THUD

  Kes slumped to the ground. Catching every breath she can. Horm and Arsh checked on Ras and Pil. Civ and Luk, on the other hand, check on the killed boar.

  Based on the boar’s body, it has the same stature as the mohawk boars they found on the other side of the mountain.

  ‘This might be a lost boar from the group, or- a scout.’ Having an organized group of boars is one of the possible reasons. But judging from the intelligence of the boars, he might think it as a possibility.

  ‘No other way to find out other than waiting.’

  Civ is convinced now to be prepared, as prepared as possible, for any attack that might happen.

  Seeing that the boar was not breathing, Civ let Horm carry this.

  Civ checked on the other two. What they need right now is to leave this place as soon as they can.

  ‘Can you still walk?’ Civ asked Pil and Ras.

  Even though they are grimacing in pain, they nodded. Civ has no other choice but to trust his tribesmen. Luk shoulder support Pil and Civ to Ras. They quickly left the area and followed the safe path they usually walk to. The travel back was silent. Their energy was only focused on walking as fast as they could to return to the camp. Luckily, they did not encounter any boars on the way back.

  When they arrived at the camp, they were immediately assisted by the crowd. Ras and Pil were rushed to the Shaman’s hut. They left the boar to be butchered. Then, the hunting group went to the back of the cave with the Tribe leader.

  They sat in a circle while they drank water from the jar, and they passed it around.

  “What happened to the three of you back there Kes?” The tribe leader started the conversation.

  Remembering the sequence of events made Kes tremble. Safi and Arsh, next to her, hold her hands. Seeing the group wanted to comfort her, the trembling slowly subsided.

  “I-i-it was a few moments before you all Civ and Arsh arrived.” Kes started.

  What happened was that the three of them were just talking about something. Suddenly, the boar appeared in front of them. All three of them were shocked upon seeing the boar. The first reaction of the boar is to charge ahead of them.

  Kes and the group's first instinct was to protect the tunnel to stop this boar from reaching the other group. With all of their might, they were able to hit the boar using their atlatl. But it did not stop charging. Ras and Pil charged at the same time, but the boar flew them away. But when it reached Kes, it stopped moving. Since one of the spears that penetrated the lower neck of the boar touched the ground. Then it deepened the penetration of the spear. Then Kes followed the instructions given by Civ to slice the neck open to deal the final blow.

  After the Kes finished her story, she relaxed a bit. However, the crowd fell silent.

  “You did great there Kes. Thank you for keeping the entrance safe. I will also personally thank Ras and Pil once they recover.” The tribe leader sincerely thanked Kes.

  Civ on the other hand, has mixed emotions. He was happy that everyone was not gravely injured. But he is also angry that someone got injured.

  ‘If we arrived much earlier at that time. We should be able to overpower that boar.’ He felt helpless at that moment. But he heard someone calling his name.

  “Civ, can you hear me?” The tribe leader had been calling him for a while now.

  “Oh Yes. What are we talking about again?” Civ sat properly.

  “About your travel in the tunnel.” Kivrah reminded him.

  “Alright. Please listen carefully everyone.” When the crowd went silent, Civ narrates what happened inside the tunnel and what they saw on the other side. When the group heard about the bigger size of boars, they gasped in shock.

  Kivrah went silent for a moment. Everyone went silent and looked at the tribe leader. Awaiting his decision.

  “I have an idea in mind. But I want to know also your opinions on this.” Kivrah opens the discussion to the hunting team. Having the experience of fighting these boars. They should have enough knowledge on how to deal with them.

  “How about we attack them head-on?” Horm suggested. Hearing this, Arsh, who was beside him, quickly slapped the back of Horm's head.

  “Are you crazy? Can you see what happened to us when the boar was able to enter the wall?!” Arsh continued to berate Horm, and he reposed by scratching his head.

  “Why don’t we wait for them in the tunnel? We can kill them when they leave the tunnel.” Luk asked.

  “What if they created another tunnel? I’m sure they can do it.” Safi countered. Luk missed that part also and agreed with Safi.

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  The crowd went silent again, out of ideas.

  Hearing the silence, Kivrah speaks. “Civ, what do you think?”

  Civ quickly answered. “We stay here and defend. We improve our defenses. It is safer here compared to attacking them in other places.”

  Kivrah nodded. For both of them, attacking them is not a good strategy. Aside from getting attacked in all directions. They do not have enough tools or ways to defend themselves. Also, when the group scattered, they might get lost in the forest and be killed one by one.

  “You are right. That is also the idea that I’m thinking. Since we have enough food for now, the best way is to improve our camp.” Understanding the idea, everyone nodded.

  “Since everyone agreed, let's work on it starting right now.” Kivrah stands up, and everyone follows.

  When the group went for their designated tasks, Kivrah waited for Civ.

  He holds his son’s shoulder. “You all did great my Son.”

  Looking at his Father, the smile erased those worries in his mind.

  ‘Right, if we can defend it, there is no need to be worried.’ Civ resolves his heart.

