Chapter 3, The Split, #12

The clan followed the herd which moved continuously, occasionally stopping for a couple of days while they consume all vegetation in the area and move on again.This was a faster pace then the clan was used to and no one could remember when the herd traveled such long distances without a prolonged stop occasionally. The clan has thinned out as the old and lame could not keep up this pace.

The herd travels over a desert and steers toward a mountainous area and picks up speed The clan hungry and thirsty follow up the trail left by the herd as it goes over the crest of the hill and thunders on. Booka and his warriors climb to the top of the mountain and just as they get there, a smell of lush green fills their nostrils and as they ascend to the top , they look down at a huge landscape of forests ,rivers and different herds then the one they have been chasing, grazing in the huge grassland.

When the rest of the clan caught up to Booka's warriors and looked out at what must have seemed heavenly to them, they hooted and hollered in joy. seeing some deer grazing not far from them. Booka commanded the clan to hide, while the warriors went on the attack.

Goff knew, that as hungry and thirsty the clan was, meant he would only get scraps, not enough to end that gnawing feeling in his stomach. The deer grazed down at the bottom of the valley, with lush vegetation fueled by a stream coming down from the mountain. upon sight of the water, some of the clan, the thirst in their throat feeling like sandpaper, rush out but a growl from Booka sets them back into formation.

Goff thought, why has Booka halted us when water is right there?  He didn't care, he would jump at first and feel that cool water down his throat. Out he jumps toward the water and a few, out of instinct, jump out with him. Suddenly a young male, running along side of Goff, is smashed to the ground by Booka's hand club. Goff immediately slides to a stop.

Booka, with his club stained with blood, looks down at Goff, ready to kill him as he has killed many before for such insubordination. He hesitates, not wanting to kill one of his sons that may share his secret. Instead he smashes Goff with his fist who rolls over bloody but still alive

to be continued

Chapter 3., The Split. #11

The years past and Booka's has ruled  ruthlessly but wisely He could see problems developing before they would occur, which gave him an advantage over the rest of the clan and any brave warrior that thought he could overthrow Booka's authority. Under his guidance, the clan grew larger, which increased the need for more successful hunts as starvation, as always, was just a day away.

Soofa gave birth to Goff, her youngest, and whose  father is Booka. As Goff grows older, Booka notices something in him that is not common in the rest of the clan. Goff can see what others cannot, except for Booka and sometimes with Soofa. He can see what is not taught, he can see the future.

When Goff was young, barely old enough to climb the branches, the warriors were going on a hunting trip led by Booka. Before the trip,Booka walked among the clan, picking the younger males to go along and observe the hunt, so they could learn. Goff was one of the youngest but Booka picked him. Goff was different from the rest of his progeny .They never communicated directly, just making eye contact with each other was a form of communication they had with each other that was not shared with the rest of the clan.

Out on his first hunt , Goff came over a ridge starving and thirsty. At this point a strange thought came to him. If he died on this hunt as he had seen many die before, would that be the end of him? The thought distressed him. What happens to me/? What happens to me when my body is torn apart by scavengers, what happens to me? To not be, the thought kept his mind off his hunger.

Suddenly, the clan is aroused, their mouths salivating at the sight of a stray cow up ahead. Their reaction brings Goff out of his imagination and back to reality.If they could kill it, that would be enough to feed the whole clan for a couple of days.

Booka and his best warriors hide up wind of the cow. He signals Goff and the other young warriors, to go down wind and chase the cow toward Booka and his warriors. Goff and the other young warriors are shivering with fear, although just a cow, it is big and could kill. Booka leaves one of his best warriors with the young warriors to guide them. He signals for them to jump out after the cow. Goff and the young warriors jump out and the cow snorts and turns toward them, which makes some of the young warriors turn and run out of fear.

The cow sensing their fear , charges them at full speed. This leaves Goff and Booka's warrior exposed. The cow rips into Booka's warrior as Goff tries to distract the cow, but to no avail. Booka, seeing the debacle, charged out with his warriors but the cow fleas unharmed.

Booka, in a rage, executes on the spot, the young males that had deserted. All that energy spent without nourishment, drained any reserved they had in their lean hard bodies. but Booka was proud of his youngest son, who stood bravely while others fled.

to be continued