Thank you, thank you Android123, MaevyH, and Shadowmage97 for your reviews on the last chapter! Thanks also to everyone who has followed and faved.
I'm so sorry this chapter took so long. The good news is, since I constantly write out of order, I've got a lot of progress made on the next chapter already, so hopefully I can polish off the last remaining pieces and get that out in a timely manner. (I have just jinxed myself terribly, haven't I?) There are some big changes going on at Chez QuickSpinner (good things), but I'm doing my best.
"Wow," Guy muttered, hands on his hips as he surveyed the valley. Belt cooed in agreement.
The waterfall roared and crashed down the back wall into the swollen stream. He had expected that much. What he hadn't expected was the mud covering the floor of the valley. The ground was more than just wet, it was saturated, and the storm water had carried mud and debris over the cliff wall and in from the jungle. The firepit was obliterated, and the boulders that had surrounded it were half-buried in the mud. Their peaceful green meadow was a marshy, soggy mess.
Staring at it, Guy wasn't really sure how to feel. He'd never had a place that was "home" before and he was pretty sure that seeing it messed up like this should have been upsetting.
Then again, everything he'd ever built had been abandoned or destroyed within a few days, so maybe he should just be grateful that it took this long for anything to happen here. And really, the valley hadn't been in much better shape when they first found it. It would just take some work to clear it out.
"It's pretty bad," Pal said beside him.
"Not so bad," Guy said thoughtfully. "It'll take a few days for the ground to dry out, and we've got to do something about the mud, but...maybe we can use the stream...If I can find a way to divert the water and channel it, maybe we can wash the mud back out again."
"That sounds..." Pal trailed off.
"Hard?" Guy suggested.
Pal winced. "I was going to go with crazy, actually."
Guy grinned, his eyes already darting around the valley as his plan took shape in his mind. "Have a little faith, Dad."
"I'm starving," Eep sighed as she pushed through the underbrush. "I'm so glad to be out of there."
"It wasn't really so bad, was it?" Grug asked, a little too casually, trailing behind her. "The cave."
Eep looked at him sharply. "It was pretty bad," she said cautiously.
Grug's shoulder's hunched a little further. "You didn't used to mind, you know. When you were little. You'd listen to me tell stories for hours, and then go to sleep curled up on my chest." He sighed. "What happened, Eep?"
"Dad," Eep put her hand on his arm. "I grew up. I got bigger, but the cave didn't."
"You didn't get that big," Grug joked, draping his arm across her shoulders.
"Yes, I did, Dad," Eep scowled, pushing his arm off of her. "That's the problem. I got big, but you can't see it because I got big in—in ways you couldn't see. Sometimes I think you still don't see it."
Grug was looking at her in that way that made her feel like he didn't understand a word she said, and Eep blew her breath out in frustration, and then crossed her eyes to glare at the strand of hair that fell into her eyes as a result.
"You're right," Grug said after a moment. "I don't get it. It's like one day you were fine with it, and then suddenly you weren't anymore, and I don't understand."
Eep shook her head, wishing she had Guy's gift for words.
"We had good times in that cave," Grug went on. "Don't you remember putting your handprints on the wall every summer, watching them get bigger and bigger? You used to love that."
"Except my hands stopped getting bigger, Dad," Eep reminded him. "Because I grew up. Yes, I didn't mind the cave and I loved the stories when I was a child, but I'm not a kid anymore. I need more than that. I need more than one little dark cave."
"It wasn't that dark," Grug began, and Eep threw her hands up.
"You always do that! You say you want to understand but what you really want is to argue with me and tell me why everything I'm feeling is wrong!"
"What? No!" Grug scowled. "That's not what I'm—"
"Yes, it is!" Eep raised her voice. "Yes, it is, Dad! It's what you always do! You say 'why didn't you like the cave' and I say 'the cave was dark' and you say 'no it wasn't'! What's the point of even talking to you about it if you aren't even going to listen to how I feel? I just—I just needed more, okay? I knew there had to be more to life than that cave and I was right!"
"Before Guy came," he began and then winced, aware he had made a mistake.
