The cat moved through the forest underbrush, slipping from side to side, making sure his front paws gentled down instead of solidly confronted the padded forest mat of long-accumulated and partially rotted vegetation. The beaten course of travel the intruding group of foreign warriors followed, making no attempts to remain silent, was to his left. Hasti didn’t need to see the warriors and made no attempt to close the distance between them and himself. Two of the warriors worked to haul the load they’d positioned upon the skin stretched between two long poles, while the other warriors carried their great heavy spears. The cat felt all this information transmit itself across the short distance just by listening closely to what sounds bled out from the warrior’s careless journey, without any regard of what other life might be around them.
Suddenly, the trading party stopped, and the cat stopped with them. There was no noise, other than some murmuring, coming from the great ape group. The cat crouched further down, invisible through the thickness of forest flooring that extended across the distance between where he was and where they were. The cat had no intention of hunting the humans, however, as he was only intent that they leave his territory, which they almost had accomplished before stopping. The cat began to move slowly backward, before barely rising on all four legs to turn and move to his left, toward the course the departing warriors had taken. Once a good distance away, Hasti moved toward the beaten path the men had been traveling on. He made no attempt to hide. He advanced to the center of the path and then sat down to stare straight ahead. All the warriors who’d been before him when he’d done the same thing near the camp, were gathered before him again at about the same distance.
As always, enjoying your skill with words coupled with your learnings in anthropology. As another noted, being “in” the story is a valuable experience.
Couple minor edits, and it will be good to go.
Looking forward to the small group moving across the river to, hopefully, a more easily defended place.
Thanks Craig for the accurate assessment of the situation. We defended
the nearly undependable time and again down in that valley. It’s amazing
that we all lasted as long as we did.
Semper fi,
Jim
Another great read. We so do enjoy this story. Thanks James
Thank you, SA,
I am enjoying writing it. ~~smile
Semper fi,
Jim
I love this story!! Great job!
So good to see new installments in this story.
This is so much better a story than I envisioned when it began,
Thank you, Rob
nice to have you back , i think many enjoy you skill with words
I thank you Bill. I don’t notice it when I am writing. It just flows out. Most writing is simply a recitation, after tutoring
in the structure and vocabulary, of what is coming out of the mind.
But thank you most sincerely,
Semper fi,
Jim
A fun read
Thanks a lot Jim, and it means a lot being written on this public forum.
Semper fi,
Jim
As Cetan said the trading party bargained too easy. The bigger threat could be the bear if it wanders through again. The cave could well be his intended hibernation place.
Yes, there is the bear and he is coming back…but conditions are also a bit different now.
Semper fi, and thanks for the interest in speculating….
Jim
Jim, Agree 100%. A great story, one I always look forward to reading, “being” in. Ditto w/ “Island”. Doug
Yes, I do need to get another chapter of Island out. Thanks for reminding me.
I love Star Black and that series…
Sempe fi,
Jim
Love this story!
Love writing it too, my friend…
Jim
Hasti is playing his role of protector well. I find myself wondering what will happen if the bear should make an appearance.
You, indeed will have a quick response to your question…
Semper fi,
Jim
Pete, have you read Chapter XXII
Here is the Link
Chapter XXII