Mondo's Clan

Chapter 15

I awoke to stillness, something seemed wrong, I reached around to grasp one of the cats... they were gone. I got up looked out side but everything looked to be alright Socar walked by and I asked if he had seen the Cats. He answered, "about 2 hours ago Sondi went into the cave and a few minutes later Bruno and Runt followed her This did not alarm me the cats often hunted alone. I sat down and thought about the past two years since the clans had merged things had prospered and with the new babies the clan was almost a hundred strong It is time to consider eradicating the lomen they were a blight on our peaceful land. But first, When the cats returned I plan to go to the shadow at the end of the valley and see if it is a cave and another way out of our returned I plan to go to the shadow at the end of the valley and see if it is a cave and another way out of our valley. This was something that had to be carefully planned Lateen had taken a group to check it out a few months ago. Drago, Goba, & Teal went with him. The women were free to do more things since the older women would take care of the children and watch the babies. Teal was with the group to try out and idea she had had She had been working with the cattle and had befriended one of the calves. She started working with it trying to train it. She had a rope around its neck and the calf was walking around dragging the rope behind it. The rope train it. She had a rope around its neck and the calf was walking around dragging the rope behind it. The rope became tangled in some dried brush and the calf continued to walk around an seemed oblivious of the brush. Teal looked over to see Shad arriving pulling a travois. Teal looked at the travois and back at the calf ...a new idea was born. She cut some longer poles and made a new travois. She tied a piece of rope around the calf' s neck then she took the poles to either side of the calf and tied the poles to the rope. took the poles to either side of the calf and tied the poles to the rope The calf took it right in stride and Shad was shocked to see Teal leading the calf around pulling the travois Eventually Teal would make changes to the system by adding wide leather strap across the chest of the calf now named BO. She also added a back and belly strap to keep the travois even when BO was pulling it The group hunted as they went...mostly for small game using their slings. It was an easy trek since BO carried al their supplies. When they neared to what they judged to be two miles distance the ground looked scraped and brown the trees looked as if they had been stripped bare. Suddenly the ground shook and a very large hairy brown the trees looked as if they had been stripped bare. Suddenly the ground shook and a very large hairy creature charged out of the trees It had 6 foot long tusks and a long nose and big floppy ears. It curled its nose and bugled. It came to a stop owered its head and shook it back and forth. Then it bugled and there were many answers to its bugling about lowered its head and shook it back and forth. Then it bugled and there were many answers to its bugling about thirty Lateen stood and stared and said, "Mammoth! I have heard of them but this is the first I have seen. We go Back." From where Lateen was standing he could tell that the valley did not end in the shadow but made a gentle right turn and he was unable to see the end. One thing was sure he wasn't going to challenge the Mammoths to find out Especially since the valley narrowed to less than a ½ mile across where the mammoths were feeding. And 100 Especially since the valley narrowed to less than a ½ mile across where the mammoths were feeding. And 100 yards of it was the river. When they returned and told Mondo what they had found. He was excited but decided not to rush into anything he told everyone to put their mind to the task... How to get by the Mammoths... there was no need to kill them they had plenty of food. Time passed and no one had any ideas Then one day Ludi was watching 3 year old Rena playing in a pool off the river. She had sticks tied together and had a bug on the sticks. She had a longer stick and was pushing her little raft around till it was caught by the current and whisked away down river. Rena was thrilled and laughing and clapping her hands saying, " bug gone!" Ludi told Mondo what she had seen, he immediately saw a way to use the information. Near by was a grove of Bamboo some of the shoots were 6 inches in diameter and over eight feet tall. They cut 4 lengths of the 6 inch and lay them out 2 foot apart. Then tied a 3 inch piece across each end. Once they had it framed they began using leather strips to tie the 3 inch poles to the bottom making a deck. Not knowing the depths of the river they cut four poles 12 feet long in hopes they could pole and change directions. The had not come up with the idea of a rudder. They were proud of what they had. The next thing was to decide when to go... then fate stepped in and the Cats disappeared and forced them to wait Days passed and no sign of them I walked out the bramble gate and looked around and saw nothing. I walked on Days passed and no sign of them I walked out the bramble gate and looked around and saw nothing. I walked on down the dry wash...it was not what I could see but what I heard.. Cave lions mate once a year usually in late summer and the gestation period is about 4 months then 1 to 2 kits are born and stay with the mother for about 2 years. What I was hearing was the sound of many cave lions and this born and stay with the mother for about 2 years. What I was hearing was the sound of many cave lions and this was the right time of the year. Females tried to breed to the strongest male but if available would mate with al males available The average size of a male cave lion is 10 foot long and weighing 600#. Runt was about 8 feet and weighed about 500# Bruno was an exception he was close to 14 feet and almost 1000#. Sonda was large for a female weighing in at 650 and 9 foot long. Probably since they never had periods without food. Generally Cave lions hunt in pairs are groups and the females usually do the hunting. That is what makes my lions different the males are trained hunters as well ...they are a team Now I knew what we were facing I could began to make firmer plans. Two weeks later the Cats were back. I was just getting out of our hot pool and was nude when I heard a menacing growl. I turned around only to find my self facing a strange female cave lion. She was quite small, not over 6 feet long and 350# not that it mattered right now. She went into her attack position by crouching and beginning to move toward me.. I stood frozen. now. She went into her attack position by crouching and beginning to move toward me.. I stood frozen Then I heard the roar I was familiar with and Bruno bounded over the female and placed himself between the ioness and me. Sondi just walked in and lay down to watch the show. Runt walks up to the female and clamped his jaws on to the nape of her neck and forced her to walk up to me I first rubbed Bruno' s head then Runt' s before moving the back of my hand to the female. She leaned forward and sniffed my hand and her pink tongue slipped out and licked my hand. I stroked her head then ran my hands over her back and scratched her ears. I glanced over to the cave entrance and saw Drago. I called him over and had him follow the same routine as I had I sent him out to tell the clan we had to meet another cat and they were to come in one at a time. I motioned to Runt to release her. She stood there content. I had also told Drago to bring small pieces of meat so that each person could feed the Girl as they met her. Bruno stayed watchful through out the introductions. When all had met her I walked her into the pool and washed her she seemed to like this. Drago had stayed close the whole time He asked what was we going to name her I said "Girl" When I said that she looked up at me then to Drago She moved forward and licked Drago' s hand and rubbed against him. It looks like you have been chosen. The way Runt is acting she is his mate so you have two to work with it is up to you to train her. I think both Sondi and Gir are pregnant. When we make the trip to the shadow we will have to leave them here you will have to take care of them.. them. For awhile when you walk thru camp and are approaching another person place your hand on her back it will give her assurance that you are with her. Also make you a pouch and carry small pieces of meat to reward her as you her assurance that you are with her. Also make you a pouch and carry small pieces of meat to reward her as you work with her. And remember don't ignore Runt he could get jealous.