C. T. Suddeth

Unfastening her tunic, she let it slide to the ground. She had nothing else on.

Lord of the Caves Part 12

The spear thrower slipped out of Oh-see-rah’s fingers and fell to the ground. His eyes stuck on Ee-shee-nah’s womanly curves, he grinned. “I—”

“Mommy, where are you?” Their daughter’s voice. She had seen but four winters.

Oh-see-rah tried to keep a stone face; their daughter knew naught of grownup life.

“Go back to sleep,” Ee-shee-nah ordered.

The little girl stuck her tongue out.

Ee-shee-nah poked her head around Oh-see-rah’s arm. “Little girl child, you are in big trouble.”

 The little girl shook her head and fled into the cave.

Oh-see-rah kissed Ee-shee-nah’s cheek and whispered, “Let’s—”

She grabbed her tunic. “Later, this was not a wise idea.”

He sighed and picked up his spear thrower. She donned her tunic, kissed his cheek, and pattered into the cave, soon disappearing among the shadows. As if announcing her entrance, the front fire flared and died down again.

A while later, Ah-koh-rah appeared. “Dull day?”

Oh-see-rah tried not to grin. “Of course.” He handed him the spear thrower and rushed to Ee-shee-nah’s side. She was waiting.

He slid under their sleeping furs and cuddled. Soon, they fulfilled their desires. She purred and kissed him. Exhausted, he fell right asleep.

Later, Ee-shee-nah whispered into his ear, “Lord Sun is leaving us. The other men are waiting for you. Hunt well.”

Oh-see-rah kissed her and rose.

Hah-nah-pah handed him a throwing spear. “Hunting or fishing?”

“The hares have given to us as did the whiskered fish. What’s left?” Oh-see-rah wondered about the T-Rex but mentioning them might usher in ill fortune.

Oh-koh-rah pointed to his left. “At the Grassy Lake, a flock of ducks settled in.”

Oh-see-rah had been there many times. “Duck would make a fine meal.”

They each lit a torch, and Oh-see-rah led them. He halted at the cave’s mouth but saw and heard nothing. They quickly left the cave behind.

He knew the little lake well. After a short hike through dark woods, they neared the lake and doused their torches. Lady Moon shone on the water and made the ducks easy to spot.

Oh-see-rah pointed to his left. “Oh-koh-rah and I will hide in the bushes. Hah-nah-pah, can you drive them our way?”

Hah-nah-pah patted him on the back. “Depend on me.”

Oh-see-rah and Oh-koh-rah hid in thickets only a few paces from the shimmering water. They quickly loaded their spear throwers with flint-tipped spears. Some of the ducks paddled in circles in the lake while other huddled together near a weeping willow. 

Hah-nah-pah disappeared into the mists. Oh-see-rah readied his spear. With a little luck, he might have a chance to bag a couple fat ducks. Roasted with sassafras, they would be a feast. Oh-koh-rah had his spear thrower ready. He, too, would take some ducks home.

A crackling sound came from somewhere in front of Oh-see-rah.  Were the ducks restless already? Why was Hah-nah-pah taking so long?

Tweet. Tweeeet. TWEEEEET went Hah-nah-pa’s bone flute. Ready for the ducks to scatter, Oh-see-rah peered into the dark.

An enormous blob leapt up and soared toward him.

TO BE CONTINUED

Copyright 2021 Charles Suddeth