"It doesn't have anything to do with Guy!" Eep stomped her foot. "It started before we ever met him. This is about me and what I want. You can't put me back in that cave, and you can't make me a little girl again. You just can't, Dad, that's not the way the world works. I can't just stay the same forever."
"I know that," Grug mumbled, looking at her wistfully. He reached out to move the stubborn lock of hair back into place. "But even after all this time, it still scares me. There's nothing worse than watching your child get hurt and not being able to do anything to stop it."
Eep folded her arms, and when she spoke again, her tone was softer. "Dad, what happened to the baby wasn't your fault."
"I know that," he muttered.
Eep went to him and put her hands on one of his. "No, you don't. You still think that if you had just done a little bit more back then, found a little bit more food, that Mom wouldn't have lost the baby. Dad, it wasn't your fault. You did the best you could."
"Well, my best wasn't good enough, Eep," Grug said sharply. "That's the way that it is sometimes. Sometimes you do everything you can and it still isn't enough." He put his hands on her shoulders. "Eep, I know that you're strong. You're fast and you're smart. But it only takes once – one time that things don't go your way. One branch breaks, you lose your footing one time, you tangle with one creature that's stronger and faster than you are and that's it, it's all over, and it won't matter that you did your best because you'll be dead." He softened, cupping her cheek in one massive hand. "I kept you inside because I love you, Eep. I didn't do it to hurt you."
Eep put her hand over his. "I know that, Dad. I really do. But—I just can't live that way. I never could. It's not Guy's fault, it's just—me. It's who I am. I'm—I'm sorry, I just—I don't know how to be different."
"Eep," Grug said gently. "I never wanted you to be different. Sometimes you make me crazy, but—" he sighed. "I'm so proud of you, Eep. Maybe I don't tell you that enough but it's true."
Eep's eyes widened slightly, and grew moist.
Grug smiled a little. "Maybe one day you'll have children of your own, and then you'll understand how you can want your children to be strong and brave, and still want to protect them."
"Maybe," Eep smiled.
"But not too soon," Grug added hastily, pointing at her and trying to look stern. "You're still young. There's no need to rush."
"Dad!" Eep rolled her eyes. "Let's just get on with the hunt. I'm hungry." She turned on her heel.
"Yeah, yeah," Grug sighed, following her. "I hope you have a kid that turns out to be just like you someday," he muttered under his breath. "Then you'll see."
They regrouped back at the cave, Guy full of ideas and plans, Grug and Eep bearing the carcass of a saber-toothed rabbit big enough to feed all of them, and Ugga, Gran, and Thunk bearing a large basket of sea creatures that had been washed up on the beach.
"That was not easy," Thunk complained as he set the basket down. "I think every animal in the jungle was out there trying to get some of this. If it wasn't for Douglas I'd have gotten my leg chewed off!"
"Well, it looks like you did good," Grug said, putting his hand on Thunk's shoulder as he looked into the basket. Thunk grinned.
It was tough getting a fire going with all the available wood being so wet, but Guy had thought to get some of their stored spear shafts from one of the caves in the valley. They didn't last long, but they burned long enough to dry out the kindling Guy piled on top of them. The fire was smokey, but it was burning, and that was all he cared about.
Pal and Inda helped Ugga and Gran sort the food from the beach while Thunk, Eep, and Grug got the rabbit skinned and roasting.
Guy sat by himself, cross-legged, with his arms folded and his head down, his knee bouncing rhythmically.
A yowl interrupted his thoughts, followed by a cry of "Chunky!" from Grug. Guy looked up to see the muliti-colored cat prowling up the path towards them, looking slightly bedraggled, but otherwise none the worse for wear. He let out another disgruntled yowl as Grug went to pet him, nosing the caveman so hard he sat down with an "oof!"
"Good," Guy muttered to Belt, grinning. "I think we're going to need him." His chin fell to his chest as he sank back into his thoughts, and he didn't look up again until the smell of roasted meat made his stomach growl.
Dinner was even more chaotic than usual, what with everyone being so hungry, but between the rabbit and the seafood there was enough for everyone, even after Chunky stole a huge hunk of rabbit from Grug. Inda ate slowly, but with both Guy and Pal watching her, she finished it all.
