Since the sun had just started shining, the group was still practicing with the bow and arrow.

  Everyone wants to get a try. To the point that every fire of the arrow, another person is using it. Noticing the disruption in the order. Civ stood up and walked behind them.

  “Enough with the bickering everyone!” A commanding aura made everyone hold their breath and look at Civ.

  “I know everyone wants to learn how to use it. But don’t start snatching away from one another. Let everyone have their time using it.” Civ picks 5 arrows from the pile Vel created and shows the arrows to them.

  “Let the next person use all of these arrows. Once every arrow is shot, you can move on to the next user.” Civ throws the arrows down, sticking them to the ground.

  “I want everyone to have enough tries. Mastering this bow and arrow will greatly help us in defending our camp. So please listen and cooperate.” Civ sadly asked them.

  Hearing the pleading of their leader, they can’t help but feel shame in their actions.

  “We are sorry, Oh Chosen One.” Everyone bowed slightly, including Arsh and Horm, who were also bickering in one of the bows.

  “Thank you everyone. How about this? While the other group is using the arrow, I want the rest to still practice the spear and atlatl.” Civ suggested.

  Getting the gist of the suggestion, everyone agreed.

  Civ heaved a sigh of relief that the impending chaos was immediately fixed.

  Now that the bow and arrow were finally created, the only thing he needed to do was wait for the hunting group to learn it.

  ‘Alright, time to prepare the other stuff.’ Civ walked towards Horm who is enjoying his time using the arrow.

  Civ noticed that while everyone is struggling to use the bow. Horm effortlessly tugs it without any proper technique. Just straight up full brute force, forcing the bow to stretch in his will.

  ‘This bow might break at Horm anytime.’ Civ tapped Horm’s shoulder.

  “Horm, enough of that. Call some of the firewood team. We need to leave the camp.”

  “But Civ, I still have remaining arrows.” Horm has two remaining arrows in the ground.

  “You already know how to use it. Also, the bow might break anytime soon. I’ll make a better bow for you when we have the materials.” Civ reasoned out with Horm.

  Left with no option, Horm handed the bow to one of the hunting group and followed Civ.

  “Hey Vel, follow us also. You need to start leaving the camp from time to time, starting today.”

  Hearing this, a glint of tears comes from Vel’s eyes. “But Civ, you need arrows right?”

  “I’ll work it for now.” Arsh interrupted Vel.

  Vel sadly pouted as his teacher took away his passion.

  “Do not worry also Vel. You will have other things to do later.” Civ sinisterly smiled at Vel.

  Vel froze. He knows that his teacher will make him work to death in a couple of days. Like last horde.

  Vel silently followed, and when Horm was able to gather his men, Horm asked.

  “So where are we going?”

  “To the South!” Civ answered.

  “South?! Are we going to look for a place to camp there?!” Horm worriedly asked. For most of them, going South means they need to retreat. Hide away from the giants.

  Civ strongly shakes his head. “No! We will need to gather some materials.”

  Everyone in heavily sighed in relief.

  He pinched his nose bridge. ‘I need to explain immediately what we need to do next time I mention going somewhere.’

  If he worded the plan wrong next time, it might cause panic for his tribesmen.

  Understanding what they needed to do, Horm and the rest nodded and picked up their tools.

  Civ brought one of the bows and 5 arrows. ‘It is better to use it also if we see any danger.’

  The group was ready to leave. But his Father, who had been hesitating earlier, went to him.

  “Civ, can I join your group going South?” Kivrah sincerely asked.

  Civ paused and looked at his Father. “I think you can, but who will lead the camp if we are away?”

  Kivrah cannot answer that. He thinks for a bit, but he cannot definitely give a straight answer. “I don’t honestly know Son. Do you have anyone in mind?”

  Civ looked to his right, and Kivrah followed. In their line of sight, Kivrah saw Arsh, who was silently working on the arrows. “Arsh?”

  “Yes Father. In terms of leadership and quick thinking, she is the best next to me.” Civ confidently answered.

  Kivrah looked and thought deeply.

  “Alright.” Kivrah walked toward Arsh.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “Arsh, I have a question for you.” Kivrah gently knelt his one knee.

  Puzzled, Arsh looked at the tribe leader slightly bowed. “Please speak Tribe leader.”

  “Can you handle the camp while I and Civ are away?” Kivrah seriously looked at Arsh.

  Perplexed, she immediately looked at Civ. Civ looked at her, and he just answered her with a smile.

  ‘What are they thinking?’ Arsh cannot help but think of many things because of that question.

  Since Arsh did not answer, Kivrah asked Arsh again. “Can you do it?”

  Seeing the trust and care in Civ’s eyes, Arsh steeled her heart and confidently replied to the Tribe leader. “Please leave it to me Tribe leader. I can handle it!”

  For Civ, Arsh's skills are more than enough to be a tribe leader. From hunting and managing her group, she has all the characteristics to lead a tribe. Civ, though his Father will reject the decision, as in their culture, only males are allowed to lead the tribe. He was happy that his Father understands that skills are most important.

  For Kivrah, he already saw the skills of Arsh shown. He did not have enough reason or confidence to offer the task. But since Civ also thinks the same way. He does not have any other reason to reject the idea of having Arsh handle the tribe for a while.

  Fixing the management issue. Kivrah quickly prepared and then called the tribe to gather in the middle of the camp.

  When everyone was present, he started. “Everyone, I, Civ, and the firewood team will leave to the south to gather materials.”

