Chapter 7: the Home Front

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're g...you'll need to kill my companions before you can rape me"

"I...would never---"  Sees Far spluttered,.

"You're so cute!", Discovers Things blurted, laughing.

Sees Far was furious:

"I killed a man, at least.  How can you laugh at me?"

Discovers Things was shocked.

 "I'm sorry.  I was only kidding.  You killed an Enemy?"

 "Yes.  We outnumbered them, and they had no spear throwers.  We just...slaughtered them."  The young scout tried to be stoic, but Discovers Things could see that he was troubled.

 "They're monsters, you know.  They'll keep murdering and enslaving people until they're dead."

 "I know.  In my head.  In my heart...I keep seeing my spear going through him.  The surprised look on his face. He looked...not like a monster...it just bothers me.”

 She touched his shoulder.  "It has to be done."

 Sees Far nodded, and greeted Discovers Things’ team mates.  The 12 year old boy's eyes were huge.

 "Did you find the Enemy?"

 "Yes.  We killed some of them.  I'm here to report to the Elders, then I must return.  We're not done with them yet."

 "Good!" the boy exclaimed.  "I wish I could go with you!"

 "Me too.", Discovers Things added, drawing a look from Sees Far.  She knew that look, and averted her own eyes.  She was glad that Sees Far wanted her.  He was handsome, and intelligent.

 After an uncomfortable silence, Sees Far cleared his throat.  "I have to see the Elders, and return south."  He turned to go, but Discovers Things stopped him with a light touch.

"Before you go, I want to show you something."

The older man took the boy by a shoulder, and guided him away.  The boy smirked knowingly, which irked her.

She guided Sees Far to the base of the sloping wall of stone she had been studying.  She pointed to the point at which the left-to-right slope began.

"That's today."  She led him along the wall, as it rose.  Clear layers ran parallel to the upslope; rising from left to right.  She pointed again.  "This was about a hundred years ago."

"You can tell?"

"Each layer is a year, more or less.  As we walk along this wall, we're looking back in time.  The plants and animals die and turn to soil.  New life grows out of it.  Each year, the dropped leaves, and sometimes the ashes of burnings pile on top, press down on the lower layers..."

She paused at a black band, below several very thin layers.  "Something happened here, maybe two hundred fifty years ago.  It couldn't have been a fire.  It's too thick.  I've seen this black band in other places, everywhere."

Sees Far shook his shoulders in a sort of shiver.  "That was before any of our stories recall...the real ones, anyway.  What do you think happened?"

"I don't know, but it might have to do with volcanos."

"Volc-what?"

Discovers Things chuckled: "Sorry, I made that word up.  Those smoking cones, from which molten rock flow.  I've seen evidence of them everywhere, and think they used to be a lot more common.

"This black band...it's like the ash from fires, but much thicker, and harder.  I think the ash floated everywhere, maybe for years.  It's much harder than the layers above and below it because it was finer, and packed tighter.

"But look here.  See this?" she pointed a few layers deeper, at...a seashell. "I call this 'sandstone', because it is literally made of sand.  And this was the bottom of a sea!"

Sees Far glanced around, trying to remember how far from the ocean they were, and how close to sea level.

Discovers Things read his look, nodding with a knowing smile.  "Land rises and falls," she gestured at the wall itself, which had obviously been pushed up from below itself. "Maybe so does the sea level...but look here:" She pointed again.

"These layers are different.  The layers are uneven, harder, and different from eachother.  I believe this was all once molten, and came from deep underground.  These materials were never alive.

"This one", she pointed at a white layer: "We can chisel like flint, but it's softer, so we can grind it too; shape it like wood.  This one, and another: We can melt, and form.  I call these "alloys".  There are materials here we don't understand yet, but think we could melt and form if we could get enough heat..."

"Why are you showing me all this, Dissy?" Discovers Things noted that Sees Far had never used her nickname before, and was pleased to hear it.

She took awhile for her to answer, as she wasn't certain herself.

"I want you to know that the Wolf People are special, and that you fight for a great cause, against a great evil.

"Here", she pointed at the veins she had earlier pointed out, "is the future, and no other people have the intelligence to exploit it.

"I want you to come back.  Don't try to be a hero."

She kissed him.  Not long, or deep, but enough to "inspire" him.

"Now go!"




























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