A Taste of Primitive Life (1)
"Hehehe. Perfect."
I'd put on leather clothes today. The plan was to tag along on a hunt with my primitive friends. I'd been dying to know what they actually got up to out there.
"Haneul? You should head back home, even now."
This one here is Akum, the leader of today's hunting party.
"Don't worry about me! I'm plenty tough!"
Worrying is just who he is, that friend of mine. Look, even if everyone else dies, I won't. So relax.
"Phew..."
Akum let out a dubious sigh. With that, we set out from the village.
Today's target: water buffalo. The plan was apparently to capture one alive and drag it back to the village to pull carts. Hold on. That means they take it alive? How do you even do that?
Did we just pick a bad day for it?
We wandered the fields for ages. Since nobody knew where the herd might be, we mostly stuck to the riverside, where the animals would come to drink.
"Hah. Hah. Hah."
Ugh, my lungs are about to burst. I'd thought I'd gotten pretty sturdy, but compared to these guys I'm not even close. And look at them—not a bead of sweat. Why am I the only one suffering here...
"Haneul? You okay?"
"Yeah! Hah. Hah. Totally fine!"
"Ah... alright then."
Is he turning away to sigh?
The others picked their way forward carefully, examining tracks on the ground, droppings, patches of chewed grass, deciding on a direction as they went.
So they have their own methods, huh?
It was honestly fascinating. I have zero knowledge about tracking things by their trails, after all.
And so began the journey following my friends. The summer grasslands of Manchuria were thick with knee-high grass in every direction.
The problem was...
"Shh!"
"Kiyap!"
These damn snakes keep following me around. Hey, the whole point of being startled is that you bite and then run away!
"Sssss..."
Why are you climbing up my body and getting into my clothes?!
"Another one? Are you all right?"
"Uh... sss, this one's inside my clothes now."
Two were already in my pockets, so apparently this one decided to go for the clothes instead.
*Squirm squirm*
"Shh. Shh."
"Ack."
This one climbed up between my legs and—eugh—it just brushed past a very dangerous spot. And now it's wrapped itself around my body in a full coil and is sticking its head out at the back of my neck.
"Want me to get it off?"
"No! Don't, it'll be a disaster."
Venomous or not, snake fangs are loaded with bacteria. With no medicine around, a bite would be absolutely deadly for my friends in this day and age. So I would have to grab them and put them down myself.
"Shh, shh."
"Ugh. Why are you squeezing my neck?"
I separated from the group and released the two from my pockets and the one coiled around my neck into the brush.
"Why aren't you guys leaving? What are you hanging around for?"
"Shh, shh."
All they did was hiss back at me while holding eye contact. What I wouldn't give for actual telepathy right now.
"Ugh. Everyone go your own way, friends. Okay?"
"Shh, shh."
What am I doing, negotiating with snakes that can't talk? The others were already shrinking into the distance. Better hurry.
"Hah. Hah. Hah."
Ugh, this is rough. So rough. Should I just fly?
*Swish swish—*
Oh no, now what? Something else is crashing through the brush following me!
Doesn't seem to be a snake, at least. Just go, buddy, I'm busy. Still, it's kind of fascinating—all these animals leave me alone. Do they somehow know I wouldn't die even if they attacked?
"Hm? How would they?"
*Thump!*
"Huh?"
Now what is this? A black ball of fur was clinging to my chest. A tiny, squat little nose and snout, jet-black eyes, and tufts of fur around them that gave it an almost aggrieved look. Tail included, it looked to be about fifty or sixty centimeters long.
"Who are you? A weasel? A marten? Something like that, right?"
"Piya—"
"Yeah, nice to meet you too~ Now scram, okay?"
I tried to peel it off, but why is this thing so quick? It scampered all over my body and—cheater—hid behind my back where my hands couldn't reach.
"Hey? That's cheating. I can't reach back there!"
"Piya!"
"Ugh. Fine. Whatever. Let's go."
What was it, a kilo? Two? It didn't feel that heavy clinging to my back, so I quickened my pace toward the others.
