Neanderthal Story:
It was a very dark and stormy night. The snow pounded on our cave and did not let up. I was the leader. I had two sons who often came with me to hunt for our family. My wife was also here, warming herself next to the lit fire. She was called lakish. I was named dake, after my father who died years ago in a snowstorm while hunting. Me and my sons were wondering when we could begin to hunt outside. This snowfall might even last for the remainder of the day. The rest of the group and my wife were starving. I couldn't blame her. I was too. I grabbed my long spear with a shaft as high as me. My sons were looking at me with a confused look on both of their faces. I yelled at them to follow. We had no choice. We had to bring home food, or else hunger will finish us off and the rest of my people. They both rushed to find their spears. I called their names to hurry. They were twins named Kashi and Dash. Now handling both of their spears, we ran into the snow. My wife, now noticing that we were gone, called after me. I didn't reply. I wanted her to be safe in the cave.
We and my hunting party were very lucky today. When walking by an ice-covered river, one of my sons yelled. He had spotted a mammoth herd going north, near our cave. We began to run across the wide river. I heard a cry of pain, and looked back to see that one of my sons had slipped on the ice. The ice covering the river was shattering under his weight. I yelled at him. He began to get up, however it was way too late. The entire ice near him shattered, sending him into the freezing creek. We watched, helpless, as he drowned in the river. We sobbed on the other side of the river. We had to keep going, if we wanted to save the rest of our family. We walked away, tears still dripping and falling into the cursed snow. We didn't bury him. Of course we couldn't.
The mammoth herd drew close to our hiding place, in a forest bush that was completely covered with snow. We observed the herd. We were looking for the weakest of the herd. Easier to catch basically. That was our ambition. I finally saw a short mammoth coming into view. I whispered to my son in a high-pitched tone. I explained how we would catch it, and we set to work. I grabbed a small stick and started to rub it against another stick, but way bigger and wider. I watched as the larger stick caught fire. I then threw it towards the lead mammoth, sending it running the other direction. The others followed. My son was waiting on the other side of the forest. He dived out of the way of the large mammoth, then stabbed the short one ruthlessly with his sharp spear when it came running towards him. We picked up the carcus, then dragged it back to our cave. Our family was in joy of us coming home, however, very sad at the same time when they heard about one of my son's death. We ate the meat, and cherished it every little bite. We watched the storm clear up while eating. Another hunt will be in store for tomorrow, I then thought.
Fact List:
1. They were very intelligent hunters
2. They made fires
3. Made tools beneficial to one job
4. Understood loss of another
5. They had leaders and hierochy
6. They could communicate