by Linda Deane
It was well after dark when the men returned. The boy had not been found but a trail of footprints leading off into the forest had been spotted in the dim light and Aric’s digging stick had been discovered next to an ice-covered boulder by the crossing.
They could not do anything until morning. They could not risk sending a search party into the dark. Every individual capable of searching for the boy was also needed by the rest of the tribe to ensure the survival of them all. Elya understood this but she could not sleep that night. She tossed and turned on her thin, worn out pallet of hides. She wanted to go and search for her boy but she could not leave her other children, nor could Isthan. She would most certainly not survive a night in the cold without shelter. If she was gone, her children would not survive without their mother. They would have a lesser status in the tribe without a mother and would not get their fair share of what meagre pickings the tribe found. She feared the worst had happened to her beloved second child.
Eventually she got up to sit at the fire. With dismay she noticed that it had started to snow again. By morning, her only hope, the trail of footprints, would be completely covered over. She clutched Aric’s stick tightly, hugging it to her heart. Silently, she wept away the rest of the dark gloomy hours of the night, wishing that she herself was lost out there in the cold, snowy darkness and not her precious boy. Her tears flowed freely in the dark. They left hot, burning trails on her dry, chapped skin. As she agonized over her son, the day finally dawned, grey and overcast, and the rest of the tribe began to stir.
The snow had stopped but the sky was dark and ominous. The mood in the cave echoed the weather. Some of the men ventured out to the stream but the trail had already been erased by the fresh snow. The cold, starving cave people sat around sullenly in their gloomy, draughty cave. Their skeletal faces stared blankly at each other. No one dared voice their own dark thoughts. Aric was a friendly, helpful boy. Everyone had been fond of him – except of course for Brin. Brin sat by himself to one side, grinning evilly, rejoicing that something bad had happened to his greatest rival. He imagined with delight all the nasty things that could have happened to Aric…
Isthan thought of how he had been planning to introduce his son to the other men formally as a hunter that summer. The boy had learned well and was making good progress. His throw was straight and his aim was sure. Pessimistically he wondered if any of them would see the next summer. They were all slowly starving to death. They barely had the strength to roam the hillsides in search of prey each day. Perhaps it was just as well that a wild beast might have taken Aric. Perhaps he had died swiftly and would be spared the long slow death of starvation that faced them all.
That day finally passed. On the morning of the second day, a fierce blizzard blew over the land. It raged on and on, blowing out their pitiful little fire and driving snow deep into the cave and despair deep into their hearts. They huddled together for warmth as far away from the entrance as they possibly could. Eventually they all crept into the sacred little cavern, right at the back of the cave. It was a forbidden place, sacred to their people, and not only to their tribe but to all the neighbouring tribes. The elders were nervous; they said it was not good to violate the sacred place.
In warmer times, their cave had not been a dwelling at all. It had been a gathering place for all the tribes in the area. Their tribe had been forced by the cold weather to take up residence in the cave because they could find no other shelter and their mammoth hide tents were old and tattered, falling to bits. In past summers, all the tribes had gathered at the cave to perform rituals and ceremonies. The most sacred of these were performed in this tiny cavern at the back of the cave, which only the most senior elders of each tribe were allowed to enter.
In the dim light of their feeble torches, the images of mammoths, deer and other animals loomed over the pitiful little band of people, most of them seeing the images for the first time. They were terrified by the strangeness of the experience. In the dim shadows of the flickering torches, the beasts on the walls seemed to move and come alive. Ghostly shapes flickered and moved in the torchlight. Ancient people had created the first images on the cavern walls and whenever the tribes gathered, new ones were added to commemorate events such as great hunts. Since time immemorial their ancestors had been painting the walls to tell the stories of their lives!
For three days, they dared not venture out of their cave at all because of the fury of the blizzard. For three days nobody had anything to eat. The children cried piteously, their empty stomachs continuously torturing them.
