The rock in it self was heavy, and kept slipping from her fingers, others were either weak, falling apart or breaking apart instantly she hits it. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the bones held firm, creating a makeshift ladder of sorts.
Rami took a deep, shuddering breath, then placed her weight on the first bone. It held. Heart pounding, she climbed higher, each step sending a tremor through the fragile structure. Halfway up, her leg muscles trembled, and for a moment, she feared the bones would give way beneath her. But she pushed forward, driven by the desperate need for freedom.
At last, she reached the top. With a final burst of strength, she heaved herself over the edge and collapsed onto the soft grass outside the cave entrance. The warm sunlight bathed her skin, and she lay there for a moment, savoring the feeling of open air and freedom.
But her victory was short-lived. The sounds of approaching footsteps echoed from the path, and Rami's heart sank as she recognized Yves's stride—long and purposeful—as he made his way back to his den.
"Clever," he murmured, watching her with a predatory grace that sent her shivers through her skin , goose-bumps rising. She looks around. No one, but she wasn't sure, this was the wilderness after all. His fingers traced the leaf veins, the thin membrane giving a soft green glow over his eyes, cast a single light over is side profile of his authenticated jaw from the light coiled on the ginko¹ tree further out the grassy plains, with a view of his cave and the tribe visible. "Didn't take you for the climbing type."
As the sun began its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Yves returned to the cave, his steps heavy with the weight of the day's hunt. He paused at the entrance, his gaze falling upon Rami as she lay on the soft grass, basking in the fading light. A flicker of surprise crossed his features, quickly replaced by a look of grim understanding. He had seen her makeshift bone ladder and the effort it must have taken to escape the cave. A part of him admired her tenacity, even as he wondered at the wisdom of her actions.
"The hunting team is back," he said gruffly, his voice echoing in the quiet of the evening. Rami's stomach chose that moment to whine, a reminder of the hunger that gnawed at her insides. She leapt to her feet, falling into step beside Yves as they made their way to the gathering place.
As they approached, the sounds of the clan grew louder—laughter, boisterous conversations, and the clinking of bones and furs. Rami's eyes widened as she took in the scene before her. The center of the clearing was dominated by a man with his hands raised, his voice booming as he spoke in a language she did not understand. She watched, intrigued, as the women nearby discussed his words.
"The leader says the prey is contaminated by evil and should be burned," one woman said, her voice tinged with concern.
"Tsk, how many times is this? At this rate, we'll starve by the time the cleansing is done!" another woman interjected, her frustration palpable.
"Hah! We shouldn't say that. After the cleansing with fire, it'll all be gone, eaten up by the males, leaving just scraps for us," the third woman added with a wry smile.
Rami listened intently, piecing together the customs of this strange new world.