Primitive Man

Chapter 98: Cold hunting

Garnt stirred from a deep slumber, his groggy eyes slowly adjusting to the faint morning light filtering through the curtains. But as he tried to sit up, he felt an unusual and heavy weight on his back. Confusion etched across his face, he twisted his neck around to see Maro, Garnt's loyal pet wolf, sitting comfortably on his back.

That, however, wasn't the only perplexing sight that met his bleary gaze.

Ayra and Unami, both looking rather angry, stood nearby, their expressions a stark contrast to the usual warmth they offered.

Garnt's heart skipped a beat as he tried to piece together the puzzle. His mind raced, wondering why his lovers were upset. He turned his head to the other side and then it all became clear. Ganna, naked and still sound asleep, lay beside him with a smile on her face.

Maro, sensing the impending storm, leapt off Garnt's back and scurried away, a subtle acknowledgement that things were about to escalate.

'Damn you, Maro!'

She also growled like she did not approve of Ganna's presence next to Garnt, and he knew obviously Maro disliked Ganna because of how Baktou and Unami treated her.

Ayra and Unami, their expressions softening slightly, approached Garnt. However, their eyes were still filled with questions, and they asked, their voices calm, "Garnt, why were you sleeping with her?"

Garnt scratched his head, struggling to find the right words, but he didn't want to make any excuses so he told them the truth. "I didn't do it out of love," he began, looking between his lovers and then Ganna, who remained blissfully unaware of the situation. "I did it out of responsibility."

He proceeded to explain Ganna's predicament, his voice filled with a mix of compassion and urgency. "You see, her existence right now is solely relying on me. She's going through a tough time, and I couldn't just turn my back on her. I had to help, even if it meant letting her stay here for the night."

And then he pointed at the used condoms. "I have no expectation to make any strange woman pregnant. This item will basically cut off any connection my penis has with the vagina."

Ayra and Unami exchanged glances, their anger giving way to understanding. "We get it," Ayra said, her voice softer now. "But you should've told us about it. We were worried that she was doing something bad to you."

Both of them agreed that he could sleep with anyone since they knew monopolizing his skills wasn't a good thing, but they didn't want to share his love which was the only thing they wanted to keep and protect with only them.

Unami nodded in agreement. "Communication, Garnt. We're your lovers, and we're here to support you. Just let us know when things like this come up."

The trio shared a moment of understanding, and Ayra and Unami helped Garnt dress, aware of the chilly air outside.

"Garnt, we came to ask about hunting. It's getting cold and we know that soon, we won't be able to pick fruits and vegetables, so we will have to depend on meat."

Garnt nodded his head, and wore his clothes back without even bothering to wash his body, since he knew they were going to the river.

"Hunting team can do their job. We can store meat without any problems thanks to the coldness, but we will have to consume a lot of meat," He then suggested going to fish in the river, since they knew depending on the turf meat alone would be a hard task.

After collecting the required tools and getting ready, Garnt, Ayra, Unami, and Maro made their way to the river as the chilly air nipped at their skin. The landscape was transforming as winter's grip tightened on the land.

The trio had their discussion earlier, understanding the need for Garnt to use his skills and knowledge with others to make sure no one is starving or getting sick during the winter.

As they reached the river's edge, a breathtaking sight awaited them. The water's surface had already begun to freeze, a thin layer of ice forming along the edges. Garnt, undeterred by the wintry conditions, took a few steps onto the ice, testing its strength. It creaked and groaned slightly beneath his weight, but it held.

"We don't have much time," Garnt declared, knowing that fishing would become increasingly difficult once the river was fully frozen.

Ayra and Unami joined him on the ice, Maro's paws carefully treading on the frozen surface as well. They spread out, carving holes through the ice with their tools, and dropped their fishing lines built with baits into the frigid water.

As they patiently waited for the fish to bite, the cold air stung their faces, but their determination kept them focused. The trio worked in harmony, occasionally exchanging glances that spoke volumes of their unity and love. Maro, keeping watch over them, added an extra layer of protection.

Hours passed, and they managed to catch a significant haul of fish. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the frozen river. Garnt looked at his companions, a glint of concern in his eyes.

"We need to get back to the village," he said, aware of the growing cold and the need to heat their homes. "I can't wait to grill some of this fish."

The trio quickly packed up their fishing gear and made their way back to the village, their arms laden with the day's catch. As they arrived, Garnt wasted no time. He gathered the villagers and instructed them to help build a massive bonfire.

The villagers worked together, piling wood and kindling high, and soon, the fire roared to life, sending waves of warmth throughout the village. The crackling flames danced in the night, pushing back the icy fingers of winter.

Garnt, Ayra, Unami, and Maro huddled close, basking in the fire's comforting heat, knowing that their efforts today would ensure the village had enough food for the day and that the warmth of their love would carry them through the long winter nights to come.

"Can I join?" Rona asked, as she was jealous that she was being left out and soon Gundo also joined.

"Look at our patriarch! He is surrounded by women." One of the kids pointed at Garnt and said toward her mother, who was happily looking at the family.

But Garnt didn't stop there, instead, he decided to fulfil his promise once and for all, so he got up confusing all the girls that were enjoying his warmth.

"Listen, everyone," Garnt began, his voice carrying over the crackling flames. "I have an important announcement to make."

The sudden seriousness in his tone caught the attention of those around the bonfire, and they fell into a hushed silence, eager to hear what their patriarch had to say.

"I want to share something with all of you that is something more private," Garnt continued, his gaze shifting between Ayra, Unami, Rona, and the assembled villagers. "I've come to realize that the love I have for these wonderful women is something truly special. Ayra, Unami, and Rona have brought joy and warmth into my life, and I can't imagine a future without them."

The girls exchanged surprised glances, their cheeks flushing as they listened to Garnt's heartfelt words. None of them expected to hear him talk about their love openly, at least for now.

"So," Garnt continued, his voice unwavering, "I've decided that I want to spend the rest of my life with Ayra, Unami, and Rona. I want to marry them and build a life together, sharing all the happiness and challenges that come our way. And yes, I hope to have children with them, to continue our love and legacy."

A collective gasp filled the air, and then the villagers erupted into cheers and applause. Some of the girls who had harboured secret feelings for Garnt looked a bit jealous, but most of them joined in the celebration, recognizing the depth of love and commitment that had blossomed among these four individuals.

Baktou congratulated Unami, since he was more than happy to be a real family to Garnt.

Kara wasn't too happy, but she didn't mind her mother becoming one of Garnt's lovers since she knew, soon she would also join her to love her beloved.

Gundo was still conflicted, but she clapped her hands showing she wasn't against any of this and many other people had rather unique reactions.

The bonfire's crackling flames seemed to burn even brighter, and in that moment, the warmth of the fire was mirrored in the hearts of those who had witnessed Garnt's declaration of love. They all knew that this union was not just about Garnt, Ayra, Unami, and Rona, but about the entire village coming together to support and celebrate the new family their leader was going to build.

If Garnt told them something was right, that became the rule of the village and if Garnt told them something was not right, it became something illegal in the village, as he was the only one who was suitable to control the society he was building currently thanks to how much people depended on him.