She liked him back—yes! Now, Khochu didn’t feel as out of place. Once Nikita left, he and Kobe feasted on the mammoth, their noses twitching at the smell.
While eating, Khochu hummed and twirled a piece of meat on the floor, leaving Kobe to lower his head and shake it.
It took Khochu a moment to remember exactly where he was and what had happened, then panic set in when Priven’s words came back to him: “Tomorrow, we feast.” What was Nikita’s plan? Khochu didn’t want to become chopped meat—not when he was somehow the key to everything.
Even though his bravery was still in shambles, Khochu distracted himself that night by thinking about Nikita and devising his own plan. What about a hunt? What if he suggested that the rival tribe go on a hunt in the morning with him, to prove his strength, and then he and Kobe would escape while they were distracted? That could work, but he couldn’t do it alone, especially with an old dog.
Hopefully, something else would come to mind in the morning, but until then, Khochu turned onto his side, yawned, and fell asleep. He woke to Priven yelling in the morning:
“Get up, you!” Something touched Khochu’s kidney, shifting him to the left and almost onto Kobe.
Reality settled in, and Khochu shot to an upright position, rubbing his lower back. Chief Priven and Nikita stood before him, arms crossed and slightly glaring. At least Khochu knew now that was a mask on Nikita’s face.
Priven bumped his spear on the ground, still bearing almost no weight on his leg. “My daughter has suggested that you prove your strength. You are to come with us on the morning hunt.”
Well, speak of the devil! It seemed like Khochu and Nikita thought alike. Maybe they were meant for each other, just on opposite sides of the rock.
“Um… okay…” Khochu stammered, resting his hand on Kobe’s head. “What about my dog?”
Kobe whined, rising on shaking legs and leaning against Khochu. Was he getting weaker? No, he likely merely slept on the wrong side overnight. Still, Khochu couldn’t help but worry. He couldn’t kill his own dog, though, even if it were against the ancestors’ words.
Still masking her emotions, Nikita grabbed Khochu and pulled him to his feet, taking his bow and arrow. She bowed to Priven and offered him the weapons.
“Thank you, dear daughter,” Priven said. “Now, he won’t be able to fight until we tell him to.”
“He’s not very brave, Father,” Nikita explained. “I think we’ll be okay regardless.”
Did she seriously rub that in Khochu’s face? Why did he like her again? Was Nikita flirting with him? Now probably wasn’t the right time to question the mysteries of love.
Khochu pulled his hair off his face, looking at Kobe again.
Noticing that, Priven nodded and gestured at him. “Bring the dog, too. We might need his nose.”
Which, despite his age, was still Kobe’s most powerful sense.
Priven and Nikita took Khochu outside into the cold, clear morning, where twenty hunters waited for them. Not only that, but a few of them licked their lips when they saw Khochu.
One hunter lunged at him—Khochu nearly dove back into the tent—but Nikita stopped him, saying, “Not yet. He must prove his strength first.”
How Khochu wound up like this again… He may never know.
The hunter groaned, but stepped back, even though Khochu saw him sharpening his spear in the background. He wanted to tell the tribe about the place he had dreamed of, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready yet. Now, thinking about it, going on a hunt was a good idea—especially to teach the tribe about teamwork, showing them that they weren’t the only ones starving; everyone else was, too. It would also give Khochu more time to test his horrific flirting skills with Nikita without getting a spear in his gut from Priven.
The only question now was… What were they going to hunt?
The journey felt like it took forever, even though Khochu was sure it wasn’t that long. The hunters stayed alert to their surroundings, constantly checking them, but Khochu noticed that Nikita appeared to stare into space for most of the trip. Was she uncomfortable? Worried? Whatever it was, Khochu would protect her.
After about an hour, Kobe whined and sank into the snow, tucking his front legs under him.
“Kobe.” Nikita, Priven, and several hunters watched curiously as Khochu picked up Kobe and cradled him like a baby. A screech suddenly tore through the sky, and Khochu looked up, seeing Eva circling above. She took off, though, when a few hunters threatened her with their bows and arrows.
Not now, Eva, Khochu thought. I’ll call you when I’m ready.
The group moved forward, stepping over snowbanks and inspecting frozen lakes and ponds for weak spots and footprints. A few mountains and icebergs surrounded them, but no animals. Khochu could literally hear several of the tribe members’ bellies rumbling, his included.
Eventually, Chief Priven, with his arm over Nikita’s shoulder, raised his hand and stopped the tribe behind a hill. “Here we are,” he said, sitting on a rock to rest his leg. “Now, boy”—he turned to Khochu—“show us your strength.”
What if Khochu pretended to be weak? Not that it would help. And beyond the hill, what awaited him: mammoths, saber-toothed cats, hyenas? He was glad that his parents weren’t imprisoned, too.
Nikita’s tribe put Khochu in the front, forcing him and Kobe over the hill. A hunter handed him his bow and arrow, and two more threatened him with their weapons.
“Okay, okay,” Khochu said, turning.
And then his eyes widened. No! He should have seen this coming! The village before him was alive with an army of people, ready for battle. He recognized the man at the front—Chief Yerik. No!
The hunt had led Khochu to his tribe.
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and then Add to home screen.