Primitive Man
Chapter 52: Ruthless Rona

A woman sat on a rough stone throne, gnawing on a piece of wild animal meat. The flickering sunlight cast eerie shadows on the walls, adding to the tension in the air. Two men knelt before her, their foreheads beaded with sweat, fear etched across their faces.

The woman abruptly stood up, her face twisted in anger, and struck the two men with a bone, sending them tumbling back several meters. "Who gave you the authority to steal meat from our storage?" she demanded, her voice sharp.

Her voice and the way she acted showed how strong she was, just like a resilient tree standing tall in the face of a raging storm.

One of the men stammered, his excuse feeble. "I was afraid the meat would rot, so I thought I'd better eat it."

"Since we hunted those meats, It belongs to us," Other man decided to stand up against the woman, who had veins popping out of her head.

Her patience wearing thin, the woman struck him again with the bone, her eyes blazing with fury. "Who gave you permission to make decisions when I'm the leader here?" She declared, her tone unwavering. "You've forfeited your place in our home."

"No matter who hunt these meat, they belong to everyone and that's why I keep them safe and disturbe them fairly," The woman shouted showing her anger was not something to be under estimated.

'I took my decision! Two of you can leave this cave. I don't need weak men that can't even think about future,"

The people on their knees pleaded, tears streaming down their faces, begging for a second chance. "Please, don't kick us out," they implored.

Normally, their instinct would have asked them to attack this woman in front of them, but both of them knew even if they tried to gang up on her, she would still beat their asses. In the worst possible case, she would kill them.

The woman, determined to uphold the rules she had established, shook her head. "Rules are rules, I have no need for people that act like wild animals that we eat." she sighed, settling back onto her stone throne. She resumed munching on the raw meat leg, lost in thought.

She reminisced about the trials and tribulations she had endured, all because of her parents' sickness. That's why she had gathered this small team, to support each other and create a better life. But others had taken advantage of her kindness, and she couldn't allow that to continue.

With resolve, she maintained her position of authority, even if it meant making difficult decisions. The cave was her domain, and she was determined to protect it from those who would threaten the fragile harmony she had fought so hard to establish.

"I have always being different from these people," She thought as she kept looking at the two men that left her cave. "I feel like the way we are living is not something we should be proud of. It is hard for us to even survive."

She had always held onto that distant dream, and it had fueled her determination to create a better life for her small community. But as she watched her fellow cave-dwellers acting in a way that suggested betrayal and stupidity, she couldn't help but wonder whether it is worth the trouble.

*Sigh

"If only I had a person with whom I could share my dream, someone who could understand me." Suddenly, her mind turned to a partner, but she didn't feel impressed by any of the men around her, and most of the women nearby seemed rather weak, unable to even hunt on their own.

"All of them are like animals. Using only raw power." Her mind started to get more and more negative about the small community she was building, until a little girl came with a little yellow flower to meet her.

"Rona, give this to your mother. She will get better," With an innocent look on her face, she muttered those words.

Kneeling down to meet the girl at eye level, Rona gently accepted the flower and replied, "Thank you, little one. Your kindness warms my heart." She couldn't help but smile in return with a genuine smile she'd felt in a long time.

As Rona held the yellow flower in her hand, she began to see it as a symbol of hope, something she had been desperately seeking. She realized that perhaps she had been too quick to judge her community and its members.

Just as this little girl had offered her a small gesture of kindness, there might be others who possessed qualities she hadn't noticed before.

"I will replace a way to make this work, after all I'm their leader now," Thinking about the future, she decided to go back and look at her parents before going to help others with the remaining work, unaware that they were being spied on by a group that would invade them sooner or later.

***

Garnt, his voice tinged with concern, inquired, "Ayra, have you seen Mother? I've been searching tirelessly for her."

Ayra, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, replied, "Gundo? She should be in her workshop. But what's the matter, Garnt? Why are you looking for her?"

She was happy that Garnt called her 'Ayra' even though, they were outside and she knew, he was taking their relationship serious.

Garnt hesitated briefly, then confided, "Ayra, I've noticed that Mother has been avoiding me for some time now. I have something important to give her."

Ayra, her expression softening, reassured him, "Garnt, don't worry. Just go and check the workshop."

"Fine. You should rest too. You might need to fight in the future, so rest, eat and train." Garnt said and before leaving with a soft gaze, his lips touched Ayra's.

"Also, it wasn't Kara that spied on us that night. I asked from her and she only saw Unami coming back." Garnt needed to add it to the context, so Ayra won't get too anxious.

She nodded her head hearing his words, but the question remained without getting any answers.

'What woman would dare to spy on the patriach of the village?'

With that, he turned and walked towards the workshop, leaving Ayra with a warmth in her heart that fueled her determination to be ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

Garnt made his way towards Gundo's workshop, his footsteps echoing through the bustling compound. As he approached, he could hear the sounds of laughter and conversation, punctuated by the rhythmic clinking of tools.

He pushed the workshop door open, revealing a scene of industrious activity. Gundo was at the center of it all, surrounded by a group of skilled women who were working diligently on various projects. The room was filled with the scent of wood, dried animal skin, and the warmth of the workers.

Gundo, a formidable woman with a stern expression, her hands adorned with soot was carefully overseeing the work. Her long blond hair was tied back, and her clothes were almost revealling her chest, revealing strong, capable arms.

Garnt couldn't help but admire her resilience and determination. He knew that she had been a pillar of strength for their community, always working tirelessly to keep their equipment in top shape and providing guidance to those who sought her expertise.

With a determined yet gentle stride, Garnt moved closer to Gundo, his heart pounding with both relief and anticipation. He knew he needed to approach her carefully, given her recent avoidance. As he came up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly.

"Who dare to-" She shouted in anger not knowing, who it was at the beginning.

Gundo's initial instinct was to react defensively, her muscles tensing as she prepared to confront an intruder. But then she caught a familiar scent, one that could only belong to Garnt. She relaxed, a hint of pink tinting her cheeks as she realized who it was.

"Garnt," she said, her voice a mix of surprise and warmth. She turned her head to look at him over her shoulder, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of emotions.

"Are you okay?" Garnt asked, concern evident in his eyes as he searched for any signs of distress in Gundo's expression.

Gundo nodded, her gaze softening as she assured him, "I'm fine, Garnt. Just busy as always, you know how it is."

Garnt smiled, relieved by her response. He didn't want to pressure her, but he also could see her acting rather weird avoiding his eye contact.

At first, he had no idea why she was acting strangely, but then he decided to fulfill his duty and replace out the reason behind her behavior.

"Mother, I believe it's essential for you to join us in the upcoming battle. Your expertise in providing medical assistance will be invaluable." He glanced around, noticing that others were paying attention, and chose not to mention the Bionic Element to her at that moment.

"Additionally, there's something I'd like to discuss with you. We can talk once you've finished your current tasks."