The Howling Waters

The wind howled through the jagged cliffs, shrieking like a wounded beast. Far below, the ocean raged, slamming against the rocks with a fury that made the ground tremble. The sky was a swirling chaos of black clouds, swallowing the last traces of daylight. Lightning flashed, illuminating the figure standing at the cliff's edge.

A man.

Not just any man—a hunter, a warrior, a survivor.

His body was a testament to a lifetime of struggle. His muscles, sculpted by years of hunting and fighting, coiled beneath his scarred skin, each mark a story of battles fought against the wild. His bare chest rose and fell with steady, controlled breaths, despite the chaos around him. His dark brown eyes, sharp and primal, locked onto the churning waters below. He had seen storms before—but never one like this.

Thick, unkempt black hair cascaded past his shoulders, tangled from years of exposure to wind and rain. Strands whipped against his face, damp with sweat and mist. His jaw, strong and chiseled, was lined with a shadow of stubble, though he had never thought of shaving. A fur pelt, stitched together from the hides of beasts he had slain, wrapped around his waist, secured with crude leather straps. His legs, wrapped in rough animal hide, bore the marks of travel—cuts, bruises, hardened skin from trekking across untamed lands. His feet, calloused and strong, gripped the rocky surface like they were part of the earth itself.

He was not afraid.

Fear was for prey.

The ocean roared beneath him, hungry, restless. But he did not move. He stood firm, staring into the abyss, as if daring it to take him.

Then the sea answered.

The waves twisted violently, spiraling into a monstrous vortex. Water surged skyward, forming a column of liquid fury, twisting and writhing like a living thing. The wind shrieked as if the world itself was being torn apart. The caveman's heart pounded—not in fear, but in raw, primal anticipation.

The ground beneath his feet trembled. A crack split the rocky surface, spiderwebbing beneath him. He had mere moments to react.

With a grunt, he stepped back, but it was too late. The cliff crumbled beneath him.

For a heartbeat, he was weightless.

Then, the world swallowed him whole.

---

The impact was like striking stone. The icy grip of the ocean wrapped around him, crushing, pulling, twisting. He thrashed, his instincts roaring to life. His lungs burned as the current dragged him deeper, spinning him like a leaf caught in a storm.

He fought against the pull, his powerful limbs pushing against the water, but the sea was an unforgiving beast. It coiled around him, relentless, merciless.

Then—

Light.

Blinding, all-consuming, unnatural. It exploded around him, brighter than the sun, piercing through the darkness of the depths. It was not fire, not lightning—it was something beyond his understanding.

The world shifted.

The cold vanished.

The weight of the ocean disappeared.

And then—

Silence.

---

A chill ran down his spine. His eyes snapped open.

He was lying on something soft. Not sand, not stone. It pulsed beneath his fingers, faint and rhythmic—alive.

His breath came in sharp gasps as he pushed himself up, his muscles tensed, ready for danger.

His surroundings came into focus, and his instincts screamed at him.

This was not his world.

Towering trees loomed around him, their bark shimmering with veins of glowing blue light. Their massive, translucent leaves shifted colors—green, gold, violet—pulsing with energy. Strange mist floated through the air, carrying a scent that was neither earth nor sky.

The ground beneath him was unlike anything he had ever felt. It was soft, damp, and breathing, as if the earth itself was alive. Small creatures skittered through the underbrush, their eyes glowing like embers in the dark. The sky above was wrong—a deep violet expanse, speckled with twin suns that burned like molten gold.

His heart pounded. His breathing was steady, controlled—but his mind reeled.

Where was he?

What had happened?

A low growl cut through the silence.

His body tensed. His fingers curled into fists as he turned toward the sound.

From the shadows, something moved.

It was a beast—but not like any he had ever seen. It had the shape of a wolf, but its body was made of living fire. Flames flickered across its form, shifting and twisting, its golden eyes locked onto him like a predator eyeing its prey. Its breath came in scorching puffs of smoke, its fangs dripping with something that sizzled against the earth.

He did not understand magic.

He did not understand gods.

But he understood beasts.

A savage grin stretched across his face. He slammed a fist against his chest, his muscles flexing, his stance widening. A deep, guttural growl rumbled from his throat.

He was not prey.

The beast snarled. Its flames flared brighter, its claws carving glowing lines into the ground as it prepared to pounce.

The caveman did not hesitate.

With a roar, he charged.

The world erupted into chaos.

The beast lunged, its flaming jaws snapping inches from his face. He ducked, rolling into the strange, pulsing earth. Heat seared past his skin, but he ignored the pain.

His eyes darted around, searching for a weapon. A rock. A branch. Anything.

His fingers found something—a smooth, cold stone. He gripped it tight and hurled it at the beast's skull. The rock passed through the fire, barely slowing the creature down.

His instincts screamed. Fire was not flesh. It could not be beaten with fists alone.

The beast turned, its eyes glowing with fury. Its mouth opened wide—

And fire erupted toward him.

His body reacted before his mind could. He dove, rolling to the side as the flames seared past him. The heat licked at his skin, but he forced himself to move, to think.

Fire needed something to burn.

His eyes flicked to the glowing trees. Their bark pulsed with energy, radiating power. He didn't understand it—but he didn't need to.

He sprinted toward one, his heart pounding. The beast followed, its fiery body coiling with rage.

As it lunged, he moved.

At the last moment, he twisted, using his momentum to shove the creature against the tree. The moment its flames touched the bark—

A reaction.

The tree pulsed, its veins flaring to life. Energy surged through its trunk, and in an instant, the fire-wolf howled in pain. Its body flickered, its flames dimming as if something was draining them.

The caveman wasted no time.

He grabbed another rock—larger this time. With a savage cry, he brought it crashing down on the beast's skull.

The impact sent a shockwave through its body. Its flames sputtered—then vanished.

The beast collapsed, reduced to smoldering embers.

Silence fell.

The caveman stood there, chest heaving. His mind whirled, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

This world was strange.

This world was dangerous.

But he was here now.

And he would survive.