  “Thank you Father.” They both walk as the last in the group and discuss what needs to be prepared by the firewood team.

  After his Father, Civ looked for Vel. He saw Vel enjoying his time working on different shapes and sizes of jars.

  “Hey Vel, how is it going?” Civ sat beside Vel.

  “Oh there you are Civ. Everything is great! I am enjoying this.” Vel tried to remove the dirt from his face, but it was smeared again by his hand.

  Civ looked out of the cave. Next to it were jars, and a basin-like pottery was already made that is currently drying.

  “Looks like it. Once you finish that Vel, wait for me at the back of the cave. I need you to help me for the rest of the day.” Civ tapped Vel’s shoulder. He did not wait for Vel’s response and left.

  Civ brings the newly acquired skin of the boar and picks up some tools. Then he went to the back of the cave.

  Vel followed Civ right away after he finished the jar he made. What he saw was that the boar hide was lying on the big flat stone while Civ was scraping the white part of the hide. He was removing it and placing these white and red materials on the side.

  “What are you doing Civ?” Vel sat on the other side, facing him.

  “This?” Civ throws a stone flake to Vel.

  “Help me with this to finish it faster. Try to run the stone flake in the skin. But do not puncture it.” Civ instructed.

  Vel nodded and followed the method Civ is doing.

  After a couple of minutes, they were able to remove all of the white and red materials from the skin. What is left is the white part of the hide.

  For Vel, this is a normal process. This is an essential step to make sure that they avoid the animal skin from rotting. What he was confused about was why Civ needs to work on this, since he can give this task to their other tribesmen.

  “Civ, about this, why-” Vel wants to know the reason. But they were interrupted by one of their tribesmen.

  “Oh Cho-Civ, we already gathered water and put it where you requested.” A teenage boy bowed next to Civ as he collected the cleaned hide.

  “Oh please avoid bowing to me, or I will get angry.” Civ jokingly said, and the boy scratched his head.

  “Thank you Axo. Just time. Vel follow me, I’ll teach you something new today!” Civ's eyes were sparkling again, looking at his apprentice.

  Vel's mood brightened hearing what Civ said. Even though this might be a new task for him. He is more than willing to learn it.

  “Please let me know what it is Civ!” Vel followed Civ.

  They return to the campfire near the cave, where there's only ash in the pit. Outside of the cave, there was a basin that was full of water. There is also another empty basin. Civ scoops some ash in the campfire. Once he scoops an ash, he puts twice as much water. After that, he uses a stick and makes a circling motion inside the basin.

  Vel’s uncertain eyes make him ask Civ. “Civ, what is that motion you're doing?”

  “Oh this? I am mixing the water and ash?” Civ answered right away while focusing on the ratio.

  “Mixing? What do we need it for?” Vel continued his inquiry.

  Civ was caught off guard on that question. But he smiled.

  “Remember what we did on the black glue?” Civ reminded him.

  “Yes, I remembered it.” Vel nodded.

  “That was mixing. We are combining two or more materials to make it into one.” Civ slowly explained it to Vel.

  Vel pondered for a moment and nodded. “I get it now. But why what are we making now?”

  Curiosity makes someone really ask more questions. Which Civ was happy about it.

  “This mix. To put it simply, this is to remove the hair from the skin.” Civ explained.

  Vel brows curled. “Why do we need to remove it? Does it make the skin not good for cold times?”

  For Vel, this is counterintuitive. They use boar skin to prevent cold temperatures. That was what the Shaman explained to him when he asked Shaman Mashu last time.

  “We are not using this for cold times. This will be used in a different way.” Civ answered.

  What Civ is doing is to make a lye solution. He gradually mixed it based on the ratio that he remembered. Using this will make the hair soft and easily plucked by hand. Other than removing the skin, the purpose is also to make the hide clean and avoid rotting.

  Since the skin was a bit thicker, he made the solution more concentrated. This is to make sure that when they soak it, the hair will be easier to pluck. After mixing it, he put the hide in the basin. He makes sure that all of the skin is submerged in the lye solution. Next is he covers it with palm leaves and brings it inside the cave. Since this is the only place where the temperature much likely to be controlled. He has no other option than to place it here.

  ‘I’ll just talk to Father about this. We’ll sleep by the campfire for the following days.’ Civ wants to make things easier for the group. They need this kind of sacrifice for a better future.

  “Alright Civ, since we're done here, I’ll return to making pott-”. Vel was sneakily walking back when he was caught by Civ by the neck.

  “Who said we're done? Did I say for the rest of the day earlier?” Civ looked Vel in the eyes.

  “Right! I remember it now!” Vel was sweating beads, looking at Civ.

  “Good! Now let’s go to the north side. Pick up some of the pointed wood there.”

  They grabbed the tools they needed and headed straight to the north.

  Arriving north, they saw Horm and his group were already waiting there.

  Seeing the wood, some sharpened bones, and the water that they brought. Everything seemed ready now.

  “Now it's time to dig deeper holes!”