The rain-drenched leaves glistened in the muted sunlight. Clada stood panting, gripping his injured arm. The lifeless eyes of the massive alpha chimpanzee stared back at him as if challenging him even in death. A crude spear protruded from its neck, jutting through its heart.

'You clearly took longer than I would have,' a voice echoed in Clada's mind, its tone dripping with smug teasing. Almost instantaneously, a figure materialized, squatting beside the fallen chimpanzee, feigning deep scrutiny of the lifeless beast.

To any onlooker, Clada and this apparition could've been twins. They both bore the youthful features of a boy around 14 or 15 years. Their long, unkempt black hair hung down, somewhat masking their dirty faces. Weather-beaten skin and numerous scars told tales of their hardships. Simple, hand-stitched leather garments clung to their lean frames, speaking of self-reliance. But what truly distinguished them was the color of their eyes: Clada's were a deep, captivating green while the others were an enigmatic light grey.

With a hint of exasperation, Clada retorted, 'Well, you’re free to take a shot when the next one decides to challenge us, Lord Renfred,' adding a playful, mocking bow for emphasis.

Renfred, or for short Ren, smirked, flicking a strand of hair from his face. 'All talk, as always. But challenge accepted. Next one's mine.' Dismissing the corpse with a careless wave, he added, 'Let's see if you can keep up.'

The wind rustled, momentarily diffusing the charged atmosphere. Clada smiled and said, 'Time to head home, don't you think?'

As Clada yanked his spear free from the vanquished chimpanzee, he began to adeptly navigate through the dense forest foliage. Beside him, Ren's ghostly form mirrored his steps, occasionally glancing at the wound on Clada's hand.

'Say, how long do you think before we're ready to take on that guy?' Ren asked.

Hearing the question, Clada flinched, maintaining his steady stride. He looked at his injury, his expression darkening. 'Not yet,' he responded, gritting his teeth.

A heavy silence settled between them for a few steps. The question seemed to weigh heavily on Ren, prompting him to eventually break the quiet. 'Are you sure about that? I mean, if I used that we ca–'

'No fucking way we're using that.' Clada swiftly interrupted, 'We agreed—it's only for life and death situations.' He took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure. 'Last time, we barely escaped. And it didn't even see us as a threat… Probably thought we weren't worthy prey.' He let out a mixture of scoff and chuckle.

He then turned to face Ren directly, noting the latter's contemplative expression. 'Besides, even if we managed to beat it, we still have no way off this island. Patience, Ren.'

Looking at Clada, who now bore a soft, melancholic smile, Ren whispered, 'That’s not quite what I meant…'

***

Nestled among the lofty trees, the twins' treehouse was proof of both ingenuity and the determination to find peace in a tumultuous environment. Built from mismatched branches and foliage, it bore a rustic, almost makeshift look, but it held up against the elements remarkably well.

Clada approached and climbed with ease, using a series of steps he'd carved directly into the tree trunk. Pushing the hide curtain aside, he stepped inside.

To one side stood a rickety wooden table covered in an assortment of herbs, mortars, and pestles. The table showed clear signs of wear and tear, a testament to countless hours of grinding pastes and preparing medicines. Adjacent to it, a cloth drape concealed a trove of valuable herbs, each meticulously sorted.

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Weapons adorned one wall prominently. Handmade spears of varied designs and lengths stood aligned methodically. Alongside, bone-carved daggers were displayed on a wooden plank. Each dagger, crafted entirely from bone, had its blade subtly tinged with a green substance, making its edges shimmer faintly.

Opposite this, the scent of working leather pervaded the air. Tools for tanning and piles of untreated hides indicated Clada's occasional ventures into leather crafting. Nearby, a dedicated food corner showcased strips of drying meat, while an empty bucket, which usually held fresh water, sat in need of a refill.

Nestled against the far wall was their sleeping area. A hammock swung gently, offering the comfort of sleep after a long day. Made of sturdy material, the hammock was a witness to the resilience of both inhabitants.

'Ren, it’s your turn to eat. Will you make do with the jerky, or are you planning to catch something fresh?' Clada asked. He reached beneath the wooden table, fetching a flask. With a grimace, he poured some of its content onto the wound on his hand.

In his ghostly form, Ren scanned their food stash for a moment, then turned his gaze to the nearly empty water bucket. 'Looks like a fish meal for me today. We’re running low on freshwater too. We should head to the river soon, especially with sunset approaching.'

Carefully, Clada smeared a green paste from one of the clay jars stashed below the table onto his wound, then bound it with a piece of cloth, which clearly had been used for this purpose before.

'I’m not in the mood for a sprint,' Clada remarked, grabbing a spear, an additional dagger, and two large leather flasks meant for water. While he always carried a steel dagger at his side, the river's proximity to wild creatures meant he didn't like taking any chances.

***

The dense forest, with its towering trees and thick underbrush, would seem intimidating to any outsiders. But for Clada and Ren, it was home. They walked through it with ease, agile as shadows, their steps barely making a sound on the forest floor. Ren, even in his incorporeal form, always had a sharp eye for spotting things, and Clada had trained himself to identify valuable herbs too.

'Clada, there, on your left,' Ren pointed towards a patch of vibrant blue herbs, almost hidden under a canopy of ferns. Clada nodded, picking a handful of them and placing them carefully in his pouch.

As they delved deeper, the dense foliage began to recede, giving way to the nearing river. The soft gurgle of flowing water gradually filled the air, acting as a calming backdrop to their stealthy progression. Without warning, Clada's steps ceased, his posture alert.

Voices, he thought.

Not the familiar chirps of birds or the rustle of leaves, but the distinct sound of human voices, speaking in a language unfamiliar to Clada.

The twins exchanged a significant glance, their faces etched with determination. Stealthily, they moved closer to the voices. Clada, adept at concealment, chose an ideal vantage point from where they could observe without being seen. They were still a good 20 to 25 meters away, comfortably distant to avoid accidental detection. Parting a bush slightly, Clada peered through.

Four figures came into view, each garbed in similar attire: grey robes adorned with captivating gems. While three of them sported a single gem on their attire, one had two.

Their faces remained hidden, shrouded by the hoods of their robes, as they conversed animatedly around a crackling bonfire.

'Fuck yeah! I knew it!' Ren exclaimed mentally, a burst of joy echoing through their shared consciousness. 'There's a way off this island!'

Clada shot him a sidelong glance, trying to suppress his own surge of hope. 'Dude, calm down,' he admonished, though his voice lacked real irritation. 'We don't know how they got here. And even if we figure it out, it doesn't mean we'll be able to leave the same way.' Despite his words of caution, Clada couldn't deny the flutter of excitement in his chest. They'd grown up knowing this island's every nook and cranny, and as far as they were aware, no other humans resided here. Until now.

The moments were tense. Just as Clada's eyes darted away, trying to analyze the individuals around the bonfire, he caught the direct gaze of the person adorned with two gems on their robe. Their eyes locked, and in that brief moment, Clada knew he had been spotted.

Realizing his cover was blown, he made a swift decision. Instead of fleeing or remaining hidden, he chose a different approach. With a deep breath, Clada calmly emerged from the bushes. Making no aggressive moves, he headed towards the river, deliberately choosing a path that would keep some distance between him and the strangers.

The mysterious robed figure continued to watch him, eyes narrowed in intrigue as if trying to decipher the enigma that was Clada.

Clada began filling his flasks, eyes darting around cautiously. With Ren vigilantly watching the newcomers, they took no risks; this was their first encounter with other humans in a decade.