Early Days

My first name is unwrittenable in todays language. The sound was so guttural it echoed off of our rocky walls. Mother would only use it to alert to me a danger was close. Otherwise she would call out to me via a Yipping noise.

"ELeOh." (Put your tongue on the roof of your mouth and breath through your throat. Finish with a low "o" sound.)

I would drop to the grass with my belly down and eyes up. My hands to my side while my toes dug into the earth. I would scan with only slight movements to locate whatever she saw.

Mother was not far and carried her stick. One of the men in the village had traded her the knowledge of sharpening one end on a rock, making the stick into a wooden spear. The pointed end would allow it to puncture most creatures. I remember the man who came up with the idea was treated like a king back then.

We both locked eyes on the creature. A large cat-like animal. We didn't have a name for them all. Its dark fur had hid itself amongst the shadows. Its pulsing yellow eyes gave it away though. It moved every so slightly towards my young self. Still the distance was about 10 meters or so. Mother was closer.

"Yip-Yip" Mother shouted and sprinted towards me. I in return ran straight at her with the creature pouncing after me. She let out another call and pulled back her spear. I began to slide as Mother jumped over me. Her spear caught the cat creature in the chest. Both of them fell together.

One thing most people don't know about death is that its rarely ever quick. Usually you have around 30 seconds to a minute before death finally arrives.

I rushed over to see the creature scratching at Mother furiously. Not willing to let her spear go or allow its sharp teeth to get closer she could only shield one side of her face and body. Not being a bright child I was stuck in fear at the scene. I have often thought why didn't I pick up a rock and end its tantrum, but I digress.

When the spark of life left the miserable creature, mothers left side was smeared with blood. You could not tell where the red liquid would come from next. Her eye had been scratched badly making it useless for the rest of her life. Her exposed chest had deep cuts. Her arm was mangled but managed to still hold her sharp stick.

Standing up, I called out to her with my own "Yip." She puled me in her embrace and we had a moment of understanding. Now I know she was just happy that I was safe but I was terrified for her. 

She let go of me and asked me to bring some leaves and dirt to her. She took some of what I had gather and mushed them into her shallower wounds. Leaving the worst one on her chest exposed. When I asked if she would close that one she shook her head.

With a strained face she placed the cat on her back and used the spear as a walking stick back to our cave in the village. We passed by others who had come back from hunting or those who picked fruit on our way.

One man accosted mother about the cat and wanted a piece. Normally mother would not let anyone touch our food but today was different. She just cut off one of its legs and threw it at the man. He responded with a curse and a crooked smile.

We finally arrived home and mother told me to cut up the creature, she then went to the river to clean herself. I took out my bone knife mother had made for me when we first started hunting and got to work. Obviously at the time we knew nothing about proper handling tactics or cleanliness. So I just butchered the meat as best as I could. Getting rid of the small parts like the paws or the gross smelling like the stomach and intestines. I kept the head so we could have another trophy like always and did my best to keep the skin intact on the rest. Mother could trade it for tools or knowledge or maybe more coverings.

With Mother back she told me to go get the fire man. At the time we believed that the fire man was blessed by the gods, for he could breath fire. Only one man had the skill and it was passed down his family since we had gather here. Some people had other abilities but most of the time they were useless or unimportant. Many others were like me and mother without such abilities.

The fire man asked Mother what she would trade and this time she gave him her spear. I was shocked because Mother had always loved that spear as it was precious and would normally over some meat to him instead. The man frowned but accepted the spear. Then he lit our fire pit with a single breath.

I thanked the fire man as he left and he gave me a small nod in recognition. Mother began searing the meat as I watched. The way she handled a flame was almost as if it would do her bidding. Once done she allowed me to eat first. While I ate my full she made the fire dance around our cave. To this day it was one of the most magnificent sights I have ever seen.

When I was full Mother finished off the rest of the feast and I drew on the cave. I painted Mother as she hopped over me and felled the creature. Normally she would scold me when I drew but tonight was different. The sun had finally set and our fire was close to going out.

"Yip." Mother called out to me as she laid down on the big bear skin. Mother told me my Father gifted it to her when they found out she was going to have me. Father has been gone for years already but she still misses him. I crawled into Mothers embrace and she wrapped herself around my small frame. She hummed me to sleep that night.