Aren nehybne le\u017eal na zamrznutej zemi a h\u013eadel na Tora. Ten mu z\u00fafalo gestikuloval, \u017ee sa maj\u00fa okam\u017eite stiahnu\u0165. V\u0161ade okolo nich v\u0161ak vypukol chaos. Spla\u0161en\u00e9 st\u00e1do sa rozutekalo a v masovom behu ne\u013e\u00fatostne u\u0161liapalo Gendira. Aren zo seba vydal \u017ealospevn\u00fd rev. Ocitol sa s\u00e1m, uv\u00e4znen\u00fd priamo uprostred valiacich sa tiel. Ke\u010f sa obzrel, uvidel, ako sa na neho s ni\u010divou silou r\u00fati obrovsk\u00fd star\u00fd samec mamuta\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tri slnk\u00e1 predt\u00fdm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eZima si berie slab\u00fdch. Hlad berie aj siln\u00fdch,\u201c ozval sa hlas stare\u0161inu. Jeho slov\u00e1 mali v\u00e1hu \u017eulov\u00e9ho balvanu, \u010do pad\u00e1 do hlbokej studne.
Arenovi sa roz\u0161\u00edrili zreni\u010dky. Okolo neho, v \u0161ere ve\u013ek\u00e9ho ko\u017een\u00e9ho stanu, prem\u00e1hal jeho druhov ochromuj\u00faci strach. Stare\u0161ina kme\u0148a Bieleho tigra ml\u010dky pozoroval mlad\u00fdch mu\u017eov. Vzduch p\u00e1chol zatuchnut\u00fdm potom, dymom a pachom pomalej smrti, ktor\u00e1 prich\u00e1dzala s ka\u017ed\u00fdm pr\u00e1zdnym d\u0148om.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eMy nezomrie\u0165 hladom!\u201c vykr\u00edkol Aren a divoko vstal. V jeho hlase nebola len odvaha, ale aj z\u00fafalstvo zviera\u0165a zahnan\u00e9ho do k\u00fata. \u201eN\u00e1\u0161 kme\u0148 zosta\u0165 \u017ei\u0165!\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vtom do neho zozadu hrubo str\u010dil Khar a postavil sa mu tv\u00e1rou v tv\u00e1r. Kharov dych p\u00e1chol hladom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eTy bl\u00e1zon,\u201c precedil cez zuby Khar. \u201eMy nen\u00e1js\u0165 jedlo tri slnk\u00e1. Ty chcie\u0165 k\u0155mi\u0165 klan tepl\u00fdmi slovami?\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aren na neho vrhol nen\u00e1vistn\u00fd poh\u013ead, svaly na \u010de\u013eusti mu hrali. \u201eTy bl\u00e1zon, Khar. Ty pre strach ani nevidie\u0165 slnko!\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rast\u00faci konflikt v\u0161ak r\u00e1zne pre\u0165al stare\u0161inov hlas. Nebol hlasn\u00fd, no rezal ako kamenn\u00e1 \u010depe\u013e.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eZima berie slab\u00fdch, hlad aj siln\u00fdch. Ale ve\u013ek\u00ed \u013eudia \u017eij\u00fa pre druh\u00fdch \u013eud\u00ed,\u201c povedal a prebodol oboch ostr\u00fdm poh\u013eadom. Aren aj Khar sa pod v\u00e1hou tej autority upokojili a op\u00e4\u0165 klesli na svoje miesta v prachu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ticho v stane n\u00e1hle pre\u0165al surov\u00fd krik zvonku. V\u0161etci mlad\u00ed mu\u017ei vysko\u010dili a vybehli von do bodav\u00e9ho snehu. Stare\u0161ina sa ich m\u00e1rne pok\u00fa\u0161al zastavi\u0165 gestom ruky, no napokon len rezignovane m\u00e1vol dla\u0148ou do pr\u00e1zdna. V stane s n\u00edm zostalo len sedemro\u010dn\u00e9 diev\u010da, Arenova sestra, ktor\u00e1 starca pozorovala so zvedavos\u0165ou divej l\u00ed\u0161ky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eDiev\u010da m\u00e1 pom\u00e1ha\u0165 matke pri ko\u017eiach,\u201c