From: Gary Donovan
Newsgroups: soc.motss
Subject: Red Dawn--Part 3 (Was Re: World's First Known Bottom Found in Alps)
Date: 13 Sep 92 09:20:40 GMT
Article-I.D.: spdcc.1992Sep14.035632.28106
Organization: Neanderthals 'R Us

Part Three

Waking for the second time that morning, the two hunters knew that
at this time there was much work to be done.  They proceeded to clean
up their temporary encampment and make plans to continue preparing
part of the mammoth for transport.  Long strips of meat and flesh were
stripped quickly from the bones of the once great beast and as enough
was ready for one to carry they would be loaded across the shoulders
of Gray Wolf.  Trudging across the mountain valley, the pairs hunting
encampment came into view.  Although the cave was small, it had served
their purposes well for the past four months and would serve for the
moment as a temporary repository for the meat until the others in the
tribe were summoned to bring it down to the main encampment.

After a series of repeated trips, their work for the day was complete.
Although it was too late for one of them to go back and summon the
others, it was still not too late to enjoy some of the meat
themselves.  A fire was quickly made at the entrance and soon the
acrid smell of searing flesh swirled around the small, rock room.
Tearing into their meal, they commented on how much better the meat
was when it had been freshly killed as well as a note on the
tenderness due to the age of the young buck.  This was something that
only the hunters could truly enjoy while the others in their group
could only savor a fading memory of its true taste.  True, the others
could offer them berries and other foods that had been gathered in the
lower valleys, but this was arguably much better.

After the meal was completed, the conversation drifted towards other
topics.  Red Dawn told Gray Wolf for the first time about Night Moon
and their earlier relationship and its significance to what had
transpired earlier that day.  Gray Wolf quickly recalled the flush of
sensations and emotions and realized how singular his life would
become.  It was revealed that only the hunters shared themselves this
way.  They carried with them knowledge that the tribe depended on for
their very existence. That knowledge and that essence was not to be
diminished in any way, so therefore the hunter's shared the seed of
that only amongst themselves.  When Red Dawn revealed that the sharing
was a continually renewing process,  Gray Wolf almost leaped for joy. 
He moved closer to his friend as they gazed wordlessly into the fire.

Soon, sleep began to grasp them in its grip.  It had been a long and
arduous day.  Tonight, though, Red Dawn gathered the sleeping robes
into one place in the center of the cave as opposed to the two
separate places they had been before.  Drawing close to each other
with the firelight dancing about the cavern ceiling,  Gray Wolf made
movements to re-initiate the rituals of that morning. Red Dawn looked
at him with a happy, sleepy gaze and gave him a solid smack on the
flank.  Time for that could wait for their energies were going to
needed tomorrow.  He assured the frustrated brow that beat down upon
him that there would be another time and that it would be repeated
many times in the future.  Happy with this,  Gray Wolf fell asleep but
only after letting his hands slip over to the warm place of his
friends.  Red Dawn growled a little and pulled him closer to him
before drifting completely away.

The next morning Red Dawn announced that he would be the one to go
down to the lower valley and gather some of the tribesmen to help
transport the meat.  Gray Wolf was somewhat relieved since his body
still ached from yesterday not only from the ritual but also since he
had carried most of the mammoths recoverable mass to the cave. 
Gathering his things, Red Dawn was off.  Gray Wolf couldn't help but
notice a lighter step to his friend's stride as he disappeared from
view.  It would be hours before the others would return, so he set
about to making spear points for the hunts that would be coming all
too soon.  Looking out of the cave entrance, he noticed that it was
much colder today and the upper peaks were covered with new snow. 
Soon, the upper valley that he and Red Dawn were staying in would be
covered with snow as well.

Shivering a bit with that thought he pulled another robe around him
while he continued to chip away at the flint.  This that he held in
his hands, combined with the knowledge that Red Dawn had taught him
was what made him strong.  Having a friend to share that strength made
it even better.  Thinking back to yesterday, he suddenly was aware
that he had put on one of Red Dawn's extra robes.  Pulling it closer,
he noted that it was embedded with his friend's strong scent.  This
evoked a powerful memory of the  morning before and quickly sent a
signal for something to grow forth.