Elya was beside herself with grief. She kept going over her last conversation with Aric in her mind. He had said something about a dream he’d had of a cat. His smile was beautiful that morning when he hugged her. He had been so happy and filled with contentment. Perhaps he had known it was to be his last day with them. Mika, too, was inconsolable. Mother and daughter sat in desolation, each lost in her own private world of sorrow, cold and hunger. Everyone felt helpless, wondering how much longer any of them could survive.
CHAPTER 4 – THE HIDEOUT
As the sun slid over the horizon and night fell, Angelica led Aric away from the cliff. His mind was reeling with excitement. What would the tribe say when he led them here? What would they say when he showed them the MAMMOTHS? His heart leaped with joy! Meat, at last some meat to eat! Angelica had led him here to this place to show him this. His tribe would be saved from starvation. Angelica had been sent to lead him here and help him. He had complete faith in her to lead him home again. He knew now, without a doubt, that he was not dreaming. Angelica was indeed real. He could not wait to get home and break the news to his family.
Impatiently he tried to rush past Angelica in the twilight, but she clawed at his leg, bringing him to a halt. She did not want them to walk in the dark. She looked up and sniffed the air, twitching her tail in agitation. Aric wondered what it was that she was sensing. He shut his eyes, concentrating hard, trying to connect with her mind and sense what she was sensing, but he was too impatient. He wanted to move on but Angelica seemed to know better. He could not get home on his own in any case, so disappointedly the boy followed the little grey cat into a rocky outcrop of boulders.
She led him into a hollow formed by boulders that had fallen on top of each other, just big enough for a boy and a cat to be snug for the night. There was a thick layer of dry leaves to nestle into for warmth. He had walked all day and had not eaten, but somehow Aric was still not hungry or tired. He was too excited to sleep. Angelica settled down on his chest, her big golden eyes glowing in the dark, hypnotising him, her warm body comforting him. Her deep purr resonated in her chest and echoed in his. The warm, rhythmic throb made him feel drowsy eventually and lulled him into a deep peaceful sleep.
Aric awoke to a grey, gloomy day. Angelica was nowhere to be seen. Alarmed and frightened at the risk of being without his guide, Aric dashed about in the freshly fallen snow calling out, “Angelica, Angelica, where are you? Don’t leave me here alone!” Confused and unsure of what to do, Aric sat down in the little hollow they had occupied the night before. He felt utterly desolate and alone. Why had she left him here after leading him this far? How could he get back without her? He did not know which direction was home and which direction the mammoths were. To make matters worse it had started snowing again. The sky was growing darker by the minute and he was acutely aware now of his empty stomach. He curled up into a tight little ball and cried. He was miserable, nothing more than a lost and frightened little boy alone, out in a blizzard.
A rough tongue licked the salty tears on his cheek. “You’re back, Angelica, oh you’re back! I am so glad! You mean cat, why did you leave me alone like that? I was terrified!” he shouted, overwhelmed with emotion. Then he noticed the dead rabbit lying in the snow beside Angelica. He could not believe his eyes. He had not seen a rabbit in ages. Aric did not care that he could not cook the rabbit. He tore at it hungrily with his teeth; swallowing fur along with the raw mea
t, so great was his hunger.
When they had consumed their shared meal, the cat and the boy lay back in their little cavern side by side, giving each other warmth and comfort while the storm raged on around them throughout the day. The pains in Aric’s stomach were different now. Spasm after spasm racked his belly. He had not eaten that much for so long that his stomach was not used to the onslaught. The cat provided warmth and soothed the pain by lying across his aching belly. He finally fell asleep again, digesting the meal that he had needed so much. Angelica kept Aric in a deep sleep. His body was in great need of rest.
