The goal of the stone head tribe was to isolate herd animals before hunting. To do that, they made traps to funnel the animals in a direction.
When one or two buffalos are trapped. They surround them and kill them. This was the best way for them to hunt.
Although pitfalls were effective. They were not effective in a prolonged hunt. Once a buffalo falls down the pit. The next animal would avoid the pit.
So, in the beginning, the hunters will use pitfalls and other traps to kill as much as they can. Then they will employ other means of hunting. By doing that, they could save their stamina and prevent injuries.
No method was considered lowly in a hunt. And they knew it well.
Once an animal was killed. The support team's job was to quickly move it away from the hunting ground to a secure area.
After all, Humans were not the only ones here to hunt. Other predators are also eyeing the prey. And if they are not careful. Humans would also be considered prey.
So. They have to take quick action. Before the large predatory animals come. Humans have to hunt what they can and escape.
Or else you can imagine the blood bath that's going to happen. This was also one of the reasons why the support team took quick action in the hunting ground to move the prey away.
No one wants to face the animals that can hunt buffalo which can shatter stones with their head.
….
Alex waited for the elder's signal. And as soon as the animals reached the area below the cliff. The elder rolled a stone down. It barely scraped by a buffalo. But it was enough to spook the herd.
The slow-moving herd. Began accelerating down the valley. It was like a chain reaction.
When one buffalo was startled. Everything around it also became spooked. They jumped quickly responding to the danger. Dodging all the falling rocks.
Alex who stood atop the cliff was startled seeing how these heavy animals which weighed many metric tons were jumping. Their agility and power were no joke.
Now he completely believes that he can't kill any prey with stones alone. It was crazier than what was told to him.
"Don't just stand there. Come and help this old bones. Help me push these stones down." Dhairya, who saw Alex wasting time urged.
Alex didn't waste time anymore. He quickly began pushing the stones down. He didn't care if they could hit the mark anymore. He just had to make as much chaos as he can. And he was successful in doing so.
Dhairya who saw this smiled. Unlike the young men who were too excited and took action without thinking. Alex was different. He was thorough and thoughtful.
He knew what to ask. When to follow orders and to do it as efficiently as he can. He was a creative and thoughtful kid. Dhairya thought.
"Ok, it's done. Now we can go down and help the others. We do not have any time to waste. Before the real rulers of the wilderness come. We need to escape. The chaos will invite undue attention. Be careful of giant Wolves, Mountain lions and other predators waiting in the bushes for us to make a mistake."
"What should I do once we reach the valley?"
"You must carry the meat and secure it on the prepared carriage. Once the hunt is over, we will leave as fast as we can toward the tribe. Be ready when it's time."
"Okay!" After saying that. Alex ran towards the valley. He was required to carry the meat from the valley towards the camp. And ensure that they were ready to escape swiftly if necessary.
—----
Alex reached the valley where the hunt was taking place.
It was pure chaos as expected. Many people were running around carrying weapons. And the support team was busy carrying the carcases towards the camp.
If he could imagine what a warzone would be like, this was how he would imagine it to be.
His heart pumped like crazy in the chaos, forcing him to move and work together in sync with the hunters. Quickly moving towards the support team, he helped them carry the prey. Buffalo weighing more than three tons was easily carried by this group of four kids.
"Give it to us." One of the guys in the front called out. He was one of the older generations of the support team.
Even though the kids could lift the carcase, walking a long distance was impossible. So, they only had to deliver the carcass to the older generation. They would then move it to the camp.
Alex who saw this was impressed by the efficient utilization of manpower.
"You there, follow me. We are going to the pitfalls to collect the other carcass." One man called out to Alex.
"Ok." Alex nodded in affirmation.
The pitfall was twenty feet deep with sharpened tree trunks at the bottom. They were pointed upwards like spears aiming to hit the underbelly of the animals.
And in that pitfall was a calf on its last breath.
"Waaa."
A feeble cry came out of its mouth.
"You, go down and carry it up. We have to move it before the next one comes."
Alex, who heard this was in a momentary stupor. This was a dangerous job. Even a small calf could squish him into a meat patty if he was careless. Even though the calf was weak and almost dead, it doesn't decrease the danger.
And what if another animal broke through the hunter and fell into the pitfall while he was inside it?
Alex felt a chill go up his spine. Every possible scenario he imagined had a bad ending for him.
"What are you waiting for? Do it fast before the next one comes, we have to cover up this place and leave."
He didn't have much time to think about it. Alex jumped down the pitfall quickly.
The calf was as big as he was and weighed more than 300kg. But it was easy for Alex to lift it up. Suddenly a rope was thrown down by the man above. Alex tied the rope around him after grabbing the calf.
Even though the calf squirmed in pain, Alex held on to it tightly. Preventing it from slipping away.
Before he knew it, Alex was pulled up by the man.
"You did well, kid. Now, take this calf and run onto the sidelines." Throwing him a piece of rope, the man said.
He didn't want to make it difficult for Alex.
But before they could move away. They heard a thunderous sound coming from the frontlines.
"Thump…Thump…" The sound came near them increasing ever so slightly.
Within seconds, they could feel the earth vibrating according to the sound. And the trumpeting of an angry animal shook the surrounding.
It was a mammoth. A four-tusked woolly mammoth.
Like a mountain walking on its four legs. It was moving towards the hunters in the frontline. Spreading fear among them.
'Were they planning to hunt it?' Alex thought incredulously.
The mammoth was between thirty to forty feet tall and could be called a meat mountain. And it looked ferocious with its four tusks ready to rip apart anything that stood in its way.
Alex looked at it in disbelief.
Was it even possible to go near that thing, much less hunt it? Alex thought.
But before he could see what exactly was happening. A scream spread from the surroundings. Every one of the hunters was screaming, making noises to attract the mammoth.
"These nut jobs." Alex said while trying to run away.
"You don't have to go now. The hunt will be over after we kill that…" Said the man with a smile.
"How can you kill that?"
"Just like we always do. Now see why we are called the stone head tribe…"Said the man mysteriously before walking towards the mammoth.