Hearing what Safi said, the group quickly went inside the camp.

  “Everyone be alert! Something is coming!” Civ cannot confirm his hunch yet. Better to get a better view first before deciding the next step.

  Safi explained that the steps were heavy. With this information, they quickly move to their designated positions on the wall. Even though they were dirty with mud, they climbed the ladders and held their spears.

  The hunting group was silently waiting. On the other side, their tribesmen went to the middle of the camp. Preparing the spears and other tools to support the defense team. Experiencing a horde attack made everyone aware of what needs to be done.

  Kivrah also climbed the ladder. Aside from Kivrah and Civ, Luk and Kes were tasked to protect the north wall. Ras and Pil want to contribute, but Kivrah rejected their request. Instead, he assigned them to help sharpen the spears if necessary.

  “Tell me what happened Son.” Kivrah did not get the complete story.

  “Safi heard heavy stomps coming from the north. It was not fast, but she believes it may be many.” Civ quickly reports it.

  Seeing the current status. Kivrah held his spear. Hoping for the best.

  A couple of minutes later, Civ and Kivrah heard a faint sound.

  stomp

  StomP

  STOMP

  The sound was getting clearer. Then a silhouette of a creature started to appear. As the cloud from the sky moved, the sunlight revealed it.

  It was the mohawk boars.

  Upon further observation, Civ noticed that these boars are not that hairy. But the hairs on their head up to their neck were standing still. It's like a spike from a hedgehog. Their tusk were also there.

  Oink

  Oink

  Oink

  There were two more that appeared, totaling three boars. They looked around. Then looked at the tall wall. After that, these three boars left. A minute has passed.

  “They already left!” Safi shouted.

  “What? Why did they leave?” Kivrah's brows knitted as they started going down the ladder.

  That is what Civ also asked himself. But it was a good thing they left.

  Because Horm and his team have not arrived yet.

  It will be dangerous if they arrive at a battle. They might be vulnerable.

  Too many thoughts ran through Civ’s mind. The only thing he prayed for was to keep this camp safe as long as possible until the Tuanir.

  He heard Luk calling his name from the back. “Civ, let's follow that boars!”

  Civ looked at Luk. “It is not safe. Also, what if they are here to check on us, but when we follow them, there is a bigger group? You remember how many are there in their sonder?”

  The scolding from Civ made Luk sulked his head and he did not reply.

  “I want to follow them also, but we need to wait before moving.” The possibility that these are lost boars is not zero. If his guess is correct, there should be a horde of boars that will come in their way later.

  The defenses in the north were improved significantly. With the leadership of Vel, they made more barricades. It was shorter but much sharper. Vel’s explanation was that the last attack trampled some of the barricades and became useless at the end. Making them shorter will give them a better chance to hit more boars.

  Understanding this, Civ approved the modification. Overall, the number of barricades around the camp was increased. If one or two boars are attacking the camp, this can be defended by one person only.

  The rest of the hunting team went in the middle of the camp.

  They sat around the campfire.

  “Safi, you did not hear any steps right now?” Kivrah asked while he was chewing dried meat.

  Safi shakes her head. “None in the north. But in the east, it looks like Horm and their group are already coming.”

  Seconds later, Horm and the team arrived at the west entrance. They are dragging some of the wood that Civ requested.

  Kivrah looked at Safi. Without this girl, they might always be on the edge. Her hearing ability is so wide that they can prepare for any danger.

  While Kivrah is contemplating, Civ called Horm.

  “Hey big man! Come here!” Civ waved his hand, calling Horm.

  He instructed the group to work on removing the branches of the wood. When he walks towards the hunting group.

  His head moved left and right, looked puzzled.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  Then he sat next to Civ.

  “What happened Civ. Why is everyone in the middle of the camp?” Horm asked as soon as he sat on the ground.

  “Well..” Civ explained what Horm missed. Horm’s eyes widened.

  “If we arrived earlier.” Horm covers his mouth.

  “You are right. Still, I’m just glad everyone is safe.” Civ replied.

  Civ is right. They don’t need to worry about the things that did not happen.

  Horm sat straight and removed the worry in his heart.

  “Since we saw those boars. I think we need to see where they are going.”

  “I agree with Civ,” Arsh answered.

  “Same here.” Then the rest followed.

  “I know you want to look for them. But how can we be sure it is they only boars around?” Kivrah raised the concern. Kivrah has confidence right now that they can take down all of those boars at the same time. But if it's more, they need to fight them behind the walls.

  “Nothing. The only way is to look for them.” Civ seriously answered.

  Unlike the previous scouting. They know where the boars are. But right now, since that sonder is too far from them. This is the best option they have.

  Kivrah also has the same idea. He let out a defeated sigh.

  “Sigh. Then, when will the group look for it?” Kivrah asked.

  Civ looked at the sunny sky. “Later, after we eat. Also, I will bring Luk and Safi at this time.”

  This scouting will be more dangerous compared to the last travel they did. Unlike the first horde, they do not know the exact number of the boars. He needs information. They do not have other choice aside from looking for them.

