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Chapter 2
This was the year of the clan gathering, it would be the third that Durc would attend, the first he was a baby at his mother Ayla's breast, when he had gone to the second meeting he could count seven summers and Brun had taken Ura back with them to become Durc's mate. Although Broud had been against Durc becoming a hunter and mating he could not stop him as the clan needed hunters too badly. Durc would go out alone and bring kills back to the cave, first with the sling and bola then with a spear more to his size. Broud's clan's status had dropped at the last gathering from First to last and he tried to blame Durc for this as well, everything bad in his opinion that affected his clan was Durc's fault, the deformed boy was bad luck just like his mother had been. Broud and the hunters would go hunting leaving Durc at the cave and come back with little to show for it, maybe one animal if they were lucky. Durc hunted alone and never came back empty handed, his collection of small animal hides and furs attested to his hunting ability. Durc developed his own style of weapons though he had not modified the sling and bola he had developed a new spear that he could throw, and he hunted with all three. Brun had shamed Broud into giving Durc his manhood hunt then having Goov perform the mating ritual that same day. That first major kill was a young bison bull that had charged at Brun while the older hunter was watching the younger hunters bate a female. Broud had seen what was happening but made no attempt to assist Brun. Durc's spear entered between the ribs of the animal and stopped the beasts heart. The Bison was Bruns totem and would have taken him to Ursus had Durc not thrown when he did. That was two summers ago and Durc and Ura were happy, happiest when they could be alone and away from everyone so they could be themselves. They would go to his mother's little cave and play word games together just as he and his mother had. Grev, Brac and Durc started hunting together, and this did not please Broud either. But no matter how much Broud objected the sons of his mate would not leave Durc to hunt alone, he was their brother and a hunter they said. It was the way of the clan. Durc had shown the brothers his new spears and they were learning to throw them. Because their bodies were different they had to throw more with a sidearm rather than overhand throw. They could cast the spear with greater force and distance but they had not become proficient at hitting the targets. It would take time but he thought his brothers would master the throwing spears. The problem was that they could only practice away from the cave. It was not accepted clan behavior to throw a spear. Now it was the year of the gathering again and Ura was Durc's mate. From the time they had arrived Durc and three others of mixed spirits from other caves had been excluded from everything. So each day they went out and Durc showed them his new spears and how to use and make them, he would have included Brac and Grev but they could not get away. They had been at the clan gathering for about four days and everyone was getting ready for the first major hunt of the season. Durc, Ogar, Nag, Opar had spent the biggest part of those four days practicing with the new throwing spears that they had made. Dorg the leader for the host cave was choosing the hunters and when he came around to Durc and the other three mixed or deformed hunters he signed, You are bad luck, and you will stay here with the women. Dorg had taken fifteen hunters and left camp. Durc and the other three hunters had stayed close to camp and worked on more of the new spears but when Dorg and the fifteen hunters returned they had only three horses to show for an entire day of hunting. Early the next morning Durc and the other three men were up before anyone else, they picked up their new spears, three spears each and left camp with Ura and three other clan women. By the time the sun was at its highest they had already made six bison kills. While the women skinned and butchered the animals Durc sat and thought about the last eleven seasons sense the leader Broud had cursed his mother and forced her to leave the clan. While waiting for the women to finish their work Durc dosed off, he was looking from a dark place and watched as a tall blond woman walked out of what was left of the clans cave. She walked up to the leader and signed, Broud you can curse me with death but you cannot make me die. The woman turned and walked up over the hill and the small boy signed over and over again Mama, don't leave me. The man standing next to him signed She is dead, she is gone. But the boy only signed, No she's not, I can see her there pointing toward where the tall young blonde woman was walking over the hill. Brun signed for Uba to take the boy and he then turned to Broud who signed asking What are you doing with the boy? I am keeping a promise I made to his mother, that I would train him as a hunter and protect him signed Brun. Broud was not happy with the former leaders answer. You should not have done that, the boy should have been cursed with his mother, signed Broud. Brun shook is head and signed, You broke the death curse your Mo-gar Groov placed on her the moment you acknowledged her presents just now. You let the woman beat you again; you will never be the leader the people can trust until you learn to take control of your emotions. Broud had turned and stormed off thinking that Brun had always taken her side over his. There were other dreams as well, those were of the old Mog-ur Creb who would come into his dreams at night and show him the stories from the past and also the stories of his mother, Ayla. He said that she had gone forth to make a path for Durc and those like him who were considered by the rest of the clans to be deformed. Creb had told him not to let it bother him that he and those that looked like him were the only future that the clan had and that there would come a time when the clan as it was now would be no more and it would be up to him to take those of mixed spirits into that new world and keep the clan alive. Creb told him that he must watch and learn all that he could about the animals around him, their actions when hunting and the sounds they made. Because the sounds they made had meaning and were not just random sounds, but they were in fact communicating to others of their kind. If he could master those sounds he could call the animals to his hunters and their hunts would be very