Chapter Nineteen:
Old Friends and Adversaries
Part Two
Matera looked to Vincavec and Talut, something had to be done. If the encroaching crowd of onlookers were allowed to hear only the rest of the tragic story, it would almost certainly get out of control. It would be bad enough as it was, being told only to the leaders, mamuts, and advisers.
"We need to hold off until we restore some kind of order here," Matera told them both. "The rest of the summer meeting cannot hear only the end of the tale, it would cause pure chaos at this point."
"You're right," Vincavec answered. "Varec, we have to get the onlookers back to the other side of the creek. How do we do it?"
"By enlisting the biggest and most influential people around to help," Varec said smiling at Matera, Vincavec and Talut. "Lets go you three."
The trio walked out to where Dramen and Jorrel stood with three other leaders of some of the northern camps. Waylon, Norec, and Darlen were the co-leaders of the Red Fox, Rhinoceros, and Bison Camps, respectively. They were all close knit, and powerful leaders among their people.
"We need to back up this crowd, it wouldn't do for the rest of the camps to hear only the end of this story." Varec said as they approached.
Dramen nodded his head in agreement, and motioned for the other four men to follow. They, along with Talut, Matera, Vincavec, and Varec were able to get the crowd to go back across the creek and to their camps. It was a long, slow process.
A lot of the initial shock and surprise had worn off the majority of the assembly of leaders and mamuts. Most of them had taken the available seats on the logs by the time the crowd had finally been coerced back across the creek. The mood was somber, and anticipation and a certain amount of anxiety ran high to hear the end of the tale.
Matera faced the group, and spoke in a strong and commanding tone of voice.
"As Vincavec brings this tale to completion, please bear in mind that what is done is done and nothing can change that. We will have as much discussion of the events as you wish, but it must all be heard first-without further interruption."
Vincavec and Talut both stepped forward up beside Matera, and Vincavec looked out over the many faces, seeing an abundance of different emotions. The crowd was quiet now, and when he spoke they all listened intently.
"Jozen explained to me what he saw as the combined camps rushed into the abandon Mammoth Camp. They stormed in with weapons drawn, but they found no one there, and were obviously disappointed by it. They began to ransack our home camp, destroying, pillaging, stealing. They raided the cold storage rooms and put the choicest meats on to cook, and brought out all the wine bags as well.
"Over the course of the evening, the wine bags were depleted and many participated in a grotesque, drunken dance around the fire. The datura laced wine started taking affect..."
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"...and we were all in position when the first of the group woke up. The first man that stood up saw us and with his gasp of surprise, the rest were awake and up in no time.
"The phalanx of our hunters flanked the main group, while Talut, Tulie, Marec, and I held the leaders helpless. When I openly accused them of the atrocities done to the Wolf Camp, it was obvious in all of their faces that what Old Mamut had seen was all true.
"Chaleg, with two spears held to his throat went crazy, he implored them to attack crying out that we couldn't kill them all. Some tried, and were killed as they charged the phalanx. Then Chaleg tried to implore them further, and I killed him with my spear..."
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"...in the end, we sent those guilty of decimating the Wolf Camp away in disgrace, under the threat of death if they ever returned. The rest were sent home to gather their families and were told to leave the lands of the Mamutoi forever."
Vincavec watched the mixed reactions of the intense crowd, a vast assortment of facial expressions were visible. He continued with a growing lump in his throat from reliving the ghastly experience.
"We built a large burial cairn on the clearing where they fell, and lit the funeral pyre and let it burn for the traditional five days. During this time Talut led a band to the Wolf Camp. Talut will tell you what he found there."
Talut spoke out with his booming voice.
"We arrived to find the Wolf Camp mostly destroyed. The mangled bodies of the camp members, our relatives and friends, were strewn on the ground like discarded trash. Many had been partially eaten by scavengers, and some were no where to be found at all. I guess I will always hold out hope that they somehow got away and will turn up one day.
"We gathered up all the bodies we could find, and made a tomb of the lodge, then burned it to the ground. I set out markers to try and tell their sad story, and we returned to the Mammoth Camp."
The crowd noise started slowly, murmurs mostly, as Talut finished speaking. The uncontrolled emotion of before was replaced by a bewilderment as thoughts were gathered and facts were sorted through.
Matera decided to address them again.
"Now you know the series of events that led to four less camps being here for this summer meeting. The demise of the Wolf Camp is utterly inexcusable." Matera let her words sink in for a moment, then went on.
