"Brug.""Bragg.""Wauuuuuu!"
That terrifying sound shattered the silence of the third night as Rogg remained bound to the ceremonial post in the center of Naavi village. The long roar echoed through the forest, shaking the trees as if nature itself trembled. Out of the darkness, a towering beast emerged, snorting and breathing heavily.
Lagosh.
The massive, feral creature stomped wildly toward Naavi, tearing through the night with each thunderous step. In the distance, panic spread—screams erupted from inside the wooden homes, followed by cries, wailing, and the frantic footsteps of those desperately trying to hide.
Rogg, still tied to the post, barely reacted at first. But when he saw the blurry silhouette of Lagosh heading straight toward the village, his heart pounded hard.
"No… not now…" he muttered.
He turned to see Yara running toward him. Blood had dried on her wounds, but the scent alone was enough to attract the Lagosh.
"He's caught her scent," Rogg whispered, anxiety rising in his chest. "He's coming for Yara."
Yara, breathing heavily, cut Rogg's bindings with the Heraxes blade in her hand.
"Run. You must survive," she said weakly before collapsing, unconscious from her injuries.
Gritting his teeth, Rogg sprang into action. He stripped off his own clothes and wrapped them around Yara. Then, he used his leather belt to bind her wounds tightly to stop the bleeding. Acting quickly, he grabbed ash from the dying fire and smeared it across her body to mask her scent.
He propped her up behind the post.
"I'm sorry, Yara... I have to do this."
Then, without hesitation, Rogg ran in the opposite direction, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Hey! Over here, you ugly beast! Right here!!"
Lagosh paused, its massive head turning, nostrils flaring. Then it let out a ferocious roar and charged toward him.
Rogg led the beast away from the village, weaving through the collapsing homes. Lagosh destroyed everything in its path—trees fell, rooftops flew, and the earth trembled.
"I have to keep him away! I can't let him turn back!"
He darted between rocks, hiding and then revealing himself again to keep the creature's attention. He used every ounce of his agility. Time and again, Lagosh's massive hand nearly crushed him.
"Faster... I have to be faster…"
When Lagosh seemed distracted, Rogg lunged from the side, slashing with the Heraxes blade. The knife pierced its thick side.
"RAAAAAARGH!!!" the beast bellowed, flailing and slamming its arms to the ground. Rogg was thrown back, crashing into a tree and crumpling to the ground. He coughed—blood spilling from his lips.
But he stood again. Hands trembling, he clutched the blade.
"I'm not finished yet…"
He leapt onto the beast's back, gripping its coarse fur. With both hands, he drove the knife into its neck—again and again.
Once.Twice.Three times.Four.
Lagosh let out a final, deafening scream. Hot blood gushed. The monster staggered, then collapsed to the earth with a quake that shook the entire village.
Rogg fell with it, his body limp, bleeding, vision fading. He looked up—dawn was beginning to break, the sky tinged with red.
Then… darkness.
When Rogg opened his eyes, the sun was painfully bright. His body was cold, aching all over. His head throbbed. All around him, dozens of villagers stood in stunned silence, simply watching.
"What happened…?" he murmured.
He tried to sit up, his whole body trembling.
"Yara…" he whispered.
No one answered. They just stared, unsure what to say. Rogg struggled to his feet. His knees buckled, but he forced himself forward.
"I need to know she's safe… I have to see her…"
Step by shaky step, he passed the silent crowd. A small hand gently took his arm. A young girl looked up at him with warm, glowing eyes.
"Come…" she said softly, leading him toward a house in the center of the village.
Rogg followed.
When the door opened, his eyes locked on Yara.
She lay on a bed of straw, wrapped in bandages, her face pale. But her chest still rose and fell.
She was alive.
"Yara…" Rogg whispered.
He dropped to his knees beside her, embracing her gently, careful not to press on her wounds. His eyes filled with tears. "You're alive… You're safe…"
Yara slowly opened her eyes. She smiled faintly and said, "I… I didn't want you to leave. Thank you for saving our village."
Rogg lowered his head, gripping her hand tightly.
Outside, the people of Naavi village whispered among themselves. They had seen it all—the fight, the courage, the quiet devotion that needed no explanation.
To them, Rogg was no longer a stranger.
He was their savior.