productive. He was also told not to forget the old language that he would need it to talk to other clans but in their new world most of them would speak the words of those known as the Other's. Creb said that they were his mother's people and he should learn as much about them as he could. Durc remembered in one of his dreams that the Mog-ur had taken him on a trip to a small valley with a stream running through it and he saw his mother riding a horse and hunting bison with a tall blonde haired man using funny looking spears. He watched as the man took the leg bone of a red deer and shaped spear points, next the man took a flint blade and shaved the edges to a fine point then used sandstone and worked the spear point until both sides were very sharp and smooth, then the man cut one end of the shaft and slid the point in and wrapped it with wet leather thong then added two feathers to the back. He placed the spear on another stick with a hook at the back then threw the spear almost two times as far as Durc could throw his hand held spear. In another dream his mother had gone to a large gathering of the others like those held every seven years by the clan and he saw his mother save a young girl of the others from a large cave lion then ride on the back of that same lion. Creb told him that her totem was the spirit of the cave lion and his was the grey wolf and that he must respect the clan totems and follow their signs. He also watched as she talked to birds with their sounds and even talked to the horses using a combination of clan signs and the silly words that she had made up when they played their sound games in her little cave. Durc had been taught to hunt with sling, bola and spear and how to make a spear and other weapons the way the clan had made them as far back as anyone could remember. But he was not comfortable with how the heavy clan spear felt in his hand; it was too big and bulky and decided to look for a better way to make his spears. He made his spears as long but thinner than clan spears, they were easy to hold and had good balance. The new spears allowed him to carry more than one spear, and if he missed he still had other spears to hunt with. And each spear was tipped with bone points as he had seen the man in his dream do and not the fire hardened points of clan spears. Later that afternoon Durc, Ogar, Nag, Opar and the women had returned to the gathering with their kills all eight were carrying large loads of the meat. When Dorg saw the fresh meat he signed, Where did this come from. Durc replied We made these kills with our throwing spears. Dorg asked, How is it possible to throw a spear and hit a moving animal? Easy for my hunters and I. replied Durc, We carry more than one spear and while two hunters and the women drove the animals forward the other two waited on either side of a narrow pass and throw down at the animal's as they passed through. Two hunters eight spears six kills. I killed three bison as did Ogar. Then Dorg said, I do not think that Ursus will be pleased with us if we change our ways of hunting. We will accept the meat brought in because it would be wasteful not to use it and it would also offend the great cave bear spirit if we did not. But no hunter will use the new throwing spears. Durc looked at the clan hunters then turned and walked back to the cave. Broud was waiting as Durc entered and told Durc that he was bad luck and should leave the clan as soon as possible. You can leave and take your mate and such food and supplies that you need. You must leave tomorrow. signed Broud. After Broud left Brun came forward and signed, The bones of the death curse on your mother were scattered long ago. When you leave look for her, she is not a bad luck woman and you are not bad luck either. Go to the north in the land of the Other's. Go with Ursus Durc. I wish you were the son of my hearth. Durc and Ura collected their belongings, Groov brought over some food and water then also said, Go with Ursus Durc, Ura. They walked out of the cave he saw Ogar, Nag and Opar walking toward them. Opar signed, We have been banned from our caves. Durc replied, We have also. We will leave here tomorrow and go north. If you wish you can travel with us. Opar said, We will go with you, it can't be any worse than it has been all these years. At least we can hunt for ourselves. Good we will leave then. Signed Durc. Brac and Grev had watched as Broud banned Durc from the cave then looking at his brother Brac signed, If our brother must leave then we will leave also. I can no longer live with Broud as leader of this clan, I agree we can not let our brother go alone. signed Grev. The brothers walked to Broud's hearth and started packing their belongings. Broud saw them and asked, Where do you think you are going? Brac turned and signed, We are leaving with our brother. He has found a better way to hunt and feed the people and you will not listen. I will not allow it! signed Broud. Groov had been standing nearby and saw the confrontation and walked into the hearth and signed, Broud, you can't stop hunters if they want to leave the cave. That is their choice. As the brothers were leaving Oga came walking into the cave. Where are you going my sons? she asked. Brac replied, Broud has banned our brother Durc from the cave, and we are going with him. Oga turned and looked at Broud and then told the brothers, Wait while I get my things, I will go with you. Walking into the hearth Oga collected her things and as she started to walk out she turned around and signed, You have destroyed this family with your hate, I hope you can find someone to live with you because I no longer can. I will go with my sons. The five mixed spirit and three clan members left camp the nest morning headed north to find a new life. They traveled all day and set up camp that night. After they had eaten Durc signed, We will look for my mother, Brun told me that the bones of the death curse were scattered many years ago. And I am glad that my brothers have decided to come with us. Creb came to me in a dream and told me that our clan was dying. And that my mother had gone forward to set a path for us to follow. Oga although you are not my mother you treated me as if I was born to you. My brothers and I would miss you if you had not come with us. The next morning they started walking toward the steppes in the north. The six hunters walking in two lines with the women in the center. Durc called a halt, he thought he heard something to the right of the trail. He and Brac walked to the edge of a drop off and