"You know," Thunk said thoughtfully, picking his teeth afterward. "The smoke gives the meat a nice flavor. I liked it."
"It was pretty good," Eep agreed. "But then again I was awfully hungry too." She sighed, lounging back on her elbows, and looked over at Guy. "So have you got a plan? You've sure been thinking long enough."
"I do," Guy said thoughtfully. "But it's going to take all of us to make it work, and we're going to have to hurry. It won't work once everything dries out."
"Let's hear it," Grug shrugged, tossing a large bone to Chunky.
Guy outlined his plan, while the family all stared at him skeptically.
"That sounds like a lot of work," Ugga said, when he was done.
Guy shrugged. "Not as much as trying to get all that mud out by hand. So, unless we all plan to grow webbed feet—or—" He rubbed his hand through his hair. "I guess we could find someplace else to live."
"No," Grug said definitively. "The valley is home. If this is what it takes, it's worth a try." He stood up. "All right, everybody back inside. It sounds like we have a lot to do tomorrow and we'll need an early start."
"I'm sleeping out here," Eep announced as the others filed inside, to no one's particular surprise.
Grug sighed. "Fine. Stay close to the fire. And I don't want you going anywhere in the morning without telling someone first." He turned and his meaty hand closed over Guy's upper arm, pulling him up and setting him on his feet. "You. Inside."
"Hey," Pal shot to his feet, scowling. "Let him go."
Grug swung to face him, surprise on his face. Guy, his arm still in Grug's hand, was pulled around too. Pal took a step forward. "Let. Him. Go. He can walk on his own."
Grug growled, his hand tightening on Guy without meaning to.
"Grug," Guy said quietly, "You're hurting me."
"Dad," Eep hissed. "Stop it."
Grug looked at Guy, and then let go, looking guilty. Guy straightened, rubbing his arm, and then walked into the cave.
"Pal," Inda said softly, but Pal ignored her, stepping up to the big caveman. "You do what you want with your own kids," Pal growled through gritted teeth. "But you keep your hands off mine."
"This is my family," Grug growled, showing his teeth. He hadn't meant to hurt Guy, but he wasn't about to let this stranger tell him what to do.
"Dad," Eep scowled, getting between them. "You made your point, just go to bed already."
Inda put her hand on Pal's arm. "Pal. Let's go to bed."
Pal sighed, but let himself be led away.
Eep punched Grug in the arm. "Dad, why do you have to be so mean?"
"Ow," Grug scowled. "I wasn't, I just—" He sighed, and rolled his eyes. "Never mind. I didn't mean to, okay?"
"You should tell him that," Eep said shortly, going back to the fire.
They got an early start in the morning. Grug, Thunk, and Chunky got to work clearing the biggest, heaviest pieces of debris in the valley. The macawnivore growled and complained about getting his feet muddy, but once Grug convinced him to help, he was a huge asset. The liyote pack began to appear by twos and threes in the valley, slipping in the mud and climbing the rocks, chittering and complaining.
Eep and Pal searched the jungle for the things Guy needed, while he, Ugga, Inda, and occasionally Gran got to work making the chutes and hoses that Guy hoped would let them channel the rushing stream water.
"I hope this works," he muttered to Ugga as they fit the pieces together.
"If it doesn't, we'll find another way." She patted his hand. "But we'll never know if we don't try, right?"
"Right," Guy smiled gratefully. He and Ugga were making good progress on the wood pieces, and Inda and Belt worked together, sewing together lengths of hide with tight, even stitches. With so many people working, they were mostly finished by the time Grug, Thunk, and Chunky were finished. Guy gave instructions and they fitted the pieces of his creation together. By the time they finished, it was almost sundown.
The next morning, they assembled in the valley, ready to put their plan into action. It took some time to get set up, with the thick, sticky mud making it hard to walk, but finally they were ready. Guy, Pal, Gran, and Inda, who held Sandy, stood on an outcropping from one of the cliff walls, high enough to be out of the way, but still have a view of the valley.
It'll work, Guy thought, as he surveyed their setup. It should work. He took a deep breath. "Okay," he yelled. "Go!"