"As distasteful as it seems, I believe that Talut and the rest of the Lion Camp have done us a great service in first seeing, then preventing the renegades from perpetrating more violence and death to unsuspecting innocents." Again she paused as the crowd noise grew, this time a little more venomously.
Several loud voices were heard condemning the actions and those involved. The people began to get up and mill around, forming the inevitable cliques as they did.
It looks as if battle lines are being drawn, Matera thought to herself as she watched them banding together.
Talut spoke out again, his voice easily heard over the growing din.
"Seeing the peaceful Wolf Camp defiled, and all the Mothers own who lived and prospered there killed and cast aside is a sight that will haunt me for the rest of my life." Talut paused, then continued.
"Watching the renegades die with spears made to kill animals, not men, will also haunt me. Allowing them to continue their evil ways, to kill more innocents was something I could not, cannot live with.
"I stand by the actions taken, and will one day answer to Mut for what we have done. Know this, I will never stand by and watch any such atrocities happen if I am able to prevent it. Now or ever again."
The din raised a few notches, the segregation between the crowds continued. People were indeed taking sides.
Dramen stepped forward, flanked by over a dozen men and women. He led the loose group up in front of Talut and the rest, squaring off strongly before them. When he began speaking, his voice was laced with anger and sarcasm.
"I find this story unbelievable." His voice quieted those behind him as they all crowded up closer to the front to hear the confrontation. He continued.
"I refuse to believe this as it has been told..."
Talut interrupted him harshly.
"Who do you call a liar-me? Vincavec or Marec? Do you call Tulie or Averie or Ginie a liar?"
Vincavec spoke out also.
"Would you like to see the Wolf Camp, or how about the burial cairn?"
"No-I do not believe that my relatives have done as you have said. I think that you have banded together and destroyed them out of jealousy, mere petty jealousy."
The crowd roared almost instantly as Talut took a step forward to face his accuser point blank. The men stared at each other for a long, uncomfortable moment. Dramen had to look up at Talut, and Talut had his huge shoulders ominously squared. Talut's face was red with building emotion.
"Call me a liar to my face, then Dramen." Talut's voice was soft and cold.
Matera stepped quickly between the two men from the side. She was within a hairs breadth of Dramen's height.
"There will be no fighting here. Talut, if he insults your integrity, challenge him in the traditional way. If the council of Brothers decide allow it, you may fight then."
It was quiet for a long moment, the tension grew.
"I wish no direct confrontation with you, Talut." Dramen took a step back, thinking suddenly of how close he had just been to actually taking on Talut by himself, the strongest Mamutoi man alive. "I apologize for my emotional outburst."
Talut simply glared at him, and it intimidated him enough to take another step back. The group of people that had followed Dramen also stepped back out of respect, and more than a little fear. None of them had ever seen the red haired brute really angry before, and it gave them serious pause.
Matera saw how Talut's show of anger affected those near, she had to admit it was so out of character for the big man, he even startled her for a moment. This could easily become more than a little ugly, she realized, and filed away this oddity to ponder or utilize later.
Dramen's sibling and co-leader Darlie approached from the side opposite of Matera with two other women co-leaders. Jessie was from the panther Camp, and Grammie from the Spotted Deer Camp. All of them were more mature, older women.
Darlie spoke to Matera as she stopped between the men.
"I call for a meeting of the Council of Sisters immediately."
Matera shook her head no, then spoke. "Not yet, Darlie. This must be discussed en masse first, with all those here. These are the wisest of us all, they should all be heard."
Darlie started to protest, but Jessie spoke before she could begin.
"Matera's correct, Darlie. This is too big for the councils to try to settle on their own, then to try and reconcile with each other."
Matera was pleased with her words of wisdom, and was about to join in with her idea when Jessie unexpectedly continued.
"However, I don't think I wish to be associated with these murderers and liars. I will propose that the Lion, Aurochs, Amber, and Mammoth Camps be banned forever from the ranks of the Mamutoi people..."
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Matera's jaw dropped, a highly unusual occurrence. Little took her by surprise, but this did. She looked at Jessie, who promptly turned on her heel and walked away with Grammie in tow. Darlie followed the two women a few steps back as they walked back toward the nearby gathering of some of the northern camps.
Though her words were not spoken loudly, many near the front group of people heard her clearly. A stunned silence was followed by the beginnings of another outburst, first by a few individuals. Then in louder discussions.
Matera walked up to Talut and Vincavec quickly. Brenan and Latie stood close by with Ginie and Averie.
"This is going to get really ugly if we can't get control in a hurry, any ideas?" Matera asked with a peculiar look of confusion on her normally calm face.
