#time rift

I insisted on carrying the bach-pach, as she would be too slow to be safe if a predator came upon us. She resisted until finally relenting, clipping her leather covered knife to her hip, and her bow to her back with some long sticks on her other hip. Her furs were so strange, they fit against her body almost like they were shaped by the stars. It was so odd. Surely she must be cold? But no, she seemed warmer than I was.

They travelled slowly, stopping several times for Reina to rest. I wasn’t impatient, per se, but I was anxious to show her the body and leave. They could harvest more willow bark while they were there, at least. Once Reina’s ankle healed up, they’d be on their way back to Sabertooth. I missed his Mother and Father most dearly, and the idea of being back in the spacious cave, telling stories and seeing his friends? It pulled at his heart.

While taking a rest, I tried to teach Reina a few more hand signals. ‘Wait’ and ‘Slow’ and ‘Fast’. The ground beneath them was a little less slippery, though water pooled in many places, making his feet freeze when there was no way around. Reina’s feet were encompassed in the finest boots - she didn’t seem to even notice the wet land beneath her. I yearned for Reina to remember her clan name - or anything about the clan. She didn’t seem to understand the word or hand signal for clan and that worried him, for if she wasn’t sure of that then I wasn’t sure how to breach their communication gap - how could you explain the meaning of ‘clan’?

Ahead, the willow tree came into view. Finally, their journey was ending. I showed Reina how to scrape at the tree with a rock, and she did so with her metal knife, following his instruction. She pocketed the bark and asked once more where the wolf was. I was dreading this part. I led her farther upstream, keeping his head on a swivel. If there were more around…

“Oh sheet- oh my gawd-”

I kept watch while she fell to the metal creature’s side, inspecting it. She babbled along, and I couldn’t keep up with her words so I let her ramble, watching the trees for movement.

“Gurr, this is a metal wolf - oh fuck look at its teeth!” I glanced over to see she had pried the mouth open and was staring down the maw. “It’s so heavy, how are we getting this home?”

“Home?” I looked at her incredulously, “Metal wolf no home.”

“But Gurr, this is ah-maze-ing! We need to stuh-dee it!” She looked at its head again, pulling on an ear, before poking inside it “What does this do?”

The blue fire in the eyes stoked, and I pulled Reina back, growling at the metal monster… but the eyes were dark again.

“Gurr, it’s dead - I’m fine!” She grumbled while stepping forward once more, “It’s just the wiring that was misaligned. Maybe I can make a phashlite out of it?”

“Reina, what phashlite?”

“Oh um… It’s a fire on a stick. A fire you can walk with, fire that is not hot.”

She was making no sense. Fire that is not hot? Fire that does not burn? Was that how the metal wolf had fire in its eyes? From this cold fire? I stood watch, glancing down from time to time as Reina worked away. She seemed to know what to do with the metal organs, even if she hadn’t seen a metal wolf before.

“Reina?” I paused, “Reina hunt metal?”

“Uh…” She looked down, “No, never. I mean I’ve seen a few youtube videeohs but who hasn’t?”

I take that as a no then. I watched as she finally sat back, seemingly gaining nothing.

“No use, Gurr, I need tools.” She sighed, “But maybe we can meldt the metal down and use it to make a knife for you?”

“Meldt?”

“Melt - uh… metal soup. Metal soup gets cold and we make it into a knife.”

She clearly possessed knowledge I did not have, because metal soup? Making metal soup into a knife? I’d have to see it to believe it… or understand it. I shook his head before looking back at the treeline, scanning it. Nothing.

“Gurr, can we make a sled?”

“What sled?”

Reina frowned, cute little lines forming between her eyebrows. I reached out to touch them and they disappeared. I grinned as she frowned again - touching the spot once more.

“Are you making fun of me?” She finally chuckled after his third brow touch, “Okay, you’re right. Let’s leave it.”

She threw her hands at the robot, dismissing the idea.

“Maybe when we get to your peepole.”

“Pee-pole?” “It’s…” Reina frowned a moment before leaning away from him and smiling as his hand reached up towards her face, “Reina people, Gurr people…” She pointed at the creek, the trees, the earth, repeating “No people”

“People… Gurr people?” I tilted his head, “Reina come to Gurr people?”

“Yes! Reina come with Gurr.”

      Reina

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about his smile. The way back to the cave was a bit easier if only because I knew what to expect. But of course I had a lot of time to think, if only because of the language barrier they had. I knew a lot more than I thought I would within the… week? Wow. The week I’d been here

He looked… younger when I smiled. I couldn’t help a huff of laughter whenever I recalled him poking my furrowed brow. What a nut. It was kind of cute, like I wanted to chase away what was bothering me. I stumbled over a root, ending up on my ass - and Gurr lent me a hand getting up. The caveman seemed to genuinely care about me - not just as a person in need of assistance, but as a person.

What would I look like if I was cleaned up? I was stronger than anyone I’d met before, practically lifting me up off the ground with his non-dominant hand. I was filthy, of course, but then I wasn’t exactly smelling fresh myself. I’m not washing in the icy creek, that’s for damn sure. He let me set the pace, following just a step behind or beside me, and guiding them with his spear if I veered off course.

He wasn’t tall, were any cavemen tall? But he still stood higher than me by a good few inches. Gurr had chestnut brown hair that was really matted and fell to his shoulders, and his skin was a reddish-brown - at least the skin I could see with all his furs.

Seeing him by firelight wasn’t super helpful either, it made his skin almost glow orange when they were in the cave together. I specifically looked at the cave walls when they got ready for bed now - it was his thing to sleep naked, I was sure it was a body warmth thing but… I was not going to look at him like some kind of lecher. His nakedness seemed to just be a thing that existed - a non-issue for him.

If I grew up out here, I was sure I’d be the same.

Still. I wasn’t going to look.

