A few weeks after they got out of the pit, they spent in constant rush, with short rests used for sleep, eating and tending to wounds. The time to think about his situation and devise a solid plan was a luxury. Still, despite being chased by Virat's soldiers he was on human land. Ashwin didn't know which country was currently residing at South-West, where he hoped to go and ask for asylum, but honestly speaking, any would do. Any one of the eight countries, no matter how unique their cultures and traditions were, remained a part of humanity. With every step, the troop took Ashwin further and further away from the familiar world. Now, he was outside the walls and felt alienated.

If the grass was more or less the same as he used to see during horseback riding lessons, then the trees were much more different. The sky could not be seen due to the crowns of unbelievably tall and slender Umbrella trees. Their delicate mint-colored leaves were a desirable but unattainable delicacy for many herbivores. The troop stumbled upon a fallen Umbrella tree near the edge of the forest. The trunk had been cut down to a height of three meters above the ground, so it was clearly not the work of humans. Ashwin concluded that it was an oak-walker. He read that these giant creatures used their mantis-like front legs to slash predators and cut branches. It turned out that they could also cut down the trunk of a small tree. An oak-walker ate most of the leaves and then left. When the troop discovered the abandoned tree, a small herd of horsepillars was enjoying the leftovers. Timid animals ran away before the apes came any closer.

Among other plants in the forest, there were medium-sized Onyx trees with hard leaves. Their smooth trunks, despite their name, looked more like marble columns than living plants. And there were also the Crying trees, which grew on every available spot. Known for its ability to get rid of excess water through leaves and rough bark, the latter was covered with long grooves. Due to the constant humidity, these grooves served as a home for red mosses. Purple lichens festooned any rock that the boy saw. Ashwin had seen this kind of scenery only in books and was sure that he might soon find something that was not even documented by scholars. At least if they continued to head south-west, as they had been doing for the past sixteen days.

Their pace was rather leisurely. Now that they weren't afraid of the chase, Scarface allowed his subjects to rest and relax. It was also an opportunity for some injured ones who had been shot during their crossing of the wall to heal. Ashwin was worried that he might be asked to help. He had no confidence in his ability to treat gunshot wounds, especially without any banyan tree outside the walls. However, to his relief, the animals handled it themselves. The seriously injured animals died either during the breach or shortly after. Weakened by blood loss, one more animal passed away in a few days, but others used the long rest and supplies collected by the troop to completely recover. Ashwin helped with food gathering activities, trying to remember what was edible and how to find it. However, his tiny hope of sneaking away from the troop never came to fruition. Wherever he went, there was always a watchful ape nearby. After two weeks of unsuccessful attempts, the boy gave up. They were too far from the wall for him to even dream of crossing such distance unarmed and unharmed.

Several times, the beasts returned from patrols to report something to Scarface. After hearing them out, the leader would change their course or send a group of apes armed with sharpened sticks, like spears. They would return empty-handed or carrying the carcass of a dead animal, but they were always extremely excited. One time, they brought back pieces of a beast that Ashwin had never seen before. It had strips on its legs and long sharp claws. However, he wasn't able to learn more, as the corpse was not whole, and its parts were mangled. Nevertheless, one thing he was sure of - these hunting parties that Scarface sent were also protecting the rest of the troop. Facing the creature alone with such claws and without any weapons would surely lead to the boy's inglorious demise.

Sitting a few steps away from one of the groups, Ashwin was chewing on a dried fruit. He could not bring himself to eat meat raw, like the apes, and even if he could have, he was the last to receive any food. Usually, when it was his turn, only bones and stale plant food were left. The boy stayed close to Hegat. Unlike openly aggressive Iz, this one became rather amiable after they left the wall behind. During rest stops, he never chased Ashwin away from his sleeping group and allowed the human to groom him. Another change in the troop was that their nervousness was reduced. Unlike their previous habit of sleeping while sitting upright, constantly flinching and waking up, now apes divided into small groups and slept huddled together, even when nights were warm. Hegat even once invited the boy to sleep in his group. Ashwin thanked him but declined the honor. He chose to be near Hegat's group, but to sleep separately, wrapping himself in a muslin cloth.

Their march resumed shortly after the food was finished. Iz let out a shrill, signaling the leader's order to move. Ashwin winced, irritated by the sharp sound. Most of the time, apes communicated with each other using gestures and noises that felt more like a part of animal world than means of conversation. Some beasts were reluctant to use human speech, even when addressed by Ashwin. The boy responded in kind, refusing to make an effort to imitate apes' sounds. He was still brooding over the fact that Scarface had refused to let him go. He wasn't reckless enough to ask again, and he feared angering the beast, so Ashwin mostly avoided the troop's leader. Luckily, Scarface also reverted to his habit of ignoring the human.

Ashwin had already finished eating and walked closer to Hegat. Long breaks and peaceful nights helped calm his mind and healed numerous bruises and blisters. His feet also got used to long walks, though the callouses still felt out of place on a high-ranking noble's body. He couldn't help but dream of a warm bath and rosehip that the servant used to apply to his tired legs. Ashwin recalled the tune his groom was fond of and started humming it. This was another effect of plentiful rest - he had some free time. While many of his thoughts were pleasant or at least productive, occasionally he fell into a devastating and depressive way of thinking. In order to escape the grip of despair, the boy sang. When he grew tired of familiar songs, he composed new ones, his own. It might be a lyrical song about a beautiful, merciful girl who gave him bread or a faithful bride. If he was overwhelmed with anger and resentment, the song would turn into a battle hymn celebrating the overthrow of the Rajah. Yet, the most multifaceted composition was about Kean's girl. Ashwin could not understand how to interpret her actions, so he questioned them in the song and answered himself. And although he did not see her fighting, it must have been incredible, because she was able to injure several apes and escape from the pit alive. 'Girls who can fight - they usually don't live long,' Ashwin thought to himself as he hummed.

The forest was left behind with its bright birds and noisy honey squirrels. For the last week, the scenery changed to a vast grassland with thick bushes and a few trees popping out here and there. The apes used these trees to observe the ground before marching on. Engrossed in his sinning, Ashwin took time to notice the sound of running water and the smell of silty soil. Due to the lack of hills around, it was hard to determine if they had found just another creek or a proper stream. Only after moving on to a knoll covered with low grass, did he see the wide waters of the main South River - Teena. And it lay a vast lake with deep blue waters that drew countless birds and animals. Ashwin stopped singing, gazing at the breathtaking view. Hegat grunted as he looked at the quiet boy.

"First Eye. When we see the Second one, it means we are home."