Freedom and the Collective

Discovers Things was one of the most formidable women in the Tribe, so she was among those who patrolled the areas around the encampment. These scouting patrols sought Enemy scouts. Discovers Things was teamed with an old (50 year old) man, and a 12 year old boy.  Her team didn't have a dog with them.   Most of the "trusted" dogs were with the warriors in the south. The majority of dogs naturally barked or howled when they detected prey or strangers, so they remained in the main camp. Dog Man had trained some of the dogs to remain silent, and not to attack, but only one in four mature dogs were "trusted". Discovers Things tried to remain alert, looking for movement, as she leaned against a tree, but fought sleep, and frankly doubted that the Enemy would show up here... "I could have killed you.", a familiar voice declared, from behind her. Discovers Things winced, but knew Sees Far's voice. "I suppose you...

Spinner took the time to look around while the "Priest" waited to be interrogated. He saw some women and children being untied from bondage.  Some of the slaves were kicking the corpses of their masters. Most of the women wouldn't meet his people's eyes; their own eyes downcast.  He saw bruises and scars. The young man who had volunteered to translate had a black eye, and purple marks on his back; unmistakably from one of the rods.  And yes, there were welts on his neck, wrists, and ankles. He saw Spinner looking, and, unlike the women and younger children, met his eyes with a hard smile.   "What's your name?" "I was Grasshopper.  None here have names until we earn the rod." Earn.  Spinner didn't need it spelled out.  Eventually, the young men were expected to cooperate, in order to escape their torture. "We'll think of a good name for you."   Grasshopper only nodded.  He seemed very old for his years.  Very ...

"That one, with the feathers and silly garments", Goes Alone nodded, "is one of the two leaders.  The other was a true warrior who led the attack group.  I don't think this one will fight." Spinner nodded.  The rest of the warriors had to be in position by now.   Goes Alone had spied on the Enemy encampment until the 3 scouts returned to report on the Sea People's rich, tempting village. He had studied their reaction and preparations, then counted and marked the party (of over 90 warriors) they had dispatched. He'd waited long enough to count and mark the guards they were posting to about the main camp in their absence (or really, to prevent their slaves from escaping.) Goes Alone had reached the combined group of Sea and Wolf warriors behind the knarled tree they had used as their common way-point before the Enemy warriors passed that point, and had had the bulk of them move farther north to minimize the chance of detection. Spinner and the ...

Sees More, Spinner, Sees Far, and Finds Tracks arrived at their landmark tree with Scout; a "trusted" young female dog, and settled down to wait. It was mid-morning, and they didn't expect Goes Alone, or Light Foot with the Sea Warriors, to come before the middle of the next day at the earliest. They'd left Log Pusher in charge of 28 other warriors a fifth of a day's walk north, to avoid detection, and allow them to hunt and cook. Scouts with dogs circled both the camps at distance.  It was possible that the Enemy had deployed scouts in every direction, and if any were discovered, they were to be killed (if capture and interrogation was not realistic). Most of the boys (and some of the girls) were skilled hunters who were accustomed to stealth and killing, as were the older men at the base camp. All of this was normal for all peoples. The dedicated scouts were the best of these, and those at the camp worked in pairs, so that one could go for help, or th...