Bhakva groaned, sitting up and pushing the fur from his body. He stretched, looking around the dimly lit cave he called home. With another grunt, he stood up
and shook himself, fully waking up.

The sun had begun rising, cascading it's golden hues into his home. He stood at the entrance, watching the sunrise. It was truly peaceful, one of his most peaceful part of the day. It was one of his favorite indulgences. Tilting his neck side to side, Bhakva heard and felt the satisfying pop.

Standing there for a little longer, he hummed before creating a mental plan for his day. He started with the first item on the list.

Picking up the large bone-turned weapon-Bhakva set out to start his day, beginning with his morning bath. Carefully, yet expertly, Bhakva made his way out of the cave and down the side of the mountain. The jagged stones rolled and crumpled under his weight but like always, they held strong enough for him to make it down safely.

As Bhakva walked to the pool of water, he began planning for his next move. He had been in the cave for a while now, about a week, and he knew it was time to get a move on. He was a nomad like everyone else but unlike the others, he was what people called a lone wolf.

Even though it was unsafe and uncommon, Bhakva preferred staying to himself. Once upon a time, it was different but it seemed life had a way of changing things. Now he was fine with the loneliness. He got used to being without a clan, being without friends and a family. He learned to fend and take care of himself. Now, it was his normal, everyday lifestyle. Mundane and simple.

Using the visual map in his head, Bhakva skillfully walked through the trees. He crouched under large branches and vines, stepping over exposed roots, while also staying completely alert. He learned about this part of land the hard way. It was flourishing with animals of all kinds, which coincidentally lured in predators.

Breaking through the woods, Bhakva came upon the familiar pool of water. It was near the center of the woods, secluded from the outside which made it all the more perfect for him.

Removing the animal skin cloth from around his waist, he sat it next to his heavy weapon and stepped into the water. It was cool, making him shiver a little. He stood still for a minute, letting his body get used to the temperature.

Using his hands, he scrubbed the dirt away before dipping his head into the water to wash his hair. He scratched his scalp, the water bringing him immense relief.

It was a quick bath, only taking a few minutes but it was refreshing. Stepping out of the pool, Bhakva shook off the excess water then tied the cloth back around his waist. He ran his thick fingers through his wet hair, detangling it. When he was satisfied, he twisted his hair into a bun at the base of his neck and moved on to his hygiene.

Kneeling at the other end of the hole, Bhakva rinsed his mouth with water, gargling it and spitting it out on the ground.

Unlike modern time, that was all he needed. His time period wasn't filled with growth hormones and all the other health issues of the modern era. He didn't need all the extra tools and equipment that modern human beings needed. Water and a pick, with the occasional mint leaves, was enough to keep his breath fresh and teeth clean and nearly stain-free.

Finishing up everything, Bhakva made his way back to the mouth of the trees. He climbed back up to the cave where he picked up the cloth he used to hold things.

Next item on his list was hunting for food. At the base of the mountain, he began walking without any specific target in mind. He aimlessly wandered the land, not at all affected by the sun's burning rays as it began to set. In fact, he was used to the angry ball of heat that attacked him everyday.

The water that was once on his skin had quickly been dried up and replaced by sweat. It didn't bother him though, he remained calm as he navigated his way the tall grass looking for any signs of life.

His ears perked up at the sound of feet and splashing water. Bhakva crouched down low, stealthily and cautiously following the sounds until he found the source.

His eyes widened at the abundance of animals. He had obviously stumbled upon a watering hole. The variety of animals all partook in drinking from it. It was calm even with there being so many of them. Some were moving away but he was still able to find the perfect prey.

Bhakva's eyes moved from herd to herd, there were so many animals. It was a walking feast. His excitement was obvious as he decided which animal he would be targeting.

Bhakva couldn't wait to begin the hunt. He could almost feel the adrenaline starting to course through his veins. He could already taste his meal but first he had to catch it.

Bhakva loved a good chase.

Moving closer, he kept his eyes on the prize. He was almost there when he heard a loud roar and before he could even blink, the animals were in a frenzy.

They scattered away from the three vicious predators, galloping in every direction. They moved quickly, their lives depending on how fast the could run, who they could outrun.

Bhakva knew he was in just as much danger. He had to get away so he did what any reasonable person would: he ran too. He molded himself into the herd of zebras, hoping it would give him more cover and keep him from being the easiest target.

In these lands, humans were not at the top of the food chain. They didn't have the liberty of being the apex or head predator. These animals weren't afraid of them, they weren't afraid to attack or even kill them.

Like the prey, humans had to fight to survive. They were with the animals at the bottom of the food chain.

