Seeing the bite marks, Civ's face went serious.

  ‘If those rabbits were able to reach us.’ It was a good thing that Horm and Pil were able to manage fending off most of the rabbits.

  “What is it Civ?” Horm nervously asked.

  “Well, you didn’t mention that this was already going to be broken soon.” Civ looked Horm in the eyes.

  “I-i-i was going to when I saw those marks!” Horm tried to reason it out.

  Civ did not further tease his friend since his purpose is really to check the spear he is using.

  “Alright, I believe you. I'll make you one later.” Civ left Horm, bringing the almost broken spear with him.

  However, they heard a shout from the north wall again.

  “Boar! The boar is attacking!” Luk shouted.

  Horm and Civ quickly ran towards the north wall.

  “Everyone in your positions.” The rest of the hunting group assumed their designated guarding post and climbed on the ladders.

  *REEEEEE*

  Hearing it while climbing. Civ tried his best to climb to the top of the wall.

  When they saw it, its eyes were burning with determination while its mouth was frothing.

  The same thing happened as last time. The boar was impaled on one of the barricades.

  “Shoot! Aim for the head.” Civ commanded the group.

  The group quickly stretched their bows and shot the arrows at the boar's head.

  This time, they only shot three times each before the boar was killed. It was better compared to the last attack.

  After confirming that the boar was dead, the firewood team collected the boar. The rest of the tribesmen processed the boar.

  While looking at the butchering process, Kivrah sat next to Civ.

  “What do you think? How are those boars running aggressively recently?” Kivrah was quite puzzled by the behavior.

  Civ looked up and then looked at his Father. “When I was above the ladder, I noticed something.”

  “What is it Son?”

  Civ looked at the jar that was still at the fire. “Smell.”

  “Smell?” Kivrah continuously tapped his knees with his pointy finger.

  “Yes, especially that smell.” Now he pointed at the jar.

  “The soup! Right, it was so smelly that the boar was attracted to the smell.” Kivrah concluded.

  But Civ has a different take. “I don’t think it is right. We might do more testing tomorrow.”

  “Hmmm I think we can hide that smell Son.” Kivrah contemplated. He tried to think of a solution. The boar might be one only for now. But if a group of boars starts ramming into their walls, it will be a big problem for the tribe.

  “If we could put a cover on the jar.” Civ looked at the jar again.

  “Well, we can make that right now.” Civ's eyes brightened.

  “Really Son?! Tell me how?” Kivrah was excited too.

  “It's not about how. It’s about who.” Civ's smile was a bit chilly.

  “Wh-wh-at you mean who?” Kivrah steps back once. Trying to compose himself.

  “We can ask Vel!” Civ smiled ear to ear.

  Vel, on the other hand, felt his right ear was itchy.

  “Aruggh, why now! I’m working on this pottery!” Vel washes his hands to scratch that itch.

  After he finished scratching, he closed his eyes, smiling. That anyoying itch went away.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Then someone whispered in his right ear. “Hey Vel.”

  Vel jumped like a rabbit when he heard it.

  “WHO IN THE RIGHT MIN-. C-c-civ. Oh it's you.” Vel calmed down a light speed.

  Civ smiled but inwardly laughed as he saw the expression on his apprentice.

  “Sorry if I startled you. Getting straight to our purpose of looking for you, the Tribe leader said that the boars were attacking us because of the soup’s smell.”

  Noticing the Tribe leader, Vel turned serious and asked Civ. “That is scary Civ. Do you think we need to stop cooking that soup?”

  Vel felt it was a waste not to make soup. They are starting to like the taste of it.

  “Not really, but the Tribe leader has a solution.” Civ looked at Kivrah, and Kivrah nodded.

  “We need to cover the jar. I’m thinking that if we can limit the spread of the smell. The boars might not detect it and stop attacking us. But I cannot confirm yet if the cause of the attacks was the smell. But it is better to be safe.” Kivrah explained.

  Vel nodded, acknowledging the suggestion from the Tribe leader. For a few seconds, he is staring at the drying jars that he recently created. A question came into his mind.

  “How can we make it? What do you think Civ? Any idea?” Vel was trying his best to think of an answer to this problem. The solution that he thinks is covering the top with fresh leaves, but given that the jar is heated to cook the soup, it is not the right solution.

  Civ shrugged. “I don’t know. That is why we reach out to you right now. If you can come up with an idea.”

  Civ seriously answered it with all honesty. He feels that Vel can figure this out. He just needs to observe to know, and a little push.

  Helpless, Vel believed the words from Civ.

  “But do not worry, if you feel that you are not progressing, you can call me and we’ll talk about it.” Getting the assurance from Civ gives Vel confidence to tackle this challenge.

  “I understand Civ. I will try to make this soon.” Vel starts working on it. Seeing that Vel is focused on finding a solution, Civ and Kivrah left in separate ways.

  The spear Horm was using is in Civ hands left hand right now. Upon further inspection, it was a really deep cut.

  “I think we need to reshape the stone spear.” Civ think of a way that, in case they encounter some of the fanged green rabbits again, they have a weapon designed to beat these agile creatures.

