C. T. Suddeth

Lord of the Caves Part 3

Oh-see-rah shot to his feet. “Ee-shee-na, get the little ones, go past Tiger Rock.”

She sat up. “What?”

He grabbed his spear thrower and two wood-tipped spears. “Two Terrible Thunderers are out there.”

She leapt and grabbed the baby as the other three sat up.

Roar!

ROOOAAAR!

He stuck the first spear into the flames. It caught fire, oily flames reaching up. He loaded the spear thrower, stepped forward and flung to his left.

Roar!

He grinned. One of the beasts didn’t like fire.

By then, Ee-shee-nah and the little ones were running toward Tiger Rock. He quickly grabbed the second spear, lit it, and snuck forward. He hurled this one to the right.

ROOOAAAR!

He laughed. An angered beast would lose its senses and allow him to drive it away. Though he couldn’t kill either one without help, he could make it so wretched it would hide in its nest. He set his spear thrower to the side and crawled forward, obsidian knife in hand. Though he had two flint-tipped spears, he chose to save them, just in case the T-Rexes broke through the paling stakes. 

Keeping in the shadows along the cave walls, he tiptoed close to the cave mouth and peeked across. A doe T-Rex—he could tell by the greenish feathers and somewhat smaller size—still big enough to crush him without trying.

He needed to see the other T-Rex—he wasn’t paying attention earlier but the one he’d tussled with earlier was a buck—big, mean, and itching to fight. He darted around the corner, peered at the other T-Rex and tumbled back into the shadows. It was green along the belly and flanks with bright yellow feathers along its back and tail—a buck, and it had brought its mate back to deal with Oh-see-rah. Worst of all, its jade green eye had a red gash—he’d gotten it in the eye. Unless he figured out something soon, he and all in this cave were going to die.

He ran past the fire and knelt. “The buck I hit brought his doee back. They may breach the paling stakes. We’ll have to move deeper into the cave, past Tiger Rock.”

Ee-shee-na glanced over her shoulder. “What about cave bears?”

“We’ve dwelt here for two full moons, so I doubt a cave bear lurks back there. But we have no choice. I’ll make you some time.”

“I love you,” Ee-shee-na said.

“I love you, too, mate of mine.”

While she gathered up the little ones, he stuck a spear into the flames and loaded it into the spear thrower. Again, hiding in the shadows along the wall he rushed to the cave’s mouth.

The doe peered in, no doubt hunting him. He smiled—he’d let her see him—then he’d make her respect him. He pushed out of the shadows and waved his left arm, keeping the spear thrower behind his back, out of her sight.

Roar! The doe pressed forward, her mouth wide open as if to swallow him whole. Dark green feathers along her jaw quivered in excitement as pools of slobber dripped from her spear-like teeth.

He jumped straight up and lobbed the spear at her open jaws.

ROOOAR! The buck pushed toward him.

As Oh-see-rah fell, he glanced at the doe. The flaming spear shot into her throat. Shaking her head and bellowing, she whirled around.

Her flailing tail whipping toward him, he fled toward the wall he’d just used.

ROOOAR! The buck opened his jaws and pressed against the paling stakes.

TO BE CONTINUED

Copyright 2021 Charles Suddeth