He doesn't seem to understand what you're pantomiming, but he continues to rush you and jumps into your arms when you come down to his face level and start trying to communicate with him. He squeezes the air out of you easily-very strong for such a little fellow.

The other tribe of links start for a second when they see you touching their family, but they stop and look closely to you and the little link. While they don't seem relaxed, it feels like they've gotten the impression that you mean no harm.

Big Link and the rest watch you hugging the strange child link, but wait patiently for you to finish.

The Child Link doesn't seem interested in letting go any time soon, but when he finally does, he grabs your hand and starts pulling you around their camp in the tree, grunting and showing you things in the most basic caveman language. Like: "Look, tree. Look, big rock!" He drags you up the big rock, which isn't the easiest to climb while holding onto the link's hand.

But he shows you that off, in a little bit of a distance, you can see a larger clearing, where a great river runs directly through. It's slow at this part, so you don't feel like there'd be any fear of drowning, but the river is still moving, so it's probably safe to drink from as well. It's a beautiful view, and he smiles widely as he looks up to you for a reaction to it.

I'm thrilled to be shown around, partially still just very happy the little guy made it and is ok, and  also out of genuine curiosity of their culture and what Child Link finds important. I will have to explain to my Link tribe what's up after Child Link is done showing me around.

When I see the  great river my face is both a combination of joy and amazement. I find nature quiet beautiful, and am beginning to be hopeful that this move for the Links is for the better. If I can broker good will between the two tribes they could both benefit. But yes, my face is one of pure amazement.

When I get back to Big Link and Friendly Link I'll explain that Child Link was the first one of their kind that I met, when I first got here, and that we were attacked by wolves but managed to get away. I'm very glad to see him safe.

After you and the little link are done, one of the females you don't know takes him in her arms, where he reluctantly settles down while watching you join the others.

Friendly Link smiles when you explain how you know the boy, while Big Link is all business. "Good you know boy. This family no problem. Bigger family. Bigger than me family is problem. At Big Water." He seems reluctant to move at first, but he begins leading his family once more in the direction you saw the large river in.

It's beginning to get dark, and you're starting to get rather parched.

I nod at what Big Link says, and agree we should get moving.

I'm just following Big Link for now, trying to stay  strong and not show how thirsty I'm getting. I am a little nervous about the bigger tribe though. I was feeling better when I thought it was this one.

Finally, after striking out through the darkness just a bit longer, you hear the sound of water moving, and then only a little farther, you reach the clearing that you saw and the wide, steady river there.

You and the rest, with a last burst of energy, run to the water and start to drink it. While your legs ache from the long walk, you can still move and stand. You're sure you've never tasted water as clean as this. It's bliss, especially on this warm night under a sky full of stars above you, the first you've seen of the night sky since you woke up naked in the jungle.

The rest of your band don't seem to worried about anything right now, but they huddle up just a little bit away from the water and sit down to finally rest.

I definitely take my time hydrating myself, just glad that we made it, and that there is a chance to rest.

At some point while resting I'd like to talk to Big Link off to the side and ask him what he was worried about previously? Should I be keeping an eye out for something? Also I'll suggest we find a place to temporarily set up that's less out in the open, although that can probably wait until tomorrow.

You take Big Link to the side, and he seems to understand. He sighs, and takes his spear to start drawing in the soft clay at the edge of the river for you to see. With pantomiming, drawings, caveman grunts, and you notice even some attempts at English (mostly failed), Big Link conveys a story to you.

He draws a family of links, one of whom he points out to be Adult Female Link. Then, on both sides, he draws two large links. One has a big family with him, while the other is alone. He draws both grabbing for Adult Female Link, and a fight between the drawing of him and another large link. He draws his defeat, and sweeps away the rest of the links and their families, all but one. He leaves behind Adult Female Link, who joins him. He conveys to you a great confusion and gratefulness behind her choice, and he draws them living alone and growing a new family of their own.

But he points back to one of his other drawings, of Big Link and the other who beat him. He points to the victor who overcame him, and explains through pantomime that he's the one that you all need to watch for, because of his association and influence with the larger link tribe, which has probably only grown since Big Link and Adult Female Link's banishment.

He nods at finding a new temporary home for his family, and looks around, pointing to the treeline in the direction that you came from.

I'm encouraged by the attempt at English.

After the explanation I'll be reassuring that we'll all get through this together, and that I would imagine the majority of the larger tribe would understand. And if not, we'll all stand together by his and Adult Female Links side.

I follow along  in the direction Big Link is pointing.  I run everything he said over in my mind, multiple times. I feel sad for Big Link to have that much trouble but also happy that he found Adult Female Link.

"Thank you." He says, unsure for a second if he said it right, so he caveman talks it to you as well. He seems genuinely grateful that you're willing to help him after knowing them for such a short time.

Everyone finds a soft spot to settle down in the treeline instead of the open space by the river, but truly they're just sleeping cuddled up with one another against a tree with no real shelter. Still, they seem content with it.

I tell Big Link, both in english and pantomimes, "You said it right," smiling "and you're welcome."