  In a long silence, Civ's eyes brightened.

  “We can try and test that!”

  Civ looked for longer, bigger stones. Then he knapped an elongated spearhead.

  After that, he looked for a drier stick to make a shaft for the spear. Then he created a smaller fire at the back of the cave. After the fire was crackling hot, he slowly rotated the shaft in the fire. Making the wood color brown to light char black. Getting enough fire treatment for the shaft, he attached the spearhead. Then add a reasonable amount of black glue and secure it with sinew strips.

  When the black glue was dry enough, he started swinging the spear to see if the balance was right. He was happy with the balance.

  “Now for the final detail.” Civ grabs the boar hide and cuts enough material.

  Next is he wrap it in the shaft. Wrapping it in the place where the spearhead and shaft are connected. Then, with sinew, he secured the hide by tying it.

  “This should be better.” Civ was more than satisfied with this spear. This is almost waterproof with fire-hardening and designed for slash and stab. For the hide, the only way to prove its function is to test it in battle.

  Civ tried to familiarize the spear by doing some of the swinging techniques he remembered from his past life. So far, he can sing the spear smoothly.

  He created two more of this kind of spear. These spears will be used as handheld spears designed for combat.

  But before he finished his second spear, Vel appeared.

  “Civ! I think I created what the Tribe leader requested! Come with me!” Vel enthusiastically asked.

  Without talking to each other, they went straight to the front of the cave.

  “Here Civ, please have a look.” Vel pointed to the cone-like clay mold in the flat stone.

  Civ sat in front of it and checked the exact features of the mold. It was a straight cone, had a smooth surface, but nothing else.

  “Yes, we can try to use it. But if we put it at the top of the jar to hide the smell, how can we remove it?” Civ asked and looked at Vel.

  Vel's eyes widened, and he smacked his forehead. “Right! I forgot about it. I’ll check this cover and will call you later.”

  “Alright, if you are having a hard time, please talk to me or to our tribesmen. Maybe there might be another suggestion.” Civ reminded Vel.

  “Yes, Civ. I will.” Vel crumpled the cone he created and started from scratch.

  While walking back, he came across Horm, who had just come from the east.

  “Hey Horm, you already returned. Come with me, let me show you something!” Civ walked back to the back of the cave, and Horm followed.

  “Tell me Civ, what are you going to show me?” Horm asked.

  Civ grabbed a spear that was resting in a tree and gave it to Horm.

  “Try to swing this spear and tell me how it does.” Civ handed the spear to Horm.

  “You already made it? Thank you Civ!” A teary-eyed Horm hugged Civ.

  “Alright alright, stop with the hugging. I'm getting suffocated.” Civ pushes back his friend with all of his arm strength.

  Horm smiled and walked forward, giving space between him and Civ. Then he starts swinging the spear. A wide smile appeared on Horm’s face.

  “This feels good Civ, much better and lighter compared to the spear I used last time!” Horm swings the spear more, enjoying the feeling.

  “I’m glad it is easier to use. It is yours now. You can start practicing with that spear if you like.” Civ smiled and enjoyed watching his friend happy.

  “Really, thank you-”

  “Again! Stop hugging me!”

  Horm laughs as he walks back and continues to get familiar with the spear he is using.

  When Horm was practicing the swinging of spears, Civ was working on creating the handheld spears. It was a more meticulous process, but it is worth it if they were able to make it more durable.

  Surprisingly, Vel did not return for the rest of the day.

  Arsh came looking for them, so Civ gave Arsh her spear. Arsh had the same reaction as Horm. Civ and Arsh joined the practice the spear swinging. Then all of them spend the rest of the day mastering the bow and arrow.

  The night came and they finished the day by making a rabbit soup at night. Everyone had their fill and rest for the night.

  The next day, the same thing, they did their exercise. After finishing it, Civ and Vel quickly went to their own working plan for today.

  Vel is for the cover for the jar. Civ went straight to the cave.

  He opened the boar hide and then pinched the hairs. It's separating now like butter.

  Civ wide smile appeared. Then he brought it out of the cave.

  Luckily, there is already a big, flat, scalene triangular stone in the area. He just put braces on the side to make it stand.

  He placed the soaked boar hide on the stone. Using a half-moon branch that he split earlier, he started scraping the skin.

  As he scraped it, the hair was separating from the skin like it was nothing. Kivrah, who had just woken up was immediately opened his sleepy eyes to see what his son was doing.

  Arsh and Vel also stopped what they were doing and walked toward Civ. When the three of them noticed what was going on, their mouth fell to the ground.

  “Civ, w-w-what is going on?!” Kivrah could not come up with his words.

  All of them cannot believe what they are looking at right now. How is that possible?!

  “Sorry if it startled all of you. I’m trying to remove the hair and see if it's possible.” Civ tried to talk to them while he was scraping the rest of the hair.

  Vel silently observed and asked Civ. “But why do we need to remove it?”

  Civ stopped scraping and looked at them directly with an excited smile.

  He pointed his body and said

  “To protect our body!”