[50024 Years Ago/ The Plain]
Mike came over a hill to see a lone tree out on the plain. It wasn't very tall or full, but somehow all of the hunters had climbed into it and were holding on tight to the slender branches. Below them were two lionesses circling around the trunk. One of them had a pronounced limp.
It was clear to Mike that the beasts had set a trap, attacking from opposite directions. With death approaching from both sides, the hunters had panicked and run for the only haven in sight.
Mike wondered why the lions weren't attempting to jump up to their prey or to climb the tree, but on seeing Dugg, he understood. Dugg was clutching the lowest of the branches and it was bending to his weight. It was uncertain if he would lose his grip before the branch broke, but one or the other was going to happen soon, and the lions were in no hurry to try for a meal when one was soon to fall from the tree like ripe fruit.
The other hunters in the tree were alive and well, but none of them had kept their spears, so none of them could help Dugg. Only Mike had any chance to do so.
He studied the land about him. Here it was rougher than the rest of the plain. It was filled with furrows and ditches. Mike eased down into one of these ditches, lowered to a crouch and began moving along at a quick pace. The ditch curved around to the south and would bring him close to the tree. He peeked up from time to time as he went, and each time found the lions remained unaware of his approach.
Mike came to a stop at the end of the ditch and peered through the dried grass along its edge. The big cats were so close that he could see the amber color of their eyes focused on Dugg. They sat patiently waiting for his arrival.
Mike stood and leveled his spear. He gauged his target and with all his power and skill, he cast his weapon. It struck deep into the neck of a lion. Blood erupted from her punctured jugular vein and she dropped without a sound.
Mike took off his backpack and set it down. He did the same with his waterskins and other supplies. He only kept his leather belt and the knife it held. He climbed out of the ditch to be in full sight of the other lion who was sniffing uncertainly at its suddenly dead companion.
"Hey!" Mike cried.
The lion turned and stared at Mike, who stared back. Then she came running at him with an uneven gait.
Mike turned and sprinted away. He had no illusions he could outdistance the creature even with its injury. He planned only to allow the men time to drop down and retrieve their spears while he ran in a large circle to eventually bring himself and the lion back to the tree. But his plan immediately went awry.
He'd stumbled into another ditch, narrow and shoulder high. As he gained his feet, her heard the lioness dropping in behind him. Mike sprinted through the ditch as it turned east and then continued straight on for a hundred yards. He couldn't climb out with the lion so close. He could only run on and hope that when he reached open land again, he could find a place of refuge.
Mike heard the thumping of large paws on the dead earth. He looked to the mountains looming in the south and he prayed to the gods to help this poor silly man who had gotten himself into such a ridiculous situation.