Wednesday's Words on a Friday

 

The original Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and eventually taken over by a moveable feast of participants when Delores had computer troubles. Sadly, Delores has now closed her blog forever due to other problems.

The aim of the words is to encourage us to write. A story, a poem, whatever comes to mind.

If you are posting an entry on your own blog, please let us know so we can come along to read it and add a few encouraging words.

This month the words/prompts are supplied by Charlotte and can be found here

This week's words/prompts are: 

1. demand 

2. surface 

3. cave 

4. labyrinth 

5. unheard 

6. wonder 

and/or: 

1. chest 

2. wishful 

3. swam 

4. swarm 

5. swan 

6. procession

also: "you can't have your cake and eat it "

Here is my story:

Borg had been fishing on the bank of the river when he noticed the cliff face opposite had changed since his last visit a year ago. A large stone had shifted revealing a small opening. "A new cave!" he thought and decided to explore it. His sister Anda was to have her binding ceremony soon and she and her partner would need a new cave. There simply wasn't room for any new families at the old site and a baby was sure to arrive before summer, everyone had noticed the rounding of Anda's belly and the prideful strutting of Teeg, her chosen one.

Borg and a few others of the young hunters had been sent to scout the lay of the land in the other direction last week and found nothing suitable. This time, Borg tied his fishing net to a large tree and swam across the river. Thankfully the surface of the water was no longer turbulent with the gushing of melting snow. He reached the point where a rocky path led upwards and climbed slowly, carefully, looking for markers along the way, to be sure he could find the same way again. 

When he arrived at the opening, he was surprised to see it much larger than it had looked from the other side of the river. A small flat section at the opening must have been where the original stone had stood, hiding this opening. Borg ventured inside, feeling his way when the sunlight no longer reached. The small opening hid a much larger cave!  Places this big were unheard of! Borg hurried back home to tell the elders and ask permission to take fire to the cave to properly see the interior. Permission was granted and next morning three young hunters set off across the river, with fire sticks and a glowing ember safely contained in waterproofed skins. 

The surprise on their faces when the torches and a small campfire revealed the labyrinth beyond the entrance, gave Borg great joy. He had discovered this wonder and what a wonder it was! More than enough passages led off the first cave to other caves deeper in the cliff. Each hunter marked a finger with soot to be able to relate the numbers when they returned. This new cave would be big enough for the entire tribe! They must tell the elders immediately!

Leaving the fire making things in the cave, they hurried home and sat impatiently at the feet of the elders until the pipe smoking was finished. Then each revealed the soot marks on their fingers and told of the great number of small caves within the cliff. They were then dismissed while the elders discussed this and wondered if maybe the whole tribe should move into the cliff. It was on the wrong side of the river, but also up high and enclosed, so the women and children would be safer from predators and the men would find it easier to defend. a decision was made. 

The youngest elder, Ezer,  would accompany Borg across the river and inspect the cave as far as he could, then report back. Borg was very proud to be chosen to assist the elder and his chest swelled with pride as much as his head swelled with wishful thinking. Could he one day be included in the circle of elders? Ezer reported the satisfactory nature of the cave and also said that with help, all the women and children would be able to make the climb up the rocky path.  With two days preparation, everyone was ready to make the move. Swimming was impossible for many of them, only a few knew how, so a makeshift raft, an idea copied from another tribe, was used to ferry people and belongings across the river, with one person swimming in front and another behind, for the number of trips needed. It took a whole day, so camp was made on the flat for the night. Next morning, elder Grun said that Borg should lead the procession up the rocky path and into the cave. 

Saan objected. "I am the eldest of the young hunters, I should be first in line," he demanded, and was quickly hushed with a smack across his ear by his mother. "Borg found the cave," she said, "Borg is first in line! You may help the women with babies." Chastened, Saan hung his head and did as his mother bid. The excitement once the cave was reached was quite heady to all. Fathers of each family group staked claim to a cave of their liking and having placed their mammoth rugs allowed the children to swarm in, followed by the women with the cooking pots. Borg was given a cave close to the entrance as a gift, but not in front of the oldest member. Only Grun had a cave that had direct sunshine.