Act 1: First hunt

Year 1756.

Somewhere in the north Himalayan Dardic Lands.

The stream was flowing in a rage with a loud and vicious voice, it was as if; it was hungry for a long time and was waiting for a wrong step.

They had to cross this long, thin, rocky route to defeat this scary water to survive.

Little Duudà was just 12, and it was his first dangerous journey of learning to survive in these harsh conditions. He was initially excited to become a man, but now was terrified of the deadly, yet astonishing nature. His chest was trembling due to the two mountains, so tall: as if they were competing to reach the sky. In between them was this scary and vicious stream sprinting down like giant rocks.

His steps were decreasing, his eyes were watching that he never saw before, he was about to cry, as they moved closer to the mountains.

His father was a strong man, still in his thirties, rushed towards him; looked him in the eyes and Said;

"Remember son, taking steps to heights is hard, really hard but success is imminent and in order for that, you need to be brave, wise, and careful"

Duudà was still breathing heavily, making a face about to cry

Juto touched his forehead with his son's head and said,

"Remember this always son, our life, your life depends upon it and once you are at the highest point and claim your hunt, rest, gain your strength, as you need it to get back to your loved ones in time, with comfort, will you remember that?"

"Yes father, I will" replied his son, with a soft and fearful voice.

His father then moved ahead and screamed, "Can you see the pine trees over that mountain?"

"haaaahh…Yes, I can see them father

"That's where we are going, the only place with healthy grass and plenty of markhors roam there and that's where you will see how and which one I will hunt"

"huh!...You don't hunt all of them, why is that? Father"

"You will know once we get there".

Duudà followed his father like a newborn hunter and a survivor, but still with hesitation.

After a long journey, night was upon them, fortunately the moon was so bright that night, that they could see everything like it's daytime. They arrived in that place, a place, so beautiful like a piece of land from heaven. They were in a height, from where they could see the starting point of the stream.

Several lakes linked to one larger and a beautiful yet ghostlike with scary looking clouds all over it, as if it was a frozen lake, but it was impossible as frozen lakes don't exist in the season of summer.

His father took him to a dark cave nearby, lit a fire and gave Duudà some milk, water and dried apricots,

"Eat this son and regain your strength, this is our resting point. Once the sun rises markhors will arrive with it, and then we will hunt"

"Is this place safe to rest father, it's so dark in here and there are no other people also"

"You are right son it is not safe but don't forget we are living in a dangerous world, evil is always around us, but we need to rest here as this is the only safest hole for us to rest the night. Let's hope that this fire would be enough to fend off other hunters that God has created"

Duudà was listening to his father with fear, his father smiled and with a calm voice,

"Don't worry son, Your father is with you. Now rest we have another journey awaiting us tomorrow.

The next morning as Duudà was still sleeping his father woke him up,

"Shshhsh!.. don't make noise and follow me silently"

When Duudà went outside with his father he saw something that made him stunned and amazed.

There were several markhors feeding the grass, his father whispered,

"Look son, that slim and beautiful creature is the female markor and all other smaller ones are her children, now look at that big one isn't he gorgeous, but he is old now, look at his horns, how big they are!.THIS IS THE ONE. Now you stay here and watch me carefully."

His father took out his bow prayed to the God, examined the direction of the wind and went closer carefully towards a bush in the opposite direction of the wind.

Once the big Markhor was close enough, he aimed right at its heart and the markhor looked at Juto's eyes as the hunter and the hunt made eye contact, Juto's arrow already left towards the mighty markhor.

The arrow pierced through the heart of the old markhor who ran towards the lake. Duudà and his father followed the blood trail as they saw the old one heavily injured laying right at the bank of lake breathing his last.

Juto took out his Sharp knife and cut the big markhor's throat while praying. "Calm now, may your soul rest in the heaven with peace and your legacy be continued by your disciples".

Duudà was happy and amazed by watching his father hunt for the first time in his life.

Juto looked at his son, smiled and said,

"See son why I said which one to hunt. This one was too old, and perhaps his death was upon him. Hunting is not a game son, you have to choose the right one so that you don't ruin a family. Now this family will be led by someone younger and eager to lead and follow the footsteps of this mighty one"

"yes father, now I know the rules of when to take a life and to show mercy".

"That's my boy now hurry, your mother and brother are waiting for us, and we have to reach home before night, you never know what's waiting in these times!".

Juto and his son went back to their house and reunited with their family. Khoja wife of Juto hugged his son with happiness and thanked god that they have returned alive and with fresh meat as well. Juto lifted his son Duuko with love, Duuko asked his father,

"When will you take me hunting, father"

"your time will come my son, your time will come, be patient and first become a wolf my little puppy"

Juto and Khoja went outside to clean and cut the meat? Juto was observing the river quietly, while Khoja was cleaning the meat, she looked at Juto and said,

"What are you thinking?".

"Nothing, I am just tired you go inside with the cleaned meat and make a delicious dinner, I'm hungry like a leopard, I'll bring some fresh water."

Juto again looking at the river and feeling the cold wind,

"The river's level is decreasing, I think we need to get ready, winter is upon us, they may find us" Juto whispers in his heart.