"They are going to make a power play while everyone's emotions are running high and no one has had time to really consider all the facts or the circumstances." Vincavec said, then went on.
"My first thought would be to gather our usual allies around us to project unity, calm, and strength."
Talut smiled at Vincavec's wise words, and nodded as he motioned for Brenan to follow him and together they walked out into the middle of the scattered crowd.
Matera motioned for Averie and Ginie to join them, and explained the plan. The three women then went out to gather up some of their friends.
Vincavec stood with Varec, Ravanar, and Latie, observing the cliques as they grew in numbers gradually and steadily. Of all the potential reactions he had considered, an all out power play had never even entered his mind. Vincavec was not pleased at all with the way things were beginning to play out.
"Where is this going?" Latie asked.
Ravanar chuckled, and looked to the ground at his feet shaking his head in disgust.
"No where good, Latie." Vincavec watched three from the Grey Fox and Eagle Camps, both northern camps, walk over to a group from the Owl Camp of the southern camps. Their intentions became obvious as they spoke and pointed toward the fore front, shaking their arms in anger.
Mogon, the Mamut of the Owl camp looked sternly at the Mamut of the Eagle Camp, Gordec as he ranted and raved. Marnac, headman of the Grey Fox Camp raised his voice in support of Gordec.
Seeing this from a distance, Vincavec could not make out their words, but watched with interest as Talut and Brenan approached the group. He watched as Marnac and Gordec both cowed under the sudden glare and forceful comments from Talut. He grinned broadly as he saw Brenan obviously made a good point against whatever argument they had tried to make.
This is going to get real interesting, Vincavec thought as he watched Matera, Ginie, and Averie talking to Vonnie and Fossie. Vonnie was head woman of the host Badger Camp, Fossie the co-leader of the Snow Leopard Camp, both northern camps. Vonnie smiled and gave Ginie a brief hug and the two women followed Matera and company to another gathering a few feet away.
Latie looked to a loud gather with Dramen and Jorrel in the center of the noisy group, she nudged Vincavec and nodded her head toward the group. There were almost a dozen, mostly men. All with emotionally distraught looks on their angry faces.
Varec looked at them also, and saw the emotions being fanned by the large men from the north.
This was bad, Varec thought, and it's getting worse.
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There were now three large groups of people congregated on the grassy flats. The smallest group stood at the fore front, near the fire. The largest group was gathered more loosely to the south side of the flats. The last group stood basically between the two, slightly to the north.
The wind picked up slowly, blowing in a few dark clouds and sending the smoke from the fire between the group of the northern camps and the group of those who were uncommitted and undecided in the middle.
Talut looked out to the center group. They would decide the future of the Mamutoi people, whether they knew it or not. He looked to Vincavec and Matera, and shrugged his wide shoulders. Talut felt truly helpless, and he hated the feeling.
Matera and Vincavec spoke quietly to each other, in low whispers.
"Unless they almost all come to our side, we are defeated," Vincavec said softly.
"Not necessarily, if we can just manage to get close to half we will be all right." Matera answered him as she saw Darlie and Jessie come forward from the group of the northern camps with their co-leaders beside them.
"Here we go," Matera whispered.
"Mamutoi people, please hear me," Darlie began in a loud voice, looking directly at the center crowd.
"We of the allied northern camps of the Mamutoi find it inconceivable to continue to participate in this farce brought to us by these camps of the southern Mamutoi."
The flats were silent, the center crowd listened intently as Darlie spoke. Hard choices were coming, but no one wanted to make a rash decision. They all had friends and relatives on both sides.
"It has been told to us that four camps of the Mamutoi exist no more. I want it known and understood that we of the northern camps do not believe that we have been told the whole story. We do not think that we are being lied to out right, but there is no opposing side of this story to compare facts with."
Dramen stepped forward and began to speak as Darlie finished.
"I, for one, doubt these horrendous events occurred as they were related to us. I believe that we have all been lied to and misled."
Dramen made the mistake of looking from the group in the center over to the southern camps. He made direct eye contact with Talut and blanched under the big mans stern glare.
"I want it known that in all the years that I have known Talut, Vincavec, Marec, Ginie, Averie and the rest, they have never uttered an untruth." Matera spoke with the firm confidence of the most senior Mamut that she was.
"For any of you to openly call any of these prized Mamutoi leaders liars is an insult to Mut herself."
Matera's words almost echoed, the silence that followed was eerie.
Far to the wooded north a single wolf howled his ringing wolf song to the skies. It reverberated through the broken assembly, sending chills down the backs of many of them.
Vincavec squared his shoulders and broke the silence.
