shaman inadvertently spotted fallen dead wood – a dilapidated snag seemed to the leader to have met before. Then Vall heard a horned beetle flying by somewhere very close, followed by another.
Immediately, the mirage of memories began to quickly move the vision closer to the water, constantly clinging to and breaking off the dry shoots of the vine – apparently, the reptile wanted to quench its thirst. Several Pawwings jumped from a dangling vine to another. The giant followed them with his eyes, and Wall noticed how one of these crumbs deftly grabbed a large red dragonfly in the air. Suddenly, Longneck’s eyes focused on the trembling bushes on the other side of the lake, moving a fragment of the past almost close to the vegetation: circles on the water in front of the bushes broke the serene surface, and the shaman managed to make out the silhouette of a Sharptooth diving under the water. The body of the reptile vanished into the depths of the pool, as did the vision of the lizard, and a fragment of memories transported the leader of the Great Hunt through the pouring rain into the bennettite field.
In front of the shaman’s gaze, a flock of dark blue giants gracefully walked towards the liana forest under the pressure of a powerful downpour, and Long Neck, who was killed in the near future, dutifully followed them. The downpour was so heavy that Wall noticed how the heavenly water on the backs of the reptiles turned into small streams. Playing and seething between the folds of the skin, flowing around the bends of the muscles, the streams gathered into whole currents and fell on the soil and vegetation under the paws of the lizards.
The vision stopped and turned in the opposite direction. Behind the giants were three still very young reptiles – a brood, and far beyond the veil of rain was a forest of araucaria. Wall recognized the area – the southwestern border of the slave lands, the detachment at this edge left the grove, leaving the familiar paths. Longneck’s gaze fussily scanned the surroundings on both sides of the cubs. Somewhere in the distance, a roar sounded like a lizard’s call, and the vision of the past dissolved, returning the leader of the hunters to reality. The shaman’s eyes took on a human form, and Long Neck sighed heavily, and his eyelids closed.
Wall crouched beside the dead reptile. Silence reigned. The hum and chirping of insects ceased. Everything around seemed to freeze, only a free wind, sorting through the leaves of the cycads, allowed itself to break the strange calm. This sometimes happened during the Great Hunt: as if she had led one of Her great creations to the heavenly stars, Silence reminded the first people that the life of the creature She created was firmly connected with other inhabitants of the world. The hunters pricked up their ears, and soon the silence was filled with the singing of the mundanes – reality began to surge again.
– The first people are grateful to the Great Fire for the warm light of the Great Hunt. The soul of Her creation will adorn the night sky, and the flesh will prolong our lives,» Vall whispered.
«The soul of Her creation will forever adorn the night sky, and the flesh will prolong our lives,» the tribesmen repeated.
«Let’s set up camp in that clearing over there!» Bring Tris and Rylan here and put him on patrol here! the shaman commanded. – Taro, thank you, my friend, you are on time as always! And now be kind – take the people and return to the rock. Get supplies and wood!
Yes, Wall! The redhead replied.
Taro approached the dead Longneck, pulled out his spear and, having called several hunters with a whistle, rushed off to carry out the assignment.
– Wall! Val, come here quickly! shouted the Tyrant.
The shaman turned around and saw the Tyrant and several other tribesmen surround the groaning Salas.
«Ahh, Salas! Good job, youngster! Radon will be pleased! – Coming closer, the shaman praised. «Don’t forget to thank Taro for saving you this one… In the name of Pangea!» What about him?
When the Tyrant brought the teenager to his senses, he immediately began to back away from his relatives. Taking out a knife, Salas began to threaten his fellow tribesman. And the young man’s eyes were embodied in the strange appearance of Zavrin’s eyes: the whites were filled with a crimson hue, and the irises became black, like night, and merged with the pupils.
– Don’t come near me! Salas shouted.
– Hey, what are you doing? It’s me, the Tyrant!
But the tomboy continued to back away, brandishing a knife.
– Don’t come!
Other hunters also noticed what was happening, and began to converge around the youth.
«Wall, what’s wrong with his eyes?» Why are they red and irises turned black?! asked Kun, a shaggy kinsman with a scar across his forehead.
– Yes indeed!
– What’s wrong with your eyes?
– Why?..
The rest of the hunters also began to mutter and whisper.
– Who you are? Ahh, my eyes! Salas continued to yell. – Don’t come!
Wall was at a loss from what was happening, but tried to calm the young beater.
«Hush, hush, Salas, hush. Let me help you. Give me the knife,» said the shaman.
But Salas did not listen and continued to brandish the hunting weapon.
«What’s wrong with my eyes?!» Who you are? he yelled.
Suddenly, one of the tribesmen pounced on the youth and grabbed his hand. Just then, the second one arrived. And now they have already piled on him in a crowd. Salas began to shriek convulsively.
– Son, chill! It’s me, Wall! the shaman reassured, holding Salas. Relax, we’ll heal your eyes. Everything will be OK!
As soon as Wall approached the face of a teenager to examine his eyes, he immediately lost consciousness. The shaman immediately slapped the young man’s cheeks with his palm a couple of times – to shake him up for sure. Did not help. Then Wall opened his eyelids, and it was incredible! The incarnation of the eyes of Salas did not leave even in an insensible state!
– He always had blue eyes… I remember exactly. Even the irises have been reincarnated! Or is it the pupils that have become so large?! I don’t understand, Val, what happened? And why can’t he understand who we are? the Tyrant began to inquire.
«I don’t know… I see this for the first time!» the shaman answered in confusion. «He got Zavrin’s eyes, but…»
«He woke up in oblivion, Vall,» said Kuhn. The boy didn’t recognize anyone. He was in unity, and he was violated…
– In unity? the relatives asked in unison.
The shaggy hunter leaned towards Salas and examined his hands and feet.
«Look at your wrists, Wall. There are traces left.
Everyone began to examine the limbs of Salas. Indeed, there were abrasions on the forearms and ankles, as if something had just recently held the youngster and did not allow him to free himself. But for what reason the unity happened during the hunt, no one could understand.
«You’re
