Freedom and the Collective

  A half year later, the Wolf People came near the place where Little Mother (and a few others) had cleared patches of soil, planted seeds, tubers, etc, and covered the soil around them with surface mulch (including the fur the dogs had shed) to prevent competing plants from taking root around them. All of the people already knew about this, and already I Hear was telling all who would listen that this was a direct insult to the gods, who oversaw all things for the good of all. The Wolf People were divided between those who followed I Hear and those who did not, and compromise seemed impossible, as much of what I Hear preached made actual sense, even to reasonable people. A storm was brewing, and both sides knew it. Chief I Say had avoided taking sides. Most of the Elders opposed I Hear and supported Little Mother, but not all. When the tribe reached their familiar south-to-north encampment, a group of people from both sides, including I Hear and I Say, traveled a half day to the l...

  The Wolf People continued their annual migrations without any major incident. Some small bands of outcasts or renegades sought to "raid" them in stealth, but the dogs tracked them down quickly. These were not killed unless they fought, but were brought back to the Tribe and Council, along with their women and children (if any) for judgement. More often than not, it was determined that the miscreants were fools, and/or misguided. Not only Log Pusher, but many others, felt that the fighting age males should be executed. After all, with ample hunting and edible plants, why would any small group steal from another? In most cases, the adult males were executed . But every time, women and children wailed in agony over the loss of their loved ones. I Say listened to Spinner and the other leaders, and tried hard to be just and fair, but (as Spinner had), found his responsibilities a great burden. It so often seemed that there was no "right" decision; that invariably there...

The Others were different from every other tribe. While skin tones, statures, features etc varied from one tribe to another, the Others were more different than any other tribe. Having known and interracted with the Others, the Wolf People tended to ignore the much slighter differences between themselves and other tribes. The Others tended to be shorter and wider than all other tribes. Their heads were longer from front to back, but lower from crown to brow. Their brows overhung their eyes. They were much stronger than all other people. The Wolf People had traded smoked fish, all manner of wooden tools and carvings, woven baskets, materials for weaving, etc for bone-carved tools, flammable oils, and thicker, warmer hides than they could find elsewere. One campfire story said that the Others and the Tribe's anscestors had fought at first, and that the Others had won, but that the Chief at that time had sent a brave warrior forth unarmed, bearing gifts, and signalling peace to the Ot...

"This girl has ever been the mentor and teacher of younger or slower children, as well as caring for infants...as you all know.", Medicine Woman proclaimed to the Tribe (to smiles, and some laughter). "So we name her, 'Little Mother'!" She embraced her daughter, as the audience made respectful sounds of approval. Little Mother glowed, and saw the love and satisfaction in Sees More's eyes-- "The gods approve this naming!", I Hear announced. Little Mother, like many others, was shocked by this unprecedented intrusion on a simple naming ceremony. Sees More glared and stepped towards the young man, and Medicine Woman snapped back: "Your ‘gods’ are the same fictions the Enemy invented to justify the atrocoties they committed! They don’t exist!” I Hear stepped back, and showed his upraised palms, placating, but remained calm. Smiling, he said “The gods have told me, some would not believe, for they have granted us free will. I am chosen to speak...

  Sees More was numb as he wandered around the battlefield, looking at the carnage. Split and caved in heads. Distorted limbs. Spilled intestines. The stink of blood, urine, and feces was something he knew he would never get used to. But he heard someone moaning in pain, and saw a young boy grinding the butt of his spear into the back of maimed enemy's hand. The wounded enemy had been trying to crawl somewhere, and was helpless. Before he knew it, Sees More had knocked the young torturer down. He recognized him now.  He was one of those freed from the Enemy encampment, and brought here because he spoke the Enemy's language. He had been here mainly to make sure all the slaves understood "Turn on your masters", "we are here to free you", etc. The boy scrambled up off the ground, with an indescribably vicious, hateful expression on his face, but seemed unable to speak. "We don't torture.", Sees More growled. He turned, and brained the torture vict...

  "They come.", the young scout reported breathlessly, but calmly.  "A hundred or more, as Goes Alone said." he nodded to the Chief scout. "Two of three, or a little less, carry the rods, and surround the younger ones.  They didn't send scouts ahead...well I don't think so."  Goes Alone nodded approvingly. Never assume. "They look tired.  They look down, and plod along.  Not alert.  No flanking scouts either...I don't think." Goes Alone nodded again.  He had sent three scouts toward the Sea People's Village, and was confident that his own scouts would have detected (and killed) any Enemy scouts north or south of the river.  The Enemy was arrogant and undisciplined. With a glance, Goes Alone told Spinner that this was probably the real situation. Spinner smiled and nodded back, then stood up to assure the rest of the warriors that all was as it should be, and their orders held. Along the south bank of the shallow river (the flat, l...