"I have never been less proud to be a Mamutoi than I am today." He shifted his gaze directly to Dramen and continued.
"If leading these people means so much to you that you are willing to present your own views as the truth, and any thing else is a lie-you may have it all. I will no longer be associated with this kind of deception and evil intent."
The crowds erupted into chaos. Only the southern camps were quiet.
Several individuals broke from the center camp and walked to the northern group. A few moments later, another three joined them.
There were about twenty people left in the center group, until three walked out and approached the southern camp assembly. As soon as their direction was known, six left the group and walked to the northern camp alliance. The rest split unevenly and went in both directions.
Of the ninety eight leaders, mamuts, and advisers, fifty nine stood in the northern camp side of the grassy flats.
The die was cast as they stared each other down for a long quiet time. Many eyes were sad, some quite angry, and a few actually gloated in the obvious disparity of the situation.
A rumble of thunder from the north rolled in and the rain started softly. The breeze picked up, and the cold rain chilled them all.
The wolf to the north howled again, this time as his song reached the halfway point, he was joined by another-then a third. The eerie, somehow almost soothing wolf song seemed quite appropriate.
"So this is how we stand as a people, split into two groups of unequal size and rationale." Vincavec said as the rain dripped onto his face.
"It looks like to me-you have nothing left to say Vincavec." Dramen's voice was laced with sarcastic superiority.
"It is my thought that you should all pack up and leave the lands of the true Mamutoi."
Varec stepped up from behind Vincavec and addressed Dramen directly and without fear.
"Unless I am sorely mistaken, you are here as guests of the Badger Camp, and at this point I feel your welcome has worn a little thin."
Vonnie stepped up beside her sibling and took a strong physical position next to him. When she spoke, her voice was strong and confident.
"Being the gracious hosts that we of the Badger camp have always been known for, you are not being asked to leave. If the Mamutoi are to be split as it seems to be, perhaps it would be best that it should be discussed as to the long term effects..."
Jessie stepped forward and cut her off rudely.
"I see no reason that we should participate further in anything you or this meeting has to offer. I find this whole situation offensive and vile, the Panther Camp will leave for home in the morning. I no longer see you as Mamutoi."
A strong murmur went through both gatherings. The undercurrent of this schism between the two groups widened even more.
Jessie turned and walked through the crowd and on toward the stepping stones in the creek as the rain fell harder, the entire group of the northern alliance followed her.
Dramen and Jorrel were the last to turn and follow the group. As they waited their turn to walk across the stones, both men turned back and stared at the smaller group who watched their departure.
Dramen smiled, a crooked, evil looking grin of deep satisfaction. Then he turned and walked across the creek.
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The rain fell harder and the wind picked up in erratic gusts. The cloud cover darkened the mid day sun, casting a blueish tint over the land.
Talut and Vincavec watched as the last of the northern camps walked up the gentle rise on the other side of the creek.
Draman and Jorrel both glanced back at them a few times before they reached their own tents.
Matera pondered what all had happened, and where the future of the Mamutoi could possibly lay. This situation had really given the northern camps the excuse they had been waiting for, the power had finally shifted.
For Jessie and Dramen to take full advantage of the opportunity was no surprise, but Matera had not thought that they would have gathered so many camps to their side so easily.
Talut wished that Tulie was here. She was so much better at the finer nuances of leadership and negotiation. He faulted himself for his own lack of skill in these areas. This had really never been among his strongest leadership traits, though, and he knew it.
This split did worry him. With the stronger influence that Dramen and his kin could now wield, how would they use it? Too many things to consider, he thought, too many possibilities.
The final tally stood at eleven camps of leaders left standing in the flats, eight of the southern camps, and three northern camps. The rest of the Mamutoi camps, twenty one in all, had walked away unified.
"May I suggest we go to the Badger Camp lodge and get out of the rain?" Varec asked to no one in particular.
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The rain slowed and finally stopped all together by late afternoon. The gusting winds that had blown the storm in had also played out, but the sky was still dreary and dark. A low cloud cover blocked most of the light of the sun, but the heat returned with a vengeance. The humidity was sweltering, effectively hampering any attempt to dry out almost anything.
The spread out conglomerate of traveling tents was a hive of activity. People milled about visiting and getting ready to start preparing the evening meal.
This afternoon was different, though. There were two distinct groups within the gathering.
The story had been passed from mouth to mouth, growing and changing with each subsequent telling.
By the time everyone heard of the events of the rise and fall of the renegades and the Wolf Camp, several versions of the story circulated. Some were pointedly skewed, some held closer to the facts.
