The big cat carefully and silently backed up into the cleft and then, using its extraordinary strength and sinuously maneuverable body, eased up out of the rocks and moved slowly toward where the humans from further up the valley had descended down into his territory. He didn’t have to look back to know he was unobserved. The interest of the boy and the warrior were taken with staring at the retreating figures further up the river bank.
The cat lay, its paws deliberately and carefully set out before him, giving the appearance that he was at rest. But he was anything but resting. His eyes remained intently focused on the one figure, the same figure that had preceded the other humans in traveling down the valley. That human stood with a spear balanced in each hand at his side, the shafts of the spears parallel to the ground. The cat waited, instinctively knowing that the human had moved far enough upriver so that he would not be visible to those below near where the fire burned, where the cat hoped to enjoy another meal of cooked fish. The cat did not lick its lips at the thought, although the urge was there. He was in full hunting alert mode, with his attention frozen on the still figure. It took less than a slow languid eye blink on the part of the cat for the figure to be joined by two more, carrying two spears apiece, like the first human. The cat would not have blinked at all if he’d been truly on the hunt, but the humans posed little threat to him, were too large to be easy prey, and were too strangely dangerous to be encountered as territorial violating predators.
There has been peace among the tribes for a long time and man long-standing agreements. perhaps “… many long-standing agreements.”
Read three times – still very much taken with the story.
WOW! So now Tama has a tribe – Tama, Cetan, Hasti, and an un-named beaver!
And all under a death threat from Cetan’s old tribe. It’s my thought that the tribal shaman and the Chief will decide to try to do something evil to our budding little tribe.
I have a suspicion that Mr. Beaver will have something to do about that!
Great, great story, Jim. Certainly an enjoyable one. Tension mounting!
Beavers are curious creatures…
Thanks again, Craig.
Have you shared this story with friends?
Jim
Bless you, LT, for the early Christmas gift – two chapters more added in less than 24 hours!
Couple minor typos, which I don’t worry much about. But – the plot thickens even more! Going to be a great, meaty dish when it is done.
Got to admit that the cat “Hasti” surprised me with his actions for Tama and Cetan, and against the nasty guys. I think the action surprised Hasti as well. These four are rapidly forming a viable new tribe, just need a few of the distaff side to join them.
Really enjoying your story.
Thanks Craig, for the blessing and the mighty important support.
Semper fi,
Jim
Best chapter yet.
Glad you like this guy!
Semper fi,
Jim
I love this story. Keep up the great work.
easy because, hit or miss, because…
“There’ve changed their minds…..
Thanks a lot Glenn,
Semper fi,
Jim
What a tale they may well become a new legend for the tribe to talk about.The hunters didn’t want to become the hunted.
Good thinking Pete, tribalism is a lot more complicated to understand than most people think.
Semper fi,
Jim