Yellow Heat
Author's Note:
The contest calls
for a tale on fire. And I gave them the blazing version set in the stone age
period.
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The climb on the
slope is bad, with our feet blistering from the hot surface but we had them
wrapped with the skin of the animals. But we can still feel the heat as we move
closer to the yellow movement coming from the hole in the ground. We near it
and we can feel the burn on our skin now. I held out my hand to hold the men as
the ritual calls for us to perform before we can approach the hole. I raised my
hands upwards and called out for the safety of my people and myself. We hunt at
the flat land but our yellow heat runs out due to the careless action of the
young one. We beg for the new yellow heat which we will carry back to the cave.
We take it as it protects us and yet it gives the meat a better taste. It helps
us in the cold nights and the children lived longer with the yellow heat.
Just as I am here now to lead
these hunters to get the new yellow heat. Jakin came forth with the thick
branch and he hands it to me. I checked it for any moisture as the wet surface
makes it difficult to take the yellow heat. I moved on alone and holding the
long branch to the hole. I leave it there to embrace the yellow heat. I can see
it fighting on the relationship like when I first asked Mani to be my mate. We
fight like the yellow heat now; from yellow to red and then back, but we will
be one. The embrace is complete and now come the hard part. We need to remove
the branch and I am the only one to do it? I touched the branch and it's not
heated up. I pulled at it and it separated from the main yellow heat but the
branch has its yellow heat on it. I pulled it every slowly towards us and soon
it was ready for the next embrace. The designated hunters moved forth and
placed their branch on the one I drawback. Soon their branches are with the
yellow heat and we marched back down the slope.
But the real
danger is not here but on the way back. It's a two days one night walk and
there will be others who will steal our yellow heat. They are the ones who know
not the ritual and yet they want the yellow heat too. In my group, there are
hunters to deal with them but this time we are less in numbers. We lost two good
hunters to the great one with the front long teeth, but the yellow heat is our
symbol of life. It does not take long for the others to come, and they come in
big numbers. We are less by half but we hold the yellow heat. They are like the
animals; they also fear the yellow heat, so we hold together with the hunters
bearing the yellow heat inside while the ones with the handles of bone keep the
others at bay.
One came charging
like the wild small animal, but the hunter clubbed him down. Another tried but
he stopped before he could reach the yellow heat. I thought of an idea that I
grabbed the small branch with the yellow heat and threw it at the others. It
lands at the feet of one of the others and they all ran for it. I shouted to my
group to run and ignore the fallen yellow heat. We have others to hold on to.
Soon we were cleared for the others and we rest our bodies. The branches with
the yellow heat are kept together and more branches are sought for the next
part of the journey. It was then Gant confront me on giving away the yellow
heat to the others.
"They are
many and we are few. If I do not do it, we may lose more than we are now. It's
a small yellow heat, but they are not chasing us now" I had to explain to
Gant as he has now a few of us with him, and they questioned my move.
"Auric, you
scared of them. The yellow heat scares them and we have it. We risked our lives
for it and you give it so freely. I asked are you with them or with us."
I looked at him;
big like me with the club he holds well in his hand. But a fight I would not
like as these are my tribe. But I will have to handle Gant.
"We fight the
yellow way." It's the ritual of where the challenge to be the leader is
called now. Whoever wins holds the leader position. Not many dare to take on the
challenge as some have lost their hands in it.
"So be it. I
take your challenge." I know Gant has eyed the position for long and he
now challenges me when my men are few. We moved to the yellow heat and I told
him to take the branch he wants. He selected a small branch and showed it to
his men. I knew he would do that as I took a bigger one. There was a hush among
the men as we faced each other. The challenge calls for us to hold the yellow
heat over our hands. It will be painful but it will prove the one who will be the
leader. Gant was reluctant as he did not expect us to go this length in the
challenge. I know him well to shout and then challenge but he has shrunk from
many when it comes to the test.
"Aargh! I
will do it today as our tribe needs us." Gant walks away as he does most
times. But I picked up his thrown branch and placed it in on my palm. I can
feel the pain in the flesh but I had to endure as many will see this and none
may challenge me again. Then I threw the branch to the rest of the yellow heat
branches. The men around me cheered me as their leader as Gant walks away in
shame.
We did reach back
the cave in time to see the rest of the tribe. They rejoiced in our return and
embraced the return of the new yellow heat. It was added to the old one and a
new yellow heat soon shone in the cave. I went to my shelter and sat there
while my mate, Mina attend to my needs. She looked at my blistered palm and she
shed her tears on it.
"Auric, you
cannot be doing this for long. Your hand is too bad to be good." Mina is a
good mate and bore me some young ones.
"I hoped one
day our young ones will be able to make these yellow heat than for them to risk
hunting it. But till then it's my responsibility to continue for we need the
yellow heat to survive and to keep our body warm. I am their leader and no
sacrifice is too great." I sat there to see my youngest rubbing two stones
together and there is some yellow heat to be seen, but not as big as the one I
brought back. Maybe one day, he will do it right and make it as big as mine.
But till then, the way to get the yellow heat is by the challenge to its well
and to come back with it.
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