Chapter 23: Of The Trip Home & Lions & Tigers & Bear

When our large traveling party arrived at the spot where Treeya and I had been attacked by the cave bear there was now little left of the bear but a few bones. Little to show for how large and dangerous the animal had actually been, but the clansmen were impressed none the less, and even collected what teeth and claws they could find assuring Treeya and I that they would fashion each of us a necklace when time permitted.

While I was pulling the travois out from the brush that Treeya and I had left behind, I discovered a small band of antelope grazing a fair distance away. As we were in need of fresh meat, I decided to take down a couple of the animals.

Knowing that they are timid and easily frightened, I thought it best if only two of us stalked them, telling the rest of the clan and the wolves to wait where they were until I called to Treeya to bring up a horse to come and carry the carcasses back. With bow's readied, Martreen and I quietly moved toward the herd.

Moving carefully through the vegetation, making use of any boulders and bushes that afforded shelter, we finally came within easy bow range of our quarry, when the antlered head of a buck suddenly went up into the air, and then, as though in accord with some prearranged signal, the whole band of animals moved slowly off, farther onto the Plain.

Because their pace was leisurely, I decided to follow them until we came within arrow range again, I was sure that they would stop and feed in a short time.

They must have led us a mile or so before they halted and commenced to graze upon the rank,
luxuriant grasses. All the time that we had followed them I had kept both eyes and ears alert for any sign or sound that would indicate the presence of another Plains predator, but so far there was not the slightest indication of any other beasts in the general area.

As we crept closer to the antelope, sure this time of a good shot at a large buck, I suddenly saw something that stopped me cold. It was an immense dark gray, woolly mammoth, with long dark guard hairs and fine underwool, rearing its colossal shoulders fifteen or sixteen feet above the ground. What a mammoth was doing so far from the steps, and all alone, only our first ancestor knew.

"I've never seen a mammoth this far from the steps before." Martreen whispered to me.

"Me neither and it's alone. Your guess is as good as mine." I whispered back.

The antelope, although in plain view of the huge beast, did not pay even the slightest bit of attention to it, and I was so wrapped up in watching the mighty animal that I completely forgot to shoot the buck and only seconds later, and in quite a disquieting manner, it became impossible to do so.

The mammoth was browsing on the young and tender shoots of some low bushes, waving his great ears and switching his short tail. The antelope, less than twenty paces from him, continued their feeding, when suddenly, from close beside the heard, I heard a terrifying roar, and I saw a great, tawny body leap, from the concealing boulders beyond the antelope, directly onto the back of the buck I had planned on taking down.

Instantly the scene changed from one of quiet and peace to indescribable chaos. The startled and terrified buck uttered cries of agony. His herd broke and leaped off in all directions. The mammoth raised his trunk, and, trumpeting loudly, lumbered off through the brush, crushing down small saplings and trampling bush in his mad flight.

Growling loudly, the huge cave lion stood across the body of his prey. But what a creature it was this fierce-eyed demon, palpitating with life and vigor, glossy coat, alert, with magnificent strength.

With sentiments not unmixed with awe Martreen and I kneeled gazing at this regal beast while, above the carcass of his kill, he roared out his challenge to the world.

I hand signaled for Martreen to slowly back away. As she started to back up the cave lion seemed not to notice us, his attention being directed toward the retreating mammoth, and I thought we were out of trouble, then after Martreen had gotten about forty paces or so away the cave lion discovered me.

For an instant he stood silent and motionless as one of the many stones around us, but only for an instant. Then, with a most ferocious roar, and without the slightest hesitancy or warning, he charged me.

He forgot the prey already dead beneath him for the pleasures of the delectable tidbit... me.

As I yanked my spear off my shoulders, I silently asked the Earth Mother to favor me with good aim, because I knew the moment that I faced that charge that even my 'awakening gift spear' would be as futile as a pebble unless I happened to hit him in a vital spot.

Like a flash of sky-fire he bore down on me, but, fortunately for me, Martreen threw her spear hitting him in the left shoulder. It stopped him. With a terrific howl of pain and rage, the cave lion rolled over and over on the ground almost at my feet. As he struggled to rise, clawing viciously at me I drove my spear through his chest and into his heart.

That finished him, and I had to admit that I was very glad of it. There was a single tree close behind me, and, stepping within its shade, I leaned against it, wiping the perspiration from my face, the day was hot, and the exertion and excitement left me a little exhausted.

