The Chronicles of Amon book 1 LINK

  Chapter 10.

  Amon stood quietly, alone before the dwindling pyre, watching as the last remnants of his father’s body were consumed by the flames. The tears had stopped flowing some time before. Now he just stood there, emotionally drained, watching the flames dwindle,

  remembering, as crackles gave way to puffs and pops, and finally to faint, high-pitched sizzles.

  It seemed only natural that his father should pass in such a manner. Pa had become increasingly withdrawn in the time since Mama was killed. Perhaps now, with the ‘darkness’ passed on to his son, the old simian had not felt the need to continue. He had died quietly in his sleep the same night as the transfer.

  Broc stood quietly at his friend’s side, wondering if there was anything he could say or do which would help Amon in his time of grief. Unable to decide what to do, he spoke quietly.

  “Each time we have moved, there have been losses. We have only just arrived here. Perhaps if we remain for a while, the losses will stop.” Broc was grasping for any excuse, reasonable or otherwise, that might persuade Amon to remain here for a while longer.

  “The losses will continue, no matter if we are here or somewhere else. Soon our women will bring forth new life. We must continue exploring our world so that our offspring will have the best opportunity for growth. With growth comes knowledge. With knowledge comes wisdom. With wisdom comes responsibility.” Amon turned from the site, patting his closest friend on the shoulder.

  “Sara says she may be with child. She wants to remain here until after the birth. I think she may be becoming afraid. The last woman with child. . . .” Broc hesitated.

  “That is true, my brother. She has reason to be afraid. But I do not believe that the earth will shake again just because a child is near birth. We knew of these rumblings within the earth long before Nera became with child.” He stopped and grabbed Broc by both shoulders. With a wide grin, he continued:

  “Besides, that nest of yours is way too small to accommodate a young one.” They both laughed.

  “Well, perhaps you would like to trade, at least until the extra space is needed.”

  Turning away from Pa’s smoldering pyre, they each bid a silent farewell.

  Chapter 11.

  They began dismantling the camp two days after Pa’s death, the same day the first scout returned. There was little to report about terrain or other conditions that had not already been anticipated.

  Once the decision to move had been made, Amon sent pairs of scouts out to travel north along the stream for a space of one day. One scout then would return to the camp while the other continued. New pairs were sent out immediately upon the first scout’s arrival. The rotation continued for several weeks.

  Returning scouts began reporting fewer and fewer trees along the route. Instead of heavy underbrush, tall grasses began to dominate the landscape. Eventually the stream became little more than a trickle.

  Though the clan was constantly moving, the pace was slow. It wasn’t uncommon for them to halt for the better part of a day if game was brought down and needed to be butchered and processed. Because they had become nomadic, they could no longer rely on the lush vegetation in the jungle as their food supply. The increased consumption of meat had become a necessity as they continued their trek northward.

  One morning a few months into the journey, scouts reported a small spring a day’s distance. There were only a few scrub bushes and one small, gnarly tree, clinging to the rock outcropping where the spring gurgled up. It offered little shelter from the wind, which had been increasing gradually during their journey up onto the high plains.

  During the long days of walking, Amon had a lot of time to think about the life he had chosen. Mahrom was with child, as were two others in the clan. Soon it would be necessary for them to slow their pace even more, so that the pregnant women could keep up.

  Perhaps, he thought to himself, it would have been better to wait a season. At least in the jungle, food would be plentiful. Here in this sea of grass, there was little enough to keep the local herbivores alive, let alone a new population of humans.

  He kept the ‘device’ hidden, even from his mate. So far as he knew, she didn’t know it existed. On the night that Pa died, Amon had taken the device with him out into the dense undergrowth and activated it. He had spoken with Evander for several hours that night, during which time he learned much more about what was expected of him as keeper of the ‘darkness.’