The Condor Clan Slingers

1 Journey South

Taelosat bolt upright, wiped the sweat running down the side of his head and oriented himself. The morning was still dark. His dream was a nightmare that had plagued him for more than a moon cycle. In his dream the spear had easily pierced through the neck of the war priest as his axe came down and ripped through Quiet Rabbit’s neck. The nightmare kept resounding and echoing through his mind.

He touched Quiet Rabbit’s cheek as he listened to the night voice of a distant owl, and the periodic low cronk, cronk of a bull frog in the lake. The gentle gurgle of the water flowing over the rocks and down into the lake tried to soothe his troubled mind. He listened to Quiet Rabbit’s smooth even breathing. He slowly extracted himself from the sleeping hide. He left a calmly sleeping Quiet Rabbit in the warmth of their common bed.

Quiet Rabbit’s death scene was always intermingled with the ancestors talking to him. They were calling to him to travel to the land of the Condor.

He stepped out of his hutch. The cool breeze hit the sweat on his brow and sent a chill down his back. It was a relief to be awake and aware that Quiet Rabbit was safe.

He walked slowly down along the lakeside to the large boulder that had become his thinking seat. Overhead the waning moon provided enough light for him to see his way. A second moon in the middle of the lake looked coolly back at him.

The ancestors had been talking to him about the Condor Clan, his friends to the south. This was the land of Feather-in-the-Wind who had been appointed as the leader of the newly formed Eastern Elk Clan.

The Condor Clan was in trouble. They faced a serious problem and needed his help. The last thing he had said to the ancestors was that he would make the trip to the land of the Condor, but they needed to give him guidance on how to save Quiet Rabbit.

It was then that he saw Quite Rabbit on her knees, hands bound behind her back and the beheading axe in a swing towards her neck. Taelo put his head down in his hands and tried to take the scene from his mind. He had never experienced such a nightmare. He would need to discuss this with Broken Spear.

The sun was cresting the white topped mountains to the east when he saw Golden Hawk, his closest friend, walking toward him. The two of them were cousins but Golden Hawk was another part of himself. They often sat together in silence until the sun was fully in view.

Taelo did not share his nightmare. He shared the calling to the south and discussed who should go with them.

Golden Hawk wondered out loud what peril might be facing the Condor Clan. He had made a close friend of Feather-in-the-Wind’s brother, Bold Walker.

Golden Hawk was ready to go. He immediately brought his focus on who would go with them. He suggested Saber Scar and Marigold.

Taelo agreed and added Single Leaf and Sharp Blade.

Golden Hawk added White Bear and Deer Chaser.

Taelo suggested they had the right people and the right number, and it was time to get some food.

The two looked back to the fire pit they shared and saw that Quiet Rabbit and Busy Bee were cooking over the fire.

The two stood almost in unison and walked slowly back. They both had mates that were precious to both of them.

Floating Cloud, Quiet Rabbit’s grandmother, the woman who had raised her, came over from her lodge, and joined the group.

Soon after, Whistling Arrow, who recently had become a close companion to Floating Cloud joined them as well.

Taelo shared that the ancestors had summed him to go south to the land of the Condor.

“Can an old woman and an old man join you,” Floating Cloud inquired?

This surprised everyone around the fire.

“Who would that be,” Quiet Rabbit asked her grandmother?

“Whistling Arrow and I have decided to be companions. Traveling with Taelo and his team has given us purpose. We are in the best shape of our lives. It would be a shame for us to sit around all winter and lose it,” Floating Cloud replied.

“Can you run all day and keep up with the Others,” Taelo asked?

“Twelve moon cycles ago I would have not even thought about it. Now after our recent journey with you, I know that I can almost keep up with everyone but the four of you,” Whistling Arrow said as he pointed them out with the sweep of his hand.

The two insisted they could keep up and would be the official cook and camp managers.

There was a moment of silence then Quite Rabbit gave Floating Cloud a hug as she said she was sure that Taelo would enjoy her cooking.

With the two new additions, the team numbered twelve in all.

Later that day, Saber Scar and Marigold, Sharp Blade and Single Leaf, both pairs from the Clan of the Others immediately accepted the invitation. White Bear and Deer Chaser jumped in joy and rushed to share their good fortune with their friends.

Broken Spear, the seer of the Others was pleased to see that four of his clan would accompany Taelo. The Others were not as fast as those of the Elk Clan, but they were far stronger. Broken Spear was sure they would be essential to the travel that Taelo was planning.