Ugga and Eep pushed the ends of the chutes into the stream, and water immediately rushed into them, through the shoots and out through the hide hoses that Thunk and Grug held. Guy held his breath; the two of them had the dangerous jobs here. If the force of the water was too much for them to hold onto and control, things could go bad really quickly. Not to mention all the other things that could go wrong – the chutes might not hold, the hoses might burst, or the whole thing might just not work at all and they'd end up with a worse mess than they'd started with.
Thunk stumbled at first, startled by the force of the water roaring through his hose, but he kept his feet and his grip, and managed to wrestle the hose back under control. He pointed it at the valley floor, and the roaring water rushed across, pushing the mud in front of it. The thick valley grass appeared underneath, flattened, its roots holding the earth of the valley in place as the mud washed away. On the other side of the stream, Grug was doing the same. Caveman muscles bulged on both legs and arms as they struggled to control the hoses and keep their footing.
"Yes," Guy breathed. "Okay," he yelled, "Start moving forward."
Ugga and Eep through their weights into the ropes secured to the chutes, moving them down the stream. As they advanced, so did Thunk and Grug, pushing the roar of water and mud forward towards the valley entrance. Slowly, a few steps at a time, they sluiced the valley floor clean.
It didn't all go perfectly. Thunk's hose sprung a leak suddenly, sending a spray of water up in his face, but the boy spluttered and planted a hand over the leak instinctively, squeezing it shut while he gasped for breath. Grug almost lost his footing once, but Eep rushed forward from her station by the chute and helped him get the hose back under control. Not all of the water and mud went quite where they had intended, and there were places where it piled up against the valley walls, but that was an acceptable margin of error, Guy felt. They could dig those places out if they needed to.
By the time they were finished, Ugga, Eep, Grug, and Thunk were all shaking with exertion. Ugga and Eep had a hard time pulling the chutes back up out of the roaring water, but they managed it, and as the rush of water from the hoses slacked and ceased, all four Croods collapsed flat on the wet ground.
Guy was grinning fit to split his face, his chest heaving from contained excitement. There was nothing like the feeling that came with the success of a difficult but well-executed idea. What a rush. Take that, nature, he thought ecstatically, but he was wise enough not to say it out loud. Belt pounded his shoulder with a rumble of glee.
"Well," Pal said, shaking his head. "I was right, it was crazy. But it worked." Inda squeezed Guy's hand proudly.
Gran just smiled and patted his arm. "Come on. We better go scrape those four up and get back to the cave before sunset."
The mood that evening was tired but triumphant. Guy couldn't stop grinning. It wasn't just the flush of success, but the warm glow that he'd come to associate with teamwork. He was well aware that he could never have accomplished what they had done today on his own, and it reminded him how good it felt to be a part of something. It gave him an extra warm glow, too, to see his parents beaming at him with such pride.
"Hey, Guy," Grug said, jerking his head to indicate that the boy should walk with him. "Look," he said, when they were a short distance from everyone else. "I just wanted to say—I'm sorry about yesterday." He reached out and brushed the bruise around Guy's upper arm lightly. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
Guy smiled. "S'okay. It's not a big deal. But—" He hesitated and looked at the ground. "I wish you didn't feel like you had to do that. Separate us, I mean."
Grug looked away and smiled. "Sorry, kid. Some things just aren't reasonable. Someday if you have a daughter of your own, you'll understand." He looked down, shuffling his feet. "You know I just want what's best for Eep."
"I know," Guy said, his jaw tightening.
"Besides," he said wryly. "I'm doing you a favor. Eep's not exactly big on thinking about the consequences of her actions. It can't be easy on you, always having to be the one thinking ahead." He nudged Guy's shoulder. "I was young once. I still remember what it was like."
Guy flushed and he stammered, not sure what to say. Grug just chuckled, and then his face grew serious. "Listen, Guy," he began, but then he stopped, his expression conflicted. Guy waited, but the caveman just shoved him lightly back in the direction of the family circle. "Ah, go on," he muttered. Eep looked up as they returned, curiosity in her face, but Guy just smiled at her and shrugged.
