AU-Verse 3

A Little Rock N Roll

by Mystic

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asm/mystic/auvers03.php
Summary: Aw, come on, someone had to invent it.
Info: Special thanks to: Lorraine for her inspiration in the idea of compiling the mini-au ideas into one series and her beta assistance. Also to Admiral Q O for her timely beta help as well.

Life was good, okay pretty good. He was respected in his tribe...okay, feared which was just as good, by some and others held him in awe for his abilities. Not too many around could CREATE fire! Some could find it, others even figured out how to maintain it, but fewer still could create on demand...but HE could.

This ability gave him the protection of the tribe from others that would do him harm, for though they were not smart enough to create fire, they knew its value and his. This also allowed him the best choice of caves and when the fire was needed, especially when it started to get cold, he would trade it for food or company of the females in the tribe. He had it all, yet he wasn't happy and he didn't know why, and THAT bothered him more than anything.

The sun was warm today, so there would be little request for his fire until the darkness approached, then they would all come with food and offers and then he'd give a big stick of fire to those that pleased him and a small one to those that just made an offer. He also knew many tried to keep their fire from dying but only a few figured out how and he didn't see any reason to teach them, for it would stop him from being the provider of fire. He knew they used him the way he used them, so today, he started his day by kicking everyone out. He needed to think; he needed to figure out the pictures in his head and why having a cave full of females only made him snarl instead of shout in triumph to the other males in the tribe.

He sat and sat and couldn't understand what it was he needed to do, so he went outside and saw the tribe was gathered down by the water and he was curious as he hadn't noticed the noises until now. He headed down and saw there was a new male fighting with one from the tribe. By the excitement of the tribe, especially the females, he was able to tell they wanted the new male to win, for then he'd be a member of the tribe, where the other male would be dead. He just grunted his distain and headed back to his cave. The new male didn't threaten him, he was the provider of fire; this male would provide nothing more than more offspring, which meant more need of his fire...that worked for him.

On his way back to his cave he spotted a rock rolling down the hill toward the water and he sat still, watching it move. He then moved to another group of rocks and gave them a small shove and watched some roll easily, others not so easily. His mind whirled with thought and he was excited and then scurried to his cave to put his idea to work, not caring that the newcomer had won his way into the tribe.

*************

He hated to be bothered, but it was getting dark as the sun went to go sleep, and the request for his fire was being demanded by the tribe. So, he huffed and headed over to the cave entrance and examined the offerings. He accepted the food but not the company for he wanted to think and though the sun-haired females typically made him hungry for their company, they did not tonight. He gave them a stick of fire to make them go away, and then he went back into his cave, warmed by the bigger fire he kept alive. It was then he noticed that he was not alone.

"Out!" he snarled at the newcomer who did not seem to know his place in the tribe yet.

The newcomer had magical eyes that changed from looking like the land during the warm time, when things were new, and the trees were in bloom, to the land itself and possessed a smile that did something inside of him, which it shouldn't for the bearing of teeth was usually a challenge, but his was not challenging but...warm. The dark-haired newcomer tapped his chest. "J'oN"

"Out," he snarled again, suddenly not liking this feeling, for he had only felt it once for a golden female that died from cold, too stupid to accept his fire.

The newcomer was either stupider than most or braver than most for he didn't leave, he seemed happy and pointed at him and said, "Out?"

He pointed at himself and snarled, "R'ney!" He then pointed to the newcomer and snarled even louder, "out!" He was taken by surprise when J'oN got excited when he snarled; this was new. Most cowered or left at his snarling, no one had ever been excited by it and this puzzled him, causing him to tilt his head in consideration of J'oN.

J'oN picked up some of the stones R'ney was working on and looked them over seeing they were now circular and smooth. He ran a finger over the smooth surface and looked at R'ney with awe. "Nice."

