"......"

"Fuck..."

It took me a while to comprehend meaning of the single particular footprint in the mud.

Its actually luck, that the owner of the foot stepped into this piece of mud, because there isn't really much of it around.

But that doesn't matter. This track has to belong to a human. A human. The same species as me. After months of loneliness, I am about to meet someone to talk with. To communicate. To share thoughts. To socialize.

And I wouldn't comply, if there was some pretty girl.

Not that I want only this, but it also belongs to being human. And with other humans.

Or so I thought, but following the track was harder than expected. The trail from blood quickly disappeared and the terrain, full of moss and fallen branches with bushes of fern here and there haven't been the best to let footprints remain on it. Not for sorry excuse for tracker I'd been. Ok, it may haven't been so bad, since I have been living in the forest for some considerable time and man gets some experiences. Still, far away from people of nature, which know their business.

I followed the trail and lost myself several times following it. Suddenly, I felt something like sixth sense or so. The sudden wave of uneasiness made me shiver and stop.

I carefully scanned my surroundings for any possible threat.

It was just small piece of puzzle, which didn't belong to the whole picture, but.... There! Movement! I instinctively grabbed for my assault rifle, lazily hanging on my sling.

The threat came out from its hideout as it considered more hiding unnecessary.

And it consisted from a party of 6 creatures.

They walked from behind the trees, while having arrows prepared in the strings of their bows.

[Bows?]

And yes, the probably were those I followed.

Beings of same species as me. Humans.

"This one is weird, I have never seen such a weird looking human "

"What is it? Who is it?"

From their reactions, I have derived, that they have never seen a white man. Or man in uniform and tactical vest.

By the way, I understood everything they said because of the language skill I have.

Those guys were, how to say it correctly....eh, let's say it incorrectly. They were short, fat, hairy, dirty and probably even smelly. In their faces were traits of Asian people and also little bit of European traits. Overall, they were well-built, muscles on the right places, even while fat.

[Ok, let's try to say hello]

"Hello, my name is John and I pose no threat"

"He spoke, he can speak" said one of them.

"What do we do?" asked another.

"This thing could be dangerous" warned one of them "do you remember the myths?"

"Hey guys, I can hear you. And I understand what you say. I assure you I don't want problems and I am alone, how can one guy be a threat?" I tried to break the ice.

"The way he speaks is clearly suspicious.

You say you are alone? You say you can survive in the forest on your own? Without tribe? Because if there are more of you, you are lying. And even the strongest warriors can't survive alone for long time. How do you explain, intruder?"

[Damn, that freaking right. This guy might be primitive, but he's damn smart]

"Let's say, I have some means. And I am really powerful"

"So you are powerful. That makes you threat. Brothers, kill him!" (Guy 3)

"Hey hey hey, stop it Lero. Do you want to make spirits angry? Or do you want to make gods angry? If you do, the whole tribe will suffer. And I suppose you know what will that mean for you." (Guy 1)

"But this thing is clearly dangerous!" (G3-Lero)

"Who are you to tell it? Are you elder? Or are you priest?" (Guy 1)

"So what do you suppose?" (Lero)

"I don't know" (Guy 1)

"What about we take him to the elder? (Guy 2)

"Are you crazy?!" (L)

"Yes, this is not good idea" (G4)

"And what else we can do?" (G2)

"If I may, let's take him to the elder. But he will have to go with his eyes covered and he won't go into the tribe" (G1)

"Good" (L)

"I agree" (G4)

"Hey, intruder, you can choose. Either you'll go with us, or we fight. Choose" (G1)

"I want neither of these two" (John)

"So we fight? At least, you can prove your power" (Lero)

"Ehh....No" (John)

"So come, or die" (Lero)

"Be me you, I wouldn't be so sure who will die" (J)

"You bast-" (L)

"Lero!" (G1, G2)

"Okey, I'll come. But no covered eyes"

"So we have an agreement. You don't act stupid, we won't attack. By the way, is thaht the dark owl, you have in your backpack?" (G1)

"Yes, her mom died and I am caring about her now. Whatever, lead the way" (J)

An hour later:

We came to the small spring, which created a small lake. There, where the clear water poured into the same clear lake, stood big shrine. It was made from several big stones, each about half a ton, laying on each other, creating a stone circle. This circle, high enough to reach my hips, was used as foundation for the roof, made from logs as a frame and leaves as and cover. In the middle of the shrine, stood the highest of all the stones, which was also the altar. All the logs were supported by this great stone in the middle. Overall, this building was imposing, if you consider the fact, that these people have yet to discover metals.

"Here you'll wait" (G1)

"Alright, am I allowed to go inside?"

"You have to go inside. But before you go, I must warn you. This is sacred place, where our tribe talks to spirits and gods. If you violate it, you won't only angry us, but also spirits and gods. And you don't want any of this." (G1)

"Yes, I understand."

And so I went in.