Monster History, Lesson 3
Long Tail, covered in ashes from the fire for camouflage, slunk around the rock near the entrance of the cave where the Mans lived. They were peacefully finishing their dinners in the twilight. They had no idea what would happen the moment the sun dipped below the horizon. Long Tail beckoned his helpers closer to him and stroked his fronds habitually. He watched the horizon closely for his cue. The sun's last rays disappeared below the horizon. Patience, he reminded himself, also reminding himself to breathe. There were so many things that could go wrong. The Mans could kill them all with their superior spear-throwers and slings. Again he chastised himself to be calm. He knew he wouldn't be half so worried if Lithe wasn't pregnant now, which drove the stakes for Long Tail higher than they were a month ago.
Suddenly, the torches of his fellows appeared on the horizon. He tensed, waiting. One of the Mans noticed the sequins of light in the dark, a young boy who, by unlucky chance, happened to be Long Tail's half brother. He made an exclamation of surprise to his mother, who in turn alerted her mate, and within minutes everyone knew the torches were there. Conversations of curiosity and worry began. The male Mans rallied into a group in the front and went down to investigate. The females and the children stayed behind.
"Can we go yet?" one of Long Tail's helpers inquired.
"No," he said. "The women and children are still here. We have to wait for them to leave or for it to get darker."
The helper made a noise of something in between impatience and discomfort and then turned around to relay the message to his buddies. The Mans children were conversing in a small clump. Suddenly, they all bolted in the directions where their fathers had gone. What a stroke of luck. Their mothers followed after their curious youngsters, leaving the camp empty for the plan to continue. Long Tail crawled forward an inch or two, looked around, saw that all was clear, and beckoned the helpers in after him.
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"Okay," Sharp Mind said, getting the rebels' attention. "The sun's almost down. There are a few things we have to get clear."
They all quieted down; even One Eye did, to Sharp Mind's surprise, so he continued. "First of all, we don't raid the Mans. That's the job of Long Tail's group, and if we interfere, we'll screw up his part of the plan. Second of all, we don't hurt the Mans unless they hurt us. Got it so far?"
There were murmurs of agreement, although some were reluctant. Sharp Mind continued.
"And, most importantly, we never touch the children of the Mans. Understood?"
Again, they agreed reluctantly. After all of this struggling, they wanted some blood, some pain, from the Mans. They now had to cope with one more disappointment.
"Alrighty then!" Sharp Mind shouted, happy to get Long Tail and Silent Wind's restrictions across, even though he hated them as much as the rebels he was commanding. "The sun's down, guys! Light your torches!"
There were cheers that broke much of the tension as they scrambled to light their pitch and wood torches in the fires and began to march.
*********************************
The little boy saw a glimmer of light down the hill. He normally would have said that it was those funky Mons people cooking dinner, but they were moving around like they were alive. He tugged on the hide dress of his mother's.
"Look, Mommy! Aren't they pretty?" he chirped happily, wanting to play with the lights.
She almost simply agreed with him so she could go about her own business, but then she noticed their movement as well. She panicked. What could the Mons be doing? Or, if it wasn't them, what kind of evil spirit were they? She immediately alerted her mate, leaving her son bewildered.
While the adults chatted worriedly, the little boy gathered his friends and cousins together to talk to them in mimicry of the adults.
"Wonder why they're making such a big deal out of it?" his cousin asked.
"Maybe the spirits are mad about something," a friend suggested.
"No. The spirits are never this easy to notice. They like to keep you guessing. This is something from this world," the little boy said.
"But what could it be?"
They continued bickering amongst themselves as their daddies left.
"I don't care what they are!" one child burst out. "I just want to see what's going on!"
"Me too!" agreed another.
"And me!" said one more child. "Wait. What are we talking about again?"
Ignoring the last comment, the little boy pressed his companions, "Well, then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" With that, he bolted down the hill, friends trailing behind.
****************************
The Mans and the Mons were soon facing each other. Neither group was happy in the least. In moments, all hell would break loose.
****************************
Oh, my. Am I feeling like being evil today! I'm going to write the next chapter now, but I don't think I'll post till next week, just to drive you nuts! * Giggles like a maniac * Oh, dear. I don't believe my own behavior sometimes. Ciao!
