Primitive Man

The forest lay shrouded in a hush of anticipation as Garnt, Unami, and Baktou ventured deep within its confines. Two months had passed since they had discovered Ayra's pregnancy, and the weight of impending parenthood pressed heavily on Garnt's shoulders.

And all the suspicions they had about it being fake were proven wrong since Arya started to show proper signs of pregnancy, which were morning sickness, a missed period, and her belly starting to grow little by little.

Each day, he grew more serious, haunted by the memories of mothers who had met their end during childbirth. He was determined to ensure that Ayra didn't suffer a similar fate.

[Don't think about unwanted things, Garnt. Just focus on how to keep her happy.]

Eva kept advising Garnt since she knew from her experience what a pregnant woman would feel during their time.

Unami rode behind Garnt, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, while Baktou, with a mysterious tale of how he had befriended his loyal mount, followed alongside them. As they combed the forest for sour fruits to satisfy Ayra's pregnancy cravings, Baktou couldn't help but shift the conversation toward the state of the mine.

"The mine's doing well, Garnt," Baktou began, a grin on his face. "Our plans have worked flawlessly, and productivity has never been better. I've been the best man for this job, wouldn't you agree? I'm glad you didn't remove me after the first mistake I made. You helped me to learn a lot of things."

Garnt chuckled, nodding in agreement. "You've certainly proven your worth, Baktou. The mine owes its prosperity to your expertise. I also want to build a proper village around that area and move all the blacksmith families there. We can greatly reduce the time and effort when we do that."

Baktou's sudden disturbance lightened Garnt's mood somewhat, so he suddenly came to an even more interesting topic, which Garnt managed to find through Unami.

With a mischievous glint in his eye, Garnt continued, "But, Baktou, I've been hearing some interesting rumours lately. Care to enlighten me about your... relationship with Telvi? I heard she had been travelling with you to the mines. Oh my! Don't tell me-"

Unami couldn't help but laugh at Garnt's not-so-subtle hint, knowing that he was teasing Baktou about his romantic endeavours. Baktou's face flushed with embarrassment, and he stammered, "Well, you know, Garnt, I've been a bit busy with work and all, but on your wedding day, Telvi brought me some milk after I ate all those spices."

He started to mutter how their relationship started, and Garnt was surprised to hear that, she was already head over heels for him. "So, did you have sex with her yet? I hope you did everything right?"

Unami was also interested, but she didn't want to put her fingers on her brother's private life. But looking at how Baktou was blushing like a little girl, both Unami and Garnt knew the obvious answer.

"We did, and she was a great girl. I'm really glad I chose her," Garnt and Unami smiled at his answer.

"Then soon we can see your own family, I guess. Unami will become an aunt," Garnt looked at Unami, who was hugging him even tight because of how happy she was.

She was still confused as to why she wasn't pregnant like Ayra, but also she wasn't worried after all she was young. She had all the time in her life to have kids, but first, she wanted to enjoy her life to the fullest with Garnt and experience new things.

As the trio continued their playful banter about Baktou's budding romance, they stumbled upon a cluster of ripe, juicy fruits hanging from the low-hanging branches of a tree. Garnt spotted them first and exclaimed, "Hey, look what we've got here, folks! Ayra would be more than satisfied with these." He reached up to pluck a colourful piece of fruit, examining it with a grin.

Baktou and Unami joined in, eagerly collecting the fruits from the tree. Baktou, with a mischievous grin still lingering from their previous conversation, bent down to pick up a fruit that had fallen to the ground. However, as he did, his horse, who had been grazing nearby, suddenly panicked. It reared up and bolted away, leaving Baktou sprawled on the ground with the fruit in his hand.

*Thud

Suddenly he fell on his butt, almost hitting his head but luckily, he managed to land with few wounds.

Unami, concerned for her brother's well-being, rushed over to him and asked, "Baktou, are you okay?" She helped him to his feet, and he brushed the dirt off his clothes, assuring her that he was fine.

She then looked at the runaway horse and quickly mounted Huta to support Garnt knowing that, they were going to catch Baktou's horse.

