Boy of the Painted Cave

Tao and his clan’s hunters return from an unsuccessful hunting trip. They’ve been gone for three days, but they are returning without much food to show for their efforts. Tao, who is often isolated from his clan due to his status as an orphan and his physical disability, takes a moment by himself to attempt to draw a rabbit in the sand. Tao loves to draw, but he must do it in secrecy, as it is taboo for any but the Chosen Ones to do so. He knows that his bad foot and parentage will prevent him from being chosen.

As he draws, Tao hears a rustling sound and prepares to defend himself against a predator. He discovers that the sound is a young wolf, alone and evidently starving. Tao tries to feed the wolf a field mouse, but the wolf is too afraid to let him come close. Tao leaves the dead mouse on the ground and leaves. He makes his way back to his camp, arriving after all the other hunters. Though it is difficult for Tao to walk with his bad foot, he has developed a method of using his spear as a kind of crutch.