Not that I want to! I shook my head, it’s Gurr! Not… like… a celebrity or someone I was attracted to. Of course not.

“Reina-” Gurr stopped, whispering my name with a finger to his lips.

I looked to where I indicated with his spear. A ptarmigan was in a low tree branch, preening itself. I pointed to me, then the bird.

I grinned. I was trusting that I could do it! I nodded and carefully took my bow off my back, notching an arrow. I looked away from the ptarmigan as I lifted my bow, drawing it. Out of the corner of my eye the bird was watching me. Breathe in… look at the bird and release!

The bow twanged and Gurr jumped at the sound before spinning in place to watch the bird fall to the earth. I whooped, running to retrieve my kill. The shot was good - I got a bit of the arrow in its neck - and the best part was when Gurr held it up in one hand, and held my hand up in the other.

“Reina hunt!” I bellowed, surely scaring off anything else in the woods with his jubilation, “Reina hunt!!!”

Laughing I joined his chant, wobbling when I finally let my arm go - I seemed just so happy for me, I couldn’t keep the smile off my face.

“Gurr cut meat,” I nodded, “Gurr make soup, Reina sleep.”

“Thanks, Gurr.” my ankle wasn’t doing great, but it wasn’t as painful as I’d expected… the rest would still be appreciated.

By the time they were back at their cave, I was exhausted and leaned heavily against the side wall as Gurr started the fire up. Pulling off my gloves, I massaged warmth back into them as the light grew. I watched Gurr instead of the bird I was dissecting. Yeah, if he got a good haircut and maybe a beard trim he’d look much nicer. my mind moved on as I looked at a flatter piece of wood.

“Gurr? Can I have that?”

He waved his hand while nodding, going back to his food prep. I looked at it from a few different angles. Maybe I can’t carve bone for shit, but I might be able to make a comb? The more I thought about it the more I settled on the idea. I needed to be able to do something with my hands to keep busy. Anything to not think about the size of the giant robot wolf. Annddd I thought of it again. Yup, time to carve. While I had my own comb it was far too thin toothed to work with Gurr’s mess. Plus it was plastic, if it broke it would be good for nothing at all…

The night came on fast and by the time the sky was dark, I’d made a good approximation of a handle-less comb. The sanding would have to be finiId in the coming days, my hands already cramping. The ptarmigan soup was welcome, but I couldn’t help but yearn for some spices. It was just a meat soup with no real flavour to it. If I’m stuck here forever I’m going to have to find some garlic at the very least.  

Over dinner I tried again to ask Gurr about his people. It was a far walk, apparently. Three sleeps, give or take but for me? Gurr guessed about five. The two sat with this for a little while, a companionable silence between them. I worked the problem out in my head, sipping on the last of the soup. Five nights in the wild with no way to know for sure about food or shelter. They’d been lucky with the amount of meat they’d been able to obtain, Gurr making sure to smoke most of it, but would it last two adults going at a hard pace for that long? They could hunt on the way but if they were to make any good time their heavy footfalls would undoubtedly scare off game before they could spot it.

my mind fell back to the sled idea I had for the wolf cyborg. If I could make a sled with Gurr’s help, they could carry all the furs with them. And if it were sturdy enough, they could sleep directly on the sled too, keeping them off the frozen ground. Idly I started drawing in the dirt floor, wondering what shape would be best.

If we put tall posts on the corners, we could throw a fur on top in case it snows… but that would make it heavier… Gurr came over, taking my discarded bowl to wash it. I murmured my thanks while looking intently at my doodles. A travois would be the easiest to make, only two logs and a fur lashed to it to make a triangle shape, but it wouldn’t be very good for much else other than carrying furs. Getting to any semblance of society totally outweighs a week of stress, I thought, though we do need to arrive alive… maybe the first style? But how will we stick it together? Maybe a toboggan instead? Like a canoe… but flat on the bottom. But that would take forever…

Gurr sat next to me on the opposite side of my drawings, stepping gingerly to avoid smudging them. He looked them over, before looking at me with a raised brow. He looked so… modern with that expression.

“I’m thinking of making a sled.” I tapped my head on ‘thinking’, “but I’m not sure what the best way to do it will be.”

“Sledd?” Gurr looked back at my doodles, tilting his head slightly, “Make sled?”

“Yeah, it’s like…” I looked around the cave before spotting his bowl, and picking it up, “It’s like a bowl for carrying the furs in…”

I paused, turning Gurr’s bowl over in my hands and inspecting it. Inspiration struck like lightning.

“Gurr, you made this bowl?”

“Make bowl, yes.” He pointed to himself with his thumb, a crease starting to appear as he tried to follow my train of thought, “Sled is… bowl?”

I chuckled, reaching over to poke between his brows like he did to me earlier, making him grin. His voice was soft and awestruck as he said my name in reverence. I felt my cheeks heat at the sound, and cleared my throat.

“Right, a sled is a bowl - a big big bowl. Cave sized - can we do that?”

He watched me a moment before giving a small nod of his head, “Gather big stick.”

“Right, a big tree trunk… We can use my axe… flatten the bottom…” I tried drawing what I meant as I said it, and Gurr soon joined in. His lines were simple but very legible - though some of what I tried to draw was beyond my capabilities. I ended up grabbing a large stick and showing Gurr in miniature what I meant. It wasn’t long before Gurr started banking the fire and I realised how late it had gotten.

“We’ll start in the morning? Sunrise?”

“Sun.” Gurr nodded, “Sun we gather the tree.”

I smiled as he puttered around cleaning up the cave while avoiding their doodles. He really is sweet… if he’s cleaning I can make the bed more comfortable at least. A rock had bit into my side a few times and I was determined to find the sucker and get it out of the house. Rolling the furs to one side of the wall I noticed how many more pebbles were on Gurr’s side and my heart broke a little. He took the bad side… Sweeping the rocks out of the way with my least favourite fur (why is it so damn itchy?) I made sure that was the one on the very bottom, fluffy side down. Finally happy with my work once the furs were arranged nicely, I turned to ask Gurr if he had a favourite fur for his pillow.

