Chapter 15: My father was stubborn

"Do you know who the architect in our village is?"She blinked at me, clearly confused as she tried to repeat my words.

"The... ark-tek?"

Ah. Right. I have to break it down somehow.

I tried again, breaking it down the way anyone, even those of the primitive era could understand.

"The one who builds the huts. And carves stones to sit on. You know, things like that. The one who makes things."

Understanding finally lit in his cloudy eyes.

"Oh! You mean the creator." He nodded, adjusting the wolf pelt. "Old Harok. He lives by the northern edge of the village. He’s been creating things longer than I’ve been breathing."

Creator.

Of course.

In a time like this, where tools and structures seemed like miracles, what else would you call the one who shaped them?

"I don’t know when any of the young ones last asked of the creator. Is there something you want?" The healer asked.

"Well, yes. I want to make a request." I said and smiled at the healer.

She nodded and said,

"Well, you might find him sleeping in his hut around this time. He’ll listen to you, since you are the chief’s daughter."

Does that mean he doesn’t listen to anyone else?

Well, it doesn’t matter.

If I can get him to help me create stuff, then I can make my life even less unbearable.


"Thank you," I said to her. "What about the one who makes our clothes?" I asked, pointing at my bra top. "I would like to learn."

I already know how to sew, but I have no idea what kind of resources they have at this time.

I’ll need the tools they have. What they use as needles, as well as their thread... And then how to skin animals to get just the material I need.

If I can learn all this, I won’t have to worry about having only two pairs of outfits. I could even sew something with sleeves for the coming winter.

"You must be referring to Taruna." She said. "Though making clothes is not limited to just one beast folk. If you want to learn well, you will need Taruna’s help."

"And where can I find Taruna?"

"Also at the northern edge of the tribe."

Jeez, did they throw all the talented people to the North? Well, it works well for me. I don’t have to worry about moving from place to place.

"Will you go now?" She asked. "You need to rest your leg to recover."

I can manage since I’m faking it.

I gave her a weary smile.

"It’s fine. I can manage. A little ankle pain can’t stop me from moving." I said and she nodded weakly.

"Truly your father’s daughter." She mumbled and I glanced at her.

I didn’t even need to ask what that meant to understand what she meant.

My father was stubborn, that’s it.

I stood to my feet, though still limping a bit to keep up the act and not give myself away.

But as I stepped out of the hut, the fresh breeze blew across and swept away the herbal smell I had been putting up with for a while.

Especially since I had such a keen sense of smell.

I’ve never been to a place with such a thick herbal smell before. Even the disinfectant smell at the hospital was bearable.

I looked left, looked right, but there was no one there, thankfully. I stretched my arms and let out a groan.

"Now, let’s head North."

But... Where was North?

I was able to find my way to the Northern edge by asking a few folks on the way, while faking a limp and earning fake sympathy.

Finally, I arrived at old man Harok’s hut.

So, do I knock or...? I looked at the hide serving as a curtain and gulped.

Is it just me or is the entrance of this hut a bit... Big?

It was thrice my size, as if a giant lived there.

Even my father would be able to walk in without crouching his back.

As I contemplated what to do, he suddenly burst out of the hut, like he was on a run. I thought he was sleeping.

And... He was... Huge.

Now I know why the entrance was so big.

I had to lift my head to the point my neck hurt, for me to be able to look at his face.

He had such a big build, tanned skin, broad shoulders, and on top of his head were his round brown ears, but they didn’t look like tiger ears to me...

If anything... This man reminded me of a bear, with how large he was and how lazy he looked at face. You know, bears have such a lazy appearance especially when they just wake up from sleep.

Aside from all of that was his bushy brown hair flowing over his shoulders, and the necklace made of wolf and bear fangs around his neck.

Just these things made him stand in a position no one else did.

I’m guessing this is why the healer said he would see me, because I’m the chief’s daughter. He answers to no one else, it seems.

"Um... Hello."

"It’s Harok." He suddenly said with a gruff voice. "Not Hallo."

I know, I was just greeting you. Anyway, forget it.

"Harok, have you been well?"

I decided to act friendly, but not too soft since I had a feeling that this kind of person was very perceptive and would know if I was faking my smile.

"More or less." He answered and then lowered his back. "What do you want?"

He was rude too, but I guess with what he’s accomplished, he deserves to be rude or arrogant. I won’t take it against him since he’ll be helping me achieve my goal of living comfortably.

"I would like you to make something for me, Harok. It’s..." I bent down and then used my finger to draw on the floor.

I drew a bowl and then looked up at him. He was confused.

"What’s that?"

He didn’t even look interested and I pursed my lips.

If I don’t manage to get him interested, he won’t take on my request.

I guess I’ll have to play with the sand a bit.

"Hold on a second."

I sat on the sand and then began to mold it into a bowl, just about one that would be used for a meal, a bit bigger than a rice bowl.

"This..." I said and looked up at him to see that his eyes had flickered, finally interested. "Can you make something like this with wood and maybe something bigger with rocks?"

If I can use the wooden ones for regular plates, then I could use the bigger ones that are made of rocks as pots.

This is the first step to civilization.

"It’s intriguing. Would you like to come inside?"