they both shed tears. Their shoulders shook.
She was my mate, thought-spoke Bodd. We have lost two babies. And now I have lost her.
Enga felt her own tears forming and her lips trembled. What a horrible thing to happen after losing two babies, which was a horrible thing already.
Vala Golden Hair stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.
There was discussion of what to do, whether or not they should spend the time and energy on a proper funeral. The Gata males told them that their own funerals were similar to those of the Hamapa.
Thoughts were exchanged as they squatted together to eat and sip small amounts of water. At last it was decided by all, even Bodd, that they should proceed. They would leave her body for the animals and it would return to Brother Earth.
Before everyone lay down to sleep, Hama asked Bodd what his mate had been called.
She was Gung. Gung Lion Slayer.
Hama jerked upright.
She kept her thought private, but Enga knew what she was thinking. The name of Hama had been Roh Lion Hunter before she was elected Hama. This Gung Lion Slayer of the Gata must have slain a lion, as Hama had. She must have been brave and strong. She had been in a weakened state to have been slain by the large cat now. Enga shook her head. Yes, the Gata female had been hungry. The males were, so she would have been also.
Enga was able to perceive the mourning of Bodd and Fall as their heavy grief stirred the air about them, washing over all the Hamapa also.
As Enga fell asleep, she put her hand on the strong shoulder of Tog, gladdened that they were both alive and that their baby, still a seed, would have a better chance than the babies of Gung and Bodd. Tog laid his warm hand atop the place where their seed grew. Her tears fell once more.
Chapter 5
Yellow-cheeked vole, Microtus xanthognathus
“The yellow-cheeked vole, or taiga vole, is an extant species of rodent that is currently found in central Alaska and northwestern Canada. As with many other rodents, this species serves as a good proxy indicator of local paleoenvironmental conditions, and its presence in Wisconsinan-aged deposits in the Midwestern U.S. indicates that regional temperatures were much cooler during this period.”
—from http://iceage.museum.state.il.us/mammals/yellow-cheeked-vole-0
Heather vole, Phenacomys intermedius
Phenacomys intermedius …is a small, mouse-like rodent with short tail, large hindfeet, and small ears and eyes. They have long, soft brown to grayish fur, with white to pale gray face and feet, and a silvery belly.
—from http://iceage.museum.state.il.us/mammals/heather-vole-0
When they had been travelling for several more suns, after the tribe stopped for dark time, Jeek asked Gunda if she would loan him her spear. Hamapa males did not throw spears, but Jeek had always wanted to be a spear thrower and to bring down food for his tribe. Back in the village, he had practiced in secret until he was able to cast his crude spear long and straight. When he was found out, the females let him practice with them. He had not thrown a spear for many suns. He was afraid he would forget his skills.
Ongu Small One heard Jeek and Gunda and approached them. I have an extra spear, Jeek. Do you want to use it for practice? It would be good if some of the young ones practiced.
He was pleased because he had not brought one with him.
He and Gunda hurried away from the tribe so they would be able to practice while there was still some light. The place Hama had chosen for their stop was one without shelter or water. Jeek and Gunda walked across flat, dusty land, looking for something they could aim at, but they could find nothing.
We will have to set something up for a target , Gunda thought-spoke.
How will we do that? All that is here is grass—tall grass, but sparse.
That is true. Even if we make a target, we would have to clear the grasses out of the way so we could shoot at it.
The grass was taller than the two young
She was my mate, thought-spoke Bodd. We have lost two babies. And now I have lost her.
Enga felt her own tears forming and her lips trembled. What a horrible thing to happen after losing two babies, which was a horrible thing already.
Vala Golden Hair stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.
There was discussion of what to do, whether or not they should spend the time and energy on a proper funeral. The Gata males told them that their own funerals were similar to those of the Hamapa.
Thoughts were exchanged as they squatted together to eat and sip small amounts of water. At last it was decided by all, even Bodd, that they should proceed. They would leave her body for the animals and it would return to Brother Earth.
Before everyone lay down to sleep, Hama asked Bodd what his mate had been called.
She was Gung. Gung Lion Slayer.
Hama jerked upright.
She kept her thought private, but Enga knew what she was thinking. The name of Hama had been Roh Lion Hunter before she was elected Hama. This Gung Lion Slayer of the Gata must have slain a lion, as Hama had. She must have been brave and strong. She had been in a weakened state to have been slain by the large cat now. Enga shook her head. Yes, the Gata female had been hungry. The males were, so she would have been also.
Enga was able to perceive the mourning of Bodd and Fall as their heavy grief stirred the air about them, washing over all the Hamapa also.
As Enga fell asleep, she put her hand on the strong shoulder of Tog, gladdened that they were both alive and that their baby, still a seed, would have a better chance than the babies of Gung and Bodd. Tog laid his warm hand atop the place where their seed grew. Her tears fell once more.
Chapter 5
Yellow-cheeked vole, Microtus xanthognathus
“The yellow-cheeked vole, or taiga vole, is an extant species of rodent that is currently found in central Alaska and northwestern Canada. As with many other rodents, this species serves as a good proxy indicator of local paleoenvironmental conditions, and its presence in Wisconsinan-aged deposits in the Midwestern U.S. indicates that regional temperatures were much cooler during this period.”
—from http://iceage.museum.state.il.us/mammals/yellow-cheeked-vole-0
Heather vole, Phenacomys intermedius
Phenacomys intermedius …is a small, mouse-like rodent with short tail, large hindfeet, and small ears and eyes. They have long, soft brown to grayish fur, with white to pale gray face and feet, and a silvery belly.
—from http://iceage.museum.state.il.us/mammals/heather-vole-0
When they had been travelling for several more suns, after the tribe stopped for dark time, Jeek asked Gunda if she would loan him her spear. Hamapa males did not throw spears, but Jeek had always wanted to be a spear thrower and to bring down food for his tribe. Back in the village, he had practiced in secret until he was able to cast his crude spear long and straight. When he was found out, the females let him practice with them. He had not thrown a spear for many suns. He was afraid he would forget his skills.
Ongu Small One heard Jeek and Gunda and approached them. I have an extra spear, Jeek. Do you want to use it for practice? It would be good if some of the young ones practiced.
He was pleased because he had not brought one with him.
He and Gunda hurried away from the tribe so they would be able to practice while there was still some light. The place Hama had chosen for their stop was one without shelter or water. Jeek and Gunda walked across flat, dusty land, looking for something they could aim at, but they could find nothing.
We will have to set something up for a target , Gunda thought-spoke.
How will we do that? All that is here is grass—tall grass, but sparse.
That is true. Even if we make a target, we would have to clear the grasses out of the way so we could shoot at it.
The grass was taller than the two young
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