If we got any farther apart, I really might have to fly. Truth be told, I love walking around on the ground like this. I spent twenty years flat on my back in a hospital bed, after all.
"Ugh, it was such a drag, wasn't it."
"Pii—"
"Yeah. Let's hurry."
I caught up to the others, but they didn't seem to have anything to show for it either. We trampled endlessly through the fields along the river. Not a single buffalo in sight—just dozens of rabbits, deer, and snakes.
I had this feeling something was following me around. Like some kind of friend-of-nature power? Come to think of it, I got chummy with those cats awfully fast too, didn't I?
With every animal I ran into, the gap between us began to quietly widen.
"Akum, shouldn't we start looking for a place to rest soon?"
"Phew. Yeah, I suppose we should. Shall we do a bit of hunting?"
"Let's just eat potatoes."
"Hm? I didn't bring any."
With so many people in the village now, there were more and more folks who had no idea who I actually was.
*Rumble rumble*
I fished them out of my pocket one by one and stacked them up. Judging by his face, he was floored.
"You keep that many in your pocket?"
"Uh... well... yeah, that's right?"
"So that's why you walk so slow. Thank you."
Well, either way, good is good, right? Down by the river, branches swept along by past floods had been left high and dry when the water receded, so we managed a simple fire without much trouble.
*Crackle crackle*
Around a modest little campfire, the four of us—Akum, me, and two others—sat in a circle and started roasting potatoes.
"Piya!"
"Ah! You're still here?"
Apparently that little furball from earlier was still attached to me this whole time.
"What is that thing?"
"No idea. It just started following me."
"Animals really do take to you, don't they, Haneul?"
Now that he mentioned it, it was strange. Was I actually a friend of nature? And here I thought I was a destroyer...
"Why haven't you gone home yet? What do you want?"
Shouldn't it have some kind of nest or den somewhere? I don't really know much about animals, but...
Its fur was incredibly soft, though. Nice and pleasant.
"What do you eat, anyway? Do you eat potatoes too, by any chance?"
I tamed the cats by feeding them potatoes, after all. Maybe you too?
*Crunch crunch*
"An omnivore? You chew it right up, huh?"
It ate raw potato without any fuss. Well, I suppose that's what being an omnivore means—eating things raw and all.
Then we started setting up for the night. The routine was simple: cut down the brush lying all around, spread it over a spot with few stones, and lie down. Apparently they didn't use tents or canopies yet.
There was cloth and leather available, but both were heavy to lug around, so unless it was winter, even I probably wouldn't bother carrying any.
*Squirm squirm*
"Hey? You're burrowing into some very inappropriate places, you know that?"
It scored a free meal, refused to leave, and now that we'd bedded down, it had crawled right into my clothes. It dove into my cleavage, coiled itself once around my right breast, and settled in to sleep.
"You do realize that if I talk in my sleep tonight, you're getting crushed to death, right?"
Or... hold on. That's why it went between my chest? Well, with all that cushioning it won't get squished. Is this thing actually an angel in disguise?
"Anyway, sleep well. Feel free to be gone by morning."
"Piya—"
*Rustle rustle*
Ah. How do I put this. My sleep is seriously robotic. Sure enough, no sooner had I drifted off than it was morning again.
"Snore. Snore."
"Hnng. Koff."
Good grief, I almost suffocated. Must have worn them out yesterday—everyone was still asleep. The fire hadn't gone out, though; someone had added wood in the small hours. I tossed on a few more logs myself.
Summer or not, mornings by the river are cold. Just look at my friends, hunched shoulders, shivering.
The dry kindling caught quickly, and their expressions eased a little as the flames rose.
"Maybe I should just fly ahead and scout for them."
I was genuinely torn. I was having a good time, but my friends were clearly suffering. Maybe I'd watch a little longer.
"Piyu?"
"Oh? You're awake?"
The little thing had migrated to the back of my neck, now draped over both shoulders. It had apparently decided we were stuck together for good.
"You planning to follow me around, huh?"
"Piyu—"
"Huh. Do you actually understand me?"
I kept my voice down, and soon the others began stirring and rustling awake.