When Aric awoke the next day, Angelica had already been out hunting. A fresh rabbit lay at his side. This time Aric ate it slowly and carefully, savouring each raw mouthful of meat. He made it last throughout that long cold day as they waited out the blizzard. Time dragged slowly by, but Aric was not bored. Angelica kept him company in silence. Aric felt her reading his thoughts and he was reading hers. In some strange way, they could understand each other. He had never felt so close to anyone before, not even to his mother. This kind, gentle being was full of love and light. Aric felt as though he could just sit in her presence forever and be content.
He did not know when he fell asleep but he dreamt that night of his tribe. In his dream they were content and happy. They were in a beautiful valley with a waterfall and lush vegetation. It was the valley Angelica had showed him in the first dream, the valley of abundance that they had soared above. The tribe was happy, their bellies were full and there were many animals grazing on the grassy plains. The children were laughing and had lost that grim, drawn look of constant hunger.
CHAPTER 5 – A FANCIFUL TALE
The morning was overcast and it was still snowing lightly when Aric woke up. Angelica seemed agitated. One glance into her mesmerising golden eyes and he understood instantly that she was ready to take him home. He eagerly jumped up, ready to follow this strange, special little cat wherever she would lead him.
It stopped snowing shortly. The sun was trying desperately to break through the clouds and soon succeeded. Lovely golden light washed over the crisp white snow, which sparkled brightly. Angelica did not allow Aric much time to enjoy the beauty of his surroundings. She moved on at a swift pace and Aric trotted behind her, his energy renewed by the substantial meals he’d had over the last two days. Over hills and through forests she led him.
At midday, Angelica stopped beside a stream and gave Aric a chance to rest for a short while. Side by side, boy and cat crouched down and sipped the ice-cold water. It refreshed Aric and made him eager to move on and break the good news to the tribe. Angelica purred as his cold hand gently stroked her fur. She nuzzled his fingers, nipping him lightly, reminding him that they had a journey to complete. Much as she was enjoying the petting, Angelica was eager to take Aric and his good news home to his people.
He was so excited! He would be a hero! Even the older boys would respect him and look up to him. He wondered what Brin would say? Brin was nasty and mean. Brin who bullied him mercilessly and always made a fool of him. He could not laugh mockingly at Aric now, could he? Finally, Aric would have the respect of everyone, even Brin the bully. Aric was eager to tell them all about what he had seen.
Angelica jumped off the rock she was comfortably perched on. Swiftly she led the way and all too soon, the afternoon light began to fade. Aric recognised the little forest ahead of them and the hillside beyond. They were almost home. Skilfully Angelica led him through the trees and over the frozen stream. At the spot where she had found him, he thought of stopping to break off a piece of ice to suck, but the urgency in Angelica’s eyes made him hurry along after her. Besides, he just couldn’t wait to get home to tell his exciting story….
Elya scanned the horizon again despairingly. She still could not accept that Aric was gone. She continued to nurture a faint hope in her heart that her boy was not lost. She had to have one last look before retreating into the cave for the night. The snow had stopped a while ago and hopefully, tomorrow would be another clear day so that they could go out and look for food and hopefully also find Aric, or what was left of him – if the others were right.
As she looked down towards the forest in the fading light, she thought she could dimly make out the silhouette of a figure emerging from the trees. Her eyes were surely playing tricks on her. Could it possibly be …? No, it couldn’t ……. Yes! Yes! It was! It was Aric! With a joyful shriek, she tore down the hillside to meet her son. She was overcome with joy to see her child. All she could do was hold him and cry and cry. Tearfully, mother and son made their way happily up the hill, delighted at being reunited.
The whole tribe was overjoyed at Aric’s return – all except Brin, who scowled angrily, his little piggy eyes oozing malice. They all clamoured to talk to Aric at once. Everyone was laughing and talking at the same time in disbelief. No one had even noticed the little grey cat that had slunk off quietly into to the twilight. No one that is, except Brin.