poznamenal stare\u0161ina unavene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diev\u010da v\u0161ak neprehovorilo. Uk\u00e1zalo prstom na seba, potom na svoju hlavu, vycerilo zuby v ritu\u00e1lnom vr\u010dan\u00ed a n\u00e1sledne urobilo pevn\u00e9 gesto objatia. Stare\u0161ina sa smutne pousmial. Poznal re\u010d jej r\u00fak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eDiev\u010da sa mus\u00ed u\u010di\u0165, aby sa postaralo o kme\u0148 a rodinu, ke\u010f mu\u017ei padn\u00fa,\u201c prelo\u017eil nahlas v\u00fdznam jej gest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vonku zatia\u013e chlapci z kme\u0148a s \u00fa\u017easom sledovali dvoch star\u0161\u00edch mu\u017eov, ktor\u00ed sa pr\u00e1ve vr\u00e1tili z lovu. Aren si pri poh\u013eade na ich chudobn\u00fa koris\u0165 \u2013 zmrznut\u00e9 kusy malej zveri \u2013 okam\u017eite spo\u010d\u00edtal, \u017ee toto jedlo vysta\u010d\u00ed klanu ledva na \u0161tyri dni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jeden z lovcov, s tv\u00e1rou bi\u010dovanou mrazom, prist\u00fapil k Arenovi a polo\u017eil mu \u0165a\u017ek\u00fa, krvav\u00fa ruku na rameno.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eTvojho otca dostal ve\u013ek\u00fd tiger, Aren,\u201c povedal ticho. \u201eTvoj otec sa stato\u010dne br\u00e1nil. N\u00e1\u0161mu \u013eudu dal \u0161ancu utiec\u0165.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aren ostal st\u00e1\u0165 ako zasiahnut\u00fd bleskom. Nepr\u00edtomne, akoby stratil v\u00e1hu, odst\u00fapil od ostatn\u00fdch, k\u013eakol si k stene jedn\u00e9ho zo stanov a skryl si tv\u00e1r v dlaniach. Chcel plaka\u0165, chcel zo seba vytrhn\u00fa\u0165 t\u00fa boles\u0165, ale nemohol \u2013 mr\u00e1z bol pr\u00edli\u0161 ve\u013ek\u00fd na slzy, zam\u0155zali priamo v o\u010diach. Ke\u010f op\u00e4\u0165 pozrel na vracaj\u00facich sa mu\u017eov, boles\u0165 v jeho o\u010diach vystriedalo chladn\u00e9, leskl\u00e9 odhodlanie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zastavil ho Tor, jeho najbli\u017e\u0161\u00ed druh. \u201ePriate\u013e, ide sa na stretnutie klanu,\u201c ozn\u00e1mil mu ticho. Aren len ml\u010dky prik\u00fdvol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cel\u00fd kme\u0148 sa natla\u010dil do ve\u013ek\u00e9ho zhroma\u017e\u010fovacieho stanu. Dym z ohniska \u0161t\u00edpal v o\u010diach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eMy m\u00e1me posledn\u00fa \u0161ancu zaisti\u0165 n\u00e1\u0161 \u013eud,\u201c za\u010dal Dragr, sk\u00fasen\u00fd lovec, pod pr\u00edsnym doh\u013eadom stare\u0161inu. \u201eAle nie je dos\u0165 lovcov. Klan musia str\u00e1\u017ei\u0165 siln\u00ed mu\u017ei, ale t\u00ed ist\u00ed mu\u017ei musie\u0165 \u00eds\u0165 lovi\u0165. Ak nen\u00e1jdeme jedlo, my musie\u0165 klan opusti\u0165 a vyrazi\u0165 na nov\u00fa cestu cez m\u0155tve pl\u00e1ne.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eTo by\u0165 jasn\u00e1 smr\u0165!\u201c ozvala sa jedna zo \u017eien z tie\u0148a. \u201eMy \u010daka\u0165 nov\u00e9 deti. Zimu nepre\u017ei\u0165, cestu nezvl\u00e1dnu\u0165.