noticed a red deer tangled in the bushes. Durc pulled back his spear then looked at Brac and said, The kill is yours my brother. Brac drew back and threw the spear and it found its mark. Durc signed, I knew that you would master this spear. Ura, Oga we need you to skin and butcher this deer. Durc and Brac went down into the side of the drop off and pulled the deer free and brought it back to the women. As the two women worked on the deer Durc and the other hunters decided to practice while they waited. Brac and Grev needed more practice now that they would be using the new spears all the time. Both were still throwing sidearm but Brac had found the release point and his spears were flying straight. After a little work Grev found his release point and both were hitting the target with almost every cast. It was getting late by the time the women had finished with the deer so Durc had everyone set up camp. They would start out again the next morning, since they were out in the open Durc said that hunters would take turns on watch in pairs and when the moon was half way overhead that they would change. He said that he and Opar would start and Brac and Grev would relieve them then Ogar and Nag would take the last watch. They had collected enough wood to keep the fire going all night. When Brac and Grev started their watch Durc talked to them for a few moments then climbed into the furs with Ura. He started dreaming again, Ursus was walking toward him and he stopped and a large grey wolf stepped out from behind him. Ursus told him that he should follow the path of grey wolf and he would lead them to shelter. When they started out that morning Durc saw a large grey wolf heading toward the hills to the northeast, and started following. He signed, Ursus said he would send the wolf and we were to follow it to shelter. Winter will be here before we can find the valley and we will stay in that shelter until spring. Then we will head north again. They walked most of the day and in late afternoon they saw a cave. Durc had everyone collect wood for the fire while Opar took some dry grass and kindling then laid a hot coal on the grass. When the flame started he added the kindling and then larger pieces of wood until a good size fire was going. He took a large stick and wrapped dry grass around it and put some rendered fat on it. He then lit the torch and the hunters walked into the cave. It had a wide mouth and was deep and wide enough to hold the eight of them and their supplies. They came out and while the women set up inside the cave the men hunted for more wood. As Durc was headed back to the cave he noticed a skull lying off the side of the trail. When he looked closer at it he recognized it as a cave bear skull. He picked it up and carried it back to the cave. As he came out of the woods he saw everyone was already back and when they saw what he was carrying Brac signed, Ursus is with us . They knew that Ursus would be at home here and that the skull was a good sign. This would be home until spring. Tomorrow they would start hunting meat and gathering vegetables to store for winter. Durc would take the three mixed hunters and Brac and Grev would go with Ura and Oga while they gathered. The hunting was good and they brought in two more red deer and the women gathered two baskets of vegetables and they said there were several fruit and nut trees that could be picked also. The women started cutting the meat into strips for drying and Ura said that they would make more baskets to gather more fruits, nuts and vegetables. In the two weeks before the first snow fall they had hunted and dried more meat than the clan would have in the same amount of time and still had fresh meat to cook. The baskets were full of fruit, nuts and vegetables and they had made many water skins to store water. If they didn't get snowed in they could still hunt. The day before the first heavy snow Durc and Opar came upon a clan man with two mixed spirit children headed east. His name was Mog and the two children were named Gog and Tie. When they were told to leave their cave Mog could not let them go alone. He was old and was not much of a hunter anymore so he packed his things and left with them, he felt that they were his responsibility. When they returned to the cave the new people were welcomed by the other cave members and fed a hot meal. Mog set up their furs close to Oga's and they got to know each other they were closer in age than the others. They now numbered eleven members. Durc told them where they were going and when they would leave. Until then this would be their home. Mog used a clan spear, Brac and Grev showed him the new spears that they were using. They told Mog that he could master the spears with practice and he would have plenty of time. While the other men hunted Mog stayed at camp and practiced with the spear and kept an eye on the women and children. But he kept his sling and a bag of stones with him at all times. He did not have the distance or force that the other hunters had but he could throw the spear with a fair amount of success. There was one storm that kept them from hunting for about a week but after that there were a few days where they had light snow. They hunted as often as the weather allowed and stayed warm in their cave. Durc would wait for spring, then follow the path of the grey wolf where ever he led them. He kept thinking about his mother and wondering what she was like and would she remember him. He had been only a small boy when she left. That night Durc had another dream, Creb told him that in this new world that men and women both shared the jobs that it took to keep a cave going. They would have to learn each others jobs. It would be hard but those of mixed spirits would have it easier than the full clan would. When he awoke the next morning and told everyone what Creb had told him, all those of mixed spirits would learn to use weapons and hunt. They would start practicing today. Durc and Opar started working with Ura, Gog and Tie on the sling first. Then they would move on to the bola and the throwing spears. He told Oga that if she wanted she could learn also. She looked at her sons and asked, Will my sons teach me to use the sling? I have no need of the other weapons. Both men signed, Yes mother, like Ayla you can use the sling. Looking at Brac Oga signed. It was with a sling like this that Ayla saved your life with when the hyena grabbed you and also the reason she was cursed the first time. She knew what would happen but didn't stop to think about it she just acted.