Shanidar, Safe Return

You and your son Eneko have escaped a massacre at the hands of Cro-Magnon mammoth hunters and are running through the forest with your lover Esti and her friend Oihana. Both are Cro-Magnons. You are running for your lives, but where are you going? You need a plan. Each of you carries whatever supplies you could hurriedly grab. There is only enough food for a day or two. You will hunt and forage on the trail. Eneko carries a doll made of grass and twine. He calls the doll Pala. You remember how much the watchdog Xuxa used to love chewing on Pala, causing Eneko so much distress! You wonder, "Has Xuxa survived the massacre?" You smile inwardly, bitterly. It looks like rain. [[Rolling thunder is getting closer.]] [[Eneko drops the doll.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/beats-begin.mp3" autoplay>

The toddler Alasne was hiding in the deep recesses of the cave while her people were being murdered by the Cro-Magnon hunters. She is with the Neanderthal's watchdog, Xuxa, a large and fearless protector. Alasne had fallen asleep during the storm. Xuxa smells blood. In the morning, Xuxa goes to the front gallery of the cave. Charred bones are in the hearth. Blood and guts are strewn about. Xuxa whines and growls almost breaking into a howl. She goes back to Alasne and sits by her side. Alasne awakens and crawls towards the cave entrance. She stares into the dying embers of a large pit fire. Flesh, entrails and bones are all around the pit. She runs to the food storage area, hidden under a carefully stack pile of stones, and finds a stash of preserved meats and dried fruit. She wraps them in a piece of soft leather. Xuxa is by her side. [[Alasne and Xuxa go into the forest.]] [[Uda returns to the Neanderthal camp.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/Alasne-Xuxa-awaken.mp3" autoplay>

You take shelter in a limestone outcropping at the edge of a clearing. Everyone is soaked through. The storm rages into the night. You will continue your journey in the morning. You make a fire and use rainwater to soak and steep some mushrooms until they produce a dark brown tea. You save the tea in a small bladder. Eneko has the sniffles and Esti is preparing an herbal brew. Eneko sulks. He has dropped Pala somewhere in the forest. Oihana makes new tools from river cobbles. He thinks about the woodland animals he spotted along the way and plans an early morning hunt. When the sky clears, you will head to Bruniquel, to the Cave of the Brown Bear, and ask the ancestors for guidance. You must call out to your cousins and tell them to leave this valley. They are no longer safe here. [[Haizea and Esti forage.]] [[Oihana goes hunting.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/fire-1.mp3" autoplay>

Oihana carries Eneko in a soft leather sling on his back. Eneko is never a burden. Eneko falls asleep in the safety of Oihana's sling. He drops the doll, Pala, along the way. The forest canopy protects the band of refugees from the rain. They leave a trail of wet prints in the mud, most of which are washed away by morning. Dawn approaches. The rain stops. [[Your group is being followed.]] [[Alasne and Xuxa awaken.]]

You and Esti have become closer. She stays with you all the time. She has a great fondness for Eneko, too. You feel the heavy weight of responsibility for everyone's safety. Taking stock of events, you, Esti, Eneko and Oihana have narrowly escaped a massacre. You take Esti's hand. She squeezes your hand firmly. You run your hand through her hair and rest it on her shoulder. You pull her close and make a silent vow of love. [[Eneko is hungry.]] [[Your group is being followed.]] [[Xuxa follows her nose.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/HaizeatakesEstishand.mp3" autoplay>

You are being followed. The scent is familiar and is Neander! Another survivor? An additional scent - a wolf? a dog? Then you hear it -- a child is crying somewhere in the forest. So it wasn't all in your mind afterall! Torrential rains, thunder, lightning. Poor conditions for finding someone lost in the woods. What if it's a trap? Eneko has dropped his doll somewhere along the trail. If an enemy is searching for you, they will surely find the doll. [[Alasne calls out.]] [[The mammoth hunters return to their camp.]] [[The sun is low on the horizon.]]

It's nearly dawn when Alasne and Xuxa leave the cave and head out into the forest. The rain has stopped. They drink fresh rainwater from clear puddles. They come to a stream. Xuxa runs ahead and then runs back again, making sure that Alasne is still with her as they travel alongside the stream. Alasne wants her mother, Argiñe. [[Alasne calls out.]] [[Xuxa follows her nose.]]

