Primitive Man

Garnt stood before the group, his expression grave as he began to speak. "Listen to me, everyone. I need to explain what's happening. This meteor shower is not just a random event. It's the end of our world as we know it. This will bring a new evolution to this land. The land of the dinosaurs will be completely wiped out. If these gigantic beings can't survive, then how can we?"

Eva, who was inside Garnt listening to him, still felt confused about how humans existed during the time of the dinosaurs. Ultimately, she concluded that this land is different from the Earth they know. She felt rather curious about how humans in this land would look in the future, but it wasn't the time for her curiosity to take over.

A murmur of fear and disbelief ran through the group. Ayra clutched children tighter, her face pale. "Are we just supposed to accept death?" she asked, her voice trembling while her free hand carassed the belly.

Garnt nodded solemnly. "Yes. But hear me out." He raised a hand to silence the rising panic. "This death won't be the end for us. We will survive this. I need you to believe in me, just like you did earlier."

Unami stepped forward, her eyes filled with confusion and hope. "How can we survive if everything around us is being destroyed? If we die doesn't that mean we won't survive?"

Garnt took a deep breath. "I've seen things... learned things that you all need to trust. We're going to face unimaginable challenges, but we can make it through. Right now, we need to cherish our time together. Enjoy our last moments with our loved ones. I have already laid the groundwork for my plans, so there's nothing to worry."

The group was silent, processing his words. Despite their fear, a sense of calm began to settle over them. Garnt's unwavering determination sparked a glimmer of hope in their hearts.

Rona looked at Garnt with wide eyes. "You mean we should just spend time with each other? Like nothing is happening?"

Garnt nodded again. "Exactly. Spend these moments with the people you care about. This is the time to hold on to what matters most. It's not the end, but we will die today."

Some of them were still scared, but most of the people who had trust in Garnt quickly made up their minds. He had been leading them up until now, so they knew believing him was the least grateful thing they could do in their life.

Gundo, who had been standing quietly, finally spoke up. "And what about you, Garnt? What will you do?"

Garnt's gaze softened as he looked at her and the others. "I'll be with you guys. Gundo, Ayra, Rona, Unami, Telvi, Kara... and my children. We'll face this together."

Unami's eyes filled with tears. "But how can you be so sure we'll survive?"

Garnt smiled, a rare sight in such dire times. "Because I have faith in a certain woman. And I've learned that sometimes, believing is enough to get us through the darkest times. Just like how you guys believe me, I do the same with her."

Expect Gundo, none of them knew who this woman Garnt talking was, but none of them bothered to ask the details since there time was limited.

Ayra, tears streaming down her face, reached out and took Garnt's hand. "We believe in you, Garnt."

One by one, the others echoed Ayra's sentiment, their voices filled with determination and hope. "We believe in you."

Garnt nodded, his heart swelling with pride and love for his people. "Then let's make these moments count. Let's be with our families."

The group dispersed, each person seeking out their loved ones. The cave, despite the chaos outside, became a place of warmth and love. Families huddled together, sharing stories, laughter, and tears. The bond between them grew stronger with each passing moment.

Garnt walked over to his family, his eyes softening as he saw Gundo, Ayra, Rona, and Unami gathered with his children. He knelt down, pulling them all into a tight embrace. "We're going to get through this. Together."

Gundo looked at him, her eyes shining with love. "We know, Garnt. We trust you."

Unami, her usual fierceness softened by the situation, smiled through her tears. "We're glad to have you back."

Ayra, always the beacon of positivity, added, "And no matter what happens, we have each other."

Rona, gripping Garnt's hand tightly, whispered, "Thank you for giving us hope even for a little bit. I thought we would die back there."

Garnt hugged them all tightly, feeling the strength of their bond. "We'll face whatever comes and don't worry. None of us will truly die yet."

As the time wore on, the cave was filled with the sounds of quiet conversations and shared moments of tenderness. Parents held their children close, friends sat side by side, and the warmth of their love created a small beacon of light in the encroaching darkness that had already enveloped the land.

Garnt stayed awake, keeping watch over his family and friends. Despite the uncertainty, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. They might face unimaginable challenges, but they would face them together.

In the distance, the sounds of meteors crashing continued, but within the cave, there was a sense of peace. They had each other, and that was enough.

As sun began to set, Garnt stood up, feeling the sound of an unusual object coming at their direction. He turned to his family, determination shining in his eyes knowing what that sound was. "We've made it through some hard times. Let's see what happens after this. Eva, see you again."

And with his final words, the meteor hit the place where Garnt and his villagers were hiding completely killing everyone in the cave, but were they truly dead? Or did something happen just like Garnt said? It was a question that nobody was able to answer at least for now.

***

Commander Oswald's brow furrowed as he watched the shimmering portal close behind them. The landscape of their motherland greeted them with familiar sights, but his mind was still churning with questions. He turned to Mia, his gaze sharp. "Mia, how do you still have so much power left after everything we've done? We've used the machine multiple times, and yet, it seems we have more than enough energy to keep going."

Mia's eyes sparkled with a mixture of pride and satisfaction. "Oswald, even the small piece of the meteor we collected holds an unimaginable amount of energy. The piece we have is merely a tiny fraction of the meteor's true power, yet it's enough to fuel our operations indefinitely. Imagine what the whole meteor could do."

Oswald nodded slowly, his mind racing with the implications. The horror of such power was not lost on him. "And what now? What are we going to do with this power?"

Mia's expression grew serious. "For now, nothing. We'll gather our strength and prepare. The real work begins soon." With a deliberate motion, she activated the device in her hand once more, the soft hum signaling the opening of another portal.

"Everyone, back into the portal!" Mia commanded, her voice cutting through the air with authority. The soldiers, disciplined and unwavering, obeyed without hesitation. One by one, they disappeared into the portal.

Mia and Oswald were the last to step through. As they emerged on the other side, Mia's eyes widened in recognition. The landscape was eerily familiar, a ruined atmosphere that spoke of the devastation they had fled from. A smile touched her lips as she murmured, "The time has come."

Oswald's eyes widened as he realized the truth. "This is the same land... We've returned to the place we escaped from."

"Exactly," Mia replied, her voice tinged with satisfaction. "But now, we have the power to change everything." She motioned to the soldiers, who quickly began setting up camp near a relatively safe area. The machine used to extract the meteor's essence was carefully brought back and positioned at the center of their encampment.

As the soldiers worked efficiently around them, Oswald couldn't help but voice his thoughts. "What about Garnt? What if he's still out there? Do you think he survived?"

Mia's smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of contemplation. "Garnt played his part well. Without his efforts, we wouldn't be here. I hope he finds peace, wherever he is." She paused, a hint of sorrow in her eyes even though he was supposed to be her enemy. "But we must continue with our mission. The meteor is our priority now."

Oswald nodded, understanding the gravity of their task. "So, we find the meteor and harness its full power for our land."

"Yes," Mia confirmed, her determination unwavering with a sly smile on her face. "For our country, for our nation,"

The camp was soon bustling with activity. Soldiers moved with precision, securing the area and ensuring their equipment was ready for the next phase of their plan. Mia stood at the edge of the camp, her gaze fixed on the horizon.