Broken Spear had also heard the calling of the ancients, but he was not sure what the problem Taelo and his team would face. This uncertainty made him want to send more of his clan. Taelo thanked him but politely declined any more members to his team. He wanted to travel as fast as possible, and he wanted a team he had experience with.

Taelo shared his vision involving Quiet Rabbit and asked if Broken Spear had any guidance.

The advice he got did not make sense and Taelo knew he would chew on it until he could make sense.

The team immediately began preparations. They were all veterans of the Dangerous Passage Journey, and their bond was that of a family. A new journey energized all of them and they looked forward to the adventure.

Lasher, Taelo’s wolf companion, sensed the mood and was either following closely behind him or took a seat beside Quiet Rabbit. He was staying close to make sure to be on the journey as well.

Learning of the trip brought tears to Feather-in-the-Wind. She knew she could never return to the land of the Condor. All Condor Clan members had watched as she became a living sacrifice to the Condor and led up the mountain to the Condor’s cave. Her disappearance ended one hundred cycles of sacrificing a virgin to the Condor. Her disappearance had ended the tradition. Her reappearance might restart a tradition she was pleased to have ended.

She once again thanked Quiet Rabbit and Busy Bee for bringing her down the mountain from the Condor Cave.

She had become a leader of the Eastern Elk Clan. She bade goodbye as she led her clan from the Valley.

White Swan, Taelo’s mother and leader of the Northern Elk clan said her goodbye.

Wise Owl, leader of the main Elk clan did likewise.

The valley slowly emptied.

Burley Bear and Meadow Flower, and Broken Spear of the Clan of Others were the last to come by and wish the team their goodbyes.

Broken Spear quietly told Taelo, “you will all return if you are swift and clever.”

Taelo and his team stayed one more sun cycle by the lake.

Taelo, Golden Hawk and Burley Bear had made each member the fighting and defense tools they would need for the trip. Taelo and Golden Hawk passed them out to the team and together they spent the day practicing their defensive fighting diamond.

High above an eagle watched as the team began their long steady jog toward the south. It followed them for more than a moon cycle. The rising wind currents let it soar effortlessly as it watched the team once again climb the mountain to the place where the team watched the sun rise from one sea and set into the far horizon of the other sea.

This had been a story Taelo had often told and described.

The new members on this journey south were in awe as they spent the day watching the sunrise, watching its transit, and then watching the giant orb sink into the western sea.

The black of night seemed to instantly engulf them as they watched the night sky go totally dark and the southern stars twinkle and fill the black with their million points of light.

For both Clans, the stars represented the spirits of those who had gone before them. It was magical, and everyone sat close together and drowned their minds as they drank in the awe-inspiring night sky.

The next morning the team proceeded down the mountain. At the bottom they reconstructed their two-person travois to carry their gear. The role of pulling the travois rotated four times during the sunlight period. Everyone took a turn at this, the hardest job on the journey.

On this journey they had made sure to avoid the Warrior Clan. They had no wish to engage in any battles. Their goal was to visit with Feather-in-the-Wind’s parents and let them know that she had ascended to the leadership of her own clan and to help in whatever problem the Condor Clan faced.

The journey south progressed smoothly, and they passed the Warrior Clan territory without incident. The journey south brought back pleasant memories of their previous visit.

Every day Taelo and team diligently practiced their diamond battle formation.

The team members wore their flat shark toothed weapon on their back. Each had a short battle spear to use when in their team battle formation. Each member also had a long fighting spear. The team often jogged along in formation when the path forward had enough room. They were a force to be reckoned with.

Saber Scar or Sharp Blade were normally at the point. This ensured a formidable warrior in front. Since the jogging pace of the Others was slow relative to the pace Taelo and Golden Hawk kept, it provided the proper travel pace for the entire team.

Taelo knew they were about to get involved in some significant action, but he could not clearly put his finger on what that might be. This unknown element and his nightmare involving Quiet Rabbit made him very cautious. He had the team achieve peak battle formation performance. Taelo had shared with the team that the Condor Clan needed their help but none of them knew what might be ahead.

The unknown had put a sense of urgency into the trip that every one of the team felt. They talked about this situation as they traveled.

They had traveled cautiously past the land of the Warrior Clan and traveled more rapidly for a full moon cycle. They relaxed when they reached the foothills leading to the mountains and to the land of the Condor.

