Hartha's Invention

Hartha's Invention.

"I say, Nakk, are those your latest cave etchings?"

"Yes, they are, Stoshua. Thank you for noticing. This latest one is called 'Hand over Hand.' It represents the many dwellers it takes to make a clan."

"Interesting concept. How did you get the entire clan to allow you to paint all the hands on the wall?"

"Funny story, Stoshua. These hands you are looking at are mine. I ground the colorful rocks in the cave to produce all the colors you see on the wall."

"Now that you mentioned it, the hands look like they are all the same size. I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't told me. You are creative, Nakk."

"My biggest problem is I can only work on my wall paintings during awake time. The outside goes into darkness, and I cannot see what I am doing."

"I just thought of something, Nakk. I know Hartha found something that may help you."

"Don't start up about Hartha. She always tries to change our clan with her ideas. Remember the stone that rolls? Why would we need a stone that rolls?"

"I think Hartha named that 'Wheel.'"

"Stoshua, Hartha makes up words for things that already have names. Why call a rock that rolls a wheel? It's a rock that rolls."

"You are jealous of Hartha. People like what she makes, and no one says your etchings are good."

"My etchings are good. The clan doesn't understand etchings. Some think it is a waste of suitable wall space."

"The only time clan can see etchings is after awake time, and the big dark comes. No one comes into the cave when the big dark comes."

"Hartha made fire."

"What is fire? Why did she make it?."

"Fire is awake time all the time. She made it because she doesn't like the dark time."

"What does fire do?"

"Fire creates awake time during the dark time. Hartha can make your cave feel awake even during dark times."

"She can't do that. Nothing can make dark time into awake time."

"She can. She taught me to make fire. I will show you."

"Why are you picking up rocks and then putting them back down? Is that how you make fire?"

"No. I am looking for suitable rocks to make a fire. Hartha showed me what they look like and where to find them. Here, I found what I needed. Now, to create fire like she taught me."

"Why are you hitting rocks together?"

"I am creating fire. Watch."

"How long does making fire take?"

"About done. There. Fire."

" I can see in the dark time. Look, I can see my etchings on the wall. You were right. Hartha was right. I want to learn how to make fire. I can't believe fire can make dark time into awake time. Fire is better than the rolling rock."


Contest: Dialogue 500
Prompt: You're a caveman and discover that Fire Works.
The number of words: 478