I woke up in my tent; it had been a good night for me, and I felt refreshed, full of energy. Today I wanted to do something for Annabel, something that would make her feel special, something that would show her that she was more than just another face in the crowd.
As I stepped out of my tent, I immediately noticed Karlmos watching me again. I was sure he was bothered by me; he never hid it well. His eyes burned with jealousy every time they landed on me, and I could feel the sharp edge of his resentment like a dagger pressed against my back. He wanted to confront me, I could see it, but he didn't dare. For now, all he could do was remain silent and keep watching. That was all he was capable of.
At that moment, Annabel appeared, running toward me with light steps. Beside her, as always, was the same friend I had often seen accompanying her. Annabel's face brightened when she saw me, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. I told her that I had a small surprise for her, and she looked even more curious, leaning closer to hear what I had planned. Before leaving with her, I turned to the young people of the tribe. I handed them some of our weapons and told them to go hunt. "Bring me back the skins of the animals you catch," I ordered. They straightened, nodding eagerly, and with a quick "At once!" they dashed away, their voices filled with youthful excitement. It pleased me to see how much authority my words carried now.
With the younger hunters gone, I took Annabel by the hand and led her to the small pond near Ragno's Haven. She had never seen it before, and she admitted as much, her voice filled with wonder. For me, however, this was the place that had kept me alive when I first arrived in this strange world. Every time I returned to it, memories of survival washed over me.
I removed my helmet, letting the weight of the horned skull rest gently on the ground. I shrugged the hide cloak off my shoulders, setting it aside, and laid my spears within reach. Then I slipped an arm around Annabel's waist, lifting her into my arms as if she weighed no more than a feather, and carried her into the pond. The water was warm, soothing against the skin, and as we waded deeper, our bodies pressed together. Our skin met in soft friction; the cool surface rippled around us like liquid silk. The sound of the water lapping against us created a rhythm , a gentle, calming music that eased the tension in my muscles.
I held her close, feeling the warmth of her body in the cool water, but then a thought struck me, unsettling me for a moment. Annabel had just told me she had never been here before. Yet I remembered clearly the day I killed my first boar, how I thought I saw two women watching from the bushes. Wasn't one of them Annabel? Was I wrong, or was she lying? My memories felt blurred, tangled between what I had lived and what Karo had left behind in my head. Perhaps I was mistaken; perhaps she had her reasons. Why would she lie? I pushed the thought aside , this was not the moment to question her.
We spent our time in gentle touches and small kisses, the kind that made every second feel stretched and infinite. The sweetness of it made the world fade away.
Then I noticed something. We were not alone. Through the branches, I could see Annabel's friend watching us. Her lips parted, teeth catching her lower lip as she bit down gently, almost hungrily. There was a hunger in her eyes that she tried to hide, but I saw it. My thoughts spun: was she angry at Annabel, jealous perhaps? Or was her gaze directed at me, unable to resist what she saw? If I acted on it, what would Annabel think? Would she be hurt, or would she accept it? Questions circled in my head as the water rippled softly around us.
I tried to let time stretch, to savor the moment, but the calm didn't last. Suddenly, the sound of rustling leaves reached my ears. I turned sharply, first assuming it was Annabel's friend stepping forward, but I was wrong. From the shadows of the bushes emerged two hunters , strangers from the rival tribe. They lunged forward without hesitation. My instincts flared, and in an instant, I leapt out of the pond, water splashing violently behind me. I had to protect Annabel. Even if they were only scouts, they were enemies. They were a threat, and threats could not be ignored. I seized my spears, the familiar weight steadying me.
Their weapons were crude: long sticks tipped with sharpened stone. But they swung them with brutal force, each strike intended to crush bone. They were strong , stronger than I had expected. But I was faster, sharper, and more cunning. I kicked the ground hard, sending a spray of dirt and sand into their eyes. They staggered, momentarily blinded, and I knew I had only seconds.
I thrust both my spears forward in a single, deadly motion. One struck true, piercing through the chest of the first hunter. His scream was short, cut off as blood poured down his chest, and he collapsed lifelessly at my feet. The other fell back, hands trembling, his weapon clattering to the ground. He dropped to his knees, eyes wide, begging for his life.
The memory of my own death rushed back , the knife, the blood, the helplessness. No one wanted to die. Not him, not me, not anyone. His voice shook as he pleaded. His fear was raw, honest. And I couldn't kill him. I bound his hands tightly with rope instead, ensuring he could not escape, and warned him he would not be allowed to return to his tribe. He would live, but his path was mine to decide.
With Annabel by my side, I marched back to the village, dragging the captured hunter behind us and leaving the corpse behind as a warning. When we arrived, people rushed toward us, their voices overlapping with frantic questions. I explained everything clearly: how they had ambushed us, how I defended us, how one now stood alive only because I had chosen mercy. The captive was taken to the Chief's cave to be interrogated.
As the crowd began to settle, I saw the young men who had gone hunting earlier. They had finished building my tent, though I had never asked them for more than the animal hides. They told me it was their way of showing me respect, of honoring me. The gesture touched me deeply, filling me with pride. For the first time, I felt the full weight of their admiration. Yet my body betrayed me; the clash had left its mark. During the fight, one of the hunters' clubs had struck my chest. At the time, I hadn't noticed through the rush of adrenaline, but now I could feel the bruise spreading, the dull ache under my ribs with every breath. Still, it was a small price for victory, and I would endure it.
Annabel's friend appeared again, her eyes lingering on me with unspoken words. As Annabel pulled me gently away, I met her friend's gaze and held it. A spark passed between us, undeniable. This wasn't finished; I could feel the storm brewing.
Later, I made my way to the Chief's cave to witness the interrogation. But at the entrance, Karlmos blocked my path with his arm, his face twisted with arrogance. "Know your place," he sneered. "You don't belong here. You've only just arrived. You are nothing." His words dripped with disdain. The tension escalated; we shoved at each other, voices rising. But then I looked around and saw the tribe gathered behind me. Their faces showed concern, but also trust. They stood with me, silently declaring their allegiance. I raised my spear, my voice firm: if Karlmos did not step aside, he would share the fate of the dead hunter. My words were not empty. I meant them.
Karlmos hesitated, and in that hesitation, the truth became clear. He backed away, not out of respect, but out of fear. Because he knew if he didn't, his life would end here. In that moment, I knew I had established my dominance. Karlmos understood it too. I entered the cave and found the captive hunter already dead. Only the Chief remained, his expression weary. He told me he was tired, that the details would come tomorrow. For now, I should rest. I believed him.
Leaving the cave, I returned to my tent, my chest aching where the blow had landed. I lay down on my bedding, the fabric rough against my skin. As I closed my eyes, I forced myself to ignore the pain. Tomorrow there would be more trials, more dangers, more tests of strength. Today, I had defended Annabel. I had defended myself. I had shown mercy, commanded fear, and gained the loyalty of the tribe. Annabel's presence was a light in the dark, but Karlmos's burning stare reminded me that power is never secure. It must be defended, day after day.
For now, I breathed deeply and let sleep take me, heavy and final. Tomorrow, new challenges awaited.