Ice Angel by Linda Deane

Author:Linda Deane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: angels, coming of age, adventure, fantasy, cats, science fiction, leadership, time travel, bullying, prehistory, ice age, mammoths

CHAPTER 10 – SHOCKING DECISIONS

Elya and the other women managed to carve the hare up into such tiny pieces that everyone got a taste of it in their watery stew, which consisted mainly of roots. To some of the starving tribe, it was the most delicious thing they had ever eaten. Aric was very proud of being the provider of such good fare.

When everyone had licked the last trace of the meal from their bone platters, Soren called a meeting. The elders gathered around him in a circle with the rest of the tribe in the background. At length, they debated what should be done about Aric breaking the hunting tradition. Although his transgression was viewed in a serious light, no one was unhappy about the taste of meat he had provided.

Finally, Soren came to a decision and turned to Aric. He was wearing his solemn face and his speech was formal: “You have broken the tradition of our people by killing an animal before your initiation as a hunter. This is a very serious matter. However, it has been a long time since most of us have tasted meat and you seem to be the only one favoured among us. First, you found mammoths, creatures that we have not seen for a long time. On your journey, you found a deer for the hunting party. Today you found the hare and fed us all. We are not only grateful to you Aric, but we take it as an omen of good fortune. The fate of this tribe must be changing. We all agree, your cat must be a sign that you have been chosen for a special purpose. Tomorrow your initiation rites will be performed and you will be accepted as a man and a hunter in this tribe.”

There were a few moments of silence after Soren spoke, and then everyone spoke at once. Aric’s heart burst with pride. Nobody had ever been made a hunter before their thirteenth summer. Nobody had had a hunting ceremony in their honour in the heart of winter. The tribe’s people congratulated him warmly and fussed over him. His transgression had been completely overlooked. Isthan thumped his son on the back, even more pleased than Aric was himself. Elya shed a few tears of joy. One or two of the old men made a half-hearted attempt to look disapproving but failed dismally.

Aric’s archenemy, Brin, who had only just had his hunting ceremony that summer glared in anger. There had been no game to kill and the whole thing was a sham, performed on an old sack of leather stuffed with straw. He was yet to kill a real animal and prove his worth to the tribe as a hunter. A man who hadn’t killed had no status.

Soren cleared his throat, “I have come to another decision. Although only Aric has seen the mammoths, we now have undeniable proof that there are still mammoths. If we are to survive, we have no option but to search for them and hunt them.

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