Beginnings

She saw him from across the river. Small fruit bushes lined the shores and she was filling an animal hide - and her stomach - with as many as would fit. The sun was the highest it would be all day. Her fingers stained dark purple from the juice, she might have missed him completely.

-Had it not been for his loud breathing. That’s when she saw his camp, it was small so it must have been new. It was surprising to see. Her mother and father had taught her not to set camp right on a river. You might as well throw yourself in a beast’s jaws.

It occurred to her she should be going for that very reason. The water wouldn’t be quiet for long on such a hot day and her mother would need her help with the skins.

But his eyes. She could see them glitter from across the water. Lighter than hers though his skin was darker. He didn’t look scary — like he wanted to hurt her. He looked curious - and he thought he was hidden. She picked a few more berries and pretended to be unaware.

A great growl filled the air that made her head snap up. She sat still for a moment crouched in the reeds. Across the water the man was frozen. On his face, a puzzled look. He cocked his head slightly and looked like he was concentrating.

The growl came again, this time she could place it on his side of the river. She watched him realize it too, his head snapped to its direction. He ducked down quickly and stood back up holding a short spear. It must have broken recently, he was probably drying another branch out right now. Bad luck.

She could see the reeds moving on the other side as the animal moved toward him. She knew from the sound what animal it was likely to be. Sneaking in the tall grasses until it found something it liked.

Its claws would tear him to pieces, its teeth would rip his flesh apart and make him disappear forever. No one would prepare his bones and lay them out. No one would lay his spear-tip next to him to hunt wherever he goes. She felt sad for this person who did not belong to her tribe.

He began to yell at the beast. Waving his arms and stabbing the air with his tiny spear to seem terrifying. She was still more afraid for him.

Suddenly the reeds rustled until the golden fur came into sight through a gap in the vegetation. Her heart thumped fast as her guess was confirmed. The creature glided in confidently. It stood just a bit shorter than him but was clearly much heavier.

The man steadied himself with his spear forward. She held her breath. When the beast jumped forward it made her jump too, losing her footing. She heard the man screaming in pain as the back of her head hit the ground.

The rest faded away as she drifted off.

-----

She awoke with a wrong taste in her mouth. Like the red dirt around the great peaks that rose up further inland from the ocean.

Her head hurt. She reached and felt the wet wound on the back of it. She wasn’t far from camp - but if the creature was still prowling.

Carefully she sat up focusing on every sound. It was hard to focus through the throbbing in the back of her skull.

Carried on the wind she heard it. A low grunting. The sound of pain.

Fully upright she could see the hind of the beast laying on the ground at the shore. Still and lifeless.

“Ahhhhhh” she heard him screaming out. He sounded muffled. Carefully she stood and inched toward the water. The scent of the animal would keep things away for a while. Then it would become too enticing for things with big teeth. She knew he wouldn’t survive just sitting there screaming like a baby.

She stepped cautiously into the water. She knew it wasn’t deep, she’d bathed in it many times. She knew there was nothing waiting in the water that could hurt her - but scary things attracted more scary things. This made everything unfamiliar.

She made the crossing and came to face the rear of the furry monster. It was larger up close. It looked like it could eat her whole if it were given the chance.

“Ahhhh.” She looked forward at the beast’s head. Laying underneath - a paw atop his chest - was the man. She could see red soaking his thin hide clothing. It wasn’t clear if it was his or the animal’s. Around his neck, a thin piece of hide held a stick with small holes decorating one side.

His face was scrunched up in pain. Sparkling pale eyes stared back at her begging for something.

She planted her feet in the ground at the side of the creature and pushed with all her might. She grunted at the man as the weight rolled off of him, urging him to push himself to safety. He did not respond. His eyes were wincing shut. Again she yelled. This time his eyes popped open and looked at her. She nodded to his right and pushed again at the huge animal.

This time he understood. He rolled gently to the left as she let go of the giant. Pulling his spear back with him as he did. The animal came back down and settled in a heap. The man was now sitting halfway up clutching at his chest. Three clawed gashes decorated it, dripping red running down to his stomach.

She grunted at him again, she wanted to take him to the water. He did not respond. She leaned in closer and repeated her demand - this time he looked up surprised. She waved her hand at him and ran over to a shaded area. She picked some small green plants and ran back to him. She crushed them in her hands and packed the wounds full of the goo. He yelped in pain while she did this but then seemed to relax. She knew these plants would soothe the wounds - and now she knew they weren’t deep.

Curiosity struck her. She walked around behind him - standing far back - she yelled. The man’s head was moving from side to side but he did not turn to her. She approached him and when she was at arm’s length she yelled again.

He almost jumped out of his skin - or would have, if he were able to move that fast. She had seen this in old people. They could only hear things close up. She knew something like this would make him a burden on his tribe. You can’t hunt without sound. You can’t protect without sound. There were lots of things he could do - but he would need a lot of help.

Was this why he was alone? Did his tribe wake up one morning and leave him to sleep? She walked back around to face him. He was bewildered and then a look of realization appeared. He placed his hands on his ears and closed his eyes in shame.

She knew it was a bad idea. It wouldn’t be fast getting him back to camp. Her tribe would never have left him - they cared for everyone. But bringing back strangers? Extra mouths to feed that they did not trust? She just saw a scared, hurt person. She could just as easily have been on this side of the water.

