Chapter 3: Of New Weapons & A Cave Lion

The following morning after we had eaten, I showed Roya and Sheel our new hunting weapons. What I had to show them was a new type of spear and bows and arrows.

The spears were not greatly different from what the girls had seen before with the exception that the new spears were longer and much thinner, and the shafts were made of very light weight hollowed metal not wood, and the spear points were steel not bone or stone. However, what really added to their uniqueness was that they were designed, with the use of an atlatl, which is a hand-held spear-thrower, to be thrown rather than plunged. The atlatl's springy lever action can fling the flexible, lightweight spear at a very high speed over a distance of more than 600 feet. We had twelve of them.

The bows and arrows on the other hand were completely new. We had twelve hickory bows; Four 62 inch long with a 60 pound pull at 28 inch draw, Four 60 inch long with 55 pound pull at 24 inch draw, and Four 56 inch long with 40 pound pulls at 22 inch draw. There was also a supply of carbon arrows with feather fletching and a mix of steel broadhead and steel field point arrowheads.

"So Dac, you are saying that hunting will be much easier and safer with these new weapons?" Roya questioned after I had explained their use.

"Yes. We will be able to stay far away from our prey and still be able to make the kill. This way of hunting is something completely new." I answered.

"Did you say we Dac?" Sheel asked innocently.

"Yes. I would like for both you and Roya to learn how to hunt with these new weapons."

"But Dac, women are not allowed to hunt." Sheel responded.

"That was the old way. This is the new way and women will be allowed to hunt if they so wish. But, you do not have to hunt, remember it is your choice. However, I would still like both of you to learn to use these new weapons, just for your own self protection if for no other reason." I remarked seriously.

"You have asked us for our opinion again, so I will give you mine. My opinion is I will hunt," Roya stated emphatically.

"And my opinion is I will hunt," exclaimed Sheel with wide eyes.

"Then from this day forward you two shall be known as 'the women that hunt'!" I proclaimed proudly, and then I kissed each one on the mouth, with a little tongue action thrown in for good measure.

We spent the next two hours going over the use of each weapon, how to string and de-string the bows, string care and fat coating to keep them pliable. Care of the arrows with emphasis placed on the feather fletching. Instruction on how to remove an arrow from dead prey without destroying it (We did not have an endless supply of arrows), and which arrowhead to select depending on the size of prey. Finally the construction of quivers, which we would have to make ourselves that the two women would need to carry their arrows, I would use a combination backpack-quiver located inside the storage box.

When the women went to deal with lunch I used some of the left over materials from the long hut to fashion a travois. It consisted of two poles formed into a V. The overlapping poles at the bottom of the V I lashed tightly together, and then I used wooden crosspieces between the poles near the open end, which would serve as a carrier. I could then grip the two separate poles at the top of the V allowing one end of each lashed pole to drag behind me on the ground.

Just as I had completed construction of the travois, Sheel called me in to eat. As I ate, Roya informed me that we had enough fresh meat for two more meals, after that we would only have the dried meats to eat. She also suggested that she and Sheel go gathering or they would not be able to prepare any of the vegetables or herb-broth we had enjoyed with every meal.

"We may be able to accomplish two things in one outing," I offered between bites of elk, "I've assembled a travois so I could gather a bunch of brush. My plan was to lash the brush together then cover it with fur so we'll have a practice target for the spears and arrows. That way we won't damage any of our arrows while developing our skills. So, while I 'm out gathering brush you two can gather herbs and vegetable. What do you think?"

"You're asking for our opinion again, are you not Dac?" Sheel ask teasingly.

"Why yes, I guess I am," I answered smiling.

Roya giggled.

"Well, I think your opinion about the gathering is a good one. So my opinion is yes," Sheel responded with a smug look on her face.

Roya attempted to keep a stern look on her face when she said, "My opinion is no," but she couldn't control herself and broke out laughing obviously enjoying her playful statement.

"Well then, I said as somberly as I could manage, "I guess I'll need to torture you until you comply with my opinion," then very quickly I leaped around the fire pit and pounced on her forcing her flat onto her back with me on top. I planted kisses on her neck, cheeks, eyes, ears, and throat in a never-ending barrage.

Roya laughed gleefully and cried out with delight, "No, stop," as she wiggled and squirmed under me.

I reached inside her furs and took her left breast in my hand tweaking its nipple through the material of her jumpsuit, never once letting up on the kisses, "Do you comply?" I asked in-between kisses, "Do you comply?" I asked again flicking a teasing tongue over her ear lobe.

"Yes, Yes I comply," she finally squeaked out almost unable to speak because of her laughter.

"Well good," I told her stopping my assault and looking deep into her green eyes, "I'm pleased that you finally see it my way," then my lips attempted to smother her with a wet, passionate kiss.

"Next time I get to be the one that disagrees with him." Sheel said trying not to smile.

I couldn't have been happier. That both of my mates felt comfortable enough to tease me was a big break through.

"You want some of this!" I said jokingly turning toward Sheel, then quickly leapt off Roya and just as quickly engulfed Sheel in my arms and started kissing her everywhere.

Sheel squealed with delight then I gave her a heart stopping lip-to-lip kiss before breaking away.

"Now you two, since we are all finally in agreement we better get to the gathering before I strip you both naked and take advantage of you." I teased.

"Hmmm... Gathering... taken advantage of... gathering... taken advantage of... what do you think Sheel?" Asked Roya looking at Sheel mischievously while turning both of her hands palms up and looking from one to the other.

"We probably should go gathering. What if it's the herb-broth that gives him the strength to please us at night?" Sheel answered giggling, while fainting a sob.

I began to laugh, "My beautiful mates, you are unrivalled in my heart and my eyes! Let's go gather those herbs, and tonight I will show you the strength of the cave lion."

With me dragging the travois, the two women and I headed south toward the plains. I had taken the axe, and as an after thought, my bow and a few arrows. The women had their baskets and the water skin.

An hour later I was busy chopping brush, compressing them and securing them to the travois. The women had moved out of sight toward an outcropping of boulders pressed against a few small foothills where herbs, vegetables and roots were more commonly found.

My brush gathering was interrupted momentarily when I spotted a plans-hare about forty or fifty yards away scurrying from bush to bush, stopping every now and again to cautiously look around and sniff at the air. I noisily rested the travois on the ground, retrieved my bow and an arrow, then the next time the hare halted its progress I aimed and let fly. For some reason it did not surprise me that my aim was true, catching the hare squarely in the chest. I had even unconsciously compensated for wind and drop. Just like the new words and the use of all the new tools, I was a practiced bowman.