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aren u\u017e nedok\u00e1zal sedie\u0165 v k\u00fate. Vstal, jeho hlas hrmel: \u201eJa chcie\u0165 by\u0165 lovcom! Nem\u00e1 cenu \u010daka\u0165. M\u00f4j otec padol pre klan. Ja padn\u00fa\u0165 pre klan. My zachr\u00e1ni\u0165 klan!\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stare\u0161ina zdvihol vr\u00e1skav\u00fa ruku na znak ticha. \u201eNiet in\u00e9ho v\u00fdberu. Dragr, Aren a \u010fal\u0161\u00ed \u0161tyria vyrazia na lov.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dragr okam\u017eite namietal, h\u013eadiac na Arena ako na die\u0165a: \u201eOtec Arena zomrel. On nechcel, aby Aren bol hl\u00fapy a h\u013eadal smr\u0165.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eOtec chcel, aby ja zachr\u00e1nil n\u00e1\u0161 \u013eud,\u201c oponoval Aren s bradou vzt\u00fd\u010denou hore. \u201eOtec by\u0165 py\u0161n\u00fd. My nem\u00e1me na v\u00fdber.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dragr si ho dlho premeriaval, h\u013eadaj\u00fac v jeho o\u010diach strach, no nena\u0161iel ho. K v\u00fdprave sa dobrovo\u013ene prihl\u00e1sili aj Tor a Khar. Stare\u0161ina k nim pridal Mimra a Jasemira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201eNie je \u010das \u010daka\u0165. My ideme do \u00dadolia mrazu. Hne\u010f,\u201c zavelil Dragr a hodil si cez plece o\u0161tep.
Lovci si v r\u00fdchlosti zbalili skromn\u00fa v\u00fdstroj. Aren pri\u0161iel k svojej malej sestre. Chcel od\u013eah\u010di\u0165 \u0165a\u017eobu chv\u00edle, nu\u017e za\u017eartoval so smutn\u00fdm \u00fasmevom: \u201eNepodp\u00e1\u013e klan, ke\u010f ja \u0165a nebudem str\u00e1\u017ei\u0165.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diev\u010da s kamennou tv\u00e1rou na neho pevne uk\u00e1zalo prstom \u2013 Ty<\/em>. Potom dla\u0148ou prudko narazilo do mraziv\u00e9ho vzduchu \u2013 Vr\u00e1\u0165 sa<\/em>. Nakoniec rukami pred hru\u010fou pevne zovrelo nie\u010do nevidite\u013en\u00e9 \u2013 Neurob hanbu krvi n\u00e1\u0161ho otca<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aren potla\u010dil dojatie a silno ju objal. Ke\u010f v\u00fdprava odch\u00e1dzala, naposledy sa obzrel na dymiace stany svojho klanu a s nov\u00fdm, hrd\u00fdm sebavedom\u00edm vykro\u010dil do nezn\u00e1ma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u013dadov\u00fd vietor im bi\u010doval tv\u00e1re ako tis\u00edce mal\u00fdch \u010depel\u00ed, k\u00fdm sa brodili snehom po p\u00e1s. Tor sa natla\u010dil bli\u017e\u0161ie k Arenovi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eJa veri\u0165, \u017ee my zachr\u00e1nime n\u00e1\u0161 \u013eud, priate\u013e,\u201c zakri\u010dal cez fujavicu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eAj ja, priate\u013e, aj ja,\u201c odpovedal Aren a na moment zastal, lapaj\u00fac po dychu. Pozrel na horizont a pousmial sa. \u201eHovor\u00edm ako stare\u0161ina, v\u0161ak?\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eTy raz by\u0165 stare\u0161ina, priate\u013e,\u201c odvetil Tor s bielou inova\u0165ou na mihalniciach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Obaja na seba uk\u00e1zali prstami a jednohlasne, ako bratia v zbrani, vyhl\u00e1sili: \u201eMy budeme!\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eVy nestr\u00e1cajte krok!