Deep within the warm forests of the southern lands lived one of the strangest and largest creatures of the Stone Age—the Giant Ground Sloth. Bigger than a modern bear, with long curved claws and thick fur, the sloth moved slowly but was incredibly strong. It could pull down entire trees to reach leaves and fruit.
One morning, the Sunstone Clan discovered that their food storage had been disturbed. Fruits were missing, and several branches around the camp were broken. Tracks in the soft earth showed huge footprints—too large for a bear.
“It was a ground sloth,” said the elder Maka. “A big one.”
The clan gathered to discuss what to do. The sloth had not attacked anyone, but it was getting too close to their home. If it continued, it might destroy their shelters or eat all their food.
Two young hunters, Nalo and Fen, volunteered to track it. They followed the massive footprints deep into the forest. For hours, they walked through thick vines and tall trees until they finally saw it—the giant sloth, standing upright as it reached for fruit hanging from a branch.
Nalo whispered, “It’s huge.”
The sloth’s fur was brown and shaggy. Its claws were long and sharp, capable of tearing bark from trees. But its face looked gentle, almost peaceful.
“We don’t want to hurt it,” Fen said. “We only want it to leave the camp alone.”
They decided to scare it away instead of hunting it. They gathered dry leaves and branches, then lit a small fire downwind from the sloth. The smoke drifted toward the creature. The sloth sniffed the air, confused. It slowly climbed down the tree and moved away.
Nalo and Fen followed at a distance, using fire and loud noises to guide the sloth toward a valley far from the clan’s camp. The giant sloth moved slowly, but its size made each step powerful.
Finally, after several hours, the sloth reached a large grove rich with fruit trees. It stopped, sniffed the air, and began eating peacefully.
Fen smiled. “This place is perfect for it. Lots of food. Far from us.”
But just as they turned to leave, they heard shouting. Another clan—the River People—had seen the sloth and were preparing to hunt it. They believed the great beast would provide enough meat to feed their entire group for weeks.
Nalo stepped forward. “Wait! It did nothing wrong. It only wants to eat.”
The River People hesitated. They respected Nalo’s bravery. After discussing, the two clans agreed: the sloth would be left in peace, and the clans would trade food instead.
Together, they returned to the grove and watched the sloth lazily reach for another branch. It blinked slowly, unaware of how close it had come to danger.
Back at their own camp, Nalo and Fen shared their story. The elders smiled and said, “Strength is not always the answer. Sometimes, wisdom guides survival.”
From that day, both clans protected the grove, ensuring that the gentle giant could live safely in the forest. And the sloth never again wandered near the camp.
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