Breakfast was the potatoes I'd set out in advance. The three of them ate them with relish, if a little puzzled.
Are they dense? Or just pretending not to notice?
The sky was completely cloudless today, which meant brutal heat ahead. Not much shade out here either—heatstroke was a real worry.
Breakfast done, the aimless wandering began anew.
"Akum. It's going to be scorching today—don't you think the buffalo will be down by the river?"
If they cooled off in the water now and then, it seemed only natural they'd stick close to the banks.
"You think so? It really is too hot today."
He'd sweated so much since morning that the grime was peeling off his skin, his brown hide turned a burnished bronze.
I should break out a little salt at lunchtime.
"Wahaha! This is great!"
"Isn't it awfully hot today?"
By lunchtime, the others were drenched in sweat, so I decided to bring out a bit of salt after all.
"Aren't you getting in the water, Haneul?"
"I don't really get that hot."
I mean, sure, I could tell it was hot, but I didn't sweat in the first place. No wonder they found it strange.
Besides, wading in wearing this heavy leather outfit? Just imagine how much heavier it'd get once the leather soaked through.
Then again, stripping down completely like the others felt a bit much, didn't it?
"Oh! What is this salt? It's so much tastier!"
While I was off entertaining scandalous thoughts, one of them dipped his potato in the salt and tried it. Oh ho. He's got a good eye. I made this stuff myself, you know~
"This kind is made more carefully."
"Carefully?"
"Mm. If you make it nice and slow, keeping out every speck of dust and dirt, this is what you get."
That yellowish salt they'd all been eating? It had their own sweat mixed right in. Blegh...
I couldn't quite bring myself to tell them the truth.
*Doom doom doom doom—*
"So this stuff is actually from the saltern, and... what is that sound?"
*Doom doom doom doom doom—*
A strange rumbling, growing louder by the moment. It was the sound of the earth itself trembling, as if an earthquake had struck.
"That sound?"
"Yeah. Listen carefully—what does it sound like to you?"
"One moment."
Akum dropped to the ground at once and pressed his ear to the earth. Does that really help you hear better?
I copied him, flattening myself against the ground with my ear down too. Oh—pretty flexible, aren't I? Kneeling down, my ear touches the ground just fine.
No. Wait. This is not the time for pointless self-congratulation.
*Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.....*
So it was the sound of something heavy pounding the earth.
"Huh?"
A black mass was visible in the far distance. A mass, genuinely—a rolling wave of black shapes.
"Akum? What is that?"
"What do you mean, what—"
I quickly hauled Akum up, who was still face-down and frowning. He'd know more than I would, at least.
"Gah! R-Run! We have to run!"
"Wh-What is it?"
"Everyone out of the water, now!"
We started sprinting downstream along the river. I had no idea what it was, but I could tell something was coming at us in force.
"Hah. Hah."
"Hff. Hff."
I ran hard, keeping pace with the others. But wait—if we're fleeing, why not just fly? Although... this pounding heart feels really good, actually.
*Splash splash*
Would you just hold still! Even gripping it with one hand while running, it made its presence absolutely known.
"Haneul, hurry!"
"Y-You go on ahead. Hah, hah. It's not like I can get hurt anyway."
"...Huh?"
They all looked at me like I'd lost my mind. Friends, there's a thing about me you should know.
"Hah hah. Animals love me, remember?"
Ah, this is weird, though. Is it just habit? I don't even need to breathe to stay alive, so why does running leave me gasping?
Whatever. Who cares. Still feels good to be alive, somehow.
"Are you really okay?"
The truth was, the animals were closing in fast. All I could make out was a black mass, but I had a feeling it was a buffalo herd.
"Hah. Hah. Isn't that what we came here to catch?"
"Too many. We have to stay clear."
Fair enough. It looked like a chariot charge bearing down on us—if that many animals stampeded over us, it wouldn't be a fender-bender, it'd be a massacre. They must be planning to slip off to one side and snatch one of the stragglers that fell behind.
"Keep moving. We'll go ahead."
"Got it. We'll cut to the side."
The others broke away at a diagonal. But where on earth was that herd headed?