He was already naked, stretching to the side avoiding the ceiling. He was thinner than I pictured under all those furs, but every inch was just corded muscle. It was the end of winter, so I could imagine how he’d look with proper food. my eyes drifted lower without meaning to, his shaft nestled between his legs like a mountain among plains. I looked away quickly, holy fuck. Watching the back of the cave, I asked him which fur he wanted for his head, and he came over and grabbed one, handing it to me.

“Gurr sleep now, Reina sleep?”

“Yeah, I’m super tired.” I lied.

      Gurr

Reina said she was tired, but as I curled around her last night, she was as stiff as a board. She hadn’t been that tense since the first night we shared furs. I watched her now as she adjusted her bow on her back. She had given me a bright pink pouch that held her clothes inside, and instead put some jerky in yet another metal bowl of hers. It clicked shut with these clips on the sides. It was so simple and yet masterfully done. Reina had her knife and arrow holder at her side - a qwee-verr as she says - and I have to carry the pouch with her far superior cordage and our jerky box inside, the other metal box she collected some of the coals from the fire and wrapped the box in furs before putting it in the flower pink bag.

I also have the honour of carrying her Axe and Saw. I am excited to use her tools - but I am also concerned with her leg. We pushed pretty hard yesterday, and to get to a tree of the girth Reina is requesting… might take awhile. She had some willow bark tea again, but I’m still concerned. If she falls again that might put her recovery at an even slower pace… perhaps even halt it. But my mate will not take no for an answer, and I respect her wishes even if I do not agree.

“Gathering time.” She sang as she followed behind me, making sure the leather flap was firmly in place at the cave’s entrance.

“Gathering, yes. Bowl… cave size?” I hummed, considering the options I thought of last night, “Bowl smaller?”

“We can get away with smaller I think, yes…” Reina scanned the treeline, “It’s mostly to carry things and to sleep in, so we want to at least be able to lay side by side.”

“Sleep in bowl…” I thought for a moment, “I know tree.”

“You know the tree?” Reina smiled, the motion lighting up her face, “Perfect, lead the way.”

She gestured for me to go first, and I led her through the shortest path I could make - though I did forget some bushes along the way that we had to skirt, Reina never once complained. A hiss of pain once in a while, but that was it. She was such a strong person, I doubt I’d be moving as much with a similar injury. Though, I would have the clan to lean back on and we don’t have that luxury. Not yet.

When we reached the tree I thought might suit Reina’s needs, I stood back to let her inspect it. I think I know what we’re doing - making a bowl to carry things to the clan - and sleeping in it instead of having to find shelter every night. The ideas she comes up with… Truly spectacular.

“Gurr, I think this will work!” Her smile was broad, “It’s a little rotten on one side too!”

I grunted, that was the other part of choosing this tree, if part of it were able to be removed without coals, then we’d have less waiting around to do with the controlled burn. Reina came to me and asked for her axe - walking around the tree to determine where she wanted it cut.

“Here goes nothing.” She swung and it barely bit into the wood, again and again. I watched for a moment, the chill wind brushing my face before deciding to step in. She could do it by herself of course but it would be a lot faster if I did.

“Reina, make fire?”

“Oh! Duh!” Reina swapped the axe for the bright pink pouch, and walked away, far enough that should the tree fall her way accidentally she would be out of reach. I watched briefly as she started setting up a fire before turning to my task. If we were to sleep in this, it would be snug, but I would not mind. Curling up next to my mate? Hardly a chore. But this… I adjusted my grip on the axe the way Reina showed me. We felled trees for fuel at times, but usually not this large. It was difficult work, and I was glad that Reina was no longer working on it herself.

I called out as the tree fell, Reina whooped and joined me, scoping out our giant bowl-to-be. I surveyed it with her, though mostly I watched her expression. If we’re making a giant bowl, the hollow in the tree will cut down the work time tremendously. My mate took off her bow and measured two lengths from the center of the hollow. This is going to be… large. Well, she did say ‘cave size’. Reina had a piece of charcoal that she made marks on the trunk with, including a curved line that went from the bottom to the top like a mammoth’s tusk. She nodded, seemingly satisfied before looking up at me.

Her eyes softened a little and she looked away, clearing her throat. The snowy skin on her face turned redder than the cold bite she’d just had. Was she… blushing? Oh no… tears were slowly accumulating in her eyes.

“Reina?” I reached toward her, and she laughed, letting me put my arms around her - the strange clothes she wore were puffy and felt odd where my skin touched them, but she curled into me and could not care any less about her strange furs.

“Sore-e Gurr, I’m just oh-ver-welmed about ev-erry-thing.”

“Reina fine.” I rubbed her back like my mother used to when I was sick, before I claimed a cave of my own. “Reina fine… yes?”

“I… I think so Gurr. I’ve just had ev-erry-thing taeken from me.”

“...Tae-ken?” I hope it’s not what I think it means…

“Taken… like…” She stepped back, rubbing her face, before looking at the axe in my hands, before grabbing it forcefully, “Taken.”

“Gurr, taken from Reina.” I grabbed it back - “Taken?”

“Yeah…” She rubbed her arms before shaking her head, “Let’s fire this tree up.”

I nodded, my mate was very no-nonsense, but we would talk about this later. The language barrier was becoming less of an issue but there is so much I would tell her if I knew the words. Reina’s people seem to have words for everything - and the words can change if it’s now or in the past - what an odd concept. Words with ‘en’ seem to be past words, at least - so far. She’s told me the present of the words too when I ask but it’s a lot to remember. Now was not the time for a language lesson, even if she wasn’t hurting inside… we had a lot of work to do.