\u201c okr\u00edkol ich zozadu Dragr a \u00fasmevy im okam\u017eite zmrzli na per\u00e1ch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ve\u010der dorazili k \u00fap\u00e4tiu sk\u00e1l. V temnej jaskyni Jasemir a Mimra r\u00fdchlo vykresali ohe\u0148. Plamene vrhali na steny divok\u00e9 tiene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eZajtra tadia\u013eto prejs\u0165 st\u00e1do. My musie\u0165 \u010daka\u0165,\u201c vyhl\u00e1sil Dragr a zah\u013eadel sa do oh\u0148a. V\u0161etci unavene prik\u00fdvli. \u201eAren a ja str\u00e1\u017ei\u0165 prv\u00fa polnoc, vy ostatn\u00ed oddychova\u0165.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n Noc bola hlbok\u00e1 a tich\u00e1. Aren a Dragr sedeli na okraji jaskyne a h\u013eadeli do mrazivej temnoty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eJa musie\u0165 potvrdi\u0165 stopy svojho otca,\u201c preru\u0161il ticho Aren. \u201eMus\u00edm klanu dok\u00e1za\u0165, \u017ee jeho krv \u017eije vo mne.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201ePre\u010do?\u201c sp\u00fdtal sa Dragr, bez toho, aby oto\u010dil hlavu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eLebo tak si to klan \u017eiada. To by\u0165 n\u00e1\u0161 sp\u00f4sob,\u201c odpovedal Aren prekvapene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201ePre\u010do?\u201c zopakoval Dragr znova, chladne a n\u00e1stoj\u010divo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eLebo to tak mus\u00ed by\u0165!\u201c vybuchol Aren, urazen\u00fd Dragrovou pochybnos\u0165ou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dragr sa zah\u013eadel do tmy a na starej, jazvami zjazvenej tv\u00e1ri sa mu objavil melancholick\u00fd \u00fasmev. \u201eMus\u00ed to by\u0165, lebo klan si to \u017eiada? Alebo preto, \u017ee to chce Aren? Chce\u0161 nak\u0155mi\u0165 kme\u0148, alebo svoje meno, chlap\u010de?\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aren nena\u0161iel odpove\u010f. Slov\u00e1 mu uviazli v hrdle a on len ml\u010dky h\u013eadel do tancuj\u00facich plame\u0148ov oh\u0148a.<\/p>\n\n\n\n R\u00e1no bolo ne\u00faprosn\u00e9. Snehov\u00e1 b\u00farka vonku z\u00farila s takou silou, \u017ee biela stena spl\u00fdvala s oblohou. Lovci \u010dakali v jaskyni, zvieraj\u00fac o\u0161tepy v spoten\u00fdch dlania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Z bielej hmly sa zrazu vynorila postava. Bol to Gendir, prieskumn\u00edk, ktor\u00e9ho Dragr vyslal napred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eBoli na\u0161e predpovede spr\u00e1vne?\u201c sp\u00fdtal sa Dragr a vstal. Gendir sa hne\u010f natiahol k oh\u0148u, z hlbok\u00e9ho ko\u017een\u00e9ho vrec\u00fa\u0161ka vytiahol such\u00e9, \u0161edozelen\u00e9 listy horskej byliny a za\u010dal ich \u017euva\u0165.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201e\u010co to je?\u201c vyzvedal zvedavo Tor. Gendir len unavene pokr\u010dil plecami.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eTlm\u00ed to boles\u0165. Rob\u00ed to svet tepl\u00fdm a ve\u013ek\u00fdm,\u201c zamrmlal s nepr\u00edtomn\u00fdm poh\u013eadom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eVe\u013ek\u00e1 stopa pr\u00eds\u0165!\u201c zvolal zrazu Jasemir, ktor\u00fd str\u00e1\u017eil vchod jaskyne, a uk\u00e1zal prstom von.