R'ney felt warmth fill him with the praise and puffed up with pride. "Me do," he said moving to show J'oN what he was doing. He picked up a big stone and then a stronger stone tied to a thick stick and swung it down on the plain stone, cracking some of the pieces off. He then got so caught up in his work, that for a moment he forgot the newcomer, or he thought he had when he saw J'oN no longer paying attention to him. This made him mad so he growled, not sure why he wanted this male's attention.

J'oN only gave that smile and then rolled the round, smooth stone toward him. When it moved fast across the cave, J'oN jumped up and down with excitement, his eyes bright as he looked at R'ney and pointed at the round stone. "Go!"

R'ney had made several of the round smooth stones and sat in awe of J'oN's excitement when he rolled them across the cave. When he had rolled the group across the cave he leaped with excitement around R'ney, patting him and nuzzling him while he shouted, "More!"

R'ney felt good at having J'oN so excited with his creation and went to finish what he had started when another group of females came to his cave for fire. He snorted in displeasure at being interrupted, but before he could move, he saw J'oN take a small stick of fire and hand it over to them snarling at them to leave. R'ney found he liked what he saw. He turned back to what he was doing, puffed with pride, and decided to make an even bigger round smooth stone.

It was very dark outside and the big round stone was only half done, when he felt a pull on his arm. He turned to see J'oN offering him food and drink from one of the carved out gourds. He accepted it and felt better for it. Then J'oN pulled him to the pile of fur he normally used to sleep and was surprised to be pushed down into it, and then have J'oN curled around him as if protecting him. He was torn between anger for he was male too, and warmth, for it felt nice to be protected for a change. Being sleepy won, instead of snarling over being protected like a female, and had the best rest he had in a long time.

**************

"WEEEEEEEEE LLLLLLAAAAA!"

R'ney snapped awake to the loud sound and saw across from him J'oN was rolling the larger round smooth stones across the cave as fast as he could, leaping in excitement with each one.

R'ney scratched as he yawned feeling something he had not felt in a long time – happy. He was not sure why having J'oN here made him such, but he was smart and smart males did not stop that which made them happy. J'oN was smart too, as R'ney discovered when he saw J'oN use the special stones to create fire. At first R'ney was scared that J'oN would take his place as provider of fire to the tribe, but J'oN never shared his skill with anyone, only handing out sticks of R'ney's fire for food or other items... rarely would he let a female or two enter the cave in exchange for some fire. Most nights, they kept each other company, and though different, it was still good.

R'ney also discovered it didn't take much to make J'oN happy. Make more round smooth stones or other smooth shaped stones. He made J'oN very excited when he made him a banger; a large strong stone tired skillfully on a thick stick, with the end of the stone made sharp. Many of the males and some of the females envied J'oN for that and R'ney reaped the benefits of J'oN's excitement that night!

Today, R'ney could see J'oN was very happy with the round smooth stones. He then saw J'oN placing a piece of wood on top of some of them and moved them together, excited. Then after a long moment, it was R'ney that was excited. "Yes!" he shouted and moved to gather some of the round stones and repeated what J'oN had done.

"Weeela," J'oN shouted with excitement.

R'ney snorted in amusement. "Weela?" Then shook his head. "Stone."

J'oN tilted his head as if in thought. Then gave one of those smiles that did things inside of R'ney while is eyes sparkled with mischief. "Wheel!"

R'ney shook his head no. "Stone."

"Wheel, wheel, wheel!" J'oN sing-songed as he rolled a few of the smaller ones across the floor of the cave, leaping in excitement, as he watched them go. He then leaped on to R'ney and nuzzled him and hugged him. "Wheel, R'ney. Wheel!"

R'ney was happy when J'oN hugged him and touched him and if indulging him would get this kind of reaction, who was he to stop it. "Wheel," he agreed and allowed J'oN to show his excitement, for after all he didn't think the name would catch on so didn't worry about it. Just before falling back asleep after J'oN had brought him pleasure, he wondered what J'oN would do if he found a way for him to move more then one wheel at the same time?

THE END

Next: Working For Scale