  Murmurs start circulating in the camp. An uneasy atmosphere is brewing.

  “But do not worry,” Kivrah holds Arsh by the shoulder. “I’ll have Arsh lead the camp while we are away.”

  Kivrah and Civ were expecting rejections from the crowd. But they actually happily replied.

  “We will follow the tribe leader’s command.” They all slightly bowed.

  “Eh?!”

  “Eh?!”

  Both Civ and Kivrah have the same reaction.

  “It's great that Arsh will lead us. With the help she is giving us every day, following her lead will be just a small thing to appreciate her.” One of the elders replied.

  Everyone in the camp nodded, and they had the same sentiment. They have the same thinking as Kivrah. Arsh was really a trustworthy person based on her capabilities.

  Arsh went tear-eyed seeing that her tribe gave her this much trust.

  Civ patted Arsh's back, and she stood up straight.

  Kivrah gave some instructions to the tribe and some things to keep in mind. Especially if there are some unexpected things happened. Once it was acknowledged, the group left the camp, going to the South.

  On their way, Civ was surprised. The birds were happily chirping in the trees. A tranquil, green field and fresh air that can lift the mood.

  ‘This is a big difference compared to the north.’ Civ helplessly smiled as they walked.

  “So what are we going to look for here Son?” Kivrah asked.

  “A tree. We need some of it.” Civ explained.

  As they travel, looking for the tree he needed. They saw something jumping in ahead.

  “What is that?” Vel asked.

  “Shhhh. Everyone, let's crouch and stay here.” Everyone followed Civ’s command.

  He squinted his eyes and followed the movement. The creature has long, pointed ears. It has a cute build. The full body has gray fur, and the leg fur is green.

  Civ whispered, “ Father, have you seen that? Do you know what it is? It has green fur on the legs.”

  Everyone also tried to see this creature. But it seems they have been noticed, and it starts jumping towards them.

  Before they realized, Kivrah's eyes widened. “Run! That is a fanged ra-”

  TSUN

  The creature that was jumping towards them flung back.

  “You are right Father. That rabbit has fangs.” Civ walks toward the rabbit.

  When Civ noticed it was running towards them, he thought to shoot it. But when it opened its mouth, he did not hesitate and released his arrow. His instinct tells him that the rabbit wants to attack them.

  “Right. It was called green green-fanged rabbit. It is not a meat-eating animal. But when they see humans, their behaviour changes. It will always chase us until it gets tired.” Kivrah explained.

  “That’s- terrifying,” Vel replied.

  Vel imagined that if a group of those rabbits ran towards them in frenzy, it would be hard for them to fend them off.

  Civ looked at the rabbit. Not knowing what to do now, he decided to leave it.

  “Let’s leave it for now, as we have no chance to check on this rabbit. Once we have time to investigate this animal, we’ll try to hunt again.”

  Everyone agreed. For Civ, he doesn’t know the origin of this rabbit. Compared to what they knew about the boars. They have little to no knowledge about green-fanged rabbits.

  They continue to walk around. As they traveled to the south, the more Civ appreciated this environment. If this is a modern world, and he wants to be off-grid, he can build a cabin here and enjoy the scenery with a wide glass wall.

  The south smelled of earthy grass and the pine trees. It overloads his sense of smell. It starts to make some of the smells obsolete.

  “There it is.” Civ stopped and looked at one of the trees.

  Kivrah asked. “What is it Civ?”

  Civ pointed to the tree. “That tree. I hope that is the one.”

  Standing in the middle of the pine trees. This has the same structure as the oak tree, from what he remembered. It is big, has lush leaves.

  He quickly walked towards that tree. In close up, he smiled. It has acorns and a ridged bark.

  Then, using an axe, he chopped one of the bark and was able to chip a large chunk of the bark.

  “Please collect this. I need the whole bark around this tree.” The firewood nodded and started chipping the bark.

  While waiting for it to finish, Civ looked around. The pine trees in this area were very high. Leaves were also hard to reach. Then he thinks about whether he can do it. He looked at a pine tree that had lower leaves. Placing his hands in the pine tree, he feels a rough texture.

  But when he grips it -

  KRRRSSS

  The bark peels off.

  “Tch! Not climb-friendly tree!” Civ playfully scolded the pine tree. Since he cannot reach it, he will just harvest the bark.

  Based on Civ’s calculations, the lowest leave he can reach is about 10 feet.

  ‘That’s enough for a ladder.’ Having the solution, next time they return south, he will bring a ladder.

  The group finished harvesting the oak bark.

  Horm called Civ asked. “Civ, we are finished here. Do we need to get more?”

  Civ shakes his head and walks towards the group. “That is more than enough for now. Let us go back.”

  Defeated in harvesting some parts of the pine, he looked around also to see if there was anything he could use. But this area was fully occupied by pine and oaks. Everyone's hands are full, so they started walking back.

  Noticing this, if he starts making the other materials, it will be harder to procure a large amount by hand. They will need a tool that will hold these items.

  The walk back to the camp was smooth sailing. But Civ noticed something that caught his nose.

  He smelled a pungent odor and tried to follow it.

  “What was it Civ?” Kivrah asked.

  Civ did not reply and kept following the smell. A couple of steps later, he was able to find the source of that smell.

  “I am familiar with this smell.” Civ excitedly scours the grassy area, and when he discovers the familiar leaf. He pinched it and smelled it. A familiar savoury aroma captures his nostrils.

  “Onions!”