The rain had eased slightly outside the stone house, yet it continued to fall in a steady, relentless drizzle. Inside, the gathered group exchanged uneasy glances, all equally troubled by the dilemma. Should they trade away their territory for medicine, or should they trade away the Little Female? Both were indispensable to the tribe.
"I suggest we use the Little Female," one elder proposed. "We hunt only on our own territory. If our land shrinks, it means less prey, and less food means our tribesmen will go hungry. If everyone is starving, who will be willing to bear cubs?" Many elders chimed in to support this view.
"I agree," another said. "I support that as well. If we lose our territory, we have nowhere to survive, and we will be at the mercy of others."
Chapter 61