Uda, a Cro-Magnon artist, is badly wounded in the fight between the Magnons and Neanderthals. He did not participate, but was a passive observer until he was struck on the head with a hand ax. He has been wandering through the forest in a daze. Uda struggles now to make his way back to the wrecked Neander camp to find his son, Eneko. He has a bleeding head wound. He sways on his feet, then rests against a tree for just a minute. When he gets to the Neander camp, Uda sees the aftermath of the massacre - bones, flesh, guts and blood everywhere. No one left alive. Where did Haizea go? Where is his son, Eneko? His mind is blurry. He must find Eneko. The Elder, Aito, will be very angry! [[The mammoth hunters return to their camp.]] [[Eneko drops the doll.]] [[Alasne and Xuxa go into the forest.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/UdaReturnsToNeanderthalCamp.mp3" autoplay>

Haizea (Wind) - Neanderthal woman; leader; main character Esti (Sweet Honey)- Cro-Magnon/Aurignacian woman; Haizea's lover & companion; a healer Eneko (Mine) - Young boy; son of Haizea and Uda - with Neanderthal mother and Cro-Magnon father Uda (Summer) - Cro-Magnon shaman; Eneko's father; Haizea's ex-lover Oihana (Forest) - Magnon man; friend to Esti and Haizea; partners with men Alasne (Miracle) - Young Neander girl; survivor of the massacre Argiñe (Light) - Neander woman murdered by Cro-Magnons; Alasne's mother Xuxa (Lily) - Watchdog of the Neander camp; a wolf-dog Aito (Good Father) - Magnon Elder; storyteller Gorka (Farmer) - Leader of the Neanders; Haizea's father Paio (Rock) - Leader of the Magnons; Esti's father Ion (John) - Magnon; mammoth hunter; murderer Aritz (Oak Tree) - Haizea's cousin; Neander healer Ortzi (Sky) - Adolescent boy, son of Aritz Gentza (Peace) - Differently-abled Neander; Oihana's lover and companion Bihotz (Heart) - Homo heidelbergensis shaman; an ancient one Chesa (Home) - Neander shaman of the Eastern cousins Aroa (Era, Time) - Denisovan leader Izar (Star) - Denisovan leader Naia (Wave) - Daughter of Aroa and Izar Ibai (River) - Denisovan boat-builder [[Haizea leads Eneko, Esti and Oihana through the forest.]] [[Alasne and Xuxa awaken.]] [[Uda returns to the Neanderthal camp.]]

Alasne, the toddler who hid at the back of the Neander cave during the massacre, is wandering through the forest with the wolf-dog Xuxa. Xuxa leads Alasne through the forest knowing that Alasne's life depends on her. In just one day they have consumed more than half of the provisions that Alasne found before they left the cave. At least they have spring water. The afternoon sun is low on the horizon. Alasne looks for grubs and insects - the storm has brought them out. Xuxa finds a rabbit and kills it. They eat and then continue on their way. [[You find shelter.]] [[The sun is low on the horizon.]] [[Xuxa finds Pala.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/Xuxafollowsnose.mp3" autoplay>

Alasne is afraid and is crying. She calls out for her mother - Amaa! Amaa! AAMAA!! But her mother Argiñe was murdered by the mammoth hunters. Xuxa picks up a scent. [[You find shelter.]] [[Uda regains consciousness.]] [[Xuxa finds Pala.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/Alasnecallsout.mp3" autoplay>

Uda slowly opens his eyes. He hears a child crying. Where is Eneko? Is Haizea still alive? Uda must find them. His head hurts. He stands up. He drops his ax and stoops to pick it up again. Everything looks blurry. He falls unconscious again, ax in hand. [[Uda has a dream.]] Uda awakens abruptly. He sits against a tree. Looking down at the ground, he sees tracks - a child and a large dog. He must ask Aito's advice. Aito will know what to do. [[Uda travels back to the Cro-Magnon camp.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/Udaregainsconsciousness.mp3" autoplay>

It's a new day. The rain has stopped. Eneko is awake and hungry. You and Esti leave your tunics to dry by the fire and walk into the forest. Eneko tags along and Esti teaches him about herbs and roots. He has a natural skill and has found a patch of sorrel. Carrying a woven grass basket, you venture deeper into the woods and find chickory, asparagus, garlic, blackberries, nettles and burdock. Chamomile, mint and bilberry grow in patches nearby. Mushrooms have sprouted overnight. There are grubs, crickets and grasshoppers. You see a partridge and with one toss of your bola you kill it cleanly. There must be a nest somewhere nearby, with eggs. [[Oihana goes hunting.]] [[Haizea takes Esti's hand in hers.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/HaizeaEstiforage.mp3" autoplay>

Oihana wakes early the next day and starts a fire. His tunic is still wet from the storm. He places it by the fire to dry, slings his tool bag across his shoulder and leaves the shelter to find breakfast for the small band of refugees. You wake up as the fire gets going. The warmth of the dancing flames brings back wistful memories of peaceful days and loving friends. Those days are behind you now. A child is crying - or is that your imagination? You're stressed. You must be hearing things. [[Haizea takes Esti's hand in hers.]] [[Your group is being followed.]] [[Uda returns to the Neanderthal camp.]]