The day passed swiftly, and I was grateful for my mate’s treasures - the metal boxes that held the jerky meat were very impressive. Strong and light. I’ve been trying not to think of the metal wolf too much - but if my eyes linger on the treeline longer than normal I don’t think anyone would blame me. The metal wolf’s call went unanswered, but that might have been a fluke, or its clan might have been too far for the call to be heard. It was injured after all, and perhaps the metal family moved on.

How sad.

At least it was no longer dragging itself around and posing a danger nearby. It was… I shook my head, no - not thinking of it. Luckily my mate had many questions about the burning techniques, and had many ideas that kept me busy. When asked how long this would take… I had to do a few calculations. Something of this scale would take several days without the hollow in it… but seeing that the tree fell without splitting the hollow… I held up five fingers, keeping in mind that Reina wanted to carve off the bottom and make it smooth. She frowned, looking it over, mumbling something before stepping into the hollow and trying to lay down. It was tight lengthwise, but width wise was more than ample.

“Gurr,” she motioned me forward, “come lay for sleep.”

I did as instructed, and it was very close quarters, I was only just able to fit - pinching and painful. I grit out her name and she conceded, “What if we…”

She turned on her side a bit more, putting her face at my neck and twineing her legs through mine. The pressure on my back eased a bit and my cheeks heated. This was… it felt intimate. This feeling of being pressed together face to face - more or less - and having her legs wrapped around mine… This wasn’t a survival huddle… this felt like more.

“How many days now?”

I swallowed around the lump in my throat trying to focus on my words instead of the feeling building by my hips, running a hand closer to her face and holding up three fingers. The bulk of the work, if we were to sleep like this - ancestors save me - would be done. It was just the shaping of the bottom and the front mammoth tusk edge - which we could work on at the same time.

“Perfect, 3 days, let’s do that!”

I grunted, waiting for Reina to get up so we could get to work.

…

She wasn’t moving out of the tree. She just rearranged her legs slightly, putting less pressure on my lower back. This was pleasant. I rubbed my hand up and down her arm, and she pressed closer. This was it. I knew Reina was my mate before but… perhaps she knew it too now?

“Gurr this mite be hard to x-plane.”

“X-plane?”

She let out a breath, and I winced inwardly. I wish I knew more of her words so badly. Explain meant to teach with words. Ok, that I could understand.

“What hard to explain?” I wouldn’t let my ignorance stop her from getting whatever it was off her chest.

“I’m here because of… mah-jick, I think?” She sounded frustrated, so I kept up the arm rubs, which she seemed to enjoy.

“Reina here with Gurr, yes - Reina want explain why, yes?”

“Yes.” She sounded relieved, and I preened, happy with my assessment. She continued, voice low, “I am from… hmm… You know when this bowl is done?”

“Tree days.”

“Three, yes. So when the bowl is done, that is the future.”

“Future… future is in sleeps to come?”

“Yes! Sleeps to come, perfect anna-oh-gee.”

I skipped that last word, “So bowl done in future. What future with Reina do?”

“So I, Reina, am from the future.”

“You…” Perhaps something was not translating well. “Reina… from sleeps to come?”

“Yes, many many sleeps. Many winters.”

Many winters?! I choked a little, “Explain?”

She huffed a little, her voice coming out bitter, “I don’t know. I can’t explain. One day I was wor---” she paused, “One day I was gathering, and then I woke up here, in many winters past.”

I frowned, that sounded… insane. But Reina didn’t seem to be joking, and she was of sound mind. What if it was true? It would explain a lot - her odd furs, how she seemed to know a lot but also didn’t know basic things… how her technology was so advanced. It was from… many winters in the future.

“How many winters?” I held up my hands, perhaps this was within the grasp of our people, maybe our children’s lives.

Reina shook her head before finally struggling to sit up. I joined her, and it was actually fairly comfortable to sit facing each other. She sighed, looking around.

“How many winters?”

I nodded, and she gestured to the land around us, face pained. 

“As many winters as there are trees.”

My heart stopped.

The heat of shame at losing track of Mammoth clan was quickly replaced with a different sort of heat. Surely, I could show Reina what a good mate I’d be. I’d been trying - and even if she didn’t want to clean the animals she didn’t seem opposed to eating of them. So I could provide for Reina, that much must be obvious to her.

What else? What did Mother do when she was trying to convince Father that I should be hers?

I frowned as I tried to recall the stories of their courting. I hadn’t heard them since I was a small child after all.

“Gurr?”

Eyes to the cave entrance - clear, then Reina’s face. Her skin was like the snows, and I longed to touch it.

“Reina?”

She smiled, and my heart thumped roughly against my chest. Her teeth were perfect, like a babe’s. I tried to keep mine clean, but there was obviously something else that she was doing that I did not know. Another tool? Her basket was full of treasures after all.

“Woode you like sum soup?” She gestured at the water she was now boiling. "Can you give me the meat?"

I nodded, collecting the cut up meat - the tough stuff that I didn't smoke yet - in my bowl and bringing it to her. Her odd furs that covered her hands brushed mine - and they were not soft at all. What kind of creature would produce such a hide? Perhaps her clan had a different way of tanning - that would be a good trade, information on tanning for their knowledge of this 'stone' Reina called 'metal'. As long as she could remember her clan - she didn't seem to recall much of anything outside of how to cook in water. But then, her language was so different than theirs - her clan must have come from some distance if they did not even use the hand signals that were almost a standard across the clans in the area. But she wouldn't be doing much travelling with that ankle.

Which reminds me...

"Reina, Gurr go."

She looked from me to the leather-flap covering the cave's entrance, she brows knitting together as she poured the meat chunks into her hot water vessel.

"Gurr go where?"