  “Alright. Be careful and make sure to retreat when needed.” Kivrah replied.

  “I understand Father.” They adjourned the meeting. They eat their meal at noon.

  While everyone’s busy. Civ went to Horm.

  “Horm, I need you to do something.” Civ picks up one of the firewood logs that Horm just cut and places it in the pile.

  “What is it Civ?” Horm stops cutting while he wipes his face using his forearm.

  “About the wood I requested to gather. I want you to cut it and dig a smaller hole in the campfire.” Civ pointed to the campfire next to the cave.

  “Sure. Tell me what needs to be done.” Horm happily wants to fulfill what his friend needs.

  The logs Horm collected were around 6 - 8 inches (16 - 21 cm) thick. Civ requested to cut this wood in half with a length of around 6 ft (2 m. approx.). Then dig four holes in square formation, 14 ft. (4 m.) apart.

  Horm nodded. “Leave it to me Civ. This will be finished before Sun Goddess sleeps.”

  Civ wants to prepare the other materials. But there are more pressing issues they need to prioritize.

  Next is he went to the cave. Since he is already here, he checked the soaked boar’s skin. When he removed the cover, a metallic yet slightly rotting smell escaped the basin. Looking at the hair, the chemical is starting to break down it. He mixed the solution. Then he flipped the skin to make sure it was evenly soaked. To make sure, he put a stone in the middle of the skin to fully submerge every part of the hide. Finishing his preparations, he left the cave to meet with Luk and Safi.

  When he arrived in the middle of the camp, Luk and Safi were not there yet. But Kivrah is there, mastering the stone knapping with the crowd.

  “Oh Son, you come early.” Knowing Civ, his son is always doing something.

  “Yes Father, I thought they were already here.” Civ picks up one of the stone spearheads that was made.

  They are constantly making these tools. Stone knives were actually always being used when a new boar came in. Especially on the last horde. All of the stocked knives were used, and they resorted to using stone flakes to finish the butchering.

  “You are getting better at making this Father.” Civ praised his Father for his craftsmanship.

  “It's all because I have someone who teaches me patiently.” Kivrah smiled and looked at Arsh.

  Hearing their conversation. Arsh slightly bowed. “You praised me too much Tribe leader.”

  The three of them laugh.

  As he continued inspecting the items, he thought that the spearhead was more than enough. Preparing for the future, he asked Arsh.

  “Arsh, remember the smaller stone spearhead I created previously?” Civ reminded Arsh.

  “Yeah, I remembered it. Why?” Arsh nodded.

  “Can your team make some of it starting today?” Civ respectfully requested.

  “Yeah, we can do it. It might be harder from the start.” Arsh knows what Civ needed. But they still need to learn how to do it.

  “Thanks! You can go to the cave and search it if you need to look at it.” Since Civ is busy, he needs to leave the team now.

  “Sure, I’ll let you know if we're able to make it.” Arsh smiled at him.

  Civ stood up and asked his Father something. His Father showed a serious face, but did agree with it. Just a few seconds, Safi and Luk have already arrived.

  “Great! Let's go to Shaman Mashu first.” Civ led the group together with Kivrah.

  When they arrived at the Shaman’s hut. They were greeted by the Shaman.’

  They did not go inside. Kivrah asked the Shaman.

  “Shaman Mashu, please bless their travel today.” Kivrah slightly bowed as he requested.

  The Shaman stared a deep look at the three. “I see. Just give me a moment.”

  Shaman Mashu went inside to pick up something.

  Then, when she went outside. She is holding a green leaf with a dry, brown substance.

  She started the prayer. As she prayed for the blessing, she sprinkled to the three of them the brown substance.

  Cough

  Cough

  Cough

  The three of them started coughing as they inhaled the substance.

  ‘I was right!’ Civ confirmed that this is a dried pine.

  ‘Tomorrow, if everything is fine, I need to talk to the shaman about some things.’ Having a plan in mind, he really needs to make some time for the Shaman. He felt that there were some mysteries that only the Shaman could answer.

  The language of the prayer. It sounds so foreign yet familiar. As if he understood the word or context of what the Shaman was saying.

  ‘Guide them with your grace? You shine, never fade?’ Civ feels he knows what the Shaman is saying. But his head starts aching a little bit, so he stops comprehending the language.

  After the prayer, the group bid their goodbye to the tribe leader and headed north.

  They start their scouting by following the footprints left by the boar earlier. Before the move, they ask Safi if there is any movement heard in the area. When all is clear, they move forward.

  When they trace the footprint, it seems that they are leading to the familiar place. Aside from tweeting birds above, the area is quiet. As expected, the footprint led them to the tunnel. The tracks of the three boars were visible as they entered the tunnel.

  “Should we follow them?” Luk asked.

  “No. But it is better if we close this tunnel.” Civ replied.

  Safi and Luk agreed with the plan, and they started bringing fallen branches. Then placed it inside the entrance. The tunnel was filled with branches, and then they left the place.

  But then, when they walked back to the camp. Civ and the rest stopped their tracks.

  Because the three boars that they saw earlier were quietly sleeping in one of the trees!