Before getting to sleep I'll get a small fire going, making sure to take precautions to prevent it from spreading, but I do want the links to be able to be warm and to keep away predators.

After the fire is started, stay up with it a bit to allow others to fall asleep, and then let it die down to embers and go to sleep myself.

Refreshed but tired, you make a safe fire, and the rest of the links stay semi-close to it but far enough away that there's no fear of anyone getting burnt. They all stay clumped up in a large, cuddly ball in which they sometimes squirm away from one another in their sleep.

You watch them for a while in the fire, and see Big Link wake up at least three times in twenty minutes before settling down and starting to snore loudly with the rest.

After a while of staying awake, you've let the fire start to die down, but it's still going on stubbornly for now. Then, you hear some rustling and twigs snapping in the loose forest around you. It's still late at night, but with the aid of your fire, you can see the outlines of five male links, one of whom is as big as Big Link if not bigger. They form a semi-circle and are approaching your camp. While all are lithe and muscular, the biggest one looks impressively strong. In the fire, you can see sour expressions playing across their faces.

When you turn your head to face them, the biggest one growls and smiles menacingly at you.

I jump up when I realize what is going on, grabbing my spear and rushing to Big Links side, shaking him awake and then adopting a defensive stance of the group, attempting to put myself in between who looks to be the alpha link and the tribe I'm with.

Since I wish for peace, even though I doubt it will happen, I communicate that we mean them no harm, but I will not let them hurt this family.

I will jab the alpha link with the spear if he disregards me and continues advancing.

They may be larger and outnumber me, but I have an element of surprise in what the spear is, and rough knowledge how to use one (only in so much as the academic principles to thrust behind it and use the increased reach to my advantage.  I won't be pulling any punches with it either, as I hope a strong enough display if they don't head my warning and come closer anyway will make them think twice. At least long enough for Big Link to wake the tribe and organize a retreat.

With spear in hand, you rush to the other members of the family. You shake Big Link thoroughly, who seems to begin to rouse, but you can't keep watching him as the five advance on you.

The Alpha Link steps forward, and you step forward too, brandishing your spear at him to keep them away from the link family. You are sure that you convey the message you intend, and the other four links stay back while Alpha Link approaches you.  He falls into a different position upon his approach. His arms are held a little apart, his hands open and facing you. When he continues to approach, you jab your spear out hard, hitting him in his right ribs with your spear.

He moans at the strike, and gropes at his side where you struck him. At the moment, he seems preoccupied staring at the blood, and at your stick with a rock on it.

Big Link has now roused, and the others as well.

I back up towards Big Link, keeping an eye on the 5 intruders but mainly Alpha Link.   I'm staying battle ready with my spear but trying to ask Big Link what we should do. Indicating I'm at his side should a fight come.

If in the process of backing up to Big Link, Alpha or any of his buddies decide to advance on me, I'll jab at them again, proving how effective spears can be at deterring charges and such.

Also if Big Link decides that battle is required I'll fight by his side, doing my best to protect him. Deferring to his lead though, as he knows these links far better than I and can make the call if a fight is needed.

You and Big Link take defensive stances in front of the rest of Big Link's family. He's disregarded his spear entirely, entering a stance very similar to the one that Alpha Link had when approaching you.

You see Big Link's eyes lock onto Alpha Link's, and growls.

Alpha Link, who has been preoccupied with the wound that you gave him, stops looking at the blood on his hand and growls back at Big Link, baring his teeth at him as well.

While most of the other intruder links are watching the scene transpire, one link next to Alpha link steps forward, close enough that you can identify certain shared features between him and Alpha Link. He sees the blood on Alpha Link's hand, and the wound that continues to bleed openly, and pulls Alpha Link by his arm.

Alpha Link resists, him twice, glaring at him once as the younger link tries to pull him away. He gestures at the injury frantically, but Alpha Link brings his massive hand up and smacks the younger link across the face, sending him stumbling back. Then, he continues to watch you, Big Link, and the now-bloody spear you wield.

He turns his back to you and Big Link and starts walking away, his entourage apparently following in tow.

The younger-looking version of the Alpha Link already has a bad bruise forming on his right cheek while he stares at you. You can tell that there's some anger in his eyes, but mostly it's intelligent curiosity about you. He seems to identify something about you that you haven't seen any of the rest acknowledge yet.

They all begin heading at a slow walking pace into the dark.

I feel bad for the link that gets smacked by Alpha Link. Doubly so when I notice his curiosity.

After Alpha Links crew is gone, I'll take the moment to check with Big Link to confirm everyone's alright. I'll also suggest that everyone finishes getting some sleep, we'll still need our rest for tomorrow and Alpha Links will keep them busy for now.  We should do rotations of guards though. Had I not been awake when they approached, and managed to wake you (big link) up, there could have been problems.

I'm also not mentioning it but I am hoping for validation in the actions I took. I clearly found them necessary, but also wish I were able to talk  Alpha Link down or towards peace.

While Big Link doesn't say it, you can tell that he feels grateful to you for waking him and doing most of the work to protect his family.

He encourages you to sleep now, because he's already slept for a while.