The interaction between the people of the northern and southern camps were obviously strained, even amongst long time friends and relatives.
Though the northern camp leaders had made known their intentions of leaving the next day, many individual camp members were in a state of confusion. Most were rational people, having known the southern camp people all their lives.
It was hard for them to imagine that all they had been told of the actions of the southern camps was the pure truth.
The Lion, Mammoth, and Amber Camps had always been camps of the highest status and influence. It was difficult for most of them to believe that they were suddenly so misguided or had become their enemies.
Confusion reigned.
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The evening meal was shared by all. The effort to split the summer gathering into two groups for their last night together was mostly unsuccessful.
Several of the leaders of the northern camps were miffed, but the people themselves held none of the acute animosity of their leaders.
Awkward at the beginning, things smoothed out considerably as the meal progressed. People mingled and visited almost as if nothing detrimental had happened, almost.
Given the afternoon to analyze their feelings, the majority of the general populous had dismissed the idea that the people of the southern camps were all of the sudden evil or misguided.
Talut and Vincavec had set up a large semi-circle of logs and rocks around the fire pit of their combined camps outside the tent. It had become the largest central gathering point of the summer meeting. Over four hundred people were gathered close by.
Averie, Ginie, and Latie served food and tea and were the most gracious of hostesses. Any tension they may have felt was never in evidence in their smiling faces.
The conversations ran the full gamut from light visiting to more detailed discussions of the tragic events concerning the renegades. Different versions of the story were consolidated by those who had been there.
People came and went throughout the course of the meal. By the time everyone had eaten their fill, the majority of people were gathered at the fire.
Many spoke of their displeasure at leaving the summer meeting with their camps the following morning. A few even inquired of the possibility of staying, and talked openly of not returning to their home camps at all.
The schism that had been developing over the past several years had many displeased with their own camps-and especially with their leaders. The more rigid ways of life that had been imposed upon them often seemed cumbersome and detrimental.
Talut, Vincavec, Varec, Marec, and even Raymar, headman of the Lynx Camp, were all approached during the course of the evening with discreet inquiries from individuals considering leaving their camps and joining one of the southern camps. While none of these men could speak with total authority, none ruled out the possibility of allowing others to join their camps.
Matera observed all this with growing optimism. She knew of the problems within some of the stricter environments that some of the northern camps employed.
In her fertile mind she was trying to see the advantages and disadvantages of allowing the northern camps to leave permanently. Most of the possibilities were positive, except for one nagging thought that kept pressing.
Would they leave peacefully, and would they stay away and leave us to our own ways, she wondered.
Was this the beginning of two tribes of people, or was this the beginning of a conflict between them that would only fester and grow?
Matera would have liked to have discussed this further with Lomie and Old Mamut, even with Vincavec. This was more than she was able to figure out on her own, she wanted-and needed help.
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Dramen and Jessie sat together on a log near the tent of the Bison Camp talking quietly. There were a dozen or so northern camp leaders around the fire, none looking too pleased.
"I didn't think that so many of our own people would run out and pretend that none of this ever happened," Dramen said.
"It won't last, they are just saying goodbye to their friends," Jessie answered in a more confident tone of voice than she really felt.
"I guess it really doesn't matter, when we leave in the morning they will all be with us anyway. Once we are away from here we can put them out of their minds for good." Dramen said, looking up as Darlie came over to sit next to him with a fresh cup of hot tea.
"I want to break camp at first light," she said as she looked to Jessie. "Rain or not, we need to get out of here before too many of our own people have second thoughts about this split."
"It may take a while, but we will prevail in this. We will be the new power of the Mamutoi. It will be worth it, but it may be difficult for a while." Dramen said confidently.
"I do hope you are right, Dramen." Jessie said, then looked to Darlie and continued. "This will be the beginning of a new way of life for the Mamutoi, and we can make of it whatever we want it to be."
"I sure hope you two know what you are doing, we are committed now." Darlie said as she looked at the two people she had always trusted the most.
Deep down inside, she felt a huge emptiness. What are we really doing, she asked herself again, the answer evading her as it had every time she asked herself this question.
Is this what it takes to be the most influential, to be the leaders? Darlie doubted that what they were trying to do was the best thing in the interest of their people, but what could she possibly do about it now, they were committed.
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At the fire in front of the tent, a loose meeting was held. The leaders and mamuts of the southern alliance along with several members of the various camps were all in attendance. Most of the visitors from the northern camps had gone back to their tents, only a few remained. Dawn was still a few hours away.
"...I cannot see turning away anyone who wants to stay," Vincavec was saying. "Not all of the people of the northern camps feel as their leaders do."