I made the sign for gather as I spoke. I knew that it was mostly birch and pines around, but farther away there was a creek with a willow tree. If I could ease some of her pain by bringing her the main ingredient in the pain relief tea then it would be worth the trek. I tried to explain as best I could with their limited connected vocabulary, but in the end I just sighed - she'd learn soon enough. I mentally mapped out my journey and nodded to myself.

"Gurr here," I pointed to the floor of the cave, "sleep."

"You'll be here for sleep?"

I nodded as I ducked toward the entrance, picking up my spear en-route. As I left Reina said something about being "Seyf" whatever "seyf" was. I grunted in acknowledgement and left her in the cave. She'd be safe enough in the cave, for now, but I wanted to get back before it got too dark. Plus if she was making more soup... That would certainly soften the meat up enough to be more palatable.

I couldn't wait.

So I went as quickly as I dared, keeping an eye out for game trails and predators. It wasn't going to be too long until the snow melted away, I noticed. The birch trees were starting to drip with the sun now, all it would take would be a few days of heat and the trails would be much easier to traverse.

On and on I went, making mental notes of where dead falls were, and how much sun certain areas were getting. The idea of finally being able to bathe and not freeze and drown was becoming almost an obsession to me.

When I first set out from Sabertooth's camp I didn't take a lot with me - it was supposed to be a fairly quick expedition. But the snowstorm came and I was lucky to even find my small lean-to of a cave. And when I emerged, days later, all signs of the Mammoth clan were gone. I stayed in the area for a few weeks, hoping they'd loop back around but no luck. I was only planning on staying a few more days, smoking the land sloth to make the trek back to Sabertooth a little easier on my stomach... and then I met Reina.

I grinned a little despite myself. Even if she wasn't a hunter, she might one day recall her clan or how to procure the 'metal' she had. Besides that... she was so smart, so beautiful, I couldn't believe my luck. The ancestors in the stars were truly watching over me. If she would have me, I was sure our children would be doubly blessed. Maybe even the next generation's clan leaders.

Snap.

I paused, holding my breath to listen. My eyes darted around the birch trees, not seeing anything. The trees went on and on in all directions and I finally let myself take a breath before checking my surroundings again. Nothing stirred for awhile and I pressed on.

The snapping of trees followed me as I snuck forward. Nothing was showing itself, and I rubbed the scar along my chest subconsciously. I needed to be swift, but if the thing making noise in the woods became a problem… I readjusted my hold on the spear. How I yearned to get Reina’s technology for my people. They would be so much better off with the sharp ‘metal’ that her clan had. I cursed again at the fact that I’d shattered my sharp stone spear and had only this stick version. I knew that sometimes you could find the obsidian in flowing water, and that spurred my movement. I wanted to help Reina with her pain, but if I could also get a better weapon…

My breath was starting to show in front of my face, and I looked to the sky once more. It would be sundown soon.

I looked around again and decided that if something wanted to attack me, I’d deal with it then. My mahogany eyes scanned the area again before I started jogging. The last thing I wanted was to be caught far away from Reina when dark fell. I wouldn’t be home before dark but the faster I went now, the faster I’d be back with my mate.

I thanked the ancestor’s once more as I heard the sound of running water. I slowed as the creek came into view, bits of ice still clinging to the edge of it. I looked around again as I got closer, the frigid creek looked unappealing but I yearned to clean myself up.

Without the large stone basin from the clan to heat water I’d been forced to hand scrub with the freezing liquid. I dare not now, not with the sun fading, but perhaps I could come here with Reina, she didn’t smell bad at all - though I was sure I was ripe.

I grimaced thinking about it. Maybe I could ask Reina to use her pot for a scrub down. It was bad to use the same bowl for cleaning as for cooking but… I frowned, head jerking up at crackling in the trees. A ptarmigan. Was that my shadow? I smiled, thanking the ancestors once more. I wouldn’t catch this one - but the little bits of dark feathers coming in made my heart sing. It wouldn’t be long before spring.

I shook my head before scratching at my scalp, yeah a bath soon. My eyes followed the creek bed as I traversed it, knowing that somewhere along here my quarry would be found. After a few minutes I let out a sigh of relief. I’d simply overshot the course. The willow’s leaves dangled just above the flowing water as I neared - but I was unable to truly see how deep it was with the dim light. I looked around the bank, and found a rock that would suit my purposes, even if it wouldn’t work for a new spear head.

I scraped at the bark, trying to get at least a fistful so I wouldn’t have to make this trip again tomorrow. The work was difficult in the cold, my breath making a fog in front of my face that made it even harder to see what I was doing. I hoped what I gathered was enough and that Reina knew what to do with it. I shoved the bark into a pouch at my hip along with the stone. The flapping of erratic wings caught my attention, and I looked back to see the ptarmigan in flight. What spooked it?

Warily, the I held my spear tight, keeping the direction the bird came from to my front. Whatever it was could probably climb… I grit my teeth. A sabertooth? Surely not out here…

I walked backwards, checking at my shadow every few steps. The sabertooth tigers were supposed to be rare, the fact that my clan was named after them would be legend in time - perhaps even with my children's children.

An odd grinding noise touched my ears, so very faint. What could that possibly be? It unnerved me. Reina was a gift, but had her injuries come from something ‘metal’ - the stuff that her tools came from? Had she angered her ancestors somehow? Now that I thought of the metal Reina had I realised I had heard that grinding noise once before. The sound of the lid scraping the top of her pot. Metal against metal.

Was it one of her clan members, out to find her? Perhaps I could reunite Reina with her family! My heart swelled a moment, but still kept a warrior’s grip on my spear. Who knew what they were like? Reina might come from a technologically advanced clan, but what if they were violent with their tools? I kept watch, walking upstream towards where I’d spotted the ptarmigan at first. The noise got only marginally louder. What tools did they have that had to grind together so much?

