Captured

Using the iron I managed to shape, I created some rudimentary things.

Nails, knives, spears, swords, shields, axes, and hammers.

Due to not having access to the correct materials, the iron contained many impurities and would be considered, at best, inferior-quality iron.

At least it was usable.

When I have the right conditions, I will create a new forge with the correct processes.

Although I know how to build one, it is very different to know how to do it than to actually do it.

If it weren't for my knowledge in various areas accumulated over my many years, I would probably stay in this forest until I die.

But even though no one in the group is ashamed to be naked, I am different, and using animal skins has become my trademark.

But if I continue working in the forge, my hair will disappear because of the flames.

Besides, I have no form of protection, just trying not to go bald all over my body.

One of the main reasons I didn't wait for better resources and conditions to create this furnace was because I needed things made of iron.

Although I can use substitutes made of wood and stone.

Even with poor quality, it's still better than those made with wood and stone.

I intend to build things to facilitate long-distance travel.

One of the things necessary for this will be a wheel.

Actually, several.

Over the months, I ordered some trees to be cut down.

At first, some almost died, but as I watched and guided, they soon adapted.

The ones responsible for cutting down the trees were some of the warriors.

This gave me the idea to create another group.

One that would be exclusively responsible for resources.

This reminds me that the human species started only with gatherers and hunters.

Women gathered, and men hunted.

So, I decided to group some members from the other three groups, those who could learn but did not perform well.

Fortunately, they could perform resource gathering tasks correctly.

I called them gatherers.

I will lead this group since the gathering work is more complex than the other three.

It involves collecting materials, food, herbs, and water.

After gathering a large amount of materials, I started building my projects for the journey.

So, the first thing I started building was a cart.

At that moment, I had no animal to pull it.

I could create small carts to carry various foods and resources in several small carts, but that would end up becoming a mess.

So, I thought.

Can I tame some animal to pull these carts?

The answer was a big yes.

Although rare, humans can even tame lions.

Now, which animal should I try?

I think I saw the animal I need.

On the savanna.

Two months before leaving the forest:

"Wait."

"Not yet."

"Calm down."

"Now!"

"Attack!"

"Haaa!"

"Encircle!"

"That's it!"

Today was a different day.

Today, we hunted, but not in the forest, in the savanna.

I had never gone to the savanna before, at least not for hunting.

The other times were for mapping.

But this hunt is not for food.

Today, we hunt for capture.

We are surrounding a group of ancestors of wildebeests.

My plan is to capture some young ones and tame them to pull the carts. Of course, I doubt it will be easy, but I have to at least try.

I really wanted a horse or a cow, maybe a buffalo, but I am too far from any of them. I consider myself lucky to find some wildebeests, as the biodiversity information of this time lacks many details.

In my team were Joe, Martins, Marcos, and eight others.

With 12 in total, including me, I instructed and taught what we would have to do.

I told each one to position themselves in specific areas, forming a dodecagon.

Each one carried ropes, bolas, and a spear.

Following my plan, we approached the wildebeests silently.

Although the Australopithecus eats meat, like chimpanzees, they are not active hunters.

So, this stealthy work was quite complicated.

I had to explain several times, until it was satisfactory, mainly because of Martins.

As the former leader of the group, he still harbors resentment for me not killing him or at least expelling him.

I didn't even let him leave.

One reason was that he is quite intelligent, not like Cornelius, but still superior to others, along with Marcos in intelligence.

So, whenever I send him to do something, even if he does it, he does it reluctantly.

"Now!"

At the moment I gave the signal for everyone to start the capture, everyone advanced together.

With the sudden commotion, the wildebeests panicked.

As I had instructed before, only the young ones or cubs were the targets.

Some cubs ran with their mothers, so I ordered them to use the bolas for capture.

At first, it was difficult, but over time, they all got used to throwing.

So, when we threw, many missed, but three hit.

One young one and two cubs.

When the cubs were caught, the mothers tried to help them get up, but when they saw that they couldn't get up on their own, they changed their focus to us.

One of the mothers attacked.

Obviously, we were prepared for something like this.

When she came close to me, I managed to dodge the horns and used the spear to hit her legs, making her fall.

Then the other two attacked the rest of my team.

Unlike me, they had no intention of not killing.

At the same time, Martins hit the spear in the belly and Joe in the head, killing instantly.

The cubs screamed, and the young one tried to free itself.

The other mother, realizing that she could die, had no choice but to abandon and flee.

Using a herb powder I created, I threw it on the faces of the cubs, and for the young one, I threw it directly into its mouth.

In addition to training the group and creating a forge, I also discovered a paralyzing herb.

And like everything that was discovered at the beginning, it wasn't a very good sensation.

My luck is that I don't test any plants in open places; first, I go to my cave, and then I test.

I still don't have anyone to test, so I can only do it for myself.

If someone tries to do something wrong, and the result would be death, I will be able to have a guinea pig, but for now, I just hope not to encounter anything too serious.

"Sorry, but the law of the jungle is the absolute truth."

"All right, let's go back."

"Bring them and the bodies."

Using a handcart I created to carry the bodies and the cubs and the young one paralyzed.

I really didn't know if it would work, as I had no way of knowing what would happen to a wildebeest.

Even if it worked, I told them to hurry, as I really don't know how long the herb will last.

After a long walk, we returned to the group.

First, I told them to light the fires.

After learning to make fire, they are not as afraid as before.

But I also warned them to be careful where they light it.

So, I designated specific locations for that.

I left the bodies to the artisans.

They got used to

 skinning animals and cutting meat to roast.

Basically, prehistoric cooks.

Then I took care of the ones I captured.

The paralyzing herb was still taking effect.

I took some ropes and made some loops so they couldn't escape.

I put some plants and pieces of fruit.

And it's really strange to know that I'm sharing the group's food with them.

Some even wanted to eat, obviously, I prevented it.

Well, I will take good care of you.