Jack woke up before dawn, his body aching from the previous day's hunt and labor. Though he had taken his first steps toward acceptance, he knew that true belonging would only come if he learned to live as the tribe did—not just in the hunt, but in every aspect of their daily life.
Garrak had taken an interest in him, perhaps seeing a potential apprentice in Jack, or perhaps simply feeling responsible for his survival. This morning, he gestured for Jack to follow him as the tribe began to stir. The air was bitterly cold, but the people moved with purpose, already preparing for the day's work. Fires were stoked, furs were shaken free of snow, and the scent of smoked meat drifted through the camp.
Jack led himself to the edge of the settlement, where a group of women and older children were preparing hides. Garrak pointed at the animal skins stretched across wooden frames. A woman, her dark hair braided and decorated with beads, spoke in the tribe's language, demonstrating the motion of scraping the hide with a sharpened stone tool. Jack mimicked her movements, quickly realizing the strength and patience required to soften the material.
The woman, whom Jack knew as Rokka, corrected his grip with a firm but patient hand. She spoke as she worked, repeating words that Jack assumed were instructions. He tried to imitate her, both in action and speech, fumbling with the unfamiliar sounds. The other workers laughed good-naturedly at his struggle, but there was no malice in their amusement. Jack smiled in return, feeling a flicker of warmth—his efforts were acknowledged.
As the day went on, Jack was pulled into different tasks. He helped reinforce the wooden supports of one of the shelters, learning how the tribe wove sturdy walls from thick branches and animal sinew. He was taught how to fashion simple ropes, how to tie knots that would hold strong even under strain. An elderly man, nearly toothless but sharp-eyed, showed him how to craft fishhooks from bone, carving them with practiced precision.
Later in the day, he was introduced to another crucial skill—tracking. Garrak took him into the woods with Torrek and a few other hunters. The snow-covered ground made tracks easier to see, but the real challenge lay in interpreting them. Garrak pointed to a set of deer prints, showing how the spacing indicated the animal had been running. Jack tried to replicate the hunters' sharp gaze, but he struggled at first. Garrak remained patient, and Jack gradually began to notice subtle details—scratched bark on a tree, broken twigs, disturbed snow. He was beginning to understand that every mark told a story.
The hardest part, however, was the language. Jack listened carefully, trying to absorb every word, every intonation. Garrak, Rokka, and others repeated phrases for him, pointing to objects and waiting for him to say them back. Some words he grasped quickly—fire, spear, food. Others took more time. He learned the names of the people he worked beside, repeating them under his breath so he wouldn't forget.
Despite his progress, Torrek remained skeptical. One afternoon, as Jack struggled to lift a large bundle of firewood, Torrek snorted and muttered something under his breath. Jack didn't understand the words, but the meaning was clear—he still wasn't seen as one of them. Determined, he gritted his teeth and carried on, refusing to show weakness.
That evening, as the tribe gathered around the fire, Jack felt a shift within himself. He wasn't just an observer anymore; he was beginning to be a part of this world. He was still an outsider, but each word learned, each skill practiced, brought him closer to true belonging.
As the flames flickered and the tribe shared stories, Garrak handed Jack a small blade made of sharpened flint. He placed it in Jack's hand, nodding approvingly. Jack understood—this was a sign that he was earning their respect. He wasn't fully accepted yet, but he was on the right path.
But he knew that true acceptance would require more than just learning their ways—it would require proving himself in ways he had yet to imagine.