Luk and Civ were prepared and ready to return. But Civ asked something to Luk.

  “Can we go back to the place where the cursed water is?”

  “Sure, but why do we need to return?” Luk asked.

  “I need to check something”. Civ replied.

  “Alright. Let’s go.” Luk nodded, and they detoured, going north to go to the salt spring.

  Following the trails next to the stream. The grasses or plants that attempted to grow here were either brown or in the process of browning. But as they slowly walked, Civ found what he was looking for.

  ‘Aha! There you are.’ Civ bends on one knee and starts picking up some of the white materials that are lying next to the stream

  “Civ, where are you going to use that white soil?” Luk asked

  Civ smiled and replied. “First, look for big leaves. We will need them. I will tell you when you return”.

  Luk's brows raised, and he quickly left to gather some big leaves.

  Civ was still smiling ear to ear. He can’t wait to use it in their daily needs and start collecting and making salts in the future.

  ‘Collecting?’ Civ pondered. This might be in a distant future. This is still under the giant’s territory and almost a day's travel from the camp. Collecting salt water from here will be risky. Until they defeated or kicked the giants out of this area, this will still be a plan for the future. But for now, they need to collect a many as possible. So Civ can show it to the Tribe leader. Giving more reasons to fight head-on.

  Civ collected almost two handfuls of salt as Luk arrived.

  He laid it flat on the ground and asked again. “So…. where are you going to use these?”

  Civ faced Luk. He raised his pointy finger up and said. “Our. Food.”

  Luk moved his head back like a chicken. “Huh?! This tastes awful?!”

  “You are right. But if we used it correctly, it will make our food taste better!” Civ smiled while still collecting salt.

  “You go to the other side, start collecting also until we fill the other leaf”. Civ instructed.

  Luk did not ask any further. They quickly work on filling the other leaf. Then he wrapped it using the cordage. He tied it to his spear.

  Civ stood up and grabbed the spear that had a banana and salt tied to it. Then he put it above his shoulder. Getting the balance he desired, he said. “Great! We are ready to return!”

  Civ and Luk exit this forest twice as quickly as last time.

  The night after Civ and Luk left to search for the giants, at the campfire next to the hut.

  “Tribe leader, please calm down.” Horm is next to Kivrah, whose veins in his neck were popping.

  “Why haven't my Son and Luk returned yet? Explain this, Shaman Mashu!” Kivrah asked as both of his hands were clenching hard.

  “I apologize, Tribe leader, but what I can only say is Civ and Luk are safe.” Shaman Mashu calmly replied while bowing.

  “Safe?! How can you be sure they are safe?” Kivrah asked.

  “I can’t explain it, Tribe leader. But I can assure you that both of them are safe in the Sun Goddess's guidance.” Shaman Mashu replied.

  “Aurhg! Talking to you about this will go nowhere! If my Son and Luk do not return. I will punish you in accordance with the tribe’s heaviest punishment.” Kivrah shouted at the Shaman with a firm voice.

  Everyone heard what the Tribe leader had said, jolted, including Horm.

  “I hope my Son and Luk are safe.” Kivrah made a last look at the Shaman and left for the cave. Everyone around him stepped back to make way for the Tribe leader.

  The crowd dispersed. At the same time, Arsh and Vel rushed to the Shaman.

  “Are you okay Shaman Mashu?” Arsh asked.

  “Yes, I’m alright.” Shaman Mashu replied with a smile. But Arsh and Vel noticed that Shaman Mashu’s hands were shaking.

  They did not say anything about it.

  Instead, Vel said. “Alright Shaman, let us accompany you back to your hut.”

  While walking, Vel asked. “Shaman Mashu, do you think Civ and Luk were lost? They should be returning before the Sun Goddess sleeps. Right?”

  Shaman Mashu shakes her head. “They will never be lost. By the guidance of Sun Goddess light, they will find the correct path.” She paused. “But it will take longer than we expect.”

  When they arrived at the Shaman’s hut, Shaman Mashu said. “Thank you for walking with me. You can go back and rest for the night.”

  “No problem Shaman.” Arsh replied and bowed.

  The tribe’s night ended with worry. They think about the heaviest punishment Tribe leader Kivrah mentioned.

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  Someone from the crowd said. “Let’s hope it will not happen. Let’s ask tomorrow morning for Shaman Mashu to pray to the Sun Goddess that Civ and Luk are safely traveling to find the giants.”

  Everyone agreed and ended the night with a hopeful tomorrow.

  The next morning, Kivah called the whole tribe. He delegated the task for the day with a grim look on his face. The tribe was on the edge and silently followed the task. After that, Kivrah left. Went outside of the east wall and sat on the ground. Staring at the vast forest. Waiting for his Son and his friend’s return.

  The tribe, on the other hand, went to the Shaman’s hut. But as they saw, the Shaman was fervently praying to the Sun Goddess. So they did not bother her and went on their own tasks for the day.

  At this moment, everyone was efficient in working with the tools. They knew how to make them without guidance from Vel or Arsh. They are producing arrows almost twice as fast as they did in the previous days. Since this was the case, Vel was able to focus on other things.

  That thing is-

  Finishing their daily exercise, Vel ran quickly back to the cave to check. “Hehehe the hair was separating now!”

  Seeing this, he called some of the people familiar with the process of making the leather. The good thing is that the other two that were currently soaked were still not ready. So they can focus on one at a time.

  The group started to work on the leather process by dehairing it. They rigorously work on the animal hide based on what Civ instructed them. Having the idea given by Civ, they are excited to create the leather.

