Civ gets two of the dried tendon strings while chuckling at Vel’s reaction. The hunting group that is resting in the hut, silently observing what Civ is planning again.

  He placed the materials and tools he needed. Vel sees something that catches his eye. He picks it up.

  “What do we do with these long sticks Civ?” Vel looked this stick from top to bottom. It was bone-dry. Civ was checking the two strings and picked one of the sticks.

  Civ held Vel’s shoulder and smiled. “It will be a long process. So bear with me.”

  The only way to explain it is to show it.

  Using a stone flake, he carefully scraped the wood, especially the ends. After a few scapes, he placed the other end in the flat stone, then bent it.

  “Still stiff.” Civ continues to slowly scrape one side of the stick.

  Scrape and bend, scrape and bend.

  Once he had the bend he preferred, the next thing he did was to make the notches on the ends of the sticks. He shaped it like a spade. After preparing the stick, he grabs the tendon string, and he makes an overhead knot on one of the ends.

  Then he makes a timber hitch knot on the other end and tightens it. Using a significant amount of force, he pulled the string and put the overhead knot to the notch.

  THUNG

  When he was able to place it, the wood bends. But the bend is not symmetrical.

  “Hmmm needs more adjustment.” Civ removes the string in the wood and starts scaping the unbalanced section.

  Vel and the hunting group intently watch Civ. The focus of Civ exuding is drawing their gaze.

  After a couple of scrapings, he was able to get the balance of bend he needed.

  Civ smiled in exhaustion.

  “Let's see.” Civ holds the wood in the left hand. Using his right hand, he slowly tugs the string.

  Streeetch

  Feeling the stiffness, he made some adjustments by scraping some part of the wood.

  Streeetch

  “Feels great now.” Civ looked at Vel.

  “Vel, please bring out the black glue. We will move to the next item.” Civ picks the smaller sticks and a bunch of small stone spearheads. They went to the middle of the camp, where the campfire is located.

  Curious, the hunting group dragged their exhausted body and followed the two.

  When they arrived at the campfire, Civ gave half of the smaller sticks to Vel.

  “Vel, please place the black glue next to the heat of the campfire. Then follow what I’m going to do.” Civ gets his stone knife.

  The sun was just rising, but the hunting group was able to see what Civ was doing.

  Then Civ starts scraping the ends like sharpening a pencil. He did not fully make it a pointed end, but enough to be a cone shape with a flat top. Like a thick flat screwdriver.

  Then on that flat top, he did a sawing motion until there was enough wedge to his liking. After that, he intentionally created a split in one of the wedges.

  Next, he grabs one feather and splits it into two. Then, split two more feathers.

  Seeing that the black glue had started to melt. He picked up the stick where a black glue in it. Then applied some at the end of the stick next to the notch.

  After the glue dried, he picked three of the split feathers and arranged them at one end of the stick. He placed it in a triangle formation, but it’s like a twisting, helical structure.

  Seeing that it was placed fine, he picked two or three fibers of a shorter tendon and put them in his mouth. He did not munch it but moistened it. After a couple of seconds of wetting the tendons in his mouth, he pulls one of the fibers.

  Then tied it in on top of the feather, middle, and bottom. The feathers were now tightly tied to the stick. He did some finishing touches to cut the excess of the feathers by cutting the edges using a stone flake.

  ‘It starts to form.’ Civ eyes were glistening.

  On the other hand, Vel was following along, by working on the other long stick. he also started scraping, but he did not plan on attaching the tendon string.

  Horm, who was watching, couldn’t help but call Civ. But Arsh stopped him.

  When the feathers were trimmed, Civ picked one of the smaller stone spearheads. With full focus, he dipped the notch in the black glue, then he placed it in the wedge where he created a split. After it was properly placed, he wet his fingers with his saliva. Then starts molding the black glue around it to properly secure the head. Right after, he wet a tendon using his saliva again and tied it tightly and nicely to the stick.

  Since Civ wants to test this right away, he dipped this into the tapped water in the jar to speed up the cooling process.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Then he looked at Vel and asked. “Have you remembered the process?”

  Vel, who was overwhelmed by new information, tried to answer. “I guess. But why are we doing this? It looks like you are making a small spear. But I’m pretty sure it will not pierce if we throw it.”

  “Who said we're gonna throw it with our own hands. Come on, follow me.” Civ picks the stick with a tendon string and the small spear.

  They went to the back of the cave, where they practiced spear throwing.

  He puts the nock in the string and then pulls the string. He pointed it at one of the trees ahead and released it.

  THUNGGG

  A distinct sound of vibration filled the empty forest. Then -

  THUD

  The small spear pierced the tree.

  Everyone’s mouth fell to the floor.

  “Oh My Sun Goddess.” Pil blurted.

  The sunlight hit the place where it was stuck, and they fully saw how deep it was in the tree.

  The hunting group, except Arsh and Vel, ran through the three where it was and inspected it further.

  Arsh looked at Civ. “What did you do now?!”

  Arsh looked terrified when Civ looked at her.

  Civ chuckled. “Hehehe, A spark of inspiration.”