Xuxa leads Alasne along a trail. She picks up a familiar scent. Eneko's doll, Pala, is in the mud beside the trail. Xuxa pounces and grabs it in her teeth. She runs ahead. There is someone else in the forest. A deer perhaps. Xuxa runs into the woods ahead of Alasne. Alasne cannot see Xuxa. Where has she gone? Tears well up. [[Xuxa finds Oihana.]] [[Eneko is hungry.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/XuxafindsPala.mp3" autoplay>

The murderous mammoth hunters leave a bloody trail from the Neanderthal massacre site as they make their way back to camp. They are drunk. On hearing about the massacre, the Cro Magnon leader Paio is angry beyond words. Paio has their weapons taken away and orders them to sit down and shut up. Those who did not take part in the massacre of the Neanders have been skinning, cleaning and curing the mammoth killed in the hunt. They stare in silence at the mammoth hunters and then go back to their tasks. The Elder Aito builds a fire. People gather 'round to hear a story. The mammoth hunters do not want to hear stories right now. They laugh at Aito. Disrespect. They sit down, drunk and tired. Paio tells them "Be quiet!" [[Aito tells a story.]] [[Alasne and Xuxa go into the forest.]]

Uda travels back to the Cro-Magnon camp from the scene of the massacre. The leader Paio and the elder Aito are in conference by a small fire. Aito signals for Uda to sit by the fire. Aito applies a poultice of goldenseal, carrot and lobelia to Uda's head wound. Uda is grateful but he is restless. He is angry, too, at the mammoth hunters who have also returned to camp and are still drinking. [[Aito tells a story.]] [[Paio banishes the mammoth hunters.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/Udatravelsbacktocamp.mp3" autoplay>

People gather around the fire as Aito nudges it with a stick, sending sparks into the air. Aito clears his throat and begins: - In a great rich land many eons ago, people had fur all over their bodies, from head to toe, and they lived in trees.Everyone laughs. - Eventually, they came down from the trees and began walking about. They walked from the original homeland to this place, to where we are now. They became the Neanderthals.Someone gasps, surprised.- We ouselves came up from the same people. But we became Cro-Magnons. Still, we have many of the same ancestors, all of whom have brought us here together. The adults shift in their seats. Someone coughs. The mood is somber.- The Neanderthals lived at a place called Shanidar. The shaman Bihotz was with them at Shanidar. And Cro-Magnons were with them at Shanidar, too. We are kindred.The children listen silently.- Bihotz is older than everyone and is one of the original people. Bihotz says spirits are alive at Shanidar. Shanidar is alive. Bihotz is at Shanidar now.The mammoth hunters hear Aito's story and are quiet, and stupid. The leader Paio glares at them. Aito gazes directly at Uda. Uda feels a sudden chill going up his spine. He thinks, "Haizea has gone to Shanidar." He thinks he should go there, too. It is late, the fire burns down to embers and the people sleep. [[Uda has a dream.]] [[Xuxa finds Pala.]] [[Paio banishes the mammoth hunters.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/Aitotellsastory.mp3" autoplay>

Uda must find Haizea and their son Eneko. He knows it will take many months to get to Shanidar but he cannot see beyond today. He packs too lightly for the journey. His head hurts. His thoughts are still a little foggy. Uda leaves Paio's camp and goes into the forest. He passes the mammoth hunters who have built a fire near the camp. They are on their own. They remain silent as Uda passes them. Distant thunder threatens. Uda heads south. He hears a child crying. [[Everyone is together again.]] [[Go back to the beginning->Eurasia, 40,000 years ago.]] [[Go to Act II->Act II: To the Cave of the Brown Bear]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/UdaleavesforShanidar.mp3" autoplay>

