Stone bear walked up to Big bugs cracking his knuckles.

“ I’m going to beat you half to death, and I'm going to enjoy every second of beating you to near death, you're a Liar, deceiver, Traitor to our village and chief.”

Big bugs stood up and awaited the incoming Stone bear.

“But I wasn’t lying, I was just saying that so you would leave!” Big bugs held up his fists.

“It’s too late now to convince me otherwise.” Stone bear launched a quick jab into the face of big bugs splitting his lip.

Big bugs continued to try to block the incoming hits but most of them made their way through punching his teeth out with strong fisted uppercuts. Big bugs fell to his knees taking too many punches.

Big bugs realized that if he didn't fight back, Stone bear was gonna kill him.

Big bugs launched a huge overhand to Stone bear's face which pressured him to move back.

“Quit, I wasn’t lying I just didn't want you here anymore.” Big bugs wiped his face and touched his lip. Blood all over his hands glistened in the fires light.

“ I don’t want to fight you.” Big bugs held up his hand.

Stone bear walked over to his lance and picked it up.

Without a word Stone bear walked towards Big bugs with his lance.

“STOP!” a young boys voice called out.

“River boy is that you?” Stone bear stopped and looked around.

Then the young man in hides walked out his two long braids reaching his hips. His braids were tied with small blood painted hides.

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

“You have been out here with us this whole time?” Stone bear asked young River boy.

“Yes and it's not right you're gonna kill our brethren of the tribe.” young River boy pointed at Big bugs who sat back down and continued waiting.

“You must have been here to hear what he said.” Stone bear lifted his hand to justify his reason for attacking Big bugs.

“Yes but he didn't ask to fight you.” Young river boy said and handed them some berries to eat.

“Where did you find these?” Big bugs asked.

“By the river. I also found these.” Young river boy pulled some old bones out from his hide wrapping.

“We could make some marrow soup.”

Big bugs handed the young river boy the hanging gut bag. Young river boy took the bag and placed the bones inside and hung it over the fire.

Stone bear sat there still angry.

“I’m not pleased with this.” Stone bear said out loud.

“What are you still mad about?” Young river boy asked Stone bear.

“Why are we still entertaining this liar?” Stone bear pointed at Big bugs.

“He wasn't, he was saying that to get rid of you.”

“But he said he lied.”

“Yeah I said that so you wouldn't feel bad leaving me here.” Big bugs scratched his head.

“Yeah you keep saying that, Lets go Young river it’s time to leave behind this liar.”

“You can go on then.” young river boy continued to sit there with big bugs.

“No way I'm leaving my sister's son here in the forest with a liar.”

“Well I'm not going anywhere with one either.”

“What do you mean by that?” Stone bear was now confused.

“If you would have killed him and went back, say if I didn't stop you, you would have returned back to the tribe lying about what you have done here.” young river boy looked stone bear in the face.

“That's not true.”

“Well what would you have done, after you killed big bugs?”

Stone bear looked down and unclenched his fist. Then he walked to the spruce tree he was sitting by earlier and sat back down.

After some hours sitting together in silence. Young river boy checked the bones, giving them a stir.

“How’s it looking?” Big bugs asked. With his arms wrapped around his stomach.

“Coming along.”

“Smells good.” Big bugs sat up and warmed himself by the fire.

“Why do you think the rabbit asked us to stay?”

“He said he has a way to make the sun come back.” big bugs said to young river boy.

Stone bear sat there looking at the berries in his hand.

“You gonna eat those?” young river asked.

“No you can have them, I'm going to hunt for real food.”

Stone bear stood up with his lance in hand and handed the berries back to Young river.

“You want me to come along?” Young river boy asked.

“No, I'm going to go alone.” Stone bear then continued to walk into the darkness of the spruce trees.

End of chapter 003 Dark forest written by Travis Willier copyright 2022