Sleep seems to be hard to find when you see the rest of the link family beckon you to join them in their huddle of bodies, where the littlest ones have already gone to sleep and are snoring softly. Big Link gestures with your head for you to join the rest as well, and pantomimes that he will wake you if anything happens.

This time, Big Link has his spear in his hand while he sits up and away from the rest of you, awake.

I'll join the rest when Big Link suggests, but stay on the outer edge and have my spear near me in case of an incident.  And then I'll go to sleep, hoping that all is well.

Sleep doesn't come easy for you, but you're a little comforted when you're in closer proximity to the rest. You definitely get the feeling now that they've accepted you as one of their own.

Eventually, sleep comes and you wake to the sound of birds chirping through the trees, the sound of the river a little ways off, and you see that Big Link is still sitting in the same place, awake, and diligently watching your surroundings. Already, daylight's strong with the morning around you and the rest of the still-sleeping links, some of whom you see are sprawled a little closer to you during the night.

I'll get up and go sit by Big Links side. I'll suggest he gets a little rest before we start the day, as the little ones are still asleep anyways and I can take over the watch. I imagine today will be a busy day.

If he doesn't want to, I'll still sit by him while the others wake up, and talk about the type of location we'll be looking for. Finding another cave would be ideal, I think.

Whenever we make it to the stream to drink, after drinking I'm going to clean my spear. Making sure to be downstream of the others, just want to get the blood off and also to find a stone to use as a sharpening stone on it. If I'm going to protect this family I'm going to have to stay prepared.

Big Link shakes his head in your fashion, "No." He stays diligent, and actually doesn't seem to be extremely tired from staying up the vast majority of the night. The air is humid this morning, and a little chilly too, but you're warm enough under your clothes and you noticed from last night that the links' skins are a little warmer than yours.

You talk to him about finding a new home, and he nods his assent, concluding that if it comes down to it, you could build a cave for them out of trees, right?

No other intruders appear while you're waiting for the rest of the links to finally wake up. They wake and walk over to you in order of oldest to youngest, until finally the littlest male link is awake. There isn't much communicating at all like there was yesterday, and the family of links just overall seem a little more down, so dissimilar to when you all finally reached Big Water last evening.

You clean your spear, and then you see more links begin to head out of the forests. They start trickling in as small families come to drink the water while the little ones play and try to catch frogs and fish in the river.

Of course, the family you're with do the same, but they stay isolated from the rest and Big Link is constantly sending threatening and nervous looks to the other links who come to Big Water.

I smile and stay encouraging as Big Link  uses English and some of the non verbal communication I use.  I nod and communicate that I could do that, but it will  require some time to make it strong enough.

When the other links start coming out to the river I'll go to Big Links side and suggest we try and be peaceable rather than immediately threatening. While we should be clear we will stand and defend ourselves, in the long term it would be good to be on most of their good sides. Especially since I believe the number that means us harm or dislikes us is fairly small.

I am keeping an eye out for any of the 5 intruders from the night before though.

Big Link shrugs at you when you talk about being nice to the other links. He looks like he's about to try talking to you about it when you spot links you recognize from the other night. A large family, including Alpha Link who still walks tall despite his injury, which is still present and very swollen. Three links break off from their group, who continue to the river. Alpha Link breathes deeply when he sinks his torso into the cool water.

The three links that break off are the younger link whom Alpha Link struck last night. You see now that he looks very similar to Alpha Link. He could even be family, possibly Alpha Link's nephew or son. He approaches you with two more young, muscular links walking on his left and right flanks.

He stands tall, and makes large strides towards you and the other links, but stops, eyeballing your spears and stopping well out of the spear's reach. He grabs the other two by their arms to stop them from going any closer, and stares.

When  the three links get closer, I'll try to communicate that I mean them no harm, and am only acting in defense of this tribe. I try to ask what their intent is, and try to suggest a way to avoid future conflict.

I'm hopeful that this younger link (alphas son or nephew) is intelligent and curious enough to avoid trouble. I'd rather not have to be hyper vigilant at all times. And while I'm not threateningly brandishing the spear, I am going to be holding it so that if I need to use it in a hurry I could.

So you do a combination of grunts, pantomimes, and a little bit of English thrown in when you try to communicate with Younger Alpha Link, who stares at you intently as you do.

The other two next to him watch him for a lead, seeming to be a little impatient as you two continue to try and communicate. After a struggling five minutes of you pantomiming and Younger Alpha Link trying to pantomime back, you believe that you learn a little bit more about communicating with these jungle links.

Finally, Younger Alpha Link seems to understand, and expresses similar sentiment. He does come in peace, but his father does not. He explains (Link Talk), "My father was wronged by your friend, and his family is spawned from that wrong. While you then wronged him as well, wronging the rest of the tribe that drinks from this water."

You notice during your conversation that, while he keeps his eyes on you, they often drift over to the rest of Big Link's family, who are watching from a distance.

----

1@2-->1@3 Talk Caveman

+5 Familiarity with all jungle links (all your attempts to communicate now will have a +5% chance of success). Familiarity represents your increased ability to understand how they think and thus you're finding it easier to communicate with them.

+20 with Big Link and Friendly Link, by the way, due to your more-frequent contact.