High above a Condor joined the Eagle. The two sentinels seemed to fly in a preplanned formation. Below them, the team followed a well-traveled path as they slowly ascended the mountain. High overhead the condor and the eagle both let out a loud cry. Lasher let out a low growling rumble in accompaniment.

The eagle’s piercing cry always preceded a significant event for Taelo.

The entire team became vigilant. The eagle flying with the condor was a warning they took very seriously.

They collapsed their travois, and each carried an extra backpack. They were now moving slowly up the mountain in their diamond fighting triangle formation.

Saber Scar, on point, put up his hand to indicate that everyone should be quiet. Everyone crouched down and crawled up to where he lay on the ground looking intently ahead.

Golden Hawk gazed out over the valley where thousands of warriors and their cohorts were camped. The view was a shock. The campfires, spread out across the entire valley, were too numerous to count. It was clear to the team that the warriors mingling around the various campfires were not Feather-in-the-Wind’s people. These were the members of the Warrior Clan.

Taelo slowly scanned the valley below as he stroked Lasher and kept him quiet.

The team was silent.

Taelo signaled for them to back away from the ridge.

He then took his time as he studied the layout and the number of campsites. It was clear to him why the ancients had reached into his mind and called him south into the mountains.

The debris, the odor and general poor condition of the valley indicated that the Warrior clan had camped for several moons. Feather-in-the-Wind’s people had successfully held the Warrior Clan at bay but evidently could not drive them off.

The bridge across the bottomless crevasse was gone. There would be no way for the attacking Warrior Clan to cross over into the Condor Clan’s village.

Taelo estimated that there were thirty thousand warriors spread across the valley. This was a phenomenal number and showed the seriousness of the situation. It was clear the Warrior Clan had come to conquer the Condor Clan.

It was now clear to him that the Ancients had sent him to change the situation.

Taelo and Golden Hawk led the team down around the mountain toward the backdoor of the Condor Clan’s village.

They stayed out of sight. As evening arrived, the team stopped behind a large cluster of boulders and prepared a fireless campsite. Their evening meal would be jerky and water.

It was important they were not seen or captured.

They were only twelve. They could out fight multiple of their number, but they needed to get into the Condor Clan’s land where they could determine how they could best be of help.

Taelo, Golden Hawk and Saber Scar each led a night watch team.

The high mountain night was chillingly cold. Beneath their sleeping hide, Quiet Rabbit snuggled close to Taelo. Each couple had found a sheltered place among the boulders. The camp even in daylight would have been invisible.

Except for the natural noises, night passed quietly and without incident. They had not expected any problems but had planned for the worst. What they had found the day before was beyond what they had expected.

After a quick morning meal, the team proceeded to the back, Condor Clan entrance. Taelo hoped that the Warrior Clan did not know about this back approach to the mountain kingdom. Taelo was pleased to see no Warrior Clan members in the area. This meant that the backdoor was still accessible.

Taelo also knew that Condor Clan warriors would be guarding this entrance.

The team proceeded with caution around the base of the mountain. They slowly made their way up toward the point that Taelo referred to as the backdoor.

This was not an obvious way in. The crevasse was at least a spear length across. When closely examined there was a very narrow ledge on the cliff wall on the other side of the crevasse.

It was clear that the Warrior Clan had not discovered this way in.

The team peered down into what appeared to be a bottomless crack in the earth. Quiet Rabbit recalled the time Burley Bear had dropped a stone the size of his fist down into this crack. They had never heard the stone hit bottom.

Taelo told the team to wait while he went ahead to contact the Condor Clan.

Feather-in-the-Wind’s brother, Bold Walker had demonstrated how to navigate the back door. It was a leap, the length of a spear to a small ledge. The trick was to leap across and thrust one hand into the crack in the wall and immediately make a fist.

The ledge was wide enough for a person to shuffle sideways until the path widened. The path then turned and came out into a flat open area. On the far side of the flat area the path went upward to a plateau. Once the trail surfaced on a plateau, the village was to the left and on the far side.

Taelo walked to the jump point. He told Lasher to stay and guard Quiet Rabbit. Lasher seemed to understand. Taelo wondered if Lasher remembered being carried across this crevasse.

Taelo remembered Feather-in-the-Wind’s advice about ignoring the chasm below and focusing only on the crack in the stone. She had said it was kid’s play. No kid had ever fallen.

He made the leap, wedged his hand in, and closed it into a fist. After a deep breath he proceeded along the narrow path and around the bend to the flat area.

Taelo looked back at his team and signaled to them. He knew that his next step would be met by a group of very nervous Condor Clan fighters. He called out in their language that a friend, Taelo from the North, was about to step around the corner.

He then slowly stepped around the corner. As expected, spears were immediately on his chest. Taelo quietly gave a greeting of friendship. One of the young warriors recognized him and the spears immediately pointed up to the sky.

Taelo let out a sigh of relief.

Taelo explained that he was part of a twelve-person team. They would all need to come into the village.

One of the Condor Clan members went back along the narrow path and set himself up as a helper. He made the point that the Condor Clan could not afford to lose any friends.

Taelo positioned himself on the other side of the crack. One by one the team members made the leap and went to the flat area around the bend.

Taelo then made the leap back across and quietly talked to Lasher. He let him know that he would not have to jump. Lasher had a low rumble coming up from deep in his chest as he hung in the sling and was slowly pulled to the other side. He patiently waited until he was released. He then quickly navigated the narrow trail and disappeared around the bend.

Taelo chuckled when he saw Quiet Rabbit calming Lasher.

The team was now safe and Taelo could relax for the moment.

A runner had immediately set out to the village center. Even as Taelo’s team was making their crossing into the land of the Condor Clan, the Clan leadership was learning of their arrival.

Bold Walker, brother of Feather-in-the-Wind and Neiva-of-the-Stream, her mother, set out immediately to greet Taelo and his team.

Their early arrival, the next day, was a joyful reunion. It was the first time that Neiva had a chance to thank Quiet Rabbit, Busy Bee, Golden Hawk and Taelo for saving her daughter from becoming a frozen offering to the Condor.

Feather-in-the-Wind’s disappearance, from the ice-cold cave at the top of the mountain, was interpreted to mean that the Condor had finally accepted the offering of the most desirable young virgin and taken her as his queen. Future offerings would not be needed. The more than one hundred-year-old tradition came to a close. A celebration by all the families in the Condor Clan followed.

The team humbly received Neiva’s thank you.

They in turn shared the many accomplishments of Feather-in-the-Wind.

Saber Scar pointed to the two paw scars that crisscrossed his chest and told the story of Feather-in-the-Wind using herself as a spear to hit the giant lion on its ribs and knock the lion away from him. She saved his life. She saved his life but broke several ribs.

Marigold added that they celebrated each major season cycle with a dinner in Feather-in-the-Wind’s honor. Feather-in-the-Wind had their lifelong allegiance.

Taelo told the story of how Feather-in-the-Wind had distracted a giant brown bear. This distraction had given him a chance to kill it. She had received a life-threatening gash across her inner thigh. Her behavior during her recovery inspired everyone around her.

Quiet Rabbit and Busy Bee continued telling the stories of how popular Feather-in-the-Wind had become among all the Elk Clan members.

She had taught them how to make the clay pots and bowls that she learned by watching her mother. She had become one of the best at using the sling. She could stand on the back of a running mount and hit her target. Many of the young girls of the Elk Clan who had learned to use the sling idolized her.

Marigold told the story of how Feather-in-the-Wind had leaped into the air and speared the giant alligator into the ground. This had again saved Saber Scar and had given Marigold the chance to kill the nasty beast by smashing in its skull.

Taelo then let them know of Feather-in-the-Wind’s appointment to be the Eastern Elk Clan Leader. She was the second woman to become an Elk Clan leader. His mother White Swan had been the first.

Both Bold Walker and Nieva were in awe as they learned of Feather-in-the-Wind’s many heroic actions and her ascent to Clan Leader. They remembered her as the petite and fragile young girl. It was hard for them to imagine the powerful young woman and take in all her accomplishments.

Neiva had tears of joy in her eyes as she once again hugged each of the team members and whispered a thank you.

Bold Walker stood and said he wished Feather-in-the-Wind could be back here to somehow change the grim situation the Condor Clan was currently facing. He spent the time to slowly explain the situation.

Taelo shared the call the ancients made to him to make this visit. And the fact they had let him know the Condor Clan needed his help.

Taelo asked what had caused the current situation.

Bold Walker replied that an ambitious new leader killed Tough Hide the Warrior Clan Leader that Taelo had met and befriended. This new leader had decided that it was time to expand the Warrior Clan territory.

Bold Walker went on to explain that this past summer season the Warrior Clan had insisted that the Condor Clan pay tribute to the Warrior Clan or face retribution. This came as a surprise since the Condor Clan had not traded with the Warrior Clan since Taelo’s previous visit.

Star Leaper, Bold Walker’s father and leader of the Condor Clan politely replied that the Warrior Clan should remember the last time the two clans had engaged in battle and the humiliation the Warrior Clan had experienced. He hoped that they would not make that mistake again.

A few moon cycles later the Warrior Clan arrived and set up camp in the valley beyond.

After a moment of silence, Taelo inquired about the plan to drive the Warrior Clan off the mountain.

Bold Walker expressed his frustration with the clan leaders. They could not seem to align on any confrontational actions. The seer of the Condor Clan had announced that help from the North would arrive to solve the standoff.

Bold Walker replied that he had been waiting for Taelo to arrive.

Taelo’s team discussed the situation on their walk to the village. They agreed that the entire Warrior Clan army was waiting to fight the Condor Clan. They outnumbered the Condor Clan by at least five to one and probably many times more in the warrior ranks.

The fact that the Condor Clan expected Taelo and his team to resolve the situation astounded the team. How could another twelve people and one wolf make the needed difference?

Taelo looked over at Golden Hawk and smiled. He told Golden Hawk to figure out what to do. He looked at the rest of the team and suggested they all contribute to figuring out how to guide the Condor Clan in driving the Warrior Clan off the mountain.

High above the Eagle let out a piercing cry as it followed the Condor out of sight.

Lasher gave a low growl and rubbed against Quiet Rabbit’s leg.

2 Into the Condor Village

The team had camped in the flat area just across the crevasse referred to as the backdoor. After a morning meal, Taelo and the rest of the team carefully cleaned up their area of the camp.

Soon after they began their journey up the trail toward the Condor kingdom village.

The trail wound its way up a narrow knife cut crack in an otherwise solid vertical cliff. Additional guards along the narrow upward trail augmented the backdoor guard.

Every few yards a warrior of the Condor Clan sat or stood with spears stacked up against the stone and with a war hammer in hand. There would be no backdoor surprise by the Warrior Clan, and none would survive the climb up the trail.

The trail inclined and narrowed until it surfaced on a large broad flat area. It appeared that in some ancient time a section of the mountain had collapsed and left this almost square surface perched and clinging to the mountain side.

It became obvious to Taelo and his team that the terrain ahead of them seemed similarly formed and that they were climbing from one plateau to another.

Taelo took notice that at every plateau transition a group of well-armed warriors protected the next level up. Each level would pose a major obstacle to any enemy fighters trying to make their way in.

He praised Bold Walker about the excellent way he had stationed these warriors.

Bold Walker gave the credit to his father’s guidance in developing the defense strategy.

Taelo sensed Bold Walker had some issue with the current situation that the Condor Clan faced. Bold Walker had seemed reticent about talking about the current situation.

Taelo asked for Bold Walker to describe the situation starting with the time since the Warrior Clan had arrived. For the rest of the day as they made their way to the village center Bold Walker talked and Taelo listened. He made mental notes about the situation. He had correctly sensed a misalignment of the way Bold Walker felt about that of most leaders to wait and see if the Warrior Clan would just leave. Bold Walker wanted to take a more aggressive approach.

Bold Walker guided them to the Condor Clan meeting square where Star Leaper, Bold Walker’s father, and a small entourage of village leaders were waiting to greet Taelo and his team.

Taelo approached Star Leaper who stepped down from the leader’s seat and gave Taelo a welcome embrace. Star Leaper then embraced each of Taelo’s team members.

Taelo noticed that Star Leaper was greatly overshadowed by the size of the Others Clan members and was of equal size to Quiet Rabbit and Busy Bee.

Taelo and team could not openly share the stories about Feather-in-the-Wind with the broader group. They knew that they would again get a chance when they met with just her family members.

Instead Taelo engaged the leadership in discussion of the strategy currently in use against the Warrior Clan.

It was soon clear to Taelo and his team members that there was no clear alignment to any battle strategy. Most leaders had a wait and see attitude and no energy for some counter measure against the Warrior Clan.

Their main idea was to hope for the hard winter weather to discourage the Warrior Clan.

Taelo refrained from making any suggestions, but it was clear to him why Bold Walker was frustrated with the lack of leadership action.

Bold Walker listened closely to Taelo’s questions and soon realized that Taelo was sizing up each of the leaders. He noticed how Taelo’s team sat quietly but sometimes asked follow-up questions from certain leaders.

A full-scale evaluation of the Condor Clan’s leadership was underway giving Bold Walker new hope.

This was the first time Bold Walker realized how skillfully Taelo pulled out the information that was of interest to him. He was also impressed how the whole team interacted with the Condor Clan’s leadership.

Quiet Rabbit was disarming in her gentle way of asking clarifying questions. Busy Bee came with a more energetic, charming approach. Both were able to expose a lack of depth, drive, or direction in the Condor Clan’s various leaders.

Golden Hawk was the counter direction inquisitor. He seemed to be at odds with Taelo but in fact was able to solicit information that would otherwise not have surfaced. He would ask questions like; “Should we wait for the winter weather to convince the Warrior Clan to leave?”

Saber Scar and Meadow Flower did not ask questions but would make various sounds based on the conversation that was occurring. They had the effect of either supporting a response, or of putting it in doubt.

Bold Walker was amazed at the information they were able to surface even though the two never said a word.

After the meeting ended, Bold Walker led the team to their quarters. They approached and entered one of the best homes in the mountain kingdom. From the veranda the view fell across a deep valley with a dark green forest that met the vertical face of the next mountain range at the far limit of Taelo’s vision.

Taelo spent many hours letting his eyes scan the valley length while his mind absorbed the enriching essence of the mist that seemed to hide secrets and encouraged the viewer to discover them.

The team set up camp in the courtyard at the side of the main structure.

Bold Walker felt invigorated with the greeting session. When the stars began to twinkle, and the evening ended he went to the team’s quarters to make sure that Taelo understood that he wanted to participate in the follow-up discussions Taelo’s team would have.

Taelo assured him that he would be in the center of anything the team came up with.

Taelo, with Quiet Rabbit at his side stood out on the veranda looking up at the stars in the sky. He commented that the ancestors lighting up the night were different than the ones in the sky above their home. These ancestors must be worried about the situation they saw below them.

The night gave way to a cool morning breeze that lightly brushed across Quiet Rabbit’s face. She had fallen asleep next to Taelo out on the veranda. She savored the feel of Taelo’s powerful arm around her. His warmth, his breathing rhythm encompassed her being.

She was on one side and on the other side, Lasher was looking at her.

She delayed getting up to savor the moment. She could see the rest of the camp slowly awaken and begin the morning preparations. Her grandmother looked over to her and smiled. It was clear she understood.

Taelo was aware of Quiet Rabbit’s wakefulness and chose to enjoy remaining embraced with her. He knew that once awake, he would be leading an all-day long discussion on how the team would help the Condor Clan in their battle against the Warrior Clan.

Taelo turned slowly toward Quiet Rabbit and looked into her eyes. No words but a direct soul to soul connection electrified him. He had the only reward and motivation he needed for all the journeys he would make in this world.

Floating Cloud called out that the morning meal was ready. The team eagerly gathered around the courtyard area. They all knew this would be an invigorating but long day.

Taelo lightly brushed his hand across Quiet Rabbit’s cheek and then lightly traced her eyebrows with his finger as he raised himself on one elbow and then stood up. He reached down to help Quiet Rabbit up.

Lasher placed himself between them and they both scratched him behind his ears.

The view across the valley was blocked by a low layer of clouds. The sun lit the cloud tops with a yellow, pink, and greyish hue. The clouds seemed to warm the far snow-covered mountains.

The morning breeze slowly transformed and evolved the view to the far mountain tops. The impact on the eye and mind was that of a slowly undulating waves washing up the shore and slowly wearing boulders into sand. It continually changed and challenged the mind to make sense of what the eye took in.

Taelo felt a surge of inspiration and a desire to ensure the success of the Condor Clan.

Taelo turned and hand in hand with Quiet Rabbit walked to where the rest of the team was well into their morning meal.

Golden Hawk was sitting next to Busy Bee. The two were seldom far from each other. He knew that today Taelo would determine on how to deal with the Warrior Clan.

He gave an almost invisible nod to Taelo and watched his friend respond in kind. He and Taelo were as close to each other as they were to their mates. There was nothing that would stand between them.

Before turning in for the night, Bold Walker had returned to his father and let him know that he was going to work with Taelo and his team on a battle plan for the Condor Clan. He wanted his father to support the plan presented to the Clan leadership.

His father at first was hesitant but once Neiva interjected that this was the team who had saved their daughter and that he should support the battle plan effort. Star Leaper smiled and reassured both that he was open to Taelo and his team’s battle plans.

