The Forest "Piglet Invitation" Operation

The morning mist had yet to fully disperse, but the Fire Tribe's camp was already awake. Led by their captain, Jianya, the ten members of Hunting Team One were making their final preparations. They checked the tools in their hands-not heavy stone spears and sharp stone axes, but large nets woven from supple hemp rope, along with back baskets lined with soft, dry grass. Today, their task was not to hunt and kill, but to "invite guests"-to "invite" the litter of wild boar piglets in West Mountain Hollow back to the tribe's taming pen.

Daya was among them too, excited but nervous, constantly adjusting the straps of the basket on his back. This was his first time taking part in such a special mission.

"Remember," Jianya said, his voice low and grave as his gaze swept over every team member, "we want live, unharmed piglets. Move fast and quietly, and try not to alert the mother. If anything goes wrong, retreat first. Safety comes first."

"Yes, Captain!" everyone answered softly.

Like a band of ghosts, the team slipped soundlessly into the forest. Avoiding the well-trodden game trails, they chose a more concealed route toward West Mountain Hollow. Sunlight filtered through the dense branches and leaves, casting dappled spots of light across the forest floor. Shangou, who was in charge of scouting, walked at the very front, keeping his body low as he carefully examined the traces on the ground-broken grass, hoofprints, and fresh droppings.

"Captain, look here." A patch of soil had been rooted up. "Wild boar tracks. More than one, and there's a big one."

Jianya crouched, rubbed some soil between his fingers, then examined the direction and depth of the hoofprints before judging, "These were left yesterday evening. They should be resting in the hollow up ahead. Stay sharp, everyone. We're almost there."

The atmosphere immediately grew tenser. Everyone knew that a mother beast with young was at her most vigilant and ferocious. They slowed their steps, hiding behind trees and bushes as they edged toward their target against the wind.

Through gaps in the bushes ahead, they could already see the sheltered hollow. Sure enough, a powerfully built sow with coarse, stiff bristles lay in a pile of dry grass, grunting contentedly. Beside her, seven or eight piglets with brown stripes huddled together, playfully nudging one another and making faint little chirps.

Their targets were right before them! Everyone instinctively softened their breathing.

Jianya made a complicated hand signal. Understanding immediately, the team members began spreading out to encircle them. In pairs, they held hemp-rope nets and approached slowly from the flanks, keeping their sights on the sow in case she suddenly attacked and injured someone. Another young team member readied his back basket, prepared to assist at any moment.

Time seemed to turn thick and sluggish. The hunters responsible for casting the nets held their breath, their feet making not a sound on the soft fallen leaves. They were only a dozen or so steps from the piglets.

Just then, a mountain breeze swept past, carrying an unfamiliar scent. The sow abruptly raised her head, twitching her snout warily as a low warning rumbled in her throat.

"Now!" Jianya made his decision on the spot, barking the order in a low voice.

The hunters, already prepared, suddenly sprang from their hiding places. Like giant birds swooping on prey, two hemp-rope nets fell precisely over the litter of piglets! At the same time, several team members pressed forward, shouting threateningly in an attempt to draw the sow's attention.

"ROAR!" Seeing her young attacked, the sow instantly flew into a rage and let out a deafening bellow. Her hind hooves tore at the ground, and she lowered her head and charged straight at the nearest hunter! Her protruding tusks gleamed coldly in the sunlight, her momentum terrifying.

"Stop her!" Jianya roared, raising his stone spear. Rather than thrusting it forward, however, he slammed it hard against the ground with a tremendous bang.

The other team members followed suit, striking tree trunks with their stone spears and shouting loudly, creating an enormous racket. This was the strategy they had agreed on beforehand: rather than meeting her head-on, they would frighten her off with noise and intimidation. Faced with the confusion and threats created by several hunters, the sow's charge faltered, and she seemed somewhat hesitant and agitated.

Seizing the chance, the hunters who had netted the piglets quickly drew their nets closed, trapping them securely despite their shrill cries and struggles. Daya and another team member immediately rushed forward, deftly catching the piglets one by one from the nets and carefully placing them in the baskets lined with soft grass.

"One, two, three... six! We caught six!" a team member exclaimed softly, his face flushed with excitement.

"Retreat! Hurry!" Seeing that they had achieved their goal, Jianya immediately gave the order.

With no desire to prolong the fight, the team members took their spoils and swiftly retreated along the way they had come. The sow circled restlessly several times, letting out angry, unwilling howls. But as she watched the hunters rapidly recede into the distance, she ultimately did not pursue them, merely rooting at the lingering scents with her snout and whimpering mournfully.

Only after running far enough away did everyone stop to catch their breath, their faces carrying the joy of success and the sweat of lingering fear.

"Good grief, that sow was terrifying when she went wild." One hunter patted his chest, still shaken.

"We were lucky this time. No injuries, and we caught six!" another hunter said with a grin, patting the basket on his back. Uneasy grunts came from the piglets inside.

Jianya smiled too and checked the piglets in the baskets. Apart from being frightened, they were fine. "Well done! Let's make them a comfortable nest when we get back!"

When Hunting Team One returned to the tribe carrying six lively little wild boar piglets-though at the moment they were merely grunting in their baskets-they immediately caused a sensation. The tribespeople crowded around, looking at these future "meat reserves" with curiosity and delight.

Hearing the news, Wang Yan hurried over. Looking at the trembling little lives in the baskets, he personally directed everyone in building a sturdier, more sheltered little nest from wood and stones inside the taming pen, lining it with clean, dry grass and settling the piglets inside.