The jungle sun worked quickly, and though the waterfall and the stream were still swollen, the ground dried out, and in a couple of days they were able to move back to the valley for good. It was good to be home, Guy thought as he spread his sleeping furs back in his usual place. Belt dropped down and flopped himself down on them, stretching out his long arms with a contented sigh. "Hey," Guy grinned. "Move over." He nudged Belt aside and lay down with a similar sigh, rolling on his back to look up through the tree leaves at sky. Home, he thought. It was a nice feeling. "Come on, lazy," he said, getting to his feet and picking up Belt. "Let's go help Thunk rebuild the fire pit so we can eat tonight."
Thunk had already gathered a pile of stones, and together they made fairly quick work of the ring. "Did Eep go hunting with Grug and Ugga?" he asked Thunk as they finished.
"Huh?" Thunk looked up. "No, I don't think so."
"She's looking for something in the jungle, I think," Gran said as she strolled by, giving Guy a wink. "Poor girl, out there all alone."
Guy smiled to himself. "I got this," Thunk grinned. Guy looked up in surprise. "Go ahead."
Guy grinned. "Thanks, Thunk."
He went a short distance from the valley and lifted his shell to his lips. He blew twice, and waited. The answer came clear and quick; she wasn't too far away. He smiled and began walking in that direction.
He had to call twice more to find Eep, but eventually he spotted her, sitting on a branch waiting for him. She jumped down as he approached. "Hey," he said, smiling.
"Hey," she grinned.
"Find what you were looking—" She rose up on her toes and kissed him, stopping his question, and he leaned into her, slipping his hands around her waist. His heartbeat quickened; he had missed touching her this way, kissing her like this. Her lips parted for him invitingly and he was surprised when a cool flavor burst across his tongue as he brushed it against hers. He closed his eyes and savored it, savored her, as her hands trailed up his arms to his shoulders.
"Oooooh," teased Belt, but Guy ignored him.
"What have you been eating?" he blurted when they parted.
"Huh?" she blinked.
"I mean," Guy felt his face heat, "You—you taste good." He swallowed. "Really good."
"Oh," Eep said in understanding. "It's a plant Gran showed me. She said it helps with stomach problems and I thought it might help your mom, so I went looking for some." She took a small roll of hide out of her hair and unwrapped it. She picked out a sprig of a bright green plant with clusters of tiny leaves, serrated at the edges and held it out to him. Belt reached out eagerly but Guy beat him to it.
He looked at the little sprig and sniffed it. It smelled as fresh as she'd tasted, spiking an unexpected reaction in him – as if he could feel her tongue against his again. "I like it," he said, reddening slightly.
"Hmm," Eep grinned. "Good to know."
"Hey," he said touching her hand as they turned towards the valley. "We've mostly got everything under control at home now. Date tomorrow?"
"Yeah!" Eep smiled back at him, putting her hand in his.
He tucked the little green sprig in his pouch when she wasn't looking. Belt grumbled. "So Gran told you about this?" he asked.
"Yeah," she nodded. "She used to be a gatherer, you know, so she knows a lot about plants and stuff you can eat."
"Hmm." Guy said absently.
"Hey, Gran," Guy said, coming to sit next to the old woman, who reclined on a newly made woven chair. "I wanted to talk to you—about my Mom," he hesitated as she shook her head.
"I'm no healer woman," Gran warned him.
"I know," Guy smiled halfheartedly. "But you're all I've got. I thought maybe you might know of some herbs or something we can gather to help her..." He trailed off as Gran shook her head.
"I know some things that can soothe the stomach," Gran said, scratching at the dirt with her stick. "That's what I told Eep about. But I think your mother's probably well past the point where that'll do much." She looked up at him. "I'm sorry, kid. Sometimes nature just can't be stopped."
"Nature," Guy echoed, shaking his head. "Is that what this is?" And just this morning he had been gloating. Stupid.
"Unless you believe in things like fate," Gran shrugged. "Or magic, spirits, and curses, but I'm no expert on those either."
"Dad thinks she's dying," Guy sighed, putting his elbows on his knees and leaning his head back on the rocks.
