C. T. Suddeth

Lord of the Caves Part 13

A dark shape raced toward Oh-see-rah. He flung his spear and dropped to the ground just as Oh-koh-rah hurled his spear.

WAAAAHHHNNN! screamed the creature as it fell to the ground and whirled around.

Waiting for the monster to attack, Oh-see-rah stood and slapped another spear into his thrower. Then he spotted antlers longer than a man. Giant elks could run over a man, and if they decided to butt him with its giant antlers, the man would be crushed.

“Giant elk,” said Oh-see-rah.

Quack, quack, QUACK went the ducks.

“What was that?” Oh-see-rah peered into the darkness.

“The elk’s running from us,” replied Oh-koh-rah. “Elk steaks would’ve tasted great.”

“Hah-nah-pah!” Oh-see-rah raced to save his brother from the giant elk.

Oh-koh-rah hurried behind Oh-see-rah. The ducks quit quacking.

The elk must’ve targeted Hah-nah-pah! Oh-see-rah pumped his legs up and down and followed the lake shore, kicking ducks out of his way. The elk vanished into the foggy night. Where was Hah-nah-pah?

Oh-see-rah couldn’t stand seeing his brother killed, mashed into the damp earth. “Hah-nah-pah!”

A figure popped out from behind a tree and waved its arms. “Here.” Hah-nah-pah’s voice.

He and Oh-see-rah hugged. Had they been alone, Oh-see-rah would’ve kissed him.

“Seven ducks,” yelled Oh-koh-rah. “The elk squashed seven for us.”

Oh-see-rah cut some cattails growing a in a shallow section of lake. “These will go nicely with duck.”

Hah-nah-pah lit his torch and waved two spears. “Blood on both tips. Both of you shot well. And I found sassafras leaves.”

“Let us go home and feast,” said Oh-see-rah.

Following Hah-nah-pah’s torch, they hurried home.

“We really should thank the giant elk for appearing,” said Hah-nah-pah. “It would’ve taken us all night to hunt seven ducks.”

Oh-koh-rah chuckled. “We really should thank your flute for flabbergasting a giant elk.”

“It has been a great night,” Oh-see-rah said, feeling good for the first time since the T-Rex attack.

“The night’s not over yet,” Hah-nah-pah said, his voice sounding serious, grave even.

They reached the mouth of their cave. Holding a torch in one hand and a bundle in the other, a thin young man stood just outside the paling stakes. With him was a young woman who looked to be great with child. She held a bundle in one hand and the hand of a little girl in the other.

Wondering what had happened, Oh-see-rah asked, “May I help thee?”

The young man nodded. “We have been living in a lean-to. May we dwell in Tiger Rock Cave?”

“Of course.” Curiosity twisted itself around Oh-see-rah’s mind. “How do you know about Tiger Rock Cave?”

“It is quite the talk of the Dell Folk, even in other dells.”

“Please make yourselves at home. My wife, Ee-shee-nah, will find you a warm cubbyhole.”

The young couple bowed and followed them in. After a quick introduction, everyone made preparations for the night’s feast. As cattails sizzled in a hickory fire, Hah-nah-pah’s woman ground sassafras leaves into a paste and rubbed it over the ducks,  broiling them in the flames. The cooking smells were the best ever.

Hah-nah-pah stood. “Tonight, Mother Moon is full enough to burst. Soon her belly will yield up countless stars to light the night sky.”

Everyone rose and recited:

Hail Mother Moon!

Hail Lady Moon!

Hail Mystery Moon!

            “Let us feast!” shouted Hah-nah-pah’s woman.

            Everyone feasted, laughed, and gabbed. Little ones wrestled and giggled and nibbled on the feast.

Oh-koh-rah stood and beat on a log drum, BOOM, boom, boom.

Hah-nah-pah stood and played his flute, FLWEE, flwoo, flwam.

Three women stood and clapped to the music. Oh-see-rah loved it, but no one had warned him.

A woman appeared from behind Tiger Rock and danced, her hips weaving, keeping time with the drum, her arms flowing to the melody. Frangipani blossoms hid her groin as a necklace of moonflowers circled loosely around her neck. Otherwise, she was bare and breathtakingly beautiful. Her wiggling arms hid her face. Oh-see-rah clapped though he longed to know who she was.

Hah-nah-pah’s woman stood. “I present you with our new High Priestess!”

Smiling, the mystery lady bowed.

Everyone stood and clapped and stamped their feet! “Hoorah!”

TO BE CONTINUED

Copyright 2021 Charles Suddeth