Asklemmy

Glit walked slowly across the plain, eyeing the group of hunters that surrounded the creature. It was large, much too large for the tribe to eat before the meat spoiled.

As he approached he could hear the argument already.

"No, rapal, you take that part! It was your spear that slowed her enough for us to catch her!"

"But it was your arrow that finally brought her down, Jatam, you should have that part for your family! You have 5 younglings!"

They would carry on like this for hours if left to their own devices, none wanting to be seen as greedy.

Glit approached and broke into the conversation,

"Hunters, good hunting," he said loudly, "Karana has smiled upon you today! The beast has laid down it's life for the survival of our people!"

The hunters beamed, proud not only of their work, but now in the secure knowledge of it's righteousness. The hunt has been approved, sanctified by the Storyteller, the one who speaks for the gods. They know they will be rewarded.

The hunters began disemboweling the enormous creature and cutting the choicest sections of meat off of her as Glit began to tell the story of Olana, the great Mother Elephant. He has told this story many times, but the hunters never tire of hearing it. When the work is done, and the story is told, Glit will reward the hunters and walk back to the tribe with them.

Robert Sawyer has a series of science fiction books where there's a parallel universe in which neanderthals ended up ruling the earth instead of modern day humans.

It's been a while since I read them but the fact that you comment itched that part of my brain tells me there might have been a steamy parallel universe crossover scene or two 🤔

I need to start reading again