Chapter 13: Little Mother's Garden.

 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 lake in the river valley where Little Mother had chosen to plant her garden.

Little Mother was now carrying the child of Quiet Menace, who was the son of Finds Tracks and Quiet Thinker, who in turn was the granddaughter of the original Chief, and the niece of Spinner.

Quiet Menace and Little Mother were bonded, and while she was the voice of the couple, the young male was intelligent, as well as formidable.

Quiet Menace had earned his unusual name because as a child, he had indeed been quiet (even shy), but when teased or pushed too far once, would have killed his abusers, had he not been restrained.

While Quiet Menace was growing into a big man, Little Mother was on the small side, but sturdy, and wasn't "showing" yet, and so could make sure to lead the entourage from the encampment to her garden, as her mother (Medicine Woman) had advised.

Medicine Woman herself accompanied the group, but her health slowed her, and she trailed behind. 

I Say was kind enough to have the group take breaks from their trek so that Medicine Woman and other Elders could rest, as well as to let Little Mother lead.

I Hear couldn't help proclaiming that "This is all for nothing. Even if it's worked, what will it prove? The gods will wipe it out anyway!", etc., but Little Mother had ignored him, as Medicine Woman had also advised her:

"The more he talks, the weaker he appears. None of what he says is new, nor will it matter when we confront him. Ignore him, as you would a whining child. The others will see him as just that."

Finally, Little Mother led them through the pass into the valley, and although her actual garden was still a thousand paces or more distant, the bright colors of fruits, melons, etc were already visible.

A hundred or so steps further, so was the relative absence of wild growth competing with her own plants.

I Hear had fallen silent, perhaps realizing what he'd been sounding like to the rest of the group, and certainly preparing his argument...

Once the group had reached the garden and spread out around and into it, with much muttering and a few gasps, Little Mother stared at I Hear, waiting for him to speak first.

"We see the gods' wisdom and way every day, in all that surrounds us. In the great herds we follow as we migrate. They eat the grasses and defecate to fertilize new growth, and move on, to let new growth renew the old.

"Birds eat berries and drop their seeds. We take some animals and plants, and leave some, as we move on, and when we return, we find everything renewed.

"Who can tell me that this isn't how the gods meant us to live?

"What Little Mother has accomplished here is impressive, but opposes the gods! It disrupts the cycle of renewal the gods designed for all life, including ours!

"This once, we can gather in this bounty she has created, but the soil won't be renewed, the gods will bring drought or flooding or pestilence or disease, and the game will all be killed or flee in half a season!

"All this is obvious! How can anyone not see it?"

Little Mother was taken aback by I Hear's speech, and was at a loss, but Medicine Woman filled the gap for her:

"We can renew the soil, and tame herd animals far more easily than we did the wolves. There are abundant fish in this river and lake, and we can renew the soil with what we don't eat of them!"

"And why", Discovers Things overrode I Hear's retort, "were we given the brains and hands to make tools and weapons? Without them, the predators would have wiped us out long ago! Wasn't this intended by the gods you invented?"

"I hear the gods! I didn't in--"

Little Mother found her voice again, and shouted to be heard over I Hear: "You tell us your gods are all-powerful! Why didn't they stop this?", she swept her hand around at her garden.

Some of I Hear's own followers appeared conflicted now, and Medicine Woman gave Little Mother a "look".

"I am going to stay here, along with anyone who wants to join me!", Little Mother declared.

"You can't! The gods--"

I Hear fell silent as Quiet Menace stepped close to him with both hands on his spear, and looked into I Say's eyes:

"Who leads here?", he growled.

"I do!", I Say responded reflexively.

"Then are you telling us we can't settle here if we want? That we are slaves?"

The teenager was no match for I Say, but the challenge wasn't directed at him, and he had only one option:

"You can do as you choose.", he said, visibly relaxing (and raising a palm to I Hear, who seemed about to protest.)

Little Mother nodded sharply. "You are our family, and will be welcome here, always...unless---"

Medicine Woman cut her off with a head-skake, but Quiet Manace tilted his speartip ever so slightly toward I Hear's face, and smiled at I Say.

And so it was that a number of the Wolf People (and dogs) remained in Little Mother's Garden when the tribe moved on, and a new tribe was born.