She grasped his hand and started to pull him up. His eyes met hers with a look that warmed her wet skin. She smiled.

She pointed to the beast and then all around the shoreline. Then she pointed toward where she came from - then leaned in.

“Badgammut’” she said. What her people called their home - wherever it was at any given time. She wasn’t sure if he understood her. That was always the trouble with strangers. Her tribe had sounds for many things. Passed down from each other.

She started leading him forward but he pulled back. He let go and waved his arms around, then he ran over to a bush. He came back holding a blade. Finely carved - it looked sharp and strong. In his other hand a skin sack - that he passed to her. He approached the animal and began to cut. In moments he had chunks of good meat filling the bag. He placed his hand on the animal and lowered his head. Then he turned and washed his hand in the cold water.

With that done he placed the sack around his back and his hand in hers. He smiled and nodded in the direction she wanted to go.

“Badgammmmoot” and he started walking.

-----

He let her lead him, holding onto his arm. It had become uncomfortable almost immediately but he did not dare let it show. It had been so long since he felt the touch of another. He remembered his brother leading him in from the woods after making water in the middle of the night. He was not happy about it.

That was a long time ago. Right after his ritual. They mashed white rocks together until they were dust. They roasted a great beast and mixed its drippings with the dust. They painted his face and chest with swirls. Everyone danced around the fire and ate the meat. It was fun. He was happy.

He was so tired that he slept well past the sunrise. The group had moved on without him as they had since the old ones began the walk. The eldest must go and form his own tribe. Walk a different direction.

But he knew the truth. Others had stayed before. They did not want him to walk with them. He had given up hope after a few seasons’ change - this place he had come to was empty of others like him. Who would accept him anyway? His own tribe got rid of him as soon as their customs allowed them to. His hearing had gone only a few winters ago. A great sickness took him for several moons - everyone was sure he would die.

When the sickness had passed they were joyous. Those who came to congratulate him were met with blank stares unless they leaned right up against his face. It did not take long for their holiness to turn sour. Leading him around at night so he didn’t get eaten. So many dangerous things make noise to warn you away - and he could no longer hear them.

He had not traveled very far in his time alone. He had found safe places. He kept track of all the animals dangerous to him. Then he made his mistake. He stayed too long by the water. Its noises drowning out the rest of the world. He didn’t even know the big toothed animal was back in the area - and she was there.

They walked until the sun started to get lower when she stopped. She rubbed her stomach and pointed to an area well off the trail. Her camp must be too far - she wanted to wait until daylight. He nodded in agreement and started to look around for wood for a fire. He also put aside wood for a shelter.

She walked over to the wood he picked out and shook her head. She picked out several sticks and tossed them to the fire pile. That worried him. He was always good with a hand blade or spear but he was terrible at building.

After a short time a fire was blazing and they were placing a roof on their temporary shelter. He was impressed with her skill. She was impressed with his cooking. He gave her all the best pieces and kept the burnt ones for himself. They tasted like the bottom of the fire pit.

He didn’t care. For the first time in a long time he was sitting across from another person eating by a fire.

But her eyes. Dark and fiery. Not like his people. Her skin was lighter too. She felt different - but the same. It consumed his thoughts as he watched the sweat trickle down her skin while she ate by the fire. He didn’t sit as close as she did, he watched like someone might look at a waterfall or a field of freshly bloomed flowers.

He took the stick from around his neck and held it to his lips. He placed his fingers over the holes as he had many times before and blew through one end. The vibrations guided his fingers to the right places as he performed his melody.

Her eyes grew as wide as the smile on her face. She jumped up from her meal and began to dance. Clapping her hands to accompany his sounds. He played as long as he could. Until he became winded and remembered his wound.

When the sound stopped, so did she. Collapsing in a pile next to him she was making sounds he didn’t understand - but he could tell she was happy. She wasn’t the first one to dance to his music but she was the first to do so after finding out he was broken. He looked at her face in the firelight and began to feel warmth in his.

His hand slid down and met hers. She wrapped her fingers around his in a way that told him something. Something sounds could not explain. They sat in silence feeling each other’s heat radiate back and forth. The orange glow illuminating and creating a dark border around them. The rest of the forest disappeared behind the light of the two.

He could smell her sweat and feel her breath touching his skin. He leaned in and placed his lips against hers. She did not stop him. They lingered for what seemed like a lifetime to him. Embracing each other. He did not understand the sounds she was making but he could feel their meaning.

They lay together through the night. Until the sun hovered above them again. He awoke with a renewed spirit. A possibility. A hope. She was still there. Still holding his arm after the fire had gone. He was afraid to let go for fear she might dissolve into his imagination.

When she finally woke she seemed surprised for a moment - then a look of relief appeared on her face. Her smile made his heart thump.

They cleaned up their temporary camp as they ate some more of the beast’s meat. Sneaking smiling glances at each other as they did. When they were finished she started in the direction they began heading yesterday. She was well ahead of him when she suddenly stopped. Turning and making her way back in his direction she was making sounds again. He returned a confused look to her.

Slowly she reached down and grabbed his hand - pulling him in close to her. She met his eyes and he stared back.

“Badgammmoot?” He said, afraid she might change her mind.

She leaned her face up to his and touched his lips with hers.

“Badgammut” she repeated as they headed off to their home.