Martreen is a wonder. Each day that we were together brought new proof of it. Not only was it her courage or vitality that amazed me. She had a head on those shapely shoulders of hers, and dignity! My, but she could be majestic when she chose! "Thank you Martreen," I said putting my arms around her trim waist when she came up to me.

"You don't have to thank me, my love. It is ever your way, to think last of your own life. You were the one that stayed behind so I could get away and have enough time to load my spear into the atlatl. If I had thrown it by hand I don't think it would have even slowed him down."

"You're right. Look how deep it penetrated." I commented noticing that over half her spear had imbedded itself through the cave lion's flesh.

We were working on freeing Martreen's spear when out of nowhere Nugut showed up. The wolf quickly circled the cave lion assuring himself that it was no longer any danger, then he made his way over to the dead antelope and inspected it before returning to us.

"I guess Treeya thought we've been gone to long and got worried." Martreen commented while she petted Nugut's head.

"I think you're right." I responded, "I only wish there was some way we could get Nugut to go back and tell her we need a horse and an empty travois to get this meat back."

"Oh, I think if we send Nugut back Treeya will be able to figure it out." Martreen said.

"You may be right," I agreed, then calling Nugut over I said, "Nugut, go find Treeya. Treeya Nugut, go get Treeya boy."

As the wolf turned and headed back the way he had just come, I called after him, "Nugut! Tell Treeya we need a horse and an empty travois!"

Martreen laughed.

An hour later Treeya, along with Dugut and Nugut, came riding up. She had brought all three horses and three empty travois'.

"I guess you thought we were better hunters than we actually are." I joked, "Three empty travois' and only two downed game."

"Yes, but one of them is the biggest cave lion I've ever seen," Treeya commented as she gracefully slid off the back of her horse. "It will be a big relief not having to tell cave bear stories all the time now."

"Huh?" Martreen questioned.

"Well, I'm guessing you'll be made to tell cave lion stories after the clan gets a look at him," Treeya told Martreen as she pointed to the dead cave lion.

"Ohh... no," Martreen moaned.

Treeya had been correct. Martreen did have to tell the killing of the cave lion story repeatedly as the men and women of her clan cleaned and prepared the meats of the cave lion and antelope for eating and traveling. They again collected the teeth and claws of the cave lion for Martreen and me.

Traveling with children made the journey slow and arduous. After twenty days on the Plain, I was more than a little anxious to see Roya and Sheel. I knew they were both more than capable of taking care of themselves but I still worried.

Martreen must have sensed my concern because without my having said anything as we walked she slipped her arm around my waist and said, "They're both fine Dac. There is no need for you to worry. If something were wrong I think I would know it."

"Thanks Martreen," I said turning and giving her a kiss on the top of her head, "I guess I just miss them."

"I know. We all do." Martreen said knowingly.

"Now, not to change the subject or anything," Martreen said with a lighter tone, "what do you think we should do about Iega?"

"Iega?" I questioned, "What about him?"

"Oh, didn't Treeya tell you? He's been pestering both her and me almost daily about wanting to learn how to use the bow and arrows."

"No, she didn't mention it. I don't know... what do you think?" I asked.

"I guess I don't care if you don't. It's just that I don't want every hunter in the clan pestering us to teach them in the use of the new weapons right now. You know what I mean?"

"Yes I know," I answered thoughtfully, "Why don't you and Treeya take Iega aside and get him a little practice just to get it out of his system. Iega's a good man and he was very helpful after Broc and all."

"You're right. I never told you but after you left to return home, Iega spent every night for the next two months sitting outside my hut making sure nothing bad happened to me while I slept. He doesn't think I know about it, but there's little you can hide from clanswomen. Several of them told me about him keeping watch while I was teaching them making love." She nodded, "He is a good man. Letting him practice with a bow is little enough I can do for him. Thank you Dac."

"Sure thing my dear healer, clan leader" I said picking her up and carrying her while kissing her on the lips without missing a step.

It was dusk on our thirty-eighth day crossing the Plain. We had just stopped for the night when one of the clanswomen asked to speak with me. I knew the woman's name to be Rooann but I had never spoken to her in person before then. Rooann is a small, very attractive woman, standing four foot five inch's tall, and looked to be about twenty years old or so. She has long brown hair, is slim, a well-formed body, and pale translucent skin.