Grasping the small piece of flint tightly in his left hand Mixtli cautiously chipped away at the now sharpening edge. A crack appeared and with another blow a small flake dislodged and fell amongst the pile at his feet.
Naked apart from the skin from some long forgotten meal wrapped around his waist Mixtli continued to chip away at what would soon become a new axe to add to the tribes possessions. At five feet, Mixtli was already the height of his father who was of average size amongst the Haluaxtyl tribe and before reaching maturity Mixtli would grow another three inches. His dark skin matched his eyes and was only offset by light blond hair. Still two years away from initiation into manhood, Mixtli was clearly the best tool maker amongst the Haluaxtyl. Some of his creations had even been traded to other tribes the Haluaxtyl had encountered on their yearly journey, although the best had remained with the Haluaxtyl. One such tribe that the Haluaxtyl traded with, the Silauko, lived not far from their Spring camping area, where a nearby river entered the ocean. The Silauko, unlike the Haluaxtyl had a permanent settlement that although rich in food lacked the natural deposits of flint which were found inland. The tools Mixtli made were therefore a valuable commodity and both tribes benefited from the trade. In return for the flint tools the Silauko offered smoked fish, lobsters as well as shells and a highly prized purple die harvested from the shell fish living in the nearby ocean.
He efficiently finished sharpening the axe head and wiped sap from the nearby tree over both the narrow end of the flint and in a carved hole in a long thin, sharpened and fire hardened stake. Carefully holding the stake in one hand and the rock in the other he forced the narrow sap covered end of the flint into the hole in the stake. Holding it solidly in place he dipped a long thin string previously weaved by his sister into the sap and then wrapped it firmly around both the flint and stake securing the axe head in place. Pulling tightly on the finely weaved string, he tied the loose end to the stake and once the axe head was securely tied he wiped even more sap around the binding. The now finished axe he left to dry for a day and a night, after which it would be ready to use. The tribe required a steady flow of axes and other tools such as knives, spear tips, etc to be manufactured by Mixtli and his father since they were used in all aspects of the tribes life, both purely for survival in catching and killing food and in the many religious ceremonies that seemed to dominate the Haluaxtyl�s day to day life. Such steady use lead to the tools being worn out quckly and Mixtli and his family were required to supply the tribe with many new flint tools, the construction of which occupied most of their time. The importance of Mixtli�s father and family to the Haluaxtyl was recognised by their exclusion from the hunting parties and their right to eat what others caught, for without the tools Mixtli�s family made, the catch would be considerably less. Ranked third in status behind only two other families, Mixtli, his sister and parents were afforded privilege beyond those of most amongst the tribe.
Semi Nomadic the Haluaxtyl walked and hunted along a route their ancestors had followed for hundreds of years, It formed a ragged circle between four camping sights the tribe used each year. One for each season, each camp separated by a four week walk give or take a day or two. As the seasons changed so to did the supply of food and as one area�s food diminished they moved onto the next, and so on. The winters were usually spent huddled in caves, wrapped in the furs the hunters brought back. Although cold the tribe rarely went hungry, the snow allowed easy tracking of prey and the hunters rarely returned empty handed. The land the Halauxtyl occupied was not paradise and food was not plentiful however all that they needed to survive was supplied to them. Life was not easy and allowed little time for leisure. The tribe was now, on the move. Winter had ended and according to the elderly tribe Shaman entirely due to his pleas to Xactatactyl the Sun god who had driven the cold away, although Mixtli was sceptical of this claim.
They had been walking for perhaps four weeks and although initially glad of the change in surroundings would be even happier to settle back into a permanent or at least semi permanent existence. The spring camping area was a small flat clearing situated in a valley next to a stream. Most of the tribe constructed or in the case of the chief and shaman watched the construction of lean-to�s and small huts made from sticks leaves and mud. By the time they would return in a years time these flimsy structures were long gone in the winters floods. It never occurred to the Haluaxtyl that if they built slightly further from the stream and with a little more care only small repairs would be required each year, rather than completely new construction. Such thought was beyond them for they were bound by tradition and could not deviate from that which had always been. The same could be said for most of the Haluaxtyl, they did what those before them had always done. Existing, but nothing more.
Returning to the small clearing that was used as the previous nights camp, Mixtli noticed his sister Chachiuhnene awake and attempting to coax a flame from the coals of last nights fire. Smiling to her before placing what little flint was unused amongst his other possessions he began to search the immediate vicinity for fire wood. Both youngsters were excited at the prospect of setting up a new camp even though they had done so many times before. The surroundings were familiar and both knew that the Spring camping area would be reached by early morning.
The morning meal was consumed quickly and their meagre possessions, mostly consisting of half chipped flint pieces and twine, collected before, along with the rest of the Haluaxtyl they set off for the valley that would be home for the next two months.
Mixtli and Chachiuhnene walked at the head of the group anxious to complete their journey. The members of the Haluaxtyl, sixty three in number trailed out behind them for perhaps 5 hundred metres. Although a large tribe they all travelled together, instinctively rising and beginning the daily journey almost simultaneously.
Mixtli stopped as he noticed Chachiuhnene slowing then stopping completely as she gazed into the distance.
"Come on Chachiuhnene, what are you doing?" He asked.
"Look over there Mixtli" She replied as she pointed in the general direction they were travelling. They had nearly reached the valley that was their destination, only a small hill had to be climbed then it would be an easy walk down into the valley.
Mixtli looked up the slope which was densely wooded with small twisted trees with bark that flaked off continually and leaves the size of a fingernail. The bark had many uses for the Haluaxtyl and its availability was one of the reasons for camping in this area. Rising lazily into the cloudless blue sky were at least four columns of smoke. Clearly man made and an indication the Haluaxtyl�s traditional land was now occupied.
"Stay here. Tell pa and the Elders what you see as they come" whispered Mixtli, suddenly dropping into a crouch and speaking in a conspiratorial tone. Chachiuhnene remained standing until she was pulled to the ground by her brother.
"Hey, what are you doing" she said, matching his tone unconsciously but not pleased.
"They might see us" replied Mixtli.
"Who might see us"
"I don�t know, whoever is on the other side of the hill. I�m going for a look." Mixtli whispered before running up the hill in a crouch. Although from a distance the trees looked impenetrable in fact the ground was relatively uncluttered and passage through was easy. It had something to do with the fact the small leaves blanketed the ground allowing nothing else to grow. After running most of the way to the top of the hill, Mixtli was puffing as he dropped to the ground just before reaching the top. Crawling the rest of the way he slowly lifted his head above the rock that obstructed his view of the valley below.