Primitive Man

Others laughed hearing Ayra talk like that because even they understood that the mother and son duo was rather overprotective about Ayra.

"We were just worried about you," Garnt finished, his voice filled with concern. Ayra smiled and reached out to pat both Gundo and Garnt on the shoulders.

"I know, and I appreciate it. But you have to trust that I can handle a simple meeting without any problems," she reassured them. The others in the room nodded in agreement, knowing that Ayra was a capable and strong individual.

As the meeting continued, Gundo and Garnt still kept a close eye on Ayra, but they gradually relaxed, realizing that she was indeed handling the situation just fine. Sometimes, it was hard for them to let go of their protective instincts, but they understood that Ayra needed her independence and space.

Every important figure in the village, including the leader of blacksmiths, woodworkers, lumberjacks, farmers, animal breeders, and animal caregivers, had gathered for the council meeting. The meeting was held in the central square under the shade of a massive oak tree. The council was a diverse group, each representing a vital aspect of the village\'s survival and prosperity.

Garnt gathered all of these people because he had an important announcement to make. It was a decision that would completely change the direction of some people\'s lives and he needed to listen if they had any objections.

Garnt cleared his throat and continued, addressing the diverse group of people gathered under the shade of the massive oak tree. "Everyone, listen carefully. I have plans to expand our village, but for that, I will need to assign some of our residents to sub-villages that I\'m hoping to develop around mines, hot spring areas and mainly around the sea."

He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. He could see the confusion and uncertainty in the faces of the people before him. They had come to trust him as their leader, but this was a significant change, and they needed more explanation.

"Now, I understand that this might seem daunting and even uncomfortable to some of you," Garnt continued, his voice filled with reassurance. "Moving to these new areas might mean living in less comfortable conditions for a while. The sub-villages won\'t be as developed as our main village, at least not at first."

The gathered individuals exchanged glances, some concern evident on their faces. Garnt, knowing that trust was crucial at this moment, pressed on. "However, I want you all to understand that as long as you\'re willing to lend your support and hard work to this endeavour, I promise that we will work tirelessly to develop these new areas, just as we\'ve done here. With your help, we can make these sub-villages as thriving and prosperous as our main one."

Rona, who had been quietly listening, stepped forward and added her support to Garnt\'s words. "I believe in Garnt\'s vision, and I trust that with the skills and determination of our community, we can make these sub-villages not just livable but thriving places to call home."

The others in the room began to look at each other, exchanging nods and silent conversations. They knew Garnt had always put their well-being and the village\'s prosperity first. After a moment of contemplation, the first person, the leader of the blacksmiths, stepped forward and spoke for the group. "We trust you, Garnt. If you believe in this plan, then we\'re with you."

One by one, the leaders of the various groups voiced their support for the expansion plan. They knew that challenges lay ahead, but they also knew that with their collective effort, they could overcome anything. Garnt felt a swell of gratitude for the trust his community had in him.

"Thank you, everyone," Garnt said, his voice filled with sincerity. "So, I will send the names of the families that will migrate to those places."

With his last words, Garnt ended the meeting and personally talked with Rona about the strange phenomena that kept happening around the giant egg, they brought from the deep hot spring caves. Garnt and Rona made their way to the small shed on the outskirts of the settlement. It was a quiet evening, the air filled with a sense of anticipation. They approached the shed in silence, both lost in their thoughts.

Once inside, the dim light revealed the source of their concern: a giant egg, its surface shimmering with the sunlight that kept seeping through the small holes of the roof.

Rona turned to Garnt, her brow furrowed with worry. "Garnt, it\'s been like this for a few days now. Maro won\'t leave the egg\'s side. It\'s almost as if she\'s trying to protect it."

Garnt knelt down next to the loyal pet wolf, Maro, who lay curled up next to the egg, her eyes closed in peaceful slumber. He couldn\'t help but smile, despite his concern. "She\'s been like this for days? Well, it seems she\'s taken a liking to our newfound treasure. It\'s somewhat cute, don\'t you think?"

Rona nodded, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "It is, in a strange way. But should we disturb her? What if something happens to the egg?"

Garnt considered this for a moment, his gaze shifting between Maro and the giant egg. "I don\'t want to wake her, Rona. She seems so content guarding it. We should keep a close eye on the egg instead. Perhaps it\'s best to let her be for now. She\'s been with me through thick and thin, and if she\'s decided to protect this egg, I trust her instincts."

Rona agreed, understanding the bond between Garnt and Maro. "Alright, Garnt. Let\'s do that then."

It wasn\'t that Garnt forgot about the threats looming over his village and his life, but at the same time, he had no choice but to move forward. After all, there\'s no point in being paranoid all the time and halting his own development. So, he expected that on the day Amel, Moga, or that giant dinosaur reappeared, he would have enough power to deal with them.

***

"Moga, do you understand what I\'m talking about?" Amel spoke as if he were talking to a baby, as that\'s exactly what it felt like when having a conversation with Moga.

After the attack and the strange power-up he had experienced, Moga\'s vocabulary had been reduced to only nods and grunts. Amel had worried that he wouldn\'t understand his orders in the future, but he was lucky that, over time, Moga began to regain some of his personality.

It was a small step, but it meant the world to Amel since he needed a strong man like Moga to survive, no matter what kind of knowledge he had.

One evening, as the bonfire began to give heat to the coldness of the night, Moga ventured to speak again. "Garnt," he whispered, the name barely escaping his lips.

Amel\'s eyes widened with surprise and hope. "You remember Garnt, don\'t you? That man is our enemy. He is the reason why you\'re like this."

Moga nodded, a hint of emotion flickering in his eyes. "What happened that day? I..."

*Cough

Moga tried to speak more, but he felt like puking blood all over the place with his whole body aching, so he just kept listening to Amel.

Amel hesitated, as the memories of that fateful day flooded back. "We were ambushed by a mysterious creature, Moga. You... you tried to fight that animal. It ruined everything for us, and it also changed you. It\'s all Garnt\'s fault that we are living like this. We were supposed to win that day."

Moga\'s eyes welled with confusion, and his hunched back seemed to sag even more. "And my body?" he asked, his voice quivering with confusion.

Amel observed the physical changes that had occurred. "Your body, Moga, it\'s been transforming. You\'ve grown larger and more animalistic. Your back is hunched, and your hair has started to resemble that of a wild creature. It\'s like you\'re becoming something different, something more powerful."

Moga looked at his own hands, studying the hair-covered palms. He knew that he had to come to terms with this new reality, but it was a lot to process.

"How did this happen? I feel a lot of pain inside my body, but also I feel strong. A lot strong, almost like I don\'t have limits," It was still a question to him, so Amel saw this as the perfect chance to make Moga understand about his real position in the future they are going to build together.

"You should be grateful. I saved you, so listen to me before acting like a wild animal again. This time, I will form the plan and you just act on it. Believe me when I say, I will ruin Garnt, Rona and all the other people that he loves. I can\'t wait to kill Garnt in front of that cheating bitch,"