Chapter 3: first trap
the blue eyes already parted, vanished as a new day arrived, the sunrise made a fantastic view as it hovered on the horizon painting the sky in an orange hue. deep inside the forest in a wet small cave, a seven years old boy lay beside what appeared to be a girl ten years of age, her eyes closed, she looked tired, sweat filled her forehead, the little boy looked healthy with brown hair and gray eyes, he had a concerned look unbefitting a boy of his age as he stared at his sister's trembling eyebrows.
"I'll come back before the sun vanishes, if you hear anything go deeper inside the cave, there are only bats," he whispered to her while holding her cold hands.
he was the smartest kid back in the tribe, he had faith in his abilities, and so he had the confidence of getting food safely back to the cave.
the forest was vast, he knew it was a home for many different beasts, wolves, cave lions, dholes, leopards, badgers and many more, yet dismissing the danger he went inside the forest searching for food, with much effort and patience, he created his first ever trap.
he positioned a thin cord he made earlier at head height and tied off its end to a random log he found, he hid around the bushes as he waited for any small animal to get stuck, time passed as many animals including ferrets and rabbits passed by curiously examining the snare, he got excited every time, but, soon they came soon they left. slowly the sun reached its highest point, heat and bugs bothered him, he started worrying for his sister, the sweat dropped on his eyes, made him blink continuously, he never thought catching a dumb animal was this hard.
'Should I leave?' it was certainly becoming riskier to stay here.
"the smartest child? still a child" his father once spoke that to him, he hesitated for a second.
if he left now all of his work would've been wasted moreover hunger troubled him but staying here put him in a dangerous position. complicated thoughts filled his head as a big raccoon came sniffing the ground near the snare, he concentrated on his pray and clenched his fists full of hope, but luck was not in his favor as the big raccoon slowly walked away, "AGAIN?!" he became angry, picking a small rock he threw it right at the animal, it got scared and dodged running to the trap,'YES' it seemed like it would get trapped anyway but he played it safe as he kept throwing rocks left and right trying to guide the animal.
'BAM' '
'it got stuck' the poor animal could only drag for a short distance as the noose tightened around its neck.
'scrhhhhh' the dragging noise couldn't sound more beautiful for his ears.
he picked his stone knife and slowly approached the animal, his heartbeats raced with each step he took, he wasn't scared he was filled with excitement.
"no longer a child"
he stabbed the raccoon through its throat, blood flowed, the boy stored the blood on a stitched animal bladders used for water, filled with a sense of accomplishment and hunger he hurried back to the cave ' we have food' he would show off to his big sister.
although luck played his part this affair could not be anymore shocking, he was a mere child. though he learned about traps from his father and his tribes' hunters, at the time they were just acting friendly toward a smart kid of their tribe giving him some pointers, who would think that a mere child not even ten years of age would use theoretical trap ideas in real-life hunting.
he stared at his sister then at the small "game" before helping her up, supporting her bigger body with his right shoulder, resting and leaning on his side she appeared to be unconscious, he discharged the liquid for her, blood flowed out in small quantities.
"you need to drink." he said
he long heard that animal blood was nutrient and useful for the sick, and so he intended for his sister to swallow a little bit, yet she remained still, her small mouth refusing to consume only her eyes kept trembling, blood slid on her pale cheeks.
looking at all the blood gone to waste, he got scared and tried again but it was useless, with dark eyes he drank a mouthful of blood his cheeks started to hurt, then he slowly forced the nutrient liquid on his sister's throat, this time not letting a single drop fall, saliva and blood entered her throat, her face started to regain color.
he repeated the same action more than three times, he overcame his embarrassment as their lips and tongues kept touching, as it was for her own good, he tried to ignore it.
after the third time, their lips parted then he slowly let go of her shoulders, raising his head he almost got a fright as he saw her eyes opened wide.
******************************
the sun cleared away any present cloud, the wet season had ended, the hunters had long separated from their families as they made their way deep inside the forest, so much time has passed they had begun preparing for the hunt.
Tumblehunter lead his comrades, no one talked as they hurriedly made their way into the first hunting point, they didn't have many advanced tools like the other tribes, but they were more organized with a map in their hand, this map was created by a few veteran hunters over the years, it pinpointed many details indicating where each animal can be found, where the danger lays, the places to go and the ones to avoid.
as there were many hunter groups in the village, not all of them had to go at the same time in case conflicts araised, every one had his own time and chance to go and so many were excited, they treasured the opportunity after all.
"we'll stop here everyone, this time around we will go for the cave bear" finally reaching the first hunting site, everyone gave a sigh of relief as they started to relax, they began organizing the already built huts.
these sites were carefully constructed long ago, they were more than essential for an easier walk through the woods.
"Leader, Are you sure there is one? I heard they disappeared, them and.... the white ones" Rumbleback flinched at those words, not only him many others looked awkward at the mention of the white wolves
"do not worry Dusknose, I've intel on their whereabouts we'll get the first position this time around, haha" grinning he looked at everyone his gaze stopping at Rumbleback" the cave bear's skin in quality is second only to the white wolf's, I think it fits for a good substitute. hah, am I right?"
"....."
met with silence Tumblehunter could only get angry, he faced Dusknose and growled.
"AM I RIGHT?"
"y_yes" he hurriedly answered yet in his head 'what good substitute this bitch's talking about' certain things best left unsaid.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone