[So when you were finally finished with your many projects, you found you were at the edge of the village, what happened next?]

"Grug looked over village, see the big-water, hear whistle of wind that smell of salt. Grug think it beautiful for all of a finger of sun, then Grug bored. Grug end up waiting at edge of village for entire hand of sun! Grug get frustrated with them not coming to greet, not even notice giant Long-Snouts with Grug's Burly Riders on them. So Grug hatch a plan.

Grug bring other Riders close, tell them do as Grug do. Then, Grug poke Long-Snouts in butt with stick. Long-Snouts make huge noise, like Roc hitting face on hide drum made of granite many times fast. Whole village drop what doing and run to Grug spot. This time it very easy to find chief, he very tall drink of mash-water, yes he is. Grug think he cousins with Brother Bear.

He come up to Grug, ask Grug why come to Sea-Folk village, very angry, wring hands like breaking weasel neck. Grug, best trader of all caves, stay cool as river water in winter, explain what doing. Chief calm down, realize mistakes made, says name Fishchuck, super friendly after. Fishchuck introduce wife, Shellgather, very nice lady."

[What happened next, Grug? I'm sure they had things to trade and teach, and you had plenty of things to sell. What were their houses like?]

"After all calm and go back to work, Grug and Fishchuck go to chief house, Sea-Folk not call it cave. Fishchuck house weird, wood all covered in mud on inside, Fishchuck say keeps out wind. On floor, many pelts of creatures Grug never seen. In middle of house, big firepit with stone pot on big wood pole bubble over fire. Fishchuck tell Grug sit, so Grug sit, while wait for riders and village folk to bring trade goods, Grug look around, notice spears are not same as Big Rock's, more points. Grug see shiny-only of new kinds in bright colored bin in corner, many fancy pot of different shape."

Grug sighed, his generally jovial expression clouding for a moment, as if the achievements of the other folk made him feel melancholy, but then his face cleared.

"Chief house was important place to Grug, though Grug not realize when fire of trade in Grug head. House made Grug realize Grug's purpose, why Grug do Grug things even now."

[What did you learn there, about your purpose, I mean. ]

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Grug looked around while village folk bring in piles of pelts not known to Grugkind, sharp spears, little pots full of fish and vegetables that not go bad. More special shiny-only Grug never seen before, blankets that no water get wet, weaved rope that catch many fish in single throw. White powder that not let hunt go bad. Horns made out of not-horn, beautiful and delicate. "

[That's what they brought out, I don't see how that taught you much besides things you hadn't seen before. ]

Grug waved Banou's comment aside, his eyes clouded with memory.

"Grug sit in all this plenty, think all he need is enough to keep up Mug and Grugling healthy and fat. Big Rock beautiful and the valley and Big River and Dark Forest are kind, but it fragile. There barely whole tribe worth of food when Grug born, that why Grug have struggles, eat snakes and berries and steal from tribe hunts. Grug realize why Grug really left, because caves only be happy and fat for so long as things are. Grug think hard looking at all this, and realize that Grug want all of tribe to be in plenty, do good.

Grug figure out that Grug's purpose is to make Big Rock tribe have future free from hungry Grugs like him."

[That's...unexpectedly altruistic from you, I didn't expect you were an idealist.]

"What can Grug say? Grug have many layers. It easier to do when only care about one tribe. So Grug awake Grugself from think too hard, take bowl of fish "soup" from Fishchuck, and find it delicious.

After that, Grug begins great game of trade. Fishchuck savvy trader too, but Grug invent game. Grug trade dry herb, pickled roc egg, mash-water, and pillow-hides with sweet-smell filling for no-wet blankets, blubbery pelt from something called 'fat longtooth' , and not-horn horns that Fishchuck call 'conch shells'. Grug also show the writing thing as promised, Fishchuck look pleased, show Shellgather and few others.

Fishchuck tell Grug he given a mighty gift by Grug, so Fishchuck give Grug three secrets in exchange of the Sea-Folk. Grug of course want them, ask what they are. Fishchuck lean back, deep in thunk. He tell Grug first, how to make so vegetables and meat not go bad with white powder. Next, how to make pot of all shape with soft rock called clay, and he show how to make and shape it and make hard as stone. Last secret, Grug not know better, laugh at Fishchuck, say he nuts."

[What was the last secret, Grug?]

"He promised to show Grug how to move across water deeper than Grug and not sink. He call it 'fine art of boating. ' Grug say he not understand what Fishchuck mean, can Fishchuck show? Fishchuck agree, tell Grug to stay night at chief house and will show in good light in day. Grug agree, thinking Grug will get to laugh again, Grug was wrong as Grug ever could get."

[...And why, dear viewers? You'll have to tune in next time to find out! How the average Grug handles his watercraft? How did they get him to go in it in the first place? All this and more, next time! This has Banou Tzimitzkes and Grug Quicktalker with the Cave Report! See you again soon!]