Primitive Man

Chapter 175: Chaos of land

Garnt strolled through the surreal landscape hoping to hunt after a long time because he wanted to make sure his accuracy with the bow wouldn't get dull, but his mind tangled with bewilderment seeing most of the animals looking rather panicked for some reason.

Eva, the most helping and soft inner voice that guided him echoed her confusion because she found these chains of events rather confusing.

[Garnt, seriously, what's happening here? I mean, just look at those creatures,]

Eva interjected, gesturing towards animals that seemed to defy the natural order by coexisting with dinosaurs.

[This isn't how it unfolded in my history, right? Something's definitely not right.]

Garnt, mentally conversing with his inner voice, chuckled inwardly. "Eva, why are you complaining about it now? Didn't you decide that the evolution was it... that might have gone wrong. Why are you acting so surprised now?"

[I did say that but you were small I didn't want to push some difficult things on you but Garnt, this isn't a fantasy novel; it's a jumbled mess of timelines. In your world, mammals didn't share the stage with dinosaurs. There's a glitch here. To put it simply it should be impossible for animals like bears, lions and snakes to appear when there are dinosaurs and to be honest, we only saw a few of them.]

Eva insisted, mentally shaking her head.

[My history books paint a different picture – a much simpler one and it makes sense both scientifically and theroictaclly. So my guess is something is definitely wrong in this land.]

Garnt couldn't help but smile within. "Well, Eva, this is the Land of Death and we already knew that. Evolution here might be like a rollercoaster. Maybe it's a crossover episode we just don't comprehend yet."

Eva sighed in her mind.

[Crossover episode? Garnt, I'm serious. Something must've gone awry with the land. Dinosaurs and mammals weren't supposed to team up like this and live in the same era. Did someone mess up the timeline? Since we are free now should we start to find out more about this and-]

Garnt raised an imaginary eyebrow. "And?"

Eva nodded mentally.

[Never mind! I will talk to you about that later. Now let's see how your hunt goes. These animals are looking rather panicked, so I guess some kind of predator should be coming your way. Get ready with your bow!]

Eva pondered for a moment.

[We need information. Perhaps we can find someone or something that knows more about the situation. Let's proceed carefully and gather intel before making any moves. Try to contact Yenya and find out what happened in the mountains, also make sure all the gunpowder we made our ready because it looks like we will have to use them sooner or later.]

With a determined nod, Garnt led the group towards the main village, keeping a watchful eye on the unfolding events. The mystery of the dangerous creatures and the sudden threat of a volcanic eruption had woven a complex tapestry of challenges, and Garnt was determined to unravel it for the sake of his family and his people.

***

The next day dawned with an eerie red glow in the sky, the ominous sign of the volcanic eruption continuing its destructive course. Garnt, Rona, Ayra, and a few other warriors rode hastily towards the hot spring village, their hearts heavy with worry for Yenya and the villagers.

As they traversed the forest, the air became thick with the acrid smell of sulfur, and the smoke from the volcano loomed ominously overhead. Garnt's mind raced with thoughts of the dangers that lay ahead, both from the volcanic activity and the mysterious creatures that had invaded the land.

Upon reaching the hot spring village, an unsettling silence greeted them. The usual sounds of life were replaced by an eerie stillness, broken only by the distant rumblings of the volcano. Garnt dismounted a sense of foreboding settling over him.

"Yenya!" Garnt called out, his voice echoing through the empty village. There was no response. The group quickly scanned the area, noticing the absence of villagers outside their homes. It was as if the entire village had vanished.

Garnt's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the surroundings. "They must be hiding in the cave," he speculated, gesturing towards the entrance. Without wasting a moment, he dismounted and approached the cave, determined to gather the villagers and bring them back to the safety of the main village.

However, as he neared the cave entrance, an overwhelming stench assaulted his senses. It was a putrid odour, reminiscent of rotten eggs, and it made his stomach churn. Garnt hesitated, his hand covering his nose, and he exchanged a concerned glance with the others.

Eva's worried tone flickered with anxiety.

[Garnt, don't go in there. Something is wrong. The smell is a clear indicator of dangerous gases. It's not safe.]

Garnt's instincts kicked in, and he took a step back, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "We need to find another way to reach them," he said, his mind racing for a solution and he knew this would be one of the most intense things he had to do in a long time, but he wasn't ready to give up yet

[Gask masks! Yes, we already made them since we needed them before. Use them to enter, but they are not fully safe. You are only allowed to stay five minutes inside that cave, so quickly find them and come here.]

Eva advised and knew their next project would be entering this cave, and she was ready to help Garnt because she knew he was the kind of person who wouldn't abandon anyone, even if it meant putting his own life in danger, but not when his close people are in danger.