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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