  Arsh and Horm also helped in taking turns for dehairing the leather. Then, it was soaked for a duration of a day or two in diluted urine. While the rest of the firewood team did their daily task.

  The day ended with the tribe finishing their task. While Kivrah silently returned to the cave before the sun set.

  The next day, Kivrah called and did the same thing. But reminded everyone.

  “My fellow tribesmen, since my Son, the Chosen One, has not yet returned together with Luk. Tomorrow, I will search for my son. Anyone who is willing to join, you can do as you please. But if we don’t see Civ by tomorrow, we will punish the Shaman according to our tribe’s rules.”

  The crowd did not respond, nor react. Silence means they agreed.

  Everyone finished their tasks for the day. Same thing, Kivrah went to sleep before the night came.

  “Do you think the Tribe leader will punish the Shaman?” Yan asked.

  “Shhhh don’t say it loudly. But I do not know. But Shaman is not saying to the Tribe leader that Civ will be away for too long. The Tribe leader was really furious about it.” Pil replied.

  Everyone from the hunting group, including Vel agreed. They know that Civ will be away, but they did not expect that he would be away for too long. It will be chaos if Civ does not return in the next few days. Food supply is starting to dwindle. They need to find another source of food. The materials Civ requested were already piling up in the camp. If the rain falls, that will be a problem for the tribe.

  Civ not returning to the camp as early as possible will be the doom for the tribe.

  “Aiiii… I feel that Civ is safe. But returning, that is something I don’t know.” Horm commented.

  “I agree Horm. I just pity Shaman Mashu, she was staying in the hut for yesterday and today. Praying to the Sun Goddess.” Vel added.

  ”What we can only hope is Sun Goddess answers our prayers.” Arsh replied while stoking the fire.

  The next day, Kivrah woke up early and talked to the tribe about what they needed to do. Then, after that, Kivrah prepared to leave the camp.

  When Kivrah was outside of the Wall, the firewood team. Pil, Kes, and Arsh were there waiting for him.

  “Please allow us to go with you, Tribe leader, to search for Civ and Luk.” Arsh asked.

  Kivrah looked at them with a blank face and replied. “Thank you everyone. I will allow you to follow me, except you Arsh.”

  “But Tribe Lea-”

  “I need you here. As Civ and I mentioned last time. You are the best at leading people after Civ and me. Please make sure that the camp is safe.” Kivrah looked at Arsh with pleading eyes.

  Seeing and realizing the trust that had been given to her by Civ and Kivrah. Arsh respectfully bowed to the Tribe leader and said. “Thank you, Tribe leader, I will make sure you will not be disappointed!”

  “Thank you Arsh. Everyone who wants to follow me, let’s find the Chosen One.” Kivrah starts walking away from the camp.

  But before Kivrah left. He tapped Arsh’s shoulder and whispered something. This made Arsh widen her eyes and cover her mouth.

  The group left the camp. The firewood team wants to follow Kivrah in searching Civ. But Kivrah insists on following what Civ requested about the materials. Then wait for their return. In which the firewood team has no choice but to follow the will of the Tribe leader.

  Kivrah brought three from the hunting group. Kes, Pil, Yan, and 5 volunteers from the camp. A total of eight souls. This group will try to rescue Civ and Luk.

  They scour any path that they can enter. But Pil, observing the process, crossed his hand.

  “Tribe leader, may I suggest something?” Pil asked Kivrah in a low voice.

  “Every time we search a new place, Civ taught us to mark the trees with a stone knife. It should be like this.” Pil made an X sign.

  It clicked with Kivrah, and he remembered that there were markings in the tree walking to the south.

  “Right. Please search the markings Civ made.” He commanded the group.

  The group quickly took action. Within fifteen minutes, they were able to find some of the markings Civ and Luk might have placed. Following the markings, they were able to follow the trail. Every walk was energy-consuming. Since Kivrah was the only one who had a waterskin, he shared it with everyone in small quantities. Just to quench the thirst. On the way, they were able to find the grapes that Civ and Luk had found. They harvested some by shooting arrows. Helping them not to consume water that much.

  Realizing the difficulties of this travel, Kivrah was more worried.

  But then-

  They reached the end of the forest. In front of them was the vast grassland with no trees. Kivrah looked back at the group, then looked back at the grassland.

  With a heavy heart, he sighs heavily. “I cannot endanger you all, too. Let’s return to the camp. Now that I see how hard the travel was, we need to properly prepare for finding Civ and Luk.”

  Everyone agreed and returned to the camp. They were able to return almost before nightfall.

  Seeing that Civ and Luk were not in the group, the camp did not further ask the tribe leader.

  Kivrah looked for Vel. He was able to find him at the hut near the cave.

  “Vel, can you make many waterskins enough for the search group?” Kivrah asked.

  “Tribe leader, I can do it. But it will take a longer time. Since we do not have brains from the animals” Vel replied with a shaking voice.

  Kivrah sighed and helplessly nodded. “Alright, please make the waterskins when you can.”

  The morning came. Civ and Luk were still not returning.

  The afternoon came. Kivrah instructed the tribe to bring Shaman Mashu to the middle of the camp to be punished based on the camp’s rule.

  When they brought her. Shaman Mashu was weak, and her eyes were heavy. She kneeled in front of the crowd

  Even though they are against it, they grab a stone. Facing Shaman Mashu. Shaman Mashu was tired, but still calm as she whispered the prayer she had been doing since Civ and Luk left.

  Kivrah raised his hand, preparing to command the tribe. But they heard from the Safi.

  “Civ and Luk have returned!”

  “Civ and Luk have returned!”