Power struggle

A furnace, how should I build such a thing, especially on my own, and there's also the issue of attracting attention.

Before I had that problem with the map, but now I have a problem with the furnace.

I think I have no choice; I'll have to do it.

Returning to my workshop, I grabbed some tools and went back to the group.

During my time with the group, I learned many things, and my relationship with everyone is very good, even with the chief, and it's a bit cool, but he has to stay a bit distant since he is the chief, at least for now.

I really have many ideas on how to build the furnace without drawing attention. One of them is to build it inside a cave, even though it would produce a lot of smoke if I make it deep enough, I can do it without being discovered. However, this raises the problem of the possibility of something flammable inside the cave, and the smoke would also be bad to breathe.

So my best option is to become the chief.

Furthermore, I've reached the age when I would normally have to leave or be demoted, so I kind of have rights as an adult and from the upper part.

During the time the group learned to create wooden spears, the fights became bloodier since, in addition to the spears, they started using chipped stones for combat. The chief now has some scars on his body, and I also taught them about plants and how to use moles and leaves for wounds, and I got them to drink water instead of just eating fruits.

For survival reasons, only those who needed it or children drank water from the river; those who didn't have a reason stuck with the fruits.

It was hard to convince them, but when some who listened to me started feeling better, and the children became healthier, the whole group began to do the same.

Upon arriving at the group, I met one of my friends, whom I call Cornelius because he is quite smart, second only to me, of course. I met him when he tried to follow me, and besides me, he's the only one who knows about my workshop, but I managed to convince him to keep quiet.

"Hey, I'm here!"

"Hi, you took longer today."

"I was busy."

"You always are, anything new?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yes, but I'll show you later."

"You and your secrets."

"Don't worry, soon everyone will know."

"If you say so."

When I arrived at the group, I spoke to two more friends of mine, Joe and another friend I made, whom I named Fred.

"Hey, you two, anything happened?"

"Nothing."

"All normal here."

"Well, that's about to change."

"What? Are you going to do something new?"

"I am, well, not really new."

"I can't understand, if it's not something new, what are you going to do?"

"I'll show you soon."

"Why not now?"

"You're even more impatient than Cornelius."

"Okay, I still don't understand why you call us something. I thought only the chief could be called something."

"It improves the way I talk to you, and it's much better."

"Okay, Alexander."

"It can just be Alex."

"Wouldn't it be something else?"

Sigh "Call me whatever you like then."

Climbing to the top of the tree, I found the rest of the group and the chief.

I didn't stand still and went to greet them.

I waved to some, who returned the wave, and I greeted the chief.

When the chief saw me, he said, "Are you already an adult? Do you have a female?"

Only my friends and I refer to each other by something, the others just call you, and the chief is the only one everyone refers to by something specific.

"Not yet, chief."

"Hurry up, because if you don't, you won't be able to have any."

He said this because the mating season is approaching, and many are already with a female, especially the chief, who got the best ones. But when the mating season starts, if a male hasn't found a female, he can't have any, because any that are alone will be considered the chief's, and he will only allow those he chooses.

"That won't be true, chief."

"What? You said it won't be like that? Do you already have a female you've chosen?"

"No, I haven't chosen a female."

"So, how won't it be like that?"

"Because I can have whomever I want."

When I said this, everyone looked at me, and the atmosphere heated up, and only the sound of the forest could be heard.

The chief stood up, looked into my eyes, and I didn't back down.

You know, there's always someone like you, they become adults and think they can do whatever they want, but they soon find out that they're actually very weak.

We'll see who the weak one is here.

The chief had an angry expression, but it didn't intimidate me.

"Ah!!!" With a shout, the chief jumped in my direction, with a sharp stone in his hand, ready for combat.

It's time to show these monkeys how to fight with weapons.