"I would be willing to take some of them in, but what do we do about getting unanimous consent within our own camps? What if there is dissent?" Talut asked, remembering the difficulties that had plagued his own Lion Camp when they had accepted Frebec, and then Ayla after him.
"I worry more about the problems it may cause with the northern camp leaders," Rylie, co-leader of the Lynx Camp said. "I don't think that they will be too happy with anyone who defects, or any of us who would welcome and accept them."
"Rylie has a good point." Ginie said, looking at Vincavec before continuing. "Until the bizarre behavior of the renegades, I wouldn't have worried about such a thing, but now..." Her voice trailed off.
"You don't really think that Dramen and Jorrel could be capable of that kind of atrocity, do you?" Cralec, a member of the Falcon Camp of the north asked.
Cralec's mate, Jerie, was originally from the southern Owl Camp and he had numerous friends within the southern camps. If there was to be a split, he knew Jerie would want to return to the Owl Camp.
Cralec was not too happy with his status within the Falcon Camp and it wouldn't hurt his feelings much to leave.
"Cralec, at this point I don't know what they would do." Marec answered. "I assure you I would never have thought that Chaleg could have done what he did-until I saw it for myself."
It was quiet for a while, Marec's statement rang true with them all. It made everyone examine their own feelings again, and consider all the possibilities no matter how remote they were.
"After what we went through, I no longer have any real fear of the future," Vincavec began. "I almost feel that I have been given a second chance at life.
"If Old Mamut had not seen what was coming.
"If Talut and the good people of the Lion and Aurochs Camps had not felt it necessary to come and try and stop the insanity that Chaleg and his band were trying to accomplish.
"If we had not been able to vanquish them together, my camp and probably many others would all be destroyed.
"The future is open, we will make of it what we will. I, for one, will not look ahead in fear." Vincavec sat back and took a drink of tea.
Matera thought about what all he had said, she saw Vincavec in a slightly new light. Though almost impossible to fully understand what all they had gone through without experiencing it directly, she knew the horrors they had faced.
As Mamut, Matera had never feared the future. Mut always had a plan, but people could be as unpredictable as the weather.
"Vincavec, all you have said is wise, and true. I do not fear the future either, but I feel that we must do all we can to prevent any seeds of evil from taking root." Matera paused to gather her thoughts before she continued.
"If anyone wishes to stay here with us in the south, we must assist them. It will be up to the individual camps to accept them, of course. As leaders, we should be able to convince our own people to allow them into our homes. This is the way of the Mamutoi, this is who we are."
Talut looked at Matera, he admired the wisdom of the woman.
Matera reminded him of Tulie, wise and strong.
Talut knew she was right, and he knew that at least they had to try and make this happen. It was the Mamutoi way, after all.
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The eastern horizon began to lighten. The tops of the wooded hills glowed with the first light of the impending dawn. Birds sang in the promise of the new day, and the wolves from the north sang away the night.
Talut yawned, taking a cup of hot tea from Latie. He sat on a log near the fire, watching Brenan and Jozen stoke the flames with fresh, slightly wet wood. Matera sat to his left and Vincavec to his right. They had all been up all night.
It had been decided between them that the southern camps would allow any individuals or families from the northern camps who wanted to could stay. The southern camps would integrate them into their own, and seek approval of their full camps to accept them permanently.
Talut looked up into the dark sky, trying to see if the cloud cover was still as thick as it had been the last two days. The sky was still too dark to see anything clearly, but he saw by the light glow that the eastern sky looked a little less thick. He wished for a bright sunny day, a hot one. Hot enough to dry out the soggy ground and everything else that had been wet and damp. Oh, he thought, to put on clothes that weren't damp and sticky.
"Do you think the rains are done for a while?" Talut asked no one in particular.
"You can never tell this time of year," Vincavec answered, looking out to the east. "It would be nice to have a little sunshine for the trip home, though."
"When are you planning to leave?" Matera asked, a little surprised at his statement.
"When all this is finally settled out, our new Cave Bear Camp is not even close to being properly provisioned for our first winter." Vincavec answered, thinking with pride of the new lodge they had worked so hard to build.
"The new lodge is truly magnificent, though still very sparse inside." He chuckled at the thought.
"It is the finest lodge I have ever seen, spacious and strong." Talut added, meaning it.
"It wouldn't be without all the effort that you and your people put into it," Vincavec said with obvious feeling.
"Matera, you have never seen a lodge go up so fast. We had so many skilled hands working on it that it just seemed to grow up out of the hillside, like morning mushrooms after a hard rain."