Garnt, in the meantime, had mounted his own trusty horse, Huta, and with Unami behind him, they set off in hot pursuit of Baktou's runaway horse. The horse was galloping away, its mane flowing in the wind, but Garnt and Unami were determined to catch up with it.

The chase was on, the thrill of the hunt coursing through their veins. The landscape blurred as they galloped after the runaway horse, with Baktou's mount leading the way. It was a wild and exhilarating race through the forest, as they weaved through trees and over uneven terrain.

Garnt skillfully manoeuvred Huta, slowly closing the gap between them and the fleeing horse. Unami clung tightly to Garnt, her heart pounding with excitement, as this was like a heroic adventure to her.

"Unami, if you can try to catch the horse," Garnt muttered knowing that Unami was capable of doing something like that without even breaking a sweat. Just because they became his wives, Garnt didn't forget who these women were, after all, they were trained to even fight with him on equal terms.

With a final burst of speed, Garnt and Unami managed to catch up to the runaway horse. Garnt expertly steered Huta alongside it, and with a skilful leap, Unami managed to grab the reins of his wayward mount, bringing it to a halt.

"Hey! Hey! Stop trying to escape," She calmed down the horse, and looked around the place where they had arrived and saw a vast, imposing mountain range in the distance. She turned to Oliver, who had been riding alongside them, and asked, "Oliver, where are we? Did we ride so far that we missed Baktou?"

Garnt, while still mounted on Huta, looked around as well, a puzzled expression on his face. He had no idea where they were either, and the landscape before them was unfamiliar. He turned to Unami and said, "It seems we might have ridden farther than we thought. We should go back and follow the footsteps of the horses."

Just as they were about to turn back, Eva, the voice inside Garnt's mind, urged him to stop. Confused, Garnt asked, "Eva, why should we stop?"

Eva replied, [Listen carefully, Garnt.] She instructed him to focus on the surrounding sounds. Garnt and Unami strained to hear, and then it became apparent – the distant but distinct sound of rushing water, the heavy flow of a huge water body, and the raucous calls of birds.

Garnt's curiosity was piqued, and he wondered aloud, "What is this sound, and where is it coming from?"

Unami was confused by his question, but rather curious.

With Unami by his side, he decided to investigate. They dismounted and ventured through the rough terrain toward the source of the sounds. As they climbed over rocks and navigated the uneven landscape, the noise of water grew louder, and the mountain loomed ever closer.

As they finally reached the other side of the mountain, they were greeted with a breathtaking sight.

Before them stretched an endless expanse of the ocean, its waves rolling in with a rhythmic, powerful force. Garnt and Unami were awestruck by the vastness of the sea, the smell of salt in the air, and the mesmerizing sight of the horizon meeting the water in the distance. The ocean was a boundless and awe-inspiring spectacle, unlike anything they had ever seen.

Garnt's voice quivered with excitement as he said, "Unami, look at this... the sea. It's incredible, isn't it?"

Unami, too, was filled with awe as she replied, "I've only heard your stories about the sea, but I never thought I'd see it with my own eyes. It's... magnificent."

They took a few steps closer to the water, feeling the sand beneath their leather footwear shift with each step. Garnt crouched down and dipped his fingers into the crystal-clear water, bringing it to his lips. "Tastes like salt, our precious salt." he mused.

Eva, still present in Garnt's mind, whispered,

[It's a symbol of an endless world, Garnt. A world full of wonder and mystery.]

Garnt turned to Unami and extended his hand, inviting her to join him by the water's edge. "Come on, Unami. Let's savour this moment."

Unami followed his lead, and together, they stood at the edge of the sea, the waves gently lapping at their feet. They watched as seagulls soared above, their raucous calls echoing in the salt-scented breeze.

Garnt looked at Unami and said, "It's as if we've stepped into a whole new world, a world beyond the forest and village we knew. A world filled with endless possibilities."

Unami smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I never thought I'd experience something like this. Thank you for bringing me here, Garnt."

They stood there, two friends at the edge of the vast, unknown sea, savouring the simple yet profound beauty of this newfound world.

"Unami, we are going to be busy right now, because this is a blessing that I never expected I would get, but before all that, I'm glad I found this ocean with you and shared this special moment with you,"