My breath was getting more noticeable as the sky turned a darker orange, almost red, as it dipped behind the mountains. I stood still a moment, suddenly unsure. What if they were hostile and Reina was left alone? What if I couldn’t get back to her and she was attacked or… worse. I grit my teeth, if it were Reina’s clan it was my duty to see them reunited. Even if I never saw her again. I had to tell them where she was.

I strode forward, carefully picking my way through the underbrush, avoiding roots that were getting near impossible to see under the snow.

The grinding stopped.

I cleared my throat, about to call out when I saw it across the creek. This was no clan member. The thing looked like a dire wolf - with its back legs broken and trailing behind it. But it couldn’t be a wolf, wolves had fur. This creature, this thing, was covered in metal. The head of it swivelled towards me, its movements jarring the body it pulled forward on its front legs.

Blue fire light came from its eyes - illuminating the snowy bank in front of it. It watched me with an intensity that I knew - I had seen before. This thing was hunting. It pulled itself closer to the water’s edge, staring at me with something akin to hatred. Ancestors, hear me, let me make it back to Reina alive. She needs me.

I watched with mounting horror as the metal wolf opened its jaw, red fire light in its throat showing the rows upon rows of teeth. My blood turned to ice as the open maw produced a screeching howl. The legs behind it were hanging on by loose sinew - but it wasn’t like animal meat, it was all metal.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up as it looked back at me, cocking its head before looking at the water a brief moment. It was unconcerned with my presence, and that shook me - there was no mistaking this as anything but an apex predator.

He didn’t know what it was, but I knew it could not be allowed to live. I gripped my wooden spear anxiously. It was made of Reina’s metal - my spear would do no good against it. I took a step back as the thing pulled itself to the water, dipping a toe in experimentally. A noise sounded and the creature pulled its foot back, yelping.

How did it seem so much like a wolf? It was as if a wolf had been built out of metal and given life. Did someone…  make this? I stared at it with new eyes - could Reina’s people have made this monstrosity? I moved back a few more steps and the thing followed along the water. The lack of hind legs hindered its movements but it wasn’t as slow as I hoped. The thing howled again, piercing my ears with the pitch.

No one returned its call.

A large boon considering. I watched the thing come close to the water again, looking up and down the bank. It’s looking for a way to cross. Okay so maybe I couldn’t kill it, but maybe I could force it into the water. Reina’s people might be upset at its loss but I could not let it live to follow me home. It wasn’t… right. Even if it showed no interest in me, I could not allow this thing to wander free.

Everything deserved a chance at life, but this thing… I watched it drag its legs behind it with no apparent issues. This thing was a monster. The ancestors would surely shun me if I let it live. Reina’s people - if they did design it - would not be allowed to join their ancestors without atonement, of this I was certain. It was not natural.

Only those with a womb or egg layers could create life - Not… make it with hands and unnatural blue fire.

I kept going downstream, the eyes of the creature showing me exactly where it was. There was an ice patch that spanned the creek - but it would not hold a creature of my size, let alone this thing.

I went slowly, making sure to keep its attention. The dogged way it was watching me made me so uncomfortable. I knew if I messed up, I would not live to see Reina or my family again. This creature of metal would not allow it.

It moved quietly, aside from the grinding of metal from where the hips and back legs rubbed against each other. The silence made me uneasy - my breath was loud in my ears, rivaled only by the thumping of my erratic heartbeat.

I’d hunted many things before. I’d been hunted by wolves once as well, while the hunting party were bringing back a large kill to camp. I’d seen the hunger in the wolves’ eyes and knew they were desperate. But this thing? It had no food hunger, for how could it eat? It was hunting me for the thrill alone.

There was a thing all hunters knew of, if only once in awhile. The thrill of being able to land the killing blow - of knowing you were the best provider. The thrill of sneaking up on prey with your hunting companions and knowing you would get the kill - that you would eat tonight. It was the most animal part of clan members, even the elders talked of it. Which is why it was most important to thank the creature for its life - to remember that something had to die to fill your belly. It was humbling and required by all. No hunter I’d met had baulked at the idea of thanking the creature for its life. Except one. One clan member had been attacked by a rabid badger… and the Eagle Clan awoke to slaughtered children before being able to tie the man, Zehir, up. It was impossible to reason with him, and he called for more blood to spill when he was ungagged. Eagle Clan had to put Zehir down, to the sorrow of all.

This metal wolf reminded me of Zehir. It did not want to eat me to satiate the hunger it could not feel. It wanted to kill. For killing’s sake.

I shuddered as it pulled itself along, one of the back legs snapping off and left in the dirt. It was only a few more steps - the wolf saw the ice before staring at me. The ice that spanned the creek was ten feet away, and I felt sweat drip down my back. The false wolf ran - faster than I would have thought possible with its two front legs - down the bank and skidded across the ice.

Please, ancestors, please let me return to Reina.

The wolf bayed in triumph as it started to close in on the other side of the creek. I lowered my spear, bracing it against the earth as it ran the last few feet across the ice-

It crashed beneath it, and the triumphant howling turned to pain - small lightning sparked around it as it tried to gain purchase on my side of the creek. It hauled itself up just in time to let out one last whine - the whole body going limp against the water’s edge.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat, hands cramping from how tightly they held to my spear. Did it work? Had the ancestor’s heard me? I didn’t take my eyes off the metal body as I fished around for the stone amongst the willow bark. I took a steadying breath as I pulled it from the pouch, taking careful aim before lobbing it at the monster.

It clanged against the side of its neck, with no other movement or sound. I waited before slowly making my way towards the creature. If it could drag itself around with no back legs, perhaps it could fake death?

I wasn’t taking any chances. My blood felt like ice in my veins, while my skin burned. I was a hunter, but I hadn’t felt like this before. Never.

