Shanidar, Safe Return by Cecilia Dougherty Episode 2 of Paleolithic Speculative Fiction 2023 Web Site

About the Story

Eurasia, 40,000 years ago. As the story begins, a band of Cro-Magnons have just invaded a nearby Neanderthal camp, falsely claiming that the Neanderthals (Neanders) were planning to steal meat, skins and ivory from the Cro-Magnon mammoth hunt. The Cro-Magnons (Magnons) visit the Neander camp with the intent of chasing them out of this rich valley. As they approach the camp with axes and knives, their rage gets the better of them and they end up murdering every Neanderthal in sight.

You, the reader, are a young Neanderthal woman named Haizea. You have escaped the massacre and are on the run with your son, Eneko, and your Magnon partner, Esti. Esti's best friend, Oihana, has come with you. Follow the story and meet the characters from the Deep Past by choosing links at the end of each story passage. Select more links, going both forwards and backwards, to reveal more of the story.

Not for mobile screens. Best on notebook/iPad, laptop and computer.

Game Details