A desire to release descended upon him, but of course his friend would
not be back till much later.  And, he would be bringing some of the
other men so there would be no chance of them being able to repeat
their actions.  He was mindful of Red Dawn's statement that it was
only the hunters that shared themselves in this way.

Searching about, he found some more of the animal fat that Red Dawn
had annointed himself with.  Gray Wolf had done this many times before
in the past, but he remembered how different things felt with the
lubrication from the grease.  Grabbing some, he promptly unhooded
himself and applied it slowly across the crown as he had seen Red Dawn
do yesterday.  Bolts of pleasure shot up through him as he did so, not
unlike the sensation of when Red Dawn used the lubrication of his
mouth on him.  This was wonderful, he thought, and so much better than
when he had done it before.

Slowly working the grease down the side of the shaft, he began milking
his large tool with slow, but deliberate strokes.  He was transported
back to the image of the two of them gripped together in the high
alpine valley.  In a vision, Red Dawn was pounding all of the lessons
of life into him and loud drumbeats echoed across the mountain walls. 
The hand movements became quicker and he reached around with a
grease-covered finger and placed it where Red Dawn had been yesterday. 
After barely inserting past the first knuckle he gasped aloud and shot
a warm, white stream across his hairy belly.  Opening his eyes, he
remembered what Red Dawn had said about not wasting the essence of the
hunter.  Gathering up the pool, he hesitantly placed it into his
mouth.  Finding the taste to not be unpleasant, he continued to clean
himself up in the same fashion.

In time, Gray Wolf went back to his earlier activity of making spear
points.  By early afternoon, he saw dark figures entering the valley
and as they drew close he made out the figure of Red Dawn amongst
them.  Coming into the cave, the men commented on the quantity of meat
that the two hunters had prepared.  Gray Wolf beamed with pride as Red
Dawn told them that it was only achieved because his friend had
developed into such a fine hunter.  Red Dawn commented on the new
spear points that were present, but the drying white traces on Gray
Wolf's beard were not missed.  Red Dawn smiled.

Soon, all of them gathered up their loads and descended into the lower
valley.  Coming into the encampment, they were greeted by the women
and the children who helped to relieve the men of their loads.
Nightfall was gathering its cold gloom around the lower valley and a
great fire was made ready.  Smells of fresh-cooked meat filled the air
and the feast was prepared.  The other men described their feats of
hunting prowess on smaller game and birds to which the group was
sharing at the moment.  But, when the pieces of the mammoth were
served up, Red Dawn immediately launched into the tale of its
conquest.  Vivid pictures were painted of how the two men had released
their spears into the dangerous creature and how they had missed
getting gored on the animal's tusks.

Putting his arm around Gray Wolf, Red Dawn announced to the assembled
group that his young friend had completed his training and should now
be raised to the vaulted position of lead hunter. Gray Wolf laughed
and told them that the position would be shared with Red Dawn for many
seasons to come.  Red Dawn noticed the  gaze from the tribal leader as
he had announced the fact of Gray Wolf's training completion.  The
future of the tribe had been assured, but it also meant that Gray Wolf
would walk a separate path from the other men.  Fortunately,  Gray
Wolf would not have to walk alone.

The feasting lasted until late in the night.  Plans for sleep were
made and temporary accomodations were provided with the family of the
tribal leader as was customary for someone of great importance such as
the two of them.  Gray Wolf stopped for a moment when he noticed that
two separate places had been prepared for them.  Red Dawn shook his
head and said there would be other times.  Frustrated Gray Wolf laid
down amongst the warm robes, but for the first time they felt colder
without the presence of his friend.  He looked longingly over to Red
Dawn, who returned the glance with a nod.  They would be leaving for
the upper valley tomorrow he said quickly.  And with that, he turned
over.  Gray Wolf found it difficult to fall asleep and mentally
reached out for the warmth that was not there tonight.  Soon, he
drifted off himself.

[To Be Continued]
Newsgroups: soc.motss,soc.bi