The Wild Force

Prologue

"Where do you put all that food?"

The monkey grunted back at the question, focused solely on devouring the banana the human had given him before grunting and squeaking curtly, making him chuckle at the distracted non-reply he got from the small primate.

"Okay, okay I get it. I can't talk either." The human laughed a little, rubbing his own stomach as he swallowed another bite from his own banana. Brushing the hair out of his face as he looked up into the trees, watching the sunlight flickering through the thick Brazilian green above. He felt no small amount of longing, but the space in his head was shared with the new fleeting sensation of morose realisation.

His longing would be quenched soon enough after all...

"Cole!" His head shot up and the monkey calmly shuffled away, gloomy understanding etched into its face as it shot the human one last humbling look before disappearing beyond the thick veil of nature. 'Cole' sighed, watching the monkey take its leave before giving the newcomer a once over, responding to the familiar face with a small smile.

"Hi, Cenk." 'Cenk' was a little taller than he was, years of growing with the man meant that he was acutely aware of that fact. Then again, Cole himself knew that Cenk was – according to the Elder – taller than average, roughly 6'3" compared to his 6'0". Though the hair was just as long and the bandanna barely thicker than his with just as little colour to it. The man seemed to stare a hole into Cole's head, eyes glued to his and almost urging him to follow without speaking a word.

"Cole, it's time for the ceremony, come on! You've got a long day ahead of you." He waved his arm in a gesture to follow, giving Cole a sombre but proud smile. Though he knew it was more of a positive ceremony, Cole couldn't help but feel a little sad about it all. The ceremony was important, but he had a feeling that he knew what was coming. The tribe had been much more emotional with him lately, reminding him that he was always welcome here, that he was a great man and the like. He didn't need to know what the ceremony was going to detail, he'd seen it before. He got the feeling he'd be one of those cases...

It was as one of his other friends put it: The only thing the ceremony guaranteed was the knowledge of your age. All tribe members took the ceremony when they hit 20 years old, or at least what they knew to be 20 years.

"Okay, I'm coming, Cenk." Tucking the banana peel into his rope belt, Cole caught up to his old friend before following him home... One last time.

><(((*>

As the sky soon gave way to the blue hue of the night, Cole - dressed in what he knew to be some of the most honourable gear - looked at himself in the water below, his face illuminated by the torchlight coming from the sides of the small deck he stood on.

Cenk had certainly done a great job on the ceremonial face-paint. He could almost envision himself as one of the great tribesmen in the village with the detail and care he had received. His hair was tied back for the most part, leaving only two thick bangs to frame his face as the rest fell behind his back. The square talisman hung off his neck, ornate looking and carved from the cleanest looking wood that Cole had ever seen.

He had dreamed of this day, the day of his ceremony, they day he was brought into the tribe. But now that it was hear, he almost wished he had a bit more time to stay here, home.

He could hear the crackling fire behind the curtains that blocked his view of the tribe and their preparations. Anticipation built within him as the steady beat of the drums began to die down. Already he could picture the scene in front of him; all of his friends – family even – all gathered around, smiling at his back as he was brought into full adulthood, a long and sometimes boring 20 years of life spent wondering the Brazilian jungle coming to an end.