The fire flushed a blinding red, its stern glare fierce in the faces of the foreboding crowd of natives. The natives clothing consisted solely of bits of animal skin covering the vitals of their naturally bronzed skin, piercings and berry red tattoos could be seen on even the youngest of offspring. They surrounded a small circular clearing where the snap crackle of the wooden coals danced into the sky as the fire roared on. Trees of mammoth proportions enveloped the land as far as the eye could comprehend through the inky mass. Stars glistened with supernatural glow as they peaked through the leafy brocade of trees.

A slow and rhythmic beat launched without warning, abrupt and mournful. As the minutes passed by the speed and ferocity of the beat climbed to unspeakably new heights. It became all that could be heard by native and creature alike. A small group of natives progressed through the masses, the villagers giving wide berth to the apprehensive assemblage. The men leading the procession stared transfixed on the fire which seemed to be their destination. They marched in two’s, their hands grasping a thickly made rope of hemp which tied in the end to the neck of a man very unlike the rest. Instead of bronze skin with black eyes he possessed a shock of silvery blonde hair just long enough to grace his shoulder blades; his eyes were sea green and sparkled with menace and overwhelming grief. His pale body was stripped save for the leftover fragments of his tattered garments. The once pale clothe a dirt brown, strange symbols unknown to the natives were still visible under the filth. His chest was etched with scars and dotted by massive purple bruises. Blood stains ran down his back from whiplashes. His ribs were covered merely by muscle pasty white skin. In fact the only similarity between him and his captures was that they were all human to the naked eye.

The sickening mood and appearance of this unfortunate soul was enhanced by the eerie sound of the anonymous drumbeat, throbbing in tune to the aching pulse in his neck and forehead. The onlookers dropped their eyes and stepped aside as he passed. His face was unreadable and calm in spite of the situation. He walked with little fight left in him. His glassy bloodshot eyes swept coldly over the receding crowd. The woman pulled their children safely behind them when they felt the chill of his stare.