"I would love to come and see it," she said, meaning it. I might even want to stay, she thought, her strong feelings for the man with the tattooed face coming back into the forefront of her mind strongly. For some reason, perhaps because of the calamity, Matera was seeing Vincavec with new, maybe even a lovers eyes.
"What on Mut's great earth convinced you to change the name of your camp?"
Vincavec grinned broadly.
"Remember the crippled man of the Clan that we spoke to in the spirit world of the sacred root? This mans advice probably saved us, I thought that it would be a good omen to start a new camp with. The people of the Clan venerate the great cave bear as we do Mut."
Matera thought about this for a long moment. It seemed so coincidental that this Clan holy man that had helped them was the same man that the foreign woman, Ayla, had known and grown up with. Such are the ways of the spirits, she thought, always wise and enlightening.
"You built the lodge out from a hillside?" She asked, her eyes soft with feeling.
"Yes, a wooded hillside that borders the steppes on one side and the Amber Camps river on the other. A gorgeous valley, right out in front."
Vincavec's eyes shown with pride at the thought of the beautiful corner of Mut's earth that they had claimed as their own.
"Matera, I have never seen a more perfect place to call home. Mut's bounty there seems almost limitless. We have already harvested megaceros, woolly rhinos, bison, spotted deer, catfish, and even a silver salmon..."
"And don't forget a cave lion bigger than a horse!" Talut said interrupting him with a laugh.
""""""""""
The first three men, two women, and two children that were both toddlers approached the fire before the sun was completely over the hills to the east. They were all related, but from two different northern camps.
They went straight to Matera, and asked if it would be possible for them to stay and not return to the northern camps where they were from.
These people were not the only ones to come to the central gathering, and by the time the sun cleared the hilltops to the east, over thirty people had gathered there and asked to remain.
The southern leaders were surprised at the number of people, but welcomed them all with open arms. It became obvious to the southern leaders that there would have to be a meeting with the leaders of the north before they left.
The northern camps had begun breaking their camps shortly after the sun came up. They were over half way packed up and still working.
The sky was still clouded over, but there were a few breaks that let the early morning sun in with a vengeance. It promised to be a hot, humid day.
""""""""""
"Let's get a morning meal fixed quickly, use the leftovers from last night." Matera said to Ginie and Averie at the fire. "I am going to invite the northern leaders to a first meal."
Ginie and Averie were both stunned at the request, but nodded and enlisted help and got busy.
Matera walked back over to the log, and addressed the leaders that sat facing the fire.
"We need to go to the northern camps and speak to their leaders," Matera told them. "I will even invite them to share a morning meal with us, as a sign of good faith."
Talut and Vincavec stood up, and motioned for the rest of the leaders to follow them. The procession of leaders wound its way through the tents and into the areas being broken down.
Dramen saw them coming, and quickly found Jorrel and Jessie and walked out to meet them away from the bulk of the activity.
"Good morning, I would like to invite you all to join us for a morning meal." Matera said as she stopped in front of the trio of northern leaders. "I think it would be best if..."
Jessie cut her off, her voice cold and sharp.
"We have no need or desire to share a meal with you, we have our own supplies and will be leaving as soon as we are able."
Matera took a deep breath, willing herself to not show her disdain at the rude woman's comments. When she did speak, her voice did not allow her dislike for Jessie to show through.
"Jessie, I am offering you a meal to try and let us dispose of the harsh feelings of yesterday. It is not wise for us to part ways with all this anger still festering.
"If it is time for the Mamutoi to split and become two people..."
Jessie again cut her off.
"The Mamutoi are not two people, you have all behaved in a way that is not Mamutoi! You have killed your own-then lied about it and tried to shift the blame to justify your actions. We will never associate with you or your kind ever again-you are all evil!"
Talut stepped forward as Jessie finished, approaching Dramen and facing him directly. His voice was low, but powerful.
"Leave if you will. There are many from your camps that have expressed a wish to stay here, this you will allow without consequence."
Dramen's face grew red as Talut spoke. His anger for those that had snuck away from the northern camps in the night and early morning was still acute.
"Know this, Dramen. If you have any thoughts of returning here to cause any harm to any one of the Southern Mamutoi, I will personally hold you responsible." Talut lowered his voice even more as he continued.
"Mut's own wrath will be like a mosquito bite on a mammoths rump compared to what I will do to you. Is there any question in your mind as to what I am saying?"
Dramen blanched, feeling true fear possibly for the first time in his long life. He indeed had no doubt as to the threat that Talut promised.