I’d known fear. Fear was important, it kept you safe. Fear let you return home to your family. But this... this was beyond anything I’d felt before. This monster was not natural.

I was close enough now. I grit my teeth and poked the side of it with my spear enough to move the creature. Again, harder. Harder. The metal body rolled slightly, showing its belly. I stabbed hard where there was a gap in the metal plates, but nothing happened. I looked around the area before falling to my knees.

I felt hot tears run down my face, and my body shook from the adrenaline. I was finally safe. ... I was safe.

Once I’d collected myself enough, I looked over the body with the twilight that remained. It was metal alright, all of it. Metal skin, soft twisty metal organs… everything. I frowned. How could metal be alive? Reina used her metal like the Sabertooth Clan used stone. A tool, nothing more.

I pulled on the body - it was heavy, there would be no bringing it back to show Reina. How the monster was able to move that fast with that weight, I had no idea. The whole thing was unnatural. Even its feet were metal with darker metal claws… The leg! I looked at the creek. If Reina knew how to use metal, maybe she would know how or why this thing existed. Her ankle would make it difficult to get out here but the monster's leg… that would work to show Reina. I wouldn’t cross to get the leg that had fallen but the other back leg was also barely hanging on. I pulled with both hands, standing on either side of the joint and yanking as hard as I could. It came loose after I twisted and nearly fell into the icy water beside the monster.

Grunting, I threw the hindleg further inland before pulling the body as far away from the water as I could. After three feet I gave up, noting that I could barely make out my surroundings.

I had to get home.

    Reina

Relax, he said he’d be back in time to sleep. I poked the fire a little, making sure my pot was getting the heat it needed. A sigh escaped me, and I leaned back to work on my fish hooks some more. They were… it was a waste of bone, truly. I grimaced as another hook shattered under my fingers. The book made it look so easy. But to get the bone thin enough without going to break off in the fish’s mouth? Ugh.

Gurr didn’t seem phased by what I was doing, so perhaps he knew how to carve bone and not have it shatter into a million pieces. Maybe the curved bit is what I’m having trouble with. Maybe I could make a needle? Though the eye would have to be made first… I looked at the entrance of the cave again. There was no light leaking through, which was the same as it had been for the last couple hours.

I sighed, bundling up my bone mess and calling it for the night. It was tough to move around the cave, especially with my bummed ankle. I cursed myself once more for having made the mistake of not watching where I was going. Gurr really saved me. Even if I didn’t have the bad ankle I’d still be lost in a world with no real proper experience. What did he get out of it? Perhaps he really was just a nice guy. I scoffed to myself as I cinched my backpack closed, shaking my head and smiling at my own stupid joke. They haven’t evolved into assholes yet.

Noise from outside caught my attention. Gurr? No, it’s wings. I looked at my bow a moment, before my heart leapt into my throat at the scratching scrambling sound from the leather door flap. It was trying to gain purchase on the top of the cave, I was sure of it. And if it’s that small - surely I could dispatch it?

My lips formed a solid line, brows coming together. I knew what I had to do, but I’d never shot an animal before. my type of archery was all about the artform, not hunting. But Gurr couldn’t be the only one that was providing, I could help. I had to help, because I was not going to be a kept woman.

As carefully as I could, I picked my way to the front of the cave, the flapping settling down as I drew closer and held my bow at the ready. Deep breaths, you got this. I ducked my head out, and the bird flew out out out… Breathe in, hold… release.

The bird squawked once loudly before it hit the ground. I watched where it fell before glancing around. Nothing else seemed to be in the clearing. I ducked back into the cave and looked around. There was a larger stick that they’d been using to poke the fire with, but it wasn’t going to hold a flame… I couldn’t leave the bird out there for something else to claim it… I grabbed a smaller bit of fire wood and let it catch fire on the tip. It wouldn’t burn long before hitting my hands so I hobbled out of the cave as fast as I could. It was maybe thirty feet out, which would normally not be an issue but with my ankle it took far longer than I expected. The bird was still warm, which was simultaneously wonderful and disgusting on my bare hands.

When I finally got to the cave, I fell to my ass heavily, relief of not stepping on the hurt leg anymore was so strong I took a moment to savour it. Perhaps I should take some of the ibuprofen I had… but then I wouldn’t be thinking of the future. If I really was stuck here, I didn’t have a pharmacy I could go to to just get some more. What if I got sick?

I know I should save it, but damn if I’m not tempted. I looked to the entrance again. Where the hell- heck was he? I refused to believe that he was hurt, because there was nothing I could do if he was. I had no idea where he went. Next time, we’re leaving together, I don’t care what he says.

The bird was laying there, taunting me. How long until it would be difficult to dress it? Would I have to do it before rigour mortis set in? How long does that take? I glanced once more at the cave entrance, before grimacing. Gurr might not be back tonight, if he got waylaid by something he might be camping out somewhere else. I looked back at the bird. I can’t. I shook my head and turned back to the soup. It’s been ready for hours… might as well dig in.

It was on my second bowl that I heard footsteps crunching on the snow and stone outside. I grabbed my knife, holding it in front of me with both hands. I’d be a lot more impressive if my hands weren’t shaking. Gurr’s mess of hair ducked past the flap and my arms fell to my sides.

“Gurr you scared the s--”, What the hell was he holding? “Gurr, what is that?”

“Reina…” Gurr groaned as he sat heavily by the fire, tossing the obviously metal thing to the side. “Soup?”

“Oh god, of course!” I fervently eyed the metal thing as I poured soup into Gurr’s bowl. He’d been gone for so long and he was obviously exhausted, but how did he have a stick of metal?

As soon as he had the bowl in his hands, I rushed to inspect the metal. It looked like a sculpture of some kind, but it had wiring up and down the center. One end even looked like a paw? Like a dog paw. Even had some intense claws. Whoever made this was seriously good at metal work. But how…?

