You and Kali Plan Your Attack

As you follow Kali's trail, you prepare yourself for battle. You rip a limb from one of the scarce trees dotting the grasslands. It's a far cry from your sabre-tooth sword, but it makes a sturdy enough club. At a small stream you apply mud in fierce designs around your arms and torso. Soon the women of your tribe will fight to apply proper warpaint to your body before your raids, but for now this will have to do.

When you catch up to Kali, she is crouched on a small rise at the edge of a clearing. She smiles ferally when you approach and kneel beside her. "You will like what you see here, Rok."

You scan the scene before you. An assortment of rough hide tents sit in a rough circle around the clearing. They are clearly made to pick up and move frequently, lacking reinforcement of wood or stone. Women mill about, weaving baskets or tending to the camp. You certainly do like the sight of them. You see your mother in them; full breasted, with softer curves than northern women.

A scattering of elderly sit around a large central fire. Of adult men you see only a handful, if you could call them men. The tallest would have been short amongst your people, and while they ranged from scrawny young men to heavier adults, all were decidedly soft. They lean on spears, carved bones lashed to long branches, as if they lack the strength or will to support themselves.

"By their tents and supplies, I would say forty, maybe fifty live in the camp. Mother always said the women do not fight, nor the elderly or children, so that leaves maybe ten to fifteen fighters. Fathers and adult sons."

"I only count five. Where are the others?"

"Fighting or hunting, most like. Following herds. If we move quickly, we can have the guard subdued before the others return. They will see us coming, though. The clearing is too open to hide."

You nod, her thoughts mirroring your own. "We strike quickly than. Leave the men to me, keep the rest from scattering." No other words are needed. You and Kali have fought side by side your entire lives, you trust her to make decisions when the fighting begins. As your sister dissappears into the tall grasses, you rise, pick out the largest of the guards in the camp, and begin your charge.