Suddenly Aric realised that Angelica was no longer with him. Alarmed, he tore himself out of his mother’s embrace. “The cat, where is the cat? Has anyone seen her?” Nobody knew what he was talking about. “The cat, we must find her. She led me to the mammoths! We need her to take us to them.” Frantically he scanned the area around the entrance to the cave. There was no sign of Angelica.
Eventually they persuaded him to give up his search for Angelica and come inside. Aric fervently hoped that Angelica would return. He had to sit down and tell them every detail of what had happened to him alone out in the blizzard. The tribe was incredulous. They could not believe his story about the cat that had led him away and shown him the herd of mammoth wintering in the valley. They could not believe that a cat had led him to shelter during the blizzard and fed him. It certainly was a miracle that he had survived, but it was impossible to believe that a cat had been his guide and companion. Cats were shy creatures that steered well clear of people and did not trust them.
The elders of the tribe asked him if he had been eating the strange yellow mushrooms. They said that he must have been hallucinating because of the hunger. Of course, Angelica was not there to prove his story, and no one else had seen her. Or had they? As for the mammoths, such beasts had not been seen for many seasons, not since Aric was a tiny boy. It was hard to believe that he could even remember what a mammoth looked like. Perhaps he had just seen big boulders in the dim light and hunger had played tricks on his tired mind.
Brin had laughed at him and jeered mockingly when he was quite certain that the adults weren’t listening. “Meow, meow,” he sneered, “did wittle Awic wun after a pussycat? Did a wittle kitty take Awic to see some mammoths?” He was such a hateful boy!
Brin was his cousin and a bit older than Aric. He took great delight in making Aric’s life miserable. Like all bullies, he always made sure he wasn’t caught. He was cunning enough to plan his attacks and tricks on Aric so that there were never any witnesses. He would never dare to victimise Aric in the company of Mika or one of the adults. Aric had been in trouble because of Brin so many times but Brin always carefully covered his tracks so that he could not be blamed. He was as sly and devious as Aric was trusting and good-natured. Aric was the obvious victim for an insecure bully like Brin.
If something was lost or broken, somehow Brin always made sure the blame could be pinned on Aric. If Aric were tasked with looking after the babies and toddlers, Brin would pinch them and make them cry. Aric would be blamed for their bruises and accused of being negligent.
That night Aric lay awake on his sleeping mat feeling utterly miserable. What was supposed to have been a joyous occasion had turned out to be an awful experience. Although the tribe was overjoyed that he had returned, no one believed a word of what he said, and many were downright annoyed that he had wandered off and given them all such a scare. His aunt, Brin’s mother, had even scolded him in her shrill voice for being so irresponsible and making them all worry about him. She said they had wasted valuable
time looking for him when they could have been looking for food. At best, he had been indulged as a childish dreamer, who in isolation, on an empty stomach had dreamed up some elaborate fantasy. At worst, he had been mocked and ridiculed by Brin and his sidekicks.
He had walked all day but he was not tired and could not sleep. He kept thinking about Angelica. He was confused. The whole thing couldn’t possibly have been a figment of his imagination, could it? He remembered the warm throbbing purr as she lay on his chest in the dark cold nights keeping him warm while the wind howled mercilessly outside of their little cavern. He remembered the closeness and the way they seemed to be communicating, boy and beast, without word or gesture. He yearned for her, willing her to come back, to show them that he was not imagining things. Angelica had been so real, so terribly real. He closed his eyes, remembering how soft she was. A tear rolled down his cheek, then another and another. He buried his face deep into his fur blanket, not wanting anyone to hear his sobs.
Suddenly he felt a soft, silky head nuzzle against his neck. It was her! She was back! She must have sneaked into the cave in the dark when the others were all soundly asleep. She purred loudly, lifting her chin for him to scratch beneath her jaw. He smiled contentedly at the sleeping tribe, lying snoring in the dim light of the glowing fire. In the morning, they would finally believe him. His self-doubt had vanished completely. Satisfied now that it had not all been a dream, Aric peacefully drifted off to sleep with Angelica snuggled up beside him.