Prehistoric Era

Years later, the Isvlak tribe was left unmolested, Drago’s threats nearly forgotten. Grug suspected it was because, by now, Drago would have his hands full with all of Grug’s offspring, unbeknownst to him. Grug secretly hoped they didn’t look much like him, for the women’s sake. 

Despite this time of peace, Grug spent a lot of time with his own children, making them ready for life’s harsh trials. While Una taught them about the local plant-life and their many uses, as well as growing their own food, he ingrained in them how to hunt, how to survive the elements and, especially, how to defend themselves. Nordah played her part with the smaller essentials that were no less important; making fire, learning to swim, and how to properly set up a camp, even in the wilderness. 

When Una was just about ready to get the toddlers and go find Grug on her own, he and Nordah finally returned. All the children squealed gleefully and went running toward him. Grug wrapped up Nimue, who was the first to end up at his feet, in a big hug, smiling like an idiot, while Leelu tugged on his furs for her turn.

Ashkii went right for his mother and Nordah, tears falling down her cheeks, swept him up in her arms and squeezed him tightly. Una was glad to know that her promises for Nordah’s safe return would be kept. Nordah glanced at her from over Ashkii’s hair and nodded, appreciation clear in her dark eyes.

When most of the excitement had died down, Una took her turn, wrapping her arms around Grug’s neck and kissing him with all the misery she had felt over his absence. He returned the kiss, pressing her close.

“Una..” He whispered softly. “Sorry-”

Una shushed him, pressing her lips against his again. Her experience mere hours ago had her shaken and she knew she’d have to tell Grug about it, but.. for now, she just wanted to cling to him after so many weeks of avoiding his touch, feel his love through his mouth and hands again.

The sound of footsteps alerted Una to the two strangers first. She squinted against the sunlight, spying them entering their camp, both armed with spears. They strolled over to her with the air of men that rarely encountered resistance anymore, their dark and amber eyes devoid of emotion.

“We looking for woman.” The darker one spoke, his eyes scanning the camp behind her.

Una noticed from the corner of her eye that Ashkii had slipped away like a shadow, disappearing into a slender crevice inside the rock wall, much too small for an adult to fit inside. All the time she had lived her, she had never noticed it before. She prayed fervently that the two men would overlook it, as well.

“You found one.” Una said, nonchalantly.

At her words, both men blinked over at her, clearly not expecting her tone. The man with black hair narrowed his eyes. “Not know who you speak to?”

“Drago, I think.” She answered, waving her hand at Leelu who was trying to be picked up. “Go get fruit.” She murmured to her and, miraculously, Leelu obeyed her the first time, glancing curiously up at the men before she did so. Nimue had the better sense to keep her distance and both girls sat on the other side of the camp, sharing the fruit Una had harvested earlier.

Drago looked on at this with waning patience. “Know me, then must have heard name.” He said observantly, nodding at the man next to him. “Thunk, look.”

Una watched as Thunk moved past her, roaming around the camp, knocking over baskets of food, tearing through her garden, tossing furs and drying racks haphazardly out of his path. “Make stop!” Una snarled at Drago, fists clenching.

Drago smirked at her. “He stop when he find what I look for.”

Una had to watch helplessly as Thunk continued his rampage around her home, Leelu and Nimue now beginning to whimper near the cave entrance. Finally, Thunk returned, shaking his head. Una barely managed not to sigh in relief; Ashkii had not been found.

“Go, now!” Una snapped, green eyes flashing dangerously at both men.

Thunk grabbed her upper arm, pulling her toward him. “Not smart to talk.” He said, his breath foul and his body reeking of sweat as he pressed himself close to her. Una tried to lean backward, but he held her upper arms in a painful grip. “I make you stop.”

As his mouth lowered toward hers, Una jerked back hard, getting her nails upward far enough to claw his face. Thunk grunted, his grip loosening enough for Una to tear away from him, heading for the cave. Thunk recovered quicker than she expected, fingers closing around her wrist and wrenching her backward. She yelped, stumbling with the momentum into his chest, his hand then cupping her mouth violently. “Saber has claws.” He said with a deep laugh that sounded terrifyingly blood-thirsty rather than amused. “I pull them out...”