With this common known knowledge and the use of his survival skills, Bhakva stayed with the crowd of animals, knowing that he would have some form of protection, even if it meant using the animals as shields. He would rather sacrifice a foal than himself.

It was sad, but it was reality. That's how it was and the food chain wasn't changing anytime soon. Speeding away from the tigers, he glanced over his shoulder every few seconds, making sure he was a good distance away from the large beasts.

He looked ahead, seeing the trees not too far away. They were where he would be safest and he was relieved that he was almost there. Then, he heard a scream, a loud scream that meant someone had been caught. It was human. Another human was here and they were in danger and they were terrified. It made him freeze.

Bhakva hadn't seen any people in a long, long time. He didn't even know there were others around here. He was shocked that one had been so close and from the sounds of it, they were alone. Just like him.

It made him question himself. He knew what it was like to be alone and afraid. Bhakva gazed at the trees, at safety. It was right there, only a few feet away. If he kept going, he would make it to the trees in mere minutes. He could save himself like he always did. He could get back home in no time. He would stay alive and continue with his life.

Self preservation. He lived by it and would continue with to do so.

Bhakva looked back before continuing to the trees until he heard the scream again. It was heartbreaking. Something about it had him stopping at the edge of the woods. He cursed himself, turning around and dashing away from safety.

So much for self preservation, he thought to himself, sprinting at full speed. He didn't know exactly where he was going but he did his best to find the source of the scream. It was hard, running against the herd but he pushed through. He tripped and stumbled but he had to get the person. His mind was made and there was no way he would fail.

Bhakva didn't know what he expected to find but hopefully, they would still be alive. They had to be or else he would have risked his life for nothing. Breaking through the crowd, he frantically looked around until he saw one of the beasts with feet kicking underneath it.

He hastily but quietly stalked up to the animal. Raising the heavy weapon above his head, he brought it down with as much force as he could muster. The thick bone landed on the animal's weak spot, drawing a whimper from it but he didn't stop there. He kept beating it until it stopped moving, falling onto the ground, on top of the other human.

He nudged the animal with his foot, making sure it was really dead. When it didn't move, he strapped the weapon securely to his back before he began pushing it off the other person. He grunted, pushing the beast at hard as he could, sighing when he successfully rolled it to the side.

He looked down, only to frown at the woman lying underneath it. He was confusedly stared at her, watching her fall into a state of unconsciousness. That's when he noticed the drastic difference. Everything about her was different. Her hair, her skin, her clothes. She even had a metal hook hanging from her nose.

It befuddled him to no end but he couldn't leave her to die. He could see her blood stain the top she wore, dirtying the ground beneath her. Cautiously, he leaned over her, picking the woman up from the ground and cradling her to his chest.

Bhakva checked to make sure the coast was clear before heading back to his cave. Every now and then, he would look down to at the woman. He just knew she wasn't from these lands. He didn't know where she was from but it definitely wasn't here. He also had no idea how all of this would play out but he knew that only time would tell.

So, coming to terms with his new predicament, he got her to the cave and onto the soft fur. The first thing he needed to do was focus on her wounds. If he didn't, they could get infected and she would no doubt die.

Rummaging through one of his chests, Bhakva pulled out a few pieces of cloth and a small pouch filled with an herb mixture.

He made quick work of cleaning the wound, being extra careful. After it was done, he placed a thick layer of the healing herbs over the gashes before wrapping them with the long white cloth.

He placed stones in a circle before starting a fire in the center of the circle. He took the stone bowl and filled it with water before sitting it near the fire to heat up. When it started to emit steam, he moved back to the woman.

Taking another cloth, he dipped it into the warm water to let it soak. Ringing it out, he took his time gently cleaning the woman's face, hands and feet. He didn't take off her clothes, not wanting to invade her like that, but any other exposed skin was wiped down.

When he was done, he took the time to pull the grass from her hair. It was oddly fascinating and he couldn't help study the texture and style of it. He had never seen anything like it and was filled with more questions of where she could have come from.

Admiring her for a little longer, he sighed before taking the thick fur and covering her with it. Making sure she was comfortable, Bhakva took one more look, before he set out to find something for them to eat.

•••

It's been a good minute. I'm sorry about that but here it is. This is the first chapter focused on mostly Bhakva. I know these first couple chapters are dull but it will get better so just stick with me please.

I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter even though it wasn't very action-y or anything. I actually feel good about this chapter, I hope y'all are satisfied with it. Stick around for the next update.

I also don't know how long this book will be so I'm going to go with the flow. I have so many ideas and things are about to pick up. Thank you to everyone who has decided to stick with me. Please excuse any mistakes.