  “What kind of inspiration is this weapon?!” Arsh cannot help but raise her voice.

  When she observes the first few processes Civ has done, she has an idea that he is up to something. But not this kind of idea she imagines.

  Spears, they can follow the directions on where it will go when they throw it with an atlatl.

  But this new weapon Civ created, before she realized, it was already pierced in the tree.

  She did not follow the hunting group because she didn't want to. But because her knees were shaking now. She cannot believe that she can see in her life a human creation that her eyes cannot follow.

  Civ scratches his head. On his side, Vel was brimming with inspiration.

  “C-c-civ! Please teach it to me now, I’m begging you.” Like a sad puppy, Vel wants to quickly learn this craft.

  “Alright, alright, relax Vel. Let me teach you how to create that thing first.” Civ pointed to the arrowhead.

  “Sure! Please let me lead the way back.” Vel and Civ walk back to the middle of the camp.

  When they left, Arsh slumped to the ground. She heavily sighed. “A weapon you cannot see.”

  Her lips dried, and she felt thirsty. She looked at her hunting group colleague, who was trying to pull out the weapon in the tree.

  Back to the campfire in the middle of the camp. Kivrah just woke up after he heard the hunting group walking to the back of the cave.

  He gets up and follows the group a few minutes later. But when he was on his way, Civ and Vel were walking back already. He noticed Vel was smiling, looked restless, and impatient.

  “Civ, where are you going and - ”. Kivrah can’t help but run his eyes to the curved wood with the string that Civ is holding, and asks. “What is that?”

  Civ looked to his Father and replied. “Sure, but can you follow us for a moment. I need to show you something first.”

  Curious, Kivrah nodded. Kivrah looked at the back of the cave, he see a commotion from the hunting group. With Civ asking him to show something, he needs to check what Civ wanted to show him. Together with Vel and Kivrah, they walk back to the middle of the camp.

  When they arrived, Civ gave the instructions to Vel in quick succession. But Vel, being inspired and motivated, was able to absorb everything Civ is telling him. After a few minutes, they were able to make it.

  “A small spear?” Kivrah asked.

  “Hehehe Tribe leader, please do not underestimate this.” Vel replied to Kivrah before he finished his sentence.

  Kivrah waits for a few more minutes as Civ and Vel simultaneously create these small spears.

  Civ looked satisfied, and they stood up and picked up the sticks.

  When they went to the back of the cave. The group was sitting on the ground, fascinated by the same sticks that Civ created.

  Then he heard Civ, “Here Father. Hold it please.”

  Civ handed him the curved wood with a string attached to it and a small spear. When he looked at Civ, he also saw the same kind of curved wood with a string.

  “Please follow what I’m going to do.” Civ continued.

  Kivrah was scrambling on what to do, but he tried his best to follow Civ.

  Holding the pointed stick, he put the nock in the string. Pulled the string and aimed at the tree, and released the string.

  THUNGGG THUD

  Before Kivrah could process what had happened, the stick was already stuck in the tree.

  “Wha-what happened?!” Kivrah's hands were shaking as he looked at the curved wood he was holding.

  “Civ, can I try it?” Vel asked Civ, as he wants to test it also. Arsh also put up her courage and stood up.

  “Please let me try it also.”

  Looking at these two, Civ sighed. One is excited to use it as a toy. The other one is afraid of using this toy, but she feels it's necessary.

  Civ nodded.

  “Alright. Arsh please.” Civ handed the curved wood to Arsh while Vel respectfully got the one Kivrahs was holding.

  They followed Civ’s instructions and released the string.

  Same result. Before Kivrah’s eyes fell into the tree, the stick was already there!

  This is the fastest thing he has seen in his life! He felt a cold sweat.

  As a tribe leader, he is the primary protector of the tribe. But looking at this weapon. He is not sure if he can survive if this starts targeting him.

  He gulped with a dry throat. He asked Civ in a low voice. “C-C-Civ, what do you want to call this?”

  Civ properly looked and stood in front of the tribleader and said.

  “Please let’s call it this curved wood a Bow and the pointy stick and arrow.” Civ ended his sentence and respectfully bowed.

  “Bow and arrow.” Kivrah slowly nodded. There is still a fear in his eyes. But for him, it is a good thing they are the ones who control these weapons.

  Civ heaved a sigh of relief that everything had turned out fine.

  There are two things he was worried about when he was planning to make this weapon.

  First is the reaction of the tribe. He is afraid that the reaction was more extreme than this. Like being mobbed by the tribe. Cause fear of the unknown, it’s either you fight or you fight.

  Second is the materials. He wants to make this an initial weapon. But getting the materials in the first few days was already near impossible. If the horde did not attack them, he might not be able to make it even after Tuanir.

  The back tendon sinew strings were a great help for him in preparing this. Aside from that, it was easier to handle. The length of the sinew makes it much faster to create.

  The group also tested the bow and arrow. Everyone was happy trying it. Vel made the third bow and additional arrows. The group, including the Tribe leader, was able to practice more.

  But Civ sees something, the group's forearms are starting to show some slight bruises.

  “I think I need to create pointy sticks now.”