“What is that?” Pil asked.

  Vel, whose hair is disheveled, was still scratching his eyes as he tried to open it.

  He put down the tendons. Civ put down their tools needed.

  “This is what we need next,” Civ replied.

  “I need everyone’s help with this.” Civ picked one of the tendons.

  “With a stone, gently hammer it. Again, do it gently.” He controlled his strength. Enough to soften the tendon.

  The crowd follows what Civ instructed.

  Vel, hold picks up one of the materials. ‘Isn't this a tendon that was dried?’

  The tendon was long, white, and bone-dry.

  Understanding the material, Vel followed also.

  When they finished flattening the tendons, Civ stood up and showed the next step to the crowd.

  “I want you to do this motion.” He does a snap motion and then a circling motion like cranking a valve.

  The crowd followed.

  After a dozen or more circling motions, the tendon started to expand like a husk.

  When this happened, Civ continued.

  “Great! Everyone, you can start separating it into smaller strands.” Civ carefully peels the tendon into thinner fibers.

  “Ohhhhh.” The crows were amazed that they were able to separate it into smaller parts.

  “Keep separating it until this thin.” It was as thin as the strands of the palm fibers.

  Arsh and Vel have a realization.

  “Are we going to use this as ropes also Civ?” Arsh asked.

  “Hmmmm Kind of. But in a different way.” Civ winked at Arsh.

  Arsh snickered. She knows asking Civ more will give her more questions.

  After a couple of moments, they were able to separate the tendons into thin fibers.

  “Great work everyone! Now, continue working with the rest.” Civ revealed to them the rest of the tendons needed to be separated.

  Everyone audibly groaned as they saw how many they needed to separate.

  Civ laughed at them.

  “You need to learn how to do it. It is more important than you think.” Civ encourages them.

  But he was answered by groans from the crowd again.

  Civ looked at Horm. “Horm, come with me for a bit. We need to look for something.”

  “Where are we going?” Horm asked.

  “We need to look for something,” Civ replied.

  Horm nodded and both of them left the camp going east.

  They had been walking for a while now. Silence from Civ was killing Horm, so he could not contain his curiosity.

  “Civ, what do we need to do now?”

  “There you are! We need to look for these Horm.” Civ picked up something and showed it to Horm.

  “Feathers?!” Horm tilted his head.

  “Yes, let's gather as many as we can!” Civ nodded.

  “But where are we going to use it?” Horm asked.

  “There are many options we can use it for. But for now, let's collect these feathers.” Civ did not explain it further.

  “Alright.” Horm nodded.

  They collected a handful. When Civ was satisfied with the amount, they decided to return to camp. Along the way, they collected a bunch of palm leaves.

  When they arrived in the camp. The hunting group, together with Vel, was almost done peeling off the tendons.

  Civ inspected the fibers, and he was satisfied with the result.

  “Are we done?” Ras asked.

  Civ looked at Ras and teasingly smiled. “Not yet. But this will be the last step.”

  Horm brought a jar full of water.

  “The next step we need to do is to make it a string. A long string.” Civ sat down and picked up some fibers.

  “Then-”

  SPIT

  “You need to spit and apply it to the fiber and make it a bit wetter. Once it's flexible, you can start twisting it.” Civ made a two-ply string.

  Everyone looked at the jar. ‘That's why there is a jar of water here.’

  “If you need more water, ask one in the firewood team to help you. Once you're done making the rope. Let me know.” Since the group knows what to do next, he and Horm went to the campfire next to the cave.

  “Now what we have here.” Civ looked puzzled about what to do with these 4 posts.

  He did not expect that it would be hard. But since he has an idea in mind. He chose to make the simpler version for now.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  First is with the thinner braces. He placed two braces parallel to each other on each side for reference. Then start tying it up about knee height. Once he was done, he tried to sit on it.

  “Ohhhh this feels good!” Having to sit in a proper position. He was about to cry.

  Horm also tries to sit on the other side.

  “Ohhhh this feels good!” Horm also said.

  Both of them looked like grandpas were their chest pain subsided.

  “Hehehehe, good thing we have enough materials now.” Civ looked at the sunlight starting to cover the place where they sat.

  ”Horm, I need your help with this.” Civ stood up to the brace he recently added. Then pick up the other braces.

  “Please hold the other end up high. Then please lower it slowly until I say stop.”

  Horm nodded and slowly lowered it while Civ held the other end in the same place.

  “Stop! Hold it for now. I will tie this end.” Civ told Horm.

  Horm held it in place while Civ worked on securing the top brace by tying. Then he tied the lower end.

  They did the same thing parallel to the side they just tied.

  Civ and Horm walk backwards to see the structure.

  What Civ is planning to make is a single-slope hut.

  Satisfied, he smiled. “Looks good. Let's continue.”

  Horm followed and assisted Civ.

  They attached the other braces to the other sides and secured them. After that, they attached more braces in the middle of it. When they finished securing the positions by tying them. The skeleton of the roof was already placed.

  “Thanks Horm. Next is we need to place the leaves we gathered.”

  Horm handed him the leaves, and he placed them above the braces.

  “There it is. A bigger hut.” Civ placed his hand on his waist.

  “Oh so this is why you wanted us to place those wood yesterday.” Horm was amazed by the structure both created.

  They sat in the brace.