Yara gently stroked Rogg's face. Her touch was soft, hesitant, yet deeply meaningful. Her heart was in turmoil—something she couldn't put into words. There was something between them, more than just a connection between savior and saved. Rogg had risked everything, offering himself as a sacrifice in a ritual meant for the god the Naavi tribe believed in. But to Yara—and perhaps to Rogg too—this was more than just a sacrifice. A bond had begun to form between them, a quiet feeling that had slipped deep into their hearts.
"Thank you..." Yara whispered, barely audible. She didn't know what else to say.
Rogg said nothing, but his eyes met hers, and that alone spoke volumes—he would do it all again if it meant saving her life.
In the center of the village, the entire Naavi tribe had gathered. They sat in a wide circle facing a low platform where the village elders stood. In front of them, Nalan Yara stood tall, her wounds still wrapped in cloth. Though the eyes staring at her were cold, she didn't flinch. She knew it was time to speak.
An elderly woman in a gray robe tapped her wooden staff. Her voice was heavy and commanding.
"Speak, Nalan Yara," she said firmly. "Tell us what really happened. You broke the rules by entering Gosen Grove—the sacred hunting ground of our men. What drove you there?"
Yara lowered her gaze for a moment, then took a deep breath and raised her voice.
"Yes, I broke the rules. But not to defy them. I... I just wanted to see my brother Taro hunt. I wasn't curious about what was hidden behind the ritual. I followed the hunters in secret. But I never expected…"
Her voice caught. Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"I saw it all with my own eyes," she continued. "Lagosh—or Vaanatu Rakh, as you call them—they attacked without mercy. Our hunters, the elders... they were slaughtered one by one. If I hadn't run, I'd have died there too."
Rauh Metutu, the eldest elder, nodded slowly.
"You became part of this thread of fate, Yara. Maybe not by choice, but you are now entangled in its consequences. You survived... but it brought Lagosh to our doorstep. And you know who saved us."
All eyes turned to Rogg, now standing nearby, his hands no longer bound.
Another Rauh Metutu added, "That man—he took your place in the ritual. He was an unexpected offering from the gods. But now we see... he wasn't sent here to be sacrificed. He came for something greater."
Then another elder, his voice heavy and bitter, said, "But still, we've lost too many. Gosen Grove has become a graveyard. We can no longer rely on the strength and bravery of the few men left. Yara already told us—their fate was sealed. Only the young and untested remain."
"End the ritual," the eldest Rauh Metutu declared. "Human sacrifice is no longer a solution. We must stop demanding lives for a belief we don't fully understand."
Silence fell. But the debate wasn't over.
"What will we do with them?" asked one of the women among the villagers. "Yara broke the rules. If it weren't for her, Lagosh would never have followed the scent of blood here!"
A Rauh Metutu elder raised his hand. "Yara... you will take the man out of the village. Far north. And only then... may you return—if you survive."
Yara's face tightened. She didn't accept the order quietly.
"Why is he being banished too? Didn't he save the village?" she protested.
The eldest elder barked, "Isn't it obvious? This man could easily rule us all—or destroy us if he wished. There are no men left in Naavi as strong as him. You brought Lagosh to the village, and now you must atone by taking him away."
She didn't argue.
"I'll do it," she said firmly. "I brought Lagosh here. I'll be the one to lead our savior out."
"You know the risks?" the elder asked.
Yara nodded. "I do. But I have no regrets."
When it was over, Yara walked to where Rogg stood. She carried a small satchel of supplies and healing herbs.
"We need to leave," she said with little explanation.
Rogg looked at her, confused. "Leave...? Go where?"
She didn't answer right away. Instead, she handed him his weapons—spear, sword, and bow—and met his gaze.
"Out of the village. They don't want us here. But..." Yara couldn't finish the sentence.
Rogg stared into her eyes, trying to understand.
Yara shook her head. "No. I was exiled because I refused to be afraid. Because I chose to save you."
They walked down the narrow path leading out of Naavi. The villagers watched them leave in silence. No farewells were spoken, but a few eyes followed Yara with quiet sorrow—and a hint of regret.
Along the way, Rogg finally broke the silence, using gestures to help Yara understand.
"You don't have to come. I can go alone."
Yara turned to him, her eyes sharp. "I'm not coming because I have to. I'm coming because I want to."
Rogg gave a slight nod. Then, quietly, he said, "Thank you…"
Yara smiled faintly. "The world out there is wilder than you think. But if we walk together… maybe we can survive whatever comes."
And so, they kept walking, farther into the forest, leaving the village behind them.