Mondo's Clan

Chapter 10

Fifteen days later Mondo arrived at the Clans Summer camp he was disheartened to see the barren burned out area. He searched around but could not tell if the Clan had been here when the fire occurred or if the fire was older. He stayed there another 10 days making scouting circles in all directions. All he could really tell was the Cats were uneasy in this burned out area. Two days ago the cats had brought down a deer. Mondo cut it up and fed them big chunks of the meat and worked on the hide. He decided that in the morning he would head back. He had to admit he missed his new clan The next morning after a quick look around he began his trek homeward. Bruno began his scout and Sondi took point Mondo could tell they were happy to be leaving this place. Days turned into weeks it had been an easy trip except for twice the Cats had warned him of lomen on the prowl. Mondo took the cats in the bushes and told them to be silent and they watched the lomen searching for new captives. Their smell was overpowering even more so when two of them sat down to rest less than twenty paces away. The Cats didn't like it either but I was able to keep them quiet. Then they decided to take a nap, That was more than I or the Cats could take. I turned them loose, in seconds there was two less lomen in these woods. It was a thing of beauty to watch them work now that they had nearly reached their full growth. Bruno was about five foot at the front shoulder and about four foot at the hind quarters. Sondi was just inches smaller not that it mattered and Runt at the cave was a full foot smaller but I think Runt was faster than his brother and sister I could see the dry wash ahead once I entered it I would be close to a mile from Bramble Gate. Now silence was really needed the path above the dry wash was made by the lomen as they carry their captives to their home area... Where ever that is. But today it was clear. We made it to Bramble gate as we neared the brambles began to move and out came Drago and Runt. I motioned them back inside and the Cats and I followed. All I could think about for the past hour was the hot springs., When I reached them I began dropping things, by the time I was at the springs I was nude and walked out into the pool and sank down and closed my eyes. After a few sighs I opened my eyes and was met by ten women all carrying a baby. My mouth dropped open and I asked "Where did all the Babies come from?" The only answer I got was smiles. I was Home I stood on the bank of our river I looked across at the stately trees on the other side. It has been 4 years since we had found our valley. We had learned how to smoke our meat, there was an indention in the wall of the cave passage near room sized. It was near the smoke hole, we had left some meat on drying racks in this room and the passage near room sized. It was near the smoke hole, we had left some meat on drying racks in this room and the smoke from our cook fire passed over it. When we tried this meat we were surprised by the taste. We tried raw smoke from our cook fire passed over it. When we tried this meat we were surprised by the taste. We tried raw meat on the racks and the results were great. We were able to make fewer large kills and no meat was wasted. Yes this was truly a wonderful valley. meat on the racks and the results were great. We were able to make fewer large kills and no meat was wasted. Yes meat on the racks and the results were great. We were able to make fewer large kills and no meat was wasted. Yes this was truly a wonderful valley I walked into the River at this point the water just reached my knees. Along the far bank the women were gathering berries in to pots Gurk had made. I noticed a river otter playing with the children, Malo had found it when it was a pup and raised it. We were as one with the animals. Shad and Gruk and the boys and I did most of our major hunts out the bramble gate. That way we had the help of the Cats, they were still not used in the valley. The only time we hunted inside the valley was when it was winter at the bramble gate. Soon not even then. The only time we hunted inside the valley was when it was winter at the bramble gate. Soon not even then Malo and Drago had herded 5 of the bovine creatures into a box canyon and had taken brush and blocked off their escape. Later we had cut poles and using a crisscross method at the corners and ends of the poles we had built a fence with a gate. There were three females and 2 males there was plenty of food for them and a branch off the river made water available. It wasn't till breeding time that we found there was a problem with the mix. The two males fought for the right to breed . We watched the fight the larger bull had horns 18" long on either side of his head. The smaller only had one horn the other had been broken off some time earlier, he was clearly at a disadvantage. It didn't take long before the smaller bull was too injured to continue the fight. With ropes we had disadvantage. It didn't take long before the smaller bull was too injured to continue the fight. With ropes we had made by weaving strips of skins we managed to get the rope around the bull's neck we managed to get him out of the gate. We sent the boys to get the women and the Travois and killed the bull and began butchering. made by weaving strips of skins we managed to get the rope around the bull's neck we managed to get him out of the gate. We sent the boys to get the women and the Travois and killed the bull and began butchering. made by weaving strips of skins we managed to get the rope around the bull's neck we managed to get him out of the gate. We sent the boys to get the women and the Travois and killed the bull and began butchering. the gate. We sent the boys to get the women and the Travois and killed the bull and began butchering Over the years our herd has grown by natural birth and capturing other females and adding them to our herd. Our Clan was also growing the same way. Most of the females seemed to welcome our presence. Which meant we only had to Isolate the bull to be able to work with the cows. Gurk had noticed that after a calf suckled a few drops of milk was on one of her teats. He reached down gently so as not to startle the cow and stroked the teat. To his surprise a stream of milk shot out . He had Malo bring him a pot. He directed the milk into the pot filling it to the top. He lifted the pot to his lips and sipped, his eyes flew open and he took an even bigger drink then handed the pot to Malo who also took a drink. The milk was very rich and creamy and tasted delicious. pot to Malo who also took a drink. The milk was very rich and creamy and tasted delicious Back at the Camp Ludi was working on her own experiment. She had begun to take seed pods from plants they had eaten and herbs for medicine and had put them in the ground and watered them and they began to grow. Mondo had watched the process and liked what he saw. He suggested that she have the children collect the seed pods from the grasses. Ludi questioned this...we do not eat grass. Mondo explained he was afraid that the cows pods from the grasses. Ludi questioned this...we do not eat grass. Mondo explained he was afraid that the cows would eat all of the grass in the canyon. This way they could scatter the seeds all over the canyon and maybe it would grow and help feed the cows. would grow and help feed the cows. Mondo heard his named being called, he turned, and there was Malo with Gurk holding out a pot saying "drink drink." Mondo took the pot and tasted and with a look of surprise handed the pot to Ludi. After one taste Ludi was all questions... What is it, where did you get it, can you get more? Gurk explained what had happened and that the cow seemed to want the milk removed as if it was too full. Malo suggested we try to give some to Lorn's baby since Lorn had dried up and had no milk for her baby. Mondo hollered at Drago to get Lorn and her Baby When Lorn arrived with her baby, Ludi stuck her finger in the milk and dribbled some over the baby's mouth. The baby began reaching and its mouth began suckling movement. Lorn immediately stuck her finger and copied Ludi's movement Earlier Mondo had thought that this valley had no winter. It Did, but not severe and it only lasted about a month. When it snowed the center of the valley would be deep with the snow maybe a foot deep. The rest of the valley would only get a dusting. Outside the Bramble Gate the snow would be in drifts up to 6 feet deep. The Clan had would only get a dusting. Outside the Bramble Gate the snow would be in drifts up to 6 feet deep. The Clan had many discussions about this... They concluded that the valley was formed between Mountains and the mountains had closed in at the top limiting the amount of snow that reached the ground before melting. many discussions about this... They concluded that the valley was formed between Mountains and the mountains had closed in at the top limiting the amount of snow that reached the ground before melting.