Long Tail, covered in ashes from the fire for camouflage, slunk around the rock near the entrance of the cave where the Mans lived. They were peacefully finishing their dinners in the twilight. They had no idea what would happen the moment the sun dipped below the horizon. Long Tail beckoned his helpers closer to him and stroked his fronds habitually. He watched the horizon closely for his cue. The sun's last rays disappeared below the horizon. Patience, he reminded himself, also reminding himself to breathe. There were so many things that could go wrong. The Mans could kill them all with their superior spear-throwers and slings. Again he chastised himself to be calm. He knew he wouldn't be half so worried if Lithe wasn't pregnant now, which drove the stakes for Long Tail higher than they were a month ago.
Suddenly, the torches of his fellows appeared on the horizon. He tensed, waiting. One of the Mans noticed the sequins of light in the dark, a young boy who, by unlucky chance, happened to be Long Tail's half brother. He made an exclamation of surprise to his mother, who in turn alerted her mate, and within minutes everyone knew the torches were there. Conversations of curiosity and worry began. The male Mans rallied into a group in the front and went down to investigate. The females and the children stayed behind.
"Can we go yet?" one of Long Tail's helpers inquired.
"No," he said. "The women and children are still here. We have to wait for them to leave or for it to get darker."
The helper made a noise of something in between impatience and discomfort and then turned around to relay the message to his buddies. The Mans children were conversing in a small clump. Suddenly, they all bolted in the directions where their fathers had gone. What a stroke of luck. Their mothers followed after their curious youngsters, leaving the camp empty for the plan to continue. Long Tail crawled forward an inch or two, looked around, saw that all was clear, and beckoned the helpers in after him.
****************************
"Okay," Sharp Mind said, getting the rebels' attention. "The sun's almost down. There are a few things we have to get clear."
They all quieted down; even One Eye did, to Sharp Mind's surprise, so he continued. "First of all, we don't raid the Mans. That's the job of Long Tail's group, and if we interfere, we'll screw up his part of the plan. Second of all, we don't hurt the Mans unless they hurt us. Got it so far?"
There were murmurs of agreement, although some were reluctant. Sharp Mind continued.
"And, most importantly, we never touch the children of the Mans. Understood?"
Again, they agreed reluctantly. After all of this struggling, they wanted some blood, some pain, from the Mans. They now had to cope with one more disappointment.
"Alrighty then!" Sharp Mind shouted, happy to get Long Tail and Silent Wind's restrictions across, even though he hated them as much as the rebels he was commanding. "The sun's down, guys! Light your torches!"
There were cheers that broke much of the tension as they scrambled to light their pitch and wood torches in the fires and began to march.
*********************************
The little boy saw a glimmer of light down the hill. He normally would have said that it was those funky Mons people cooking dinner, but they were moving around like they were alive. He tugged on the hide dress of his mother's.
"Look, Mommy! Aren't they pretty?" he chirped happily, wanting to play with the lights.
She almost simply agreed with him so she could go about her own business, but then she noticed their movement as well. She panicked. What could the Mons be doing? Or, if it wasn't them, what kind of evil spirit were they? She immediately alerted her mate, leaving her son bewildered.
While the adults chatted worriedly, the little boy gathered his friends and cousins together to talk to them in mimicry of the adults.
"Wonder why they're making such a big deal out of it?" his cousin asked.
"Maybe the spirits are mad about something," a friend suggested.
"No. The spirits are never this easy to notice. They like to keep you guessing. This is something from this world," the little boy said.
"But what could it be?"
They continued bickering amongst themselves as their daddies left.
"I don't care what they are!" one child burst out. "I just want to see what's going on!"
"Me too!" agreed another.
"And me!" said one more child. "Wait. What are we talking about again?"
Ignoring the last comment, the little boy pressed his companions, "Well, then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" With that, he bolted down the hill, friends trailing behind.
****************************
The Mans and the Mons were soon facing each other. Neither group was happy in the least. In moments, all hell would break loose.
****************************
Oh, my. Am I feeling like being evil today! I'm going to write the next chapter now, but I don't think I'll post till next week, just to drive you nuts! * Giggles like a maniac * Oh, dear. I don't believe my own behavior sometimes. Ciao!