"No." He said simply, the single word almost choking him.
Talut stared at him harshly, not allowing Dramen to break eye contact, holding him with his powerful will. After a long, silent show of dominance, Talut's lips cracked into a small grin. The power of the man seemed to culminate in this ultimate show of supreme confidence.
"Remember this promise, always."
Talut continued raising his voice back to a level that all around could easily hear as he went on.
"I wish the Northern Mamutoi a safe and uneventful journey home. Go with Mut."
Talut released his mental hold on Dramen, and watched as the man almost staggered as he turned away and took a few shaky steps back in the direction of the northern camps.
Talut looked to his fellow southern camp leaders and motioned for them to follow him as he walked back toward their camp.
Jessie watched them go, her hands were shaking. She had heard every word that Talut had said to Dramen, and it sent a shiver through her that was still wracking her.
She had known all about the plans of the renegades, in fact she had encouraged it all. Jessie and Fluzie, co-leader of the Weasel Camp, had actually discussed the massive raids together in private.
Last year after the blow up over the abominations burial, the two of them had decided that the time was ripe for them to act. It had been Fluzie's idea, actually Chaleg's, presented as her own.
Jessie had gone along with it all, knowing that if enough of the damnable southern camps were destroyed or weakened that she would be in prime position to wrest control of the leadership. Jessie never mentioned the plan to anyone, ever, keeping it all to herself.
What happened to Fluzie and the rest, she wondered, would the whole truth ever come out? In her heart of hearts, she feared this very much. Very much indeed.
""""""""""
Long before the mid day meal, all of the northern camps were long gone, completely out of sight. The summer meeting place seemed empty and scattered. The tight formation of traveling tents was broken and ragged looking.
A huge feast was served, and the remaining camps all gathered to discuss their future after the meal. They met together formally as a whole people, not as individual councils, everyone was included.
The meeting was long and involved, many things were decided. Without the cultural differences that had plagued the Mamutoi in the past, the meeting went so smoothly that they were all pleasantly surprised.
It was decided that they would now be known as the Southern Mamutoi, a separate people from those in the north.
The site for next years summer meeting was to be at the new Cave Bear Camp, and Vincavec was thrilled with the choice. With their new, smaller numbers, it would not put nearly the strain on any one camp as it would have in the past.
Those displaced by the split found new homes within the southern camps.
Talut accepted a couple with two toddlers to come home to the Lion Camp, and a childless older couple wished to join the Aurochs Camp.
Vincavec accepted several into his camp, as did Marec, Varec, Morgan, Raymar, and others.
By the time it was all said and done, every defector had a home. They were all welcomed in with open hearts and arms.
Matera decided that a true celebration was in order, and they planned a Mothers festival for the following night. This added an air of normalcy that was badly needed, and welcomed by the smaller, closely knit group of people.
The trepidation they all had endured for the last two days was beginning to wane, and it added to the anticipation of the coming celebration.
Everyone pitched in and helped to reset the scattered tents into a closer, but roomier arrangement. The general feeling of closeness grew as they all worked together without hesitation.
""""""""""
Late in the afternoon, Talut led a hunting party to the grassy valley over a wooded hill to the northwest. He took a party of twelve men, all armed with spear throwers.
They found a small herd of aurochs, and killed a yearling calf and a young female in short order. They field dressed them and carried them up the side of the wooded hill overlooking the serene valley.
Reaching the top of the hill, they paused to take a break and rest for a little bit before beginning the cumbersome trip downhill.
Brenan and Jozen stood off to the side of the hunters, all sitting around and resting. Brenan looked out at the western horizon, admiring the beginnings of what promised to be a stunning sunset with the broken cloud cover. He looked harder as something caught his eye.
Jozen saw him concentrate on something, and shifted his gaze to the same place Brenan stared. He saw something also, movement.
Brenan suddenly realized that he was seeing humans, three of them. A pang of excitement washed over him.
"Talut, someone's coming!" He said, pointing in the direction of the three people on the distant horizon.
Talut jumped up and went quickly to his side, looking to where Brenan pointed. He found the travelers after a brief search, then studied them carefully.
That looks like-no it couldn't be, he thought to himself with growing anticipation. It is! No one else walks like that, it has to be! Oh Mut, let it be!
Talut took one last, hard look then took off at a dead run downhill and toward the distant travelers.
Brenan and Jozen laughed as the big man ran away, their curiosity overwhelming them. The other hunters watched him go also, wondering what would make Talut act like an excited adolescent as well.
Halfway down the hill, Talut turned and yelled out over his shoulder.
"That's Ranec! Come on!"