“Gurr, what is this?”

He looked at it, then took another chug of hot soup. His face was red, and he looked… haunted by the thing I held up. I waited impatiently for him to swallow. This could be my ticket out of this damn place.

“It…” He scratched the side of his beard, “It… grrr.”

“It’s… you?” I pointed at him, confused.

“No.” He clenched his hands a moment, “It-” He howled and looked at me sheepishly.

“A wolf?” I looked at the thing in my hand once more, awareness dawning, “Gurr, was this thing alive? Wolf?” I asked again, before howling a little myself. It feels silly but what else could we do to make it obvious? Gurr nodded.

“Reina, what is?”

“I don’t know Gurr…” I rolled it over in my palms, inspecting it once more. “If it came from a wolf-”

my eyes snapped up, “Gurr, you killed it?”

The caveman tilted his head and blinked.

“Uh.. Hunt?” I made a stabbing motion, to which he nodded vehemently. He started spinning his tale with hand motions and I struggled to keep up. There was stabbing, stalking, and howling.

“Wait wait, Gurr-” I shook my head, “This wolf, awoo, wolf, was moving around the water?”

“Water, yes. Gurr hunt, woof in water, woof hunted.”

“Okay…” I watched as he pointed at the leg before continuing.

“Metal… metal no water. Metal…,” Gurr paused before making a cracking noise, “Kirsh kirsh kirsh in water.”

“It was electric?”

“What lectrick?”

“Uh…” I didn’t know how to answer that one. I shook my head. “A metal wolf hunted Gurr, then Gurr hunted it into water? Water killed the wolf? Water hunted the wolf?”

“Ah! Yes! Water hunted wolf!” He grinned ear to ear at the communication bridge, “Kill is end of hunt?”

“Yes, you hunt, wolf was alive, now it’s dead.”

He nodded solemnly, scratching his chin, “Kill wolf dead. Water kill wolf.”

I examined the leg in my hands again, investigating further. The outside plating was so smooth, it looked more like a laptop shell - just smooth metal. The foot, as I poked it, wiggled individual toes. The toe beans even had a rougher texture, as if it was built for climbing. The inside was well protected, but where the leg would attach to the hip was exposed enough to peruse.

The wires and cordage looked like the innards of an animal, just… metal. It was unnerving. Who or what could have made this? Animatronics couldn’t move on their own, couldn’t hunt like Gurr was referencing.

“What if…” I paused, watching Gurr pour himself more soup, “What if when I was sent back in time, other things were as well? What if things from the far future were sent back too?”

“Reina?”

“Yeah, Gurr?” I felt my voice crack as I locked eyes with his, the world suddenly seemed much more dangerous, “What is it?”

“Reina hunt?” He pointed at the bird that was just laying there.

“Yeah with my bow.” I gestured to the carbon fiber tool, “I don’t have a lot of arrows though so we’ll have to be careful.”

Gurr looked over the fire at my bow leaning against the cave wall.

“How?”

“How did I hunt?”

He grunted, tilting his head a bit more, watching the bow as if he watched long enough it would reveal its secrets.

“I can show you tomorrow? After sleep?”

He grunted, “Reina, go with Gurr? Metal wolf?”

“There’s more? Yes, sleep then metal wolf.” I had to know. Was it a statue or was this thing truly some kind of cyborg? Or robot? Who cares what the difference is, good lord Reina! I shook my head as Gurr rifled through his furs. I wasn’t sure how he wore the damn things, it just looked like blankets belted to him… And he pulled out some bark.

“Reina, soup.”

“Uhh…” I reached around the fire to take it, “Thanks Gurr, what’s it-”

That smell… where had I smelled that before? It… couldn’t be…? I scrambled to my backpack, making Gurr jump with my sudden movement.

“Reina?”

I grunted as I rifled through my bag to find my little stash of meds. I popped open one section and… Yeah, it smelled like ibuprofen. Was this the plant the med was derived from? Haitao, my friend in med school would know. He was focusing on the traditional Chinese medicine and its applications for modern medicine.

“Gurr, is this for me? For my ankle?”

“Ain-kull?” He pointed at the foot, “Reina hurt.”

“Yes, oh Gurr,” I smiled, “You went out all that way just for me?”

He looked away a moment, before pointing at the bundle of bark in my hands, “Reina hurt, Gurr… Gurr hunt. Hunt for soup. Hmm… not hunt…”

He made a picking motion, like he was picking berries off the bush. “Pjal?”

“You gathered? Gather?” I copied his motion, “Gather the bark?”

He nodded, pointing at the pot, “Soup for ain-kull. Sleep then soup?”

I nodded, “Sounds good Gurr.”

As Gurr curled up against me for the night, naked, again, I watched the last of the embers glint against the light of the metal wolf leg.

What the hell is going on?

General warnings are as follows; This is a survival situation, so animal death is certain. I'm keeping the whole thing really fluffy overall but this book will talk about and sometimes zoom in on the dark and rough reality of living in the wilderness in the Holocene era. I'm going to try to mention as many possible triggers or squicks as I can, if you have one you'd like to be warned about please just comment or message me!

Amnesia (MC can't recall how she got to this place/time)

Animal death

Anxiety

Attempted rape (Misconstrued! Not actual)

Blood, Bones, 'dressing' an animal (skinning, cutting, etc)

Cancer (mentioned, off-screen, not main characters)

Death (spoken of off-screen [nothing else so far!])

Emotional abuse (flashbacks to berating mom)

Famine (the Sabertooth clan are struggling)

Gore (animal hunting/dressing, flashbacks to a hunt gone wrong)

Infertility (MC chose tubal ligation, offscreen, because of mom's cancer scare)

Profanity

Snakes, Spiders, Wolves, Big Cats (Sabertooth!), Mammoths