JUNGLE GETAWAY: CH. 2) Strangers Like Him

Rurik moved gracefully through the thick jungle foliage, his senses attuned to every rustle and whisper of the natural world around him. He is older now, old enough to his gorilla family to be a leader, though he isn't sure just how old he really is. He kept his hair and beard long though cut with a rock to keep from getting too hot, and his tanned skin bore the marks of a life lived in harmony with the jungle.

As he traversed the treetops, Rurik heard an unfamiliar commotion below. Intrigued, he cautiously swung closer to investigate. From his hidden perch, he saw three strangers making their way through the jungle. The first was a wealthy and beautiful older lady, her elegant clothes and high heels contrasting starkly with the loincloth and furs of formerly slain adversaries of his family and troop adorning his whole body.

Rurik's curious eyes fixated on the older lady, something she had never seen before. The woman's strange attire and accessories fascinated him, and he couldn't help but feel drawn to this newcomer with such a starkly different appearance from his own. Yet, he noticed something else as the lady struggled to traverse the uneven terrain, she seemed inexperienced and clumsy in the jungle's unforgiving environment.

Beside the older lady walked a college-aged girl, her beautiful features mirroring those of the older woman. Rorik sensed a sense of freedom and wonder in the young girl's eyes, a curiosity that he himself was feeling at the sight of these strange new additions to his jungle. Despite her lack of experience,  the obvious younger of the two seemed more adaptable than her what seemed to be her mother by their similar appearance gracefully navigating the jungle's challenges.

Bringing up close to the rear of the group, as if ready to protect them was their guide, an experienced hunter with a rugged appearance. Rorik sensed a wary confidence in him, a caution that came from knowing the jungle's dangers firsthand. His interactions with the two women spoke of a protective nature, as he guided them through the unfamiliar terrain.

As the group continued on their path, Rurik remained hidden in the shadows of the treetops. He watched them with a mix of fascination and apprehension, unsure of what to make of these strangers. They were the first people he had ever seen, and their presence both intrigued and frightened him, he's never seen these creatures before, and a strange thought passed his mind that maybe these "people" and himself are the same.

As the group passed beneath him, Rurik's heart pounded in his chest, a strange yearning to know more about them and the world they came from. But his instincts held him back, cautioning him against revealing himself to potential threats.

With a mix of excitement and trepidation, Rorik remained hidden, clinging to the branches until the group's sounds faded into the distance. He was left alone with his thoughts, contemplating the encounter and the strange emotions it had stirred within him.

As the jungle's symphony of sounds enveloped him once more, Rurik knew that his life had been forever changed. The encounter with the three explorers had ignited a spark of curiosity within him, a desire to understand these strangers like him.