Tuesday, April 08, 2014

The mammoth return to the valley

The mammoth came, big scraggy beasts that lumbered through the darkness of the moonless night. Their thudding footsteps, the only sound that echoed off the frozen landscape. Bouncing off the ice covered hills until the sound was lost amongst the sparse lifeless trees that stood short against the bleak and lonely landscape. 
The mammoth followed the same path they had followed from the beginning of time. Proud beasts that walked tall. There was not much to be afraid of when you are a huge walking giant that towers over all the other beasts of the plains. But there was one little beast the mammoths were very afraid off. And they were here. Mommy Mammoth following a path her mother had taught her. A pathway passed down from generation to generation.
At the back of the hill over looking the steep cliff the hunters waited. They could hear the giant beasts lumbering along in the darkness. And they could feel the ground shudder with every movement. The strong overpowering smell of unwashed fur, that was covered in years of sweat and dirt floated on the crisp night air. It mingled with the beautiful pungent smell of wood smoke that drifted around the blazing fire
Little Leaf and her younger brother Rock Thrower tended the fire. They had spent all afternoon gathering wood to burn, and long dry sticks to be used as fire sticks.
The mammoths were now walking along the cliff edge. It was time for the hunters to move. The mammoth were huge dangerous beasts that towered over the hunters. But the hunters had a secret weapon that the mammoth were afraid of. FIRE.
Stay here and keep the fire burning” Father said “and if anything comes wave the fire sticks at it.”
Then he and the hunters walked into the night.
Little Leaf and Rock Thrower watched the trail of flames walking towards the mammoth.
The mammoth could smell the smoke and hear the soft crackle of the fire and they knew.
Mommy Mammoth had been here many times. She knew the hunters would come as they always came. She trumpeted a warning and then charged, hoping her little daughter would follow.
The hunters rushed into the herd waving the fire sticks. Hoping the confusion would drive some of the huge hairy beasts over the cliff.
Little leaf and Rock Thrower heard the screams and knew the hunt had been a success.
Mommy Mammoth keep trumpeting and leading the way but in the confusion she lost her little calf. She had heard the screams and knew that when the sun came up there would be less in the herd.



Article by © Peter Legrove 2014, at www.animalsdinosaursandbugs.com

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