He would be supportive but asked that he be allowed to review the plan before it was finished. He wanted to review and input to it while the team was still open to his input.

Bold Walker thanked him, gave Neiva a hug and went to his quarters for the night.

Bold Walker woke early. He immediately left his home and walked down to the villa provided to Taelo. He was sure that Taelo’s team would be up having their morning meal.

He walked into the courtyard and greeted everyone in Taelo’s language. He had learned just enough to say, “good morning” and “could he join them in their morning meal.” He was proud to have remembered that much since the last time Taelo had been in the village.

The members in the camp all came over and greeted Bold Walker. Taelo had Bold Walker sit between he and Golden Hawk.

Taelo then began to engage the team by asking them their view of the current situation facing the Condor Clan.

The silence went on so long that Bold Walker wondered if anyone would speak.

He was just about to repeat Taelo’s question when the woman he knew as Quiet Rabbit’s grandmother spoke.

Floating Cloud began by pointing out that there seemed to be a very large contingent of the Warrior Clan camped out across the crevice that protected the Condor Clan village. She made the point that the logistics for food must be very difficult.

She wondered how many of the Warrior Clan were engaged in the movement of food.

This broke the ice, and the rest of the team became engaged.

Saber Scar wondered how many of the Warrior Clan members remained back at their village to protected it.

Sharp Knife suggested that disrupting delivery of food would have a significant negative effect on those camped across the crevice.

Each team member shared an observation or supported what was already shared.

Taelo invited anyone interested to join him on a jog through the village and along the edge of the plateau on which the village was situated.

He then left the courtyard knowing that Golden Hawk, Busy Bee, and Quiet Rabbit would follow. The surprise was that Floating Cloud and Whistling Arrow stood up to follow him. He knew that those of the Others would most likely not join. Bold Walker, White Bear and Deer Chaser were the other persons who followed Taelo out of the courtyard.

Taelo and Golden Hawk had jogged the path they were on almost every day of their previous visit. They glided smoothly as they matched their steps to each other. Taelo maintained a smooth leisurely rhythm. The entire Condor Clan observed the nine joggers and wondered what they were doing.

Taelo and Golden Hawk were silent. Bold Walker had expected a discussion about the Condor Clan situation to occur but there was none.

White Bear and Deer Chaser were silent as well but were not surprised about Taelo’s and Golden Hawk’s behavior. Sometimes they had jogged behind the two and never heard a word spoken.

Taelo knew that word would have gone out to the Condor Clan members. He was jogging for his own conditioning and the conditioning of the Condor Clan population. They would see Bold Walker jogging with them. It was a visible show of unity. Bold Walker would become the focus point and be asked about what was going on.

The sun was approaching its zenith when the team returned to their villa courtyard.

Taelo ran past the villa to the crossing where the bridge normally spanned the crevasse. He turned to those jogging with him and signaled for the team to give their battle cry. The team gave battle cry three times.

To Taelo’s surprise two horns blew from the Condor Clan home of Star Leaper and Neiva. The long, high-pitched tone engulfed the valley and echoed back from the mountains beyond.

Taelo again led the battle cry. This time it was accompanied by more horns.

The Warrior Clan camp had come to life as more than sixty of their top warriors heard the cry that haunted them. They remembered the last time they heard that war cry and the humiliation they had experience in trying to battle with Taelo and his team.

It was a battle cry that they had heard when Taelo killed their leader.

Now as they heard it again, dread went through their minds. They all still wore the wristbands of friendship they had received from Taelo and his team.

In an instant, the situation changed dramatically for them. The battle was now a very personal one. The leader of the sixty that wore the band of friendship was the eldest son of the Tough Hide, killed by the current leader of the Warrior Clan.

Taelo then shouted out across the crevasse in the language of the Warrior Clan for them to go home or half of them would carry home the wounded other half and their dead.

The Warrior Clan members who knew Taelo went to their battle leaders to report that Taelo had somehow arrived and entered the Condor Clan enclave. They advised the leaders to heed the warning.

They were listened to but ignored. The war leaders discounted the message and deemed the warriors giving them this advice as weak.

The Warrior Clan leaders decided to wait and see what would happen before they took any actions.

Taken aback, Bold Walker was none the less overjoyed. He had not expected such a display. Looking around, he could tell that this was normal for Taelo’s team.

The surprise had been the horns blowing from the veranda of his parent’s home. And then the added horns from other villagers. Bold Walker was proud of this display of support.