Uda dreams of the Cave of the Brown Bear. This is a familiar place. He sees a group of people in the Cave ...Neanders! They turn to look at him. He cannot hide. They are in a circle made of stalagmites. The old shaman Bihotz appears in the center of the circle. They hold out a wooden spear. Bihotz says, "We were waiting for you. Welcome!" Xuxa is there, too. Xuxa glares at the shaman and bares her teeth. Bihotz laughs. Uda wakes up, his heart racing. He must go to the Cave of the Brown Bear! [[Uda asks forgiveness.]] [[Oihana follows Xuxa.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/Udahasadream.mp3" autoplay>

Uda wakes up in a cold sweat. He is in shock and mourning for the people who were killed. He is responsible for Gorka's death. He shakes his head. Was Gorka his kin, as Aito says? Uda has dreamed about Bihotz. Uda's head is throbbing. He walks up to Aito and bends low in front of him, asking forgiveness. Aito tells him to go find Haizea. [[The sun is low on the horizon.]] [[Oihana follows Xuxa.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/Udaasksforgiveness.mp3" autoplay>

Xuxa, the Neander watchdog, and Alasne, the young girl who hid in the back of the cave while Cro-Magnon hunters murdered her people, are walking through the forest. They find shelter in a rocky crevice hidden by a thorny blackberry patch. Alasne eats blackberries and shares what remains of the rabbit with Xuxa. They drink from the stream and continue walking. Xuxa keeps her nose to the ground. Alasne starts crying. She wants to go back to the safe space in the rocks with the blackberries. Xuxa runs ahead. She follows the scent of a small group of people. Alasne follows Xuxa and stifles her tears. It's hard to walk and cry at the same time. Soon it will be nighttime. [[Xuxa finds Oihana.]] [[Uda regains consciousness.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/Thesunislow.mp3" autoplay>

Oihana is hunting in the forest. He stops suddenly. A large dog is running towards him. Is it Xuxa? She's carrying something in her mouth. Xuxa puts Eneko's doll down in front of Oihana and runs back into the woods. She halts once and looks back at him, a signal that he must follow her. Oihana picks up the doll, grabs his spear, and runs after Xuxa. [[Oihana follows Xuxa.]] [[Uda travels back to the Cro-Magnon camp.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/XuxafindsOihana.mp3" autoplay>

Xuxa leads Oihana to Alasne, who is huddled in the space between two large rocks. Oihana realizes that she is Argiñe's child. This is a miracle! But Alasne is afraid of Oihana. He is a Magnon. Magnons kill people. She pulls away from him, making herself as small as possible, crying for her mother. Xuxa runs to Alasne and licks her face. Oihana approaches her very slowly. He offers her some dried meat. He asks softly, "Are you hungry?" Alasne looks up, grabs the meat from his hands, and eats it quickly. She pulls back again, but not so far this time. Oihana extends a hand and she takes it and crawls out from her hiding place. Oihana carries Alasne. They go back to the camp at the limestone outcropping. Alasne clutches the doll, Pala. Xuxa has done her job. [[Everyone is together again.]] [[Uda leaves for Shanidar.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/OihanafollowsXuxa.mp3" autoplay>

The sky is barely a shade above indigo when your small band packs up their provisions and begins the trek south. You and Esti lead the way. Oihana carries Alasne in a sling on his back and Eneko is holding his hand. Xuxa walks by their side. It will take one day to reach the Cave of the Brown Bear. You will forage along the way and hunt when you make camp. The Cave of the Brown Bear is just on the other side of a river to the south. For over 170,000 years the Cave has been a sacred place to the Neanderthals. Only Neanders know of this place and only Neanders may enter the Cave. Oihana and Esti are Cro-Magnons and have never heard of this place. (The preview of our story ends here, at the first passage of Act II.) [[Credits]]

You and Esti were successful in finding food. A partridge and eggs! You will make a good meal for your small group and then you will tell them your plan. Eneko is hungry. [[The sun is low on the horizon.]] [[Xuxa finds Pala.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/Enekoishungry.mp3" autoplay>

Oihana has found Alasne and Xuxa in the forest. He calls out "Haizea!" and you run to meet him. Xuxa jumps up in a greeting and is so happy she seems to be crying, if dogs could cry. You scratch Xuxa behind the ear - her favorite spot. You take Alasne in your arms. Oihana has killed rabbits and voles. With the partridge and vegetables you gathered today you all have enough for a decent meal with plenty left over for tomorrow. Esti builds a fire. Everyone eats. What happened at your old camp could happen again. You must warn the cousins at the Camp of the High Stone Arch, and the cousins from the Spotted Horses Cave. They know about the massacre. They must join your group on the trek south. You tell Esti and Oihana that the first stop is at the Cave of the Brown Bear at Bruniquel. The ancestors will advise. Oihana and Xuxa are on first watch tonight. You and Esti will be on second watch until dawn. The children sleep. [[Go back to the beginning->Eurasia, 40,000 years ago.]] [[Go to Act II->Act II: To the Cave of the Brown Bear]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/TBMtheme.mp3" autoplay>