"We're all dying, Guy," Gran said with a shrug that was not unsympathetic. "I've lived a long time and I've worked hard to stay alive, but someday this old body is just going to quit on me, and there won't be anything I can do about it. Some things you just can't fix."
Guy shook his head. "I'm supposed to be so smart, and I can't do anything. I don't even know where to start."
Gran put her spindly hand on his shoulder. "Guy, you accomplished more in one day here than anybody else could have in ten. We'd still be knee-deep in mud if it weren't for you. Or stuck in that cave."
"I didn't do that alone," Guy said, picking idly at the cords around his wrist. "I wouldn't have been able to do it without you guys."
"Yes, you would have," Gran jabbed him in the ribs with her stick, making him wince. "You just wouldn't have done it that way. But when you put your mind to something, it gets done, and that's not something most people can say. Look at us." She waved her stick vaguely to encompass the family. "We sit around and let things happen to us. But you, you're always moving forward, always thinking of the next thing." She tapped his head lightly with the stick. "This brain thing of yours works pretty well. And if Grug had the smarts of a mousephant he'd be throwing Eep at you. You could sire some strong children with brains of their own, and there'd be no clan that could take us down." Gran shook his head. "Short sighted, that man. Makes me crazy." She grinned at Guy, who had turned crimson at the word "sire." "Oh, aren't you cute," Gran laughed, pinching his cheek painfully. "Like you don't think about it a dozen times a day."
Belt chortled.
"Oookay, that's my cue to leave this conversation," Guy groaned, getting up. "I think I need to go do—something. Somewhere else."
"Right," Gran leered at him. "Something. You go do that."
"Gran!" Guy groaned. "Ugh. Leaving. I'm leaving now."
The old woman's laughter followed him.
He stopped as Thunk passed him, his arms full of dripping wet wood. "Uh, Thunk? What are you doing?"
"Oh," Thunk turned and beamed at him. "I'm going to put these in the fire when Mom and Dad get back with the food. It'll make smoke, right? It tasted so good last time, I thought we could try it again."
"Oh," Guy smiled. "That's a good idea, Thunk."
"Thanks," Thunk grinned hugely.
Home, Guy thought again, looking at the family members lounging around the fire. Eep sat next to him, picking her teeth and occasionally growling at Gran or Sandy to warn them off of the food Guy was still nibbling. On her other side, Inda took out her little flute and began to play.
Eep was immediately interested, and after a moment, Inda lowered the flute and offered it to Eep. Eep took it, a little shyly, and blew on it the way Inda had showed her before, and then, to Guy's surprise, she played the little three-note melody Inda had shown her before, and then another one Guy hadn't heard before.
"Very good," Inda smiled. "Would you like to learn more?"
Eep smiled, blushing. "Yeah...I'd like that. I wish I could make music like you though."
"Eventually," Inda smiled, patting her hand as she took the flute back. "You're picking up the basics. Really, the most important thing is practice."
"Oh," Eep said, her forehead creasing. Guy swallowed a lump of meat that was suddenly having a hard time going down. He took a breath, wiped his fingers on his pants, and reached into his feathered pouch. He nudged Eep with his elbow, and held the piece of bone he'd been carving on the beach out to her, keeping his eyes on his food. He felt his face heat as Eep stared at him, and he took another bite and chewed, tasting none of it.
Eep took the little flute slowly from his fingers and turned it over in her hand. It was identical to Inda's, except for the rough figure of a tiger carved into one side. Guy took another bite and glared at his father, who was sitting across from him clearly making a valiant effort not to laugh.
"Well," Inda said midly. "That should make it easier."
He saw Eep's grin out of the corner of his eye and couldn't help smiling himself, though he pretended to still be intent on what little food was left on his place. His grin only got bigger when Eep leaned over and kissed his cheek.
That night he lay on his pallet, looking up at the stars and the round moon that kept back the darkness. He took the little sprig of mint out of his pocket and smelled it, closing his eyes as the memory of Eep's kiss flooded back to him.
Tomorrow, he thought, laying the little sprig of mint on the pallet next to his head.
When he was asleep, Belt reached out, plucked up the little sprig, and munched on it happily. Humans were so weird.