  “Haaaah. You can sit comfortably without any sunlight.” Civ was proud of his newly finished project. Even though it is a simpler version of what he planned, it serves its purpose. To give shade in the morning.

  “This is amazing Civ!” Vel shouted from the back.

  He started checking every detail of the hut.

  “Why did you not tell me. I should help you make this.” Vel felt betrayed that Civ did not request his service for this big a project.

  Civ sighed. “I would like to. But with your skills for making the string was more important compared to this hut.”

  If they have enough free time, he can ask the group to help him make a more complicated hut. But aside from shade, he had another purpose in quickly making this.

  “Since you are all here. I believe you already finished making the strings?” Civ asked.

  Luk moved forward and handed him the strings.

  A total of ten long strings.

  ‘Wow! This is more than I expected.’ Civ was amazed by the unexpected harvest.

  “Thank you everyone. I’ll do the last part. You can rest for now.” Civ starts collecting rocks around the area.

  “Ohhhh this feels good!” Everyone from the hunting group felt relieved sitting in the hut.

  Kivrah, who helped in making the strings, was also trying to understand the structure.

  “This is an amazing structure. To be able to finish it this fast.” Kivrah looked at his son, who was leisurely picking up stones.

  The hut was spacious. Enough for 5 people to sleep under the shade, next to the campfire.

  When Civ came back, he did not talk to anyone and started working.

  First is he tied all the tendon strings to the braces in the roof. Then at the end of the string, he tied heavy stones. With the weight of the stone, it straightens and stretches the string.

  When he finished attaching the stones, Vel asked. “What are you doing Civ?”

  Same answer as before, Civ replied. “I'll tell you later.”

  Arsh again snickered.

  Civ also takes a break after hanging the strings.

  When all were well rested, they left the hut and helped the other team with their daily tasks. Civ, on the other hand, starts working on the bone-dry wooden sticks he stored in the cave since day one. Checking the flexibility and other characteristics of the wood.

  But before noon, Yan shouted from the north.

  “Boars!”

  Everyone from the hunting group left what they were doing. Then they climbed to their stationed positions.

  Civ and Kivrah climbed to the north wall. What they saw was one boar. A mohawk boar. It was still far away, but it was visible to the naked eye.

  “They are here already?” Kivrah was confused. Civ looked at the boar, and he had the same reaction.

  The way they stuff the tunnel with branches, the boars should not be able to push through. Unless someone ran over the tunnel, injuring the boar. Otherwise, they have created a new path.

  The boar was grazing far away. Then left.

  They way for a couple of minutes, waiting for any unexpected appearance. But nothing happened.

  “Please keep an eye out for any movement Yan.” Civ commanded.

  “Yes Civ!” She quickly replied.

  Kivrah and Civ climbed down, and the rest of the hunting group. Yan and Kes were left to be on the lookout.

  They sat down in the newly made hut.

  Upon sitting, Ras asked. “Should we follow that boar?”

  Kivrah looked at Civ. Seeing the reaction of his Son, he let Civ answer.

  Civ shakes his head. “No. I do not think it's safe now. ”

  Safi and Luk also nodded.

  Looking for them yesterday, almost killed one of them. If that is not lucky, Civ doesn’t think what it is.

  They need to be prepared the next time they go there. Also, they need to go together with the whole hunting group if they need to know the current status of the north.

  “First, we need to strengthen our group.” Civ seriously continue.

  Everyone nodded, acknowledging the plan.

  Kivrah continued. “For now, the hunting group should help the firewood team gather materials.”

  They left the hut and continued what they were doing earlier.

  Civ does some routine on the skin he his soaking in lye. Then made some smaller versions of the spearheads.

  Afternoon came, and there was a commotion again in the north. Now, there are two mohawk boars that are strolling far away from the camp. The group is now more convinced not to visit the north for now. After the boar left, Civ decided to ask Kivrah if they could talk to the Shaman now.

  Going inside the hut, the shaman was crumpling something. Smelling the powder, it has the same sweetness and woody smell.

  “Shaman Mashu, where did you get that bark?” Civ asked.

  “I usually went south to look for this. Following the smell.” Shaman Mashu explained.

  Civ nodded and took note of where they could find a pine tree.

  Kivrah wants to move to their main purpose and asks the Shaman.

  “Shaman Mashu, the reason we visit you, Civ and I want to know if you can teach us the prayers you say for the Sun Goddess.” Kivrah respectfully asked. For him, now that their tribe's situation is getting better. He also wants to know how to do it so he can praise the Sun Goddess more.

  Shaman Mashu looked at Civ in the eyes, calm and unsurprised.

  She smiled but sadly said. “I don’t think I can teach it to the two of you.”

  “Please, Shaman. I think we can handle it.” Kivrah replied.

  ‘Handle?’ Civ looked at his Father’s determined persuasion with Shaman Mashu.

  The Shaman pondered for a moment. “Alright, if you can handle this sentence. I’ll teach you the praises and prayers.”

  ~Hehem sadushu Io~

  Shaman Mashu did not repeat it. “If you remember it, please start saying it.”

  Civ was able to understand the context, but he could not place the exact words.

  ‘It was like hear me or what?’ Civ was contemplating.

  But a couple of seconds later, Kivrah, who had closed his eyes earlier, recited the sentence.

  ~Hehem sadushu Io~

  After reciting the sentence, his body visibly trembled. Kivrah felt lightheaded.

  Then blood ran down his left nose!