Shanidar, Safe Return This version represents Act I of a 3-Act interactive story. This version is for preview only. Story and drawings by Cecilia Dougherty Music and sound by Cecilia Dougherty Additional sound efx: Grant Evans, thunder & lightning Carved deer bone animation by //National Geographic//. Research: Archeological information and images of paleolithic art were sourced from these books: Ralph S. Solecki, //Shanidar, The First Flower People// Rebecca Wragg Sykes, //Kindred, Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art// Jean Clottes, //What is Paleolithic Art? Cave Paintings and the Dawn of Human Creativity// Paabo Svante, //Neanderthal Man: In Search of Lost Genomes// André Leroi-Gourhan, //Gesture and Speech// Paulette F. C. Steeves, //The Indigenous Paleolithic of the Western Hemisphere// Max Raphael, //Prehistoric Paintings// S. Giedion, //The Eternal Present: The Beginnings of Art// Inspiration and thanks: Marija Gimbutas, archaeologist, visionary Jean Auel, author, for her //Earth's Children// series of novels set in Paleolithic Eurasia Artists Tom Björklund and Adrie & Alfons Kennis for re-directing our gaze on early humans from brutish knuckle-walkers to likeable, intelligent and handsome people Elise Gardella, for proofing, commentary, and encouragement Jamie Chan, for exhibiting 97 of the original drawings for this story at a Essex Flowers gallery in New York. Josh Thorson, for providing guidance Deville Cohen, for forward-thinking suggestions and ideas The IFID for this story is EBCDACBA-C6E1-4A84-B91E-B900771B4535. Created in Twine. //Shanidar// is the sequel to <a href="https://paleolithic.ceciliadougherty.com" target="_blank">//Time Before Memory//</a> [[Go back to the beginning->Eurasia, 40,000 years ago.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/TBMtheme.mp3" autoplay>

Rolling thunder is getting closer. Your group wades along a stream. There is a clearing up ahead. Suddenly there is a loud thundercrack and a bright streak of lighting. And then comes the rain. You're on edge, nervous. You make a private decision to warn the cousins who live by the High Stone Arch about the Cro-Magnons and urge them to move south to Shanidar. But first you must go to Bruniquel, the place of the ancestors. [[You find shelter.]] [[Alasne and Xuxa awaken.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/lightningThunderRain.mp3" autoplay>

<center><h1>Shanidar, Safe Return</h1></center> <center>An interactive story by Cecilia Dougherty</center> Eurasia, 40,000 years ago. As the story begins, a band of Cro-Magnons have just invaded a nearby Neanderthal camp, falsely claiming that the Neanderthals (Neanders) were planning to steal meat, skins and ivory from the Cro-Magnon mammoth hunt. The Cro-Magnons (Magnons) visit the Neander camp with the intent of chasing them out of this rich valley. As they approach the camp with axes and knives, their rage gets the better of them and they end up murdering every Neanderthal in sight. You, the reader, are a young Neanderthal woman named Haizea. You have escaped the massacre and are on the run with your son, Eneko, and your Magnon partner, Esti. Esti's best friend, Oihana, has come with you. Follow the story and meet the characters from Prehistory by choosing links at the end of each story passage. The more links you select, forwards and backwards, the more information you will have. [[Haizea leads Eneko, Esti and Oihana through the forest.]] [[Alasne and Xuxa awaken.]] [[Uda returns to the Neanderthal camp.]] //Shanidar, Safe Return// is the sequel to the first Paleolithic tale in the series, <a href="https://paleolithic.ceciliadougherty.com" target="_blank">//Time Before Memory//</a> [[Cast of characters]]

Paio, the Cro-Magnon leader, awakens the drunken mammoth hunters. He tells them they no longer belong here. They are on their own. Paio knows that few people can survive alone. The mammoth hunters grab their weapons and the last skin of wine. They leave the camp in the dead of night. [[Xuxa finds Oihana.]] [[Uda has a dream.]] <audio src="https://essexflowers.ceciliadougherty.com/audio/Paiobanishesmammothhunters.mp3" autoplay>