffer again.

Martreen took a step back then addressed the other women, "Any others of you that have been tortured as Jentook has, please come forward." She made a 'come here' motion with her hand. "Have no fear of reprisal. Dac and I promise we can, and will protect you." As if to answer, one woman came forward, totally relaxed. "I have no fear Martreen. You are more of a leader than any of the men this clan has seen lately."

Hearing very unexpected words. I watched, speechless, as the others came forward, all gazing at Martreen with admiration.

Including Jentook ten women had been mistreated, all ten freely gave details of the beatings, and torture inflicted by the small group of men. After all the names had been revealed, six men including Broc were still alive.

Martreen thanked the women for their trust then excused them to return to their normal work routine or patrol. Iega entered the long hut a moment later, "Martreen, please excuse me for not remaining where you asked, but I needed to make sure the women were not too afraid to speak up."

"And?" Martreen asked skeptically.

"And, I agree with Isal." Iega responded, "You are truly more of a leader than any of the men we have had lately. After Broc is... taken care of, I propose to advise the other men that it is you Martreen, that should become this clans new leader."

Martreen looked at ease when she smiled, as if what Iega had put forward was an every day occurrence, "But I am a woman."

"You will make an exceptionally leader Martreen. I know that. And in time so will the others. And yes, you would be the first female clan leader ever under the Earth Mother, but how different is that from you, Roya and Sheel being hunters, or death from the sky's. None of this has ever been heard of before either, it is time for change Martreen. After female hunters take care of Broc and the others, the men will accept, I know this."