***
As soon as the detachment returned to the camp, the sentinels immediately informed Brun about the events of the previous night: about the flash and the newborn star, about the leader’s campaign to the Temple of the Creator, about what the tribesmen had heard, how the elders had spoken about the premonition of Zavrini. As if the spirits of the ancestors suddenly turned to the elders and shamans.
The news of the star did not surprise Brun. He and the hunters also spotted a star and lightning. But the rumor about the mysterious urge was very strange. What the spirits were talking about, none of the sentinels knew. The watchmen only heard out of the corner of their ear how the elders talked about the spirits. In addition, something strange happened to Illy, the young beater, during the persecution of the Polosuns: she was suddenly overtaken by unity and insight at the same time. At least that’s how Brun and the other hunters in the squad took it.
How are you, Illy? – the leader ran his hand through the strands of the maiden, straightening the tangled black curls. – Are you not hungry?
She was lying on the bed. Her eyes were still transformed into the strange appearance of Zavrini’s eyes: the squirrels shimmered with shades of scarlet, and the black irises seemed to merge with the pupils and gave the pale face of the mature huntress an eerie and at the same time captivating charm. The sight of the young maiden, like a predatory gaze piercing with determination, froze Brun’s soul, and with a long contemplation of her gaze, a chilling shiver ran through the body of the leader of the Great Hunt.
It’s all right, Brun. Until you’re hungry. But you look terrible,» Illy answered with a grin. «If it wasn’t for your voice, I wouldn’t have believed it was you.» Her cheekbones and the scaly lines under her eyes puckered up in a smile. – This is so strange. The eyes of the ancestors are not what I imagined,» the maiden spread her hands. Everything is so pale in here. Everything but you.» She gently touched the leader’s cheek. «You are completely different, Brun… Your flesh… And those sounds in my ears. I can hear your heart beating. I can hear you, Brun. And what is happening outside I hear… And the fire, Brun! Fire – it is very strange, as if it was created from luminous dust.
«Don’t worry, Illy, I sent for Inga. She will cure your eyes,» the kinsman assured.
The young lady nodded.
«Will you tell everyone how good I was at tracking down the reptiles?»
«Of course I will!» You’re doing great, Illy! Now rest. Try to sleep,» Brun answered and hugged the beater.
Having risen to the House of Hunters, Brun’s detachment lit fires and lamps. Trouble immediately began in the settlement. The Pathfinders went to the wells for water, the rest bustled about in the huts. In the clearing in front of the tents, the hunters piled up the Polosuns, who had fallen in the grove. This time there was plenty of prey, and the sentinels were very surprised.
For six nights, the detachment hunted down two dozen lizards, and these reptiles were dexterous rogues: striped herbivores, slightly larger than the knees of adults, knew how to hide in time from an alien gaze and always moved silently. Inhabited in small flocks of five to ten lizards, the Stripers were careful to ensure that no one approached them. And if suddenly the flock was in danger, then there were always reptiles in it, which, risking for the sake of the family, deliberately attracted an unfriendly gaze and led the persecutors away from their relatives. In addition, the Polosuns began to leave the grove. Whether roaming behind heavy rains, or because of the numerical reproduction of the Raptors, or for some other unknown reason, the smart reptiles have long ceased to be seen. Therefore, the sentinels could not even imagine how the tribesmen managed to drive so many lizards for such a short absence. Apparently, the flames of Pangea and the benevolent light of the Great Fire bestowed impeccable agility and luck on the squad.
Having kindled the fires, some hunters began to skin their catch. Separating the skin from the flesh, they immediately cut off the tidbits and roasted them at the stake. Quite tired and hungry, the rangers ate juicy cuts of tenderloin, treated them to the lookouts and heatedly discussed the hunt, the mysterious unity, Illy’s epiphany and the flash last night.
Brun left the hut. His robe, bone armor and body were heavily stained with the blood of the slain lizards. And even on the head, among the braided blond braids, one could see bloody curls. Fresh bruises oozed on the leader’s pale face. Around his narrowed gray eyeballs and on his scaly cheekbones, there were traces of martial color. The blurred juice of the cycad on Brun’s face was mixed with the blood of reptiles during the persecution, and now only worn, filthy remnants remain of the skillfully drawn sketches.
Throwing off his bulky armor, Brun looked around. In the House of Hunters, juveniles were already running everywhere. Women met their men, gave them jewelry and attention. On the fires, vats were boiling with might and main, and dishes were being prepared from fresh pulp. The camp has become quite lively. The leader turned and looked at the glow of the whirlwind that blazed over the settlement, and then fixed his eyes on the sky – at the twinkling red star. It seemed to the hunter that she had become a little larger, and her radiance intensified. Brown thought…
Brun, my friend! Radon greeted. You came back so fast! How was the hunt? Hope all is well? – the senior watchman hugged his fellow tribesman.
– Oh, Radon! The hunter patted the watchman on the shoulder. – Greetings, Radon! Everyone is alive, yes, but Illy’s hunting… I don’t know where to start.
Next came Hord, Varn and Valan.
– Good catch, Brun! Where are you after such a flock … – the experienced hunter wanted to take an interest in fishing, but Radon interrupted him:
– Wait, Hord! What’s up with Illy?
«Let’s go to the hut,» Brun called. – You need to see this.
The tribesmen entered the tent. Illy was already asleep, and Brun carefully lifted her eyelids so as not to wake her up.
In the name of Pangea! Valan whispered. – My child… What’s wrong with her?
«That’s what I wanted to ask you, Valan,» Brun answered.
Kindred began to consider the embodiment of the eyes of a young maiden, which did not subside even in a dream.
«The eyes are as black as night, and the pupils seem to have merged with the irises,» Valan remarked. And the squirrels are red…
The elders thought.
***
Darkness shrouded the vision of Varnus, and suddenly children’s voices were heard in the darkness:
– Where is he?
– Don’t know…
He’s the last one, right?
«Taro, if we don’t catch him before it gets dark, then tomorrow you will be the Hunter again!» – With difficulty restraining laughter, said a young man.
– We’ll catch it. Check each bush. He is cunning! Couldn’t he have escaped from the camp?! His sentinels would be under…
The childish voice faded into silence.
Immediately, right in front of the vision of the one-eyed, fiery eyes flared up, and in them the pupils were blacker than night, and overnight Varnus thought a familiar voice:
Do you hear what I’m telling