Chapter 12: The Seed

 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 was outrage and conflict, no matter what he decided.

But the women and children became part of the tribe--often with bitterness or even hatred toward I Say, for having had their fathers or brothers put to death.

Fortunately, these incidents were rare. No one dared challenge the Wolf People now, and only fools tried to steal from them. Indeed, it was insane, and the men who sanctioned it could never be trusted.

I Say protected the Wolf People first, and had listened to Spinner, Medicine Woman, and the other elders.

The (somewhat altered) "religeon" of the Slavers divided the Wolf People more and more. It was far too late to cut this tumor out.

Spinner regretted not having done so, as Sees More (and FindsTracks, and Medicine Woman, and Log Pusher) had advised.

"I'm so sorry I left you this burden.", Spinner had told him.  "I thought they'd see the farce for what it was."

But the Wolf People had done well under I Say's leadership overall.

I Hear and his religeon's followers had grown, of course, but they appeared fairly harmless, and indeed promoted love, peace, and other positive values.

Spinner and the other elders had warned I Say not to trust I Hear, but I Say couldn't see what harm they could do, and found I Hear useful...

Especially when he'd ordered bandits executed.

"The gods willed it. You will see, it was for the best. The gods are much wiser than any of us. We can't understand their wisdom."

Spinner died--then Log Pusher and his brother, Finds Tracks. Medicine Woman remained, in good health, though stooped somewhat.

Discovers Things was now an elder on the council (there was no formal "council", but several individuals were naturally accepted as "elders", and this group informally accepted as the council).

Little Mother, now a young woman, had partnered with Strong Will, who was the son of Finds Tracks. 

While some of the men had more than one wife (including Finds Tracks), Strong Will and Little Mother seemed exclusive (as everyone knew that Little Mother would tolerate no other wife).

Strong Will's mother had been a rescued slave. She was tall and strong, but had never quite overcome her brutal conditioning by the slavers.

While very intelligent, and creative, she remained quiet, and all but submissive, until she had died.

Still, she had taught Strong Will much, including his right to take whatever he earned...as a man.

Little Mother, (daughter of Medicine Woman and Goes Alone, raised by Sees More, and in part by his daughter Discovers Things), had her own ideas.

She had seen how the Sea People had stayed in one place and prospered (in fact much moreso than the Wolf People).

The Wolf People had met other tribes who had stayed in one place.

On their annual migrations, the Wolf People knew where to find edible tubers and bulbs, and to always leave some of them, so that there would be more the next season.

So it was with wild fruits, berries, nuts, and such.

Little Mother wanted to stop. To stay in one place. To have a home, like the Sea People had.

One year, at one campsite, she cleared ground, planted seeds, and covered them over with grass and foliage.

Many made fun of her, but she ignored them, except to tell them "maybe the next time we pass through here, there will be tomatoes, peppers, and what-not. And in five or six years, apples and peaches".

The Wolf People moved on, as always.

But Little Mother had planted her seeds...