Protohuman tribe with alpha male social arrangement, from the POV of a younger male. Expressing number of important points with regards to sex, assimilation, and war/violence. Would need to be like White Fang or something in that direction. The rugged individualist, but unfortunately the goal isn't remotely to champion what the main character is about. So how to pull it off? Have him commit suicide like in Martin Eder? Neither is it to laugh at him. No room for humor at all... Soothing is more important than interesting... What other way forward? A protohuman wouldn't be very intelligent anyway thus wouldn't be as interesting or at least would be difficult to make him interesting. Gormenghast was boring at first as the characters (except Steerpike) weren't very intelligent/interesting. Barely limped along with gothic setting. This would not have an interesting setting. A bare bones one.