“Thunk, enough. We go, now.” Drago then said. Although his voice was calm and even, it exerted authority non-the-less, enough even to make an animistic man like Thunk hesitate.

-OUTTAKE-

Ffs, Thunk! Get it together, dude... I’m trying to shoot a serious scene here... 

By late afternoon, Ashkii was emotionally drained. Una took the opportunity to try and make him feel better. 

“Ashkii, Know you miss Nordah and Grug.” She put her hand on her chest. “Miss them, too. Coming back soon.” Una then attempted to put a comforting hand on the boy’s shoulder. When he didn’t shrug it off, she said, “Come, Ashkii. I’m here.” And she pulled him slowly into a comforting embrace, wishing she could give him more answers. He clung to her tightly, sniffling against her ear with such sadness that it made Una’s heart break for him. 

Grug and Nordah did not return that night.

Nimue and Leelu were already over the last night’s drama by the time they had returned home. It took very little to distract them from their father’s lack of presence, although, Una wasn’t sure how to feel about the girls asking about “Nada”. Since she didn't know exactly what to tell them, she instead dragged Leelu into her lap and listened to her tell a story that was little more than an assortment of babbling and giggles from both girls. 

Poor Ashkii was not so simply swayed, however. He insisted on his mother and Una didn’t know him well enough to comfort him. He spent most of the night sobbing histerically until, finally exhausted, he fell asleep inside the cave with Una and the girls, hiccuping in his sleep. The next morning, his heartache began anew when he remembered his mother was still missing.

“Shhh..” Una said gently. “Nordah come back. Not cry..” But her words were little use against the never ending tears that drizzled down his cheeks. 

Grug and Una took hold of their sobbing toddlers, murmuring words of reassurance even though they, too, were very shaken. In the distance, Nordah had just disappeared around the corner of the cliff side, the mammoths trumpeting death as they pursued her.

Grug set Ashkii down. “Una.. have to get Nordah. Go home.”  For a moment, he hesitated, glancing down at Ashkii who’s wide, dark eyes were staring up at him nervously. 

“I take him.” Una said gently. “Go.” 

“There!” Said Una, Grug’s hand around hers feeling almost like a lifeline to reality. This couldn’t be happening! If her babies ended up hurt or... worse.. because her and Grug were arguing... 

As they flanked around the beasts to the west, Nordah had already began her approach from the east end and, in her panic, she couldn’t formulate a good plan. She just knew she had to rescue Ashkii, who she could see cowering inside the ring of enormous creatures. All three children sobbed hysterically, clinging to each other, sending those surrounding them into a frenzy. Her gaze snapped toward the largest one, its head beginning to thrash aggressively, feet stomping toward them like thunder. 

“NOOOO!” Nordah screamed, grabbing up a rock before she had any idea what she was doing. She threw it with all the desperation she could muster, hitting the monster in the cheek. The mammoth hesitated, blinking in obvious shock, his large amber eyes searching for the culprit who had dared to assault it. Nordah started yelling, frantically waving her arms to keep their attention off the babies who looked like they were about to start moving toward her. 

“No, Ashkii!” She chided, still waving her arms. “Stay!” 

Ashkii’s eyes were full of tears and hesitation as he debated whether to listen or be safe near his mother. “Stay!” She repeated firmly, picking up another rock and flinging it haphazardly at the nearest mammoth. The group’s leader lifted his trunk in the air, calling out a war cry that was loud enough to make her ears ring. 

“Done!” Una exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air. “Head too empty to talk.” 

“No. Tired of talking and only anger left.” He side stepped her, cutting her off from walking away. “Stop, Una!” 

“Go away!” She yelled, attempting to shove him so that she could escape. 

Grug unleashed a growl, his fingers closing on her wrist and spinning her into his waiting arm, which tucked around her slender waist like it was made to be there. “Grug, ge-” He silenced her with his mouth over hers, his grip on her wrist unrelenting as she struggled. His other arm pressed her body against his own, willing her with his strength to see reason, to remember he loved her and that was all that mattered. 

When he felt the slightest of weakness in her lips, his tongue swept in to lay claim fully. He felt her shudder, her breath growing ragged inside his mouth, noticed her body press into his on its own. “Una..” He murmured into her mouth, releasing her wrist and tangling his fingers into her dark curls. “I miss you..”