Stretching, Gnak sat up upon his grass bed. With a shiver running down his spine he cursed the cold of the human lands, before realizing that he felt ill. He could recall the strange dreams he had the day previous, and grinning at the fanciful thoughts he laughed a deep throaty sound, at the absurdity. Laughing made his head spin as pain enveloped the side of his face. With sweat beading on his forehead, he reached up to feel his wound and found it still swollen and overly warm. He had become afflicted. Without the treatment of their shaman, such wounds often were lethal. Gnak doubted the wound would kill him. He was stronger than most. But he did realize that before long he would lose his strength and endurance, with a lack of proper food and an affliction in his wound. He needed to hurry while he still could.
Looking up to the stars he located those that would take him home, and turning, he again strode off towards the north. It was not until near midnight he found something he had not expected among the hills. Cresting the millionth rise of the night he noticed that he now moved parallel to a wide trail. It was dirt, but was obviously frequently used. Two hours later the dirt turned to stone, as the road became more than a trail. An hour after that, Gnak could see the top of the castle in the distance. Fires upon the top of its massive walls stood in stark contrast to the night surrounding him.
Then it struck him. Where there was fire on the wall, there were humans. If he could see them, could they not see him? Were they watching him right now? Thinking about his predicament, he realized that it would be more suspicious if he continued on through the grass, and hoping that they paid him scant attention he set off upon the road. Nearer and nearer the city grew, and taller and taller it soared. Even against the backdrop of the sky, the great black castle seemed to suck the light out of the stars, it stood too dark against its surroundings. It was just as he had envisioned it at the Catunga ceremony.
Closer still he came, as the grass fields around him turned to planted rows of crops. Everywhere there were signs of humans. Wagons lay abandoned all about in the fields. Crops stood in high piles in preparation for hauling. Footprints and scents abounded. But out here in the dark, not a single soul dwelt. Sure, during the day the humans likely came out of their walled city, but here in the dark, where he could take one unaware, nothing. He would either have to wait until day, or enter the city somehow. But he didn’t want just any human. No. That would not please a god. He wanted a special human. Perhaps a chief, or a captain. Nodding as he watched the dark walls ahead, he smiled to himself.
Walking off of the road, he decided that he was close enough for now. He would find a place and hide through the day, watching what the humans did. Perhaps he could find what he sought in this manner. Locating one of the great stacks of what appeared to be grass and weeds, he dove into the thing, burrowing further and further into it before turning around and poking his head back out the hole he had entered. Moving the dry grass about, he covered as best he could any sign of his tampering, and laid in wait of the day to come.