The Condor Clan members who had been following the team jog quickly spread the word about the engagement of the Warrior Clan. The news of Star Leaper and Nieva blowing their horns in support electrified the whole village.

Bold Walker excused himself as the team returned to the Villa courtyard for the next meal. He went immediately to his father to thank him for his show of support.

He was pleased with his father’s laugh and encouragement to continue to work with Taelo. Nieva just gave him a hug. Both were eager to hear what Taelo, and his team would recommend.

Bold Walker hurried back to the Villa. He did not want to miss the discussion among Taelo’s team that he expected would occur.

Taelo casually strolled back to the villa. It was time to plan and then to act. He was pleased to see that the rest of the team had prepared a succulent honey roast of llama for the zenith meal.

He called everyone to the meal and announced that once everyone had eaten, they would begin to plan for the removal of the Warrior Clan from the Condor mountain kingdom.

Bold Walker arrived in time to hear Taelo make the announcement. He sat down to enjoy the succulent honey glazed llama roast.

He eagerly accepted a piece of llama roast and sat down on the low veranda wall. It was the first time in weeks that he felt relaxed. He had never eaten llama cooked in this fashion and commented on how good it tasted.

Floating Cloud thanked him for the compliment and brought over another piece.

Taelo knew the frustration of being overridden by the older clan leaders. He had learned long ago to influence and not directly confront the key leaders. Once they were convinced of the positive, these leaders in turn would normally carry his plan to the appropriate conclusion.

He surprised Bold Walker by asking about the leaders in the Condor Clan who would listen to him.

Bold Walker laughed in surprise. He had not expected to talk but to listen. He asked for a moment to think through how he would answer.

A few moments later Bold Walker began to describe the leadership situation. His father was the most powerful. However, his mother could get his father to do whatever Taelo or whatever Quiet Rabbit or Busy Bee would suggest. His mother would forever be their supporter.

Two more of the top leaders desired to take some sort of direct action against the Warrior Clan.

His father and these two, together always got their way.

The remaining members of the leadership team normally backed these three but another two always seemed to question what the rest of the leadership did.

Taelo nodded.

He turned to Golden Hawk and asked him for his plan to attack the Warrior Clan home.

The question surprised Bold Walker. Up to this time he had not heard a word about such an attack. All eyes turned to Golden Hawk.

Golden Hawk stood up and described how he would lead three fighting teams, thirty fighters in all, back to the Warrior Clan home. The teams would scout the area and determine the best means of attack.

The attack would be a rapid invasion and before any battle engagement could happen, they would retreat and leave the village. They would set fire to as much of the village as possible. They would pour llama urine into as many grain rooms as possible.

Golden Hawk went on to describe their continuing attacks on the supply line of food and goods going to the Warrior Clan. They would disrupt and if possible, stop the flow of food and supplies to the Warrior Clan on the Condor Clan territory.

Taelo thanked Golden Hawk.

He turned to Quiet Rabbit and Busy Bee. He inquired about protecting the two Condor llama herds.

Quiet Rabbit nodded to Busy Bee who then described how each of them would lead a fighting team to the two major Condor llama herds to protect them from the Warrior Clan. They anticipated the Warrior Clan would move to try for the herds once Golden Hawk disrupted their supply lines.

Once there, they would train the herders how to fight to protect the herds. This would give each of them the equivalent of three fighting diamonds for each herd.

Taelo thanked Quiet Rabbit and Busy Bee.

Bold Walker looked around and wondered how the diamond fighting design had been developed. He was in awe.

Taelo turned to the rest of the team. He announced that each of them would train a battle team of nine fighters. They would each develop a Condor warrior to be the leader.

Golden Hawk would leave immediately with three teams and train them on the way to the Warrior Clan Village.

Busy Bee and Quiet Rabbit would spend seven sun cycles working with their teams and then move out to protect the llama herds.

Everyone else would spend another seven sun cycles working with their teams.

Nine teams would attack the Warrior Clan from the sides and rear. They would leave open the way to the top plateau area. The goal was to allow the Warrior Clan to disengage from battle.

Once the Warrior Clan turned to face the attack coming up the slope toward them, the attackers would slowly work their way up the cliff side of the valley.

Taelo stopped talking and quietly looked at each individual member of his team. He then stood in front of Bold Walker and asked whether he could leap the crevasse as he had boasted he could and were there others who could do the same?

Thank you for reading this far.