The morning sun rose slowly over the mountain village, painting the huts and paths in gold. Anna stood in the clearing, observing the tribe as they worked. The children practiced letters and numbers, the adults tended gardens, and hunters prepared traps along the paths. Everything was orderly, yet Anna felt a new need growing in her mind—a way to ensure the tribe remained fair, safe, and united as it grew.
She called a meeting in the largest clearing, near the school hut. Everyone gathered: men, women, elders, and children who could sit quietly. Kate sat on Anna's lap, holding a small figurine she had shaped earlier.
"We have learned many things," Anna began. "We have paths, huts, tools, food, and knowledge. We know how to survive and how to grow. But as our tribe grows, we need something else. We need rules—agreements that keep us safe, fair, and happy."
The elder woman nodded. "Yes. The jungle is wild, and even among us, disagreements can happen. Rules will help everyone know what is fair and how to act."
Anna continued. "Rules are not punishment. They are guides. They help us share resources, respect each other, and make decisions together. For example: who gathers food, who builds huts, who tends the children or gardens. Rules help us care for each other and the tribe as a whole."
Kehnu stepped forward. "We have always helped each other, but sometimes misunderstandings happen. Rules will help us solve them without anger or fear."
Mike added, "And as we explore, plant, and build more paths, rules will help everyone stay safe—so no one gets lost or hurt."
Anna took a deep breath. "Let's start simple. We will decide together on guidelines for sharing food, respecting work, and protecting children and elders. If someone breaks a rule, we do not punish harshly—we teach, remind, and help. Everyone has a voice. Everyone agrees together."
The tribe murmured among themselves, nodding. One of the women said, "We can make a list, write it in symbols or letters, so everyone remembers. Even children can see it and learn."
Anna smiled. "Yes. And over time, we can add more rules as we learn. This is the beginning of a system—our tribe's first laws, written in agreement and care."
They spent the day discussing the first rules:
Share food fairly, especially during scarcity.
Help each other build and maintain huts and paths.
Protect children and elders; everyone teaches the young.
Listen to elders' advice and record knowledge in the school hut.
Solve conflicts peacefully, with guidance from the council of elders.
Children were included in a small way, learning that rules exist to keep the tribe safe and united, and that everyone has a role to play. Kate proudly helped Anna draw simple symbols on a bark board representing each rule.
By evening, the tribe had agreed on the first set of rules, posting the bark boards near the school hut. Everyone touched the boards in respect, a quiet ceremony marking the beginning of governance and fairness.
Anna looked at the tribe, smiling. "Today, we do more than survive," she said softly. "We build a society. One where knowledge, fairness, and care guide our decisions. One where every member—young or old—knows their place and their responsibilities."
Kehnu wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "This is important," he said. "Not just for us, but for generations to come. The jungle will always be wild, but our tribe… will be strong, wise, and united."
As night fell, the firelight reflected on the bark boards, the jungle whispered outside, and the first rules of the tribe stood firm—guiding survival, cooperation, and fairness in a growing civilization.