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lovci okam\u017eite zasypali ohe\u0148 snehom a vyrazili. Plazili sa po bruchu k okraju \u00fatesu. Pod nimi, v \u00fazkom priesmyku, sa pohybovala \u017eiv\u00e1 hora. Obrovsk\u00e9 st\u00e1do mamutov kr\u00e1\u010dalo v rade. Vzduch bol hust\u00fd dychom kolosov, z ich tiel st\u00fapala v mraze para ako z hor\u00facich prame\u0148ov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eMy \u010dak\u00e1me, k\u00fdm vst\u00fapia hlb\u0161ie,\u201c prik\u00e1zal \u0161eptom Dragr. \u201eKe\u010f st\u00e1do \u00eds\u0165 \u00fazkou cestou, kde skaly tla\u010dia, my udrieme z oboch str\u00e1n.\u201c V\u0161etci napato prik\u00fdvli. Arenovi b\u00fa\u0161ilo srdce tak silno, a\u017e sa b\u00e1l, \u017ee ho mamuty za\u010duj\u00fa. Myslel na otca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zrazu sa ved\u013ea neho ozval tich\u00fd, stra\u0161ideln\u00fd smiech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gendir sedel opret\u00fd o kame\u0148. Jeho zreni\u010dky boli obrovsk\u00e9, \u010dierne a leskl\u00e9. Bylina, ktor\u00fa po\u017euval v strese z nast\u00e1vaj\u00faceho boja, mu celkom zatemnila myse\u013e.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eTy jes\u0165 znova, ty bl\u00e1zon!\u201c zamra\u010dil sa Khar a schmatol ho za plece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eList dobr\u00fd\u2026 duchovia h\u00f4r ma volaj\u00fa,\u201c zasmial sa Gendir s penou na per\u00e1ch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dragrov poh\u013ead stvrdol ako \u013ead: \u201eLov teraz! Ty by\u0165 ticho, alebo \u0165a s\u00e1m predhod\u00edm \u0161elm\u00e1m!\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n Slnko kleslo za ostr\u00fa skalu a st\u00e1do sa natla\u010dilo do naju\u017e\u0161ieho miesta priesmyku. Dragr zdvihol ruku, dal sign\u00e1l a lovci sa rozdelili, aby skalami a krikom zahnali zvierat\u00e1 do pasce. Zem sa pod v\u00e1hou ton m\u00e4sa otriasala v z\u00e1kladoch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eTeraz!\u201c zreval Dragr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lovci vysko\u010dili z \u00fakrytov s divok\u00fdm vojnov\u00fdm krikom. V\u0161etko prebiehalo pod\u013ea star\u00e9ho pl\u00e1nu kme\u0148a, k\u00fdm Gendir, \u00faplne zbaven\u00fd rozumu a pudu sebaz\u00e1chovy, nevybehol priamo na hrot \u00fato\u010diaceho st\u00e1da.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eVe\u013ek\u00fd duch! Ja prich\u00e1dzam!\u201c zreval Gendir do tv\u00e1re smrti, rozhodil ruky a rozbehol sa v \u00fastrety prv\u00e9mu kolosu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dragr na neho z\u00fafalo kri\u010dal, no jeho hlas zanikol v dunen\u00ed kop\u00fdt. Gendirov \u0161ialen\u00fd \u010din spla\u0161il predn\u00e9ho samca. Obrovsk\u00fd vodca st\u00e1da uhol, zmenil smer a s hroziv\u00fdm zat\u00faben\u00edm vrazil priamo medzi lovcov rozpt\u00fdlen\u00fdch na svahu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gendir nestihol ani vykr\u00edknu\u0165; mas\u00edvna mamutia noha ho v sekunde rozdrvila do krvav\u00e9ho snehu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vypuklo peklo. Sneh bol \u010derven\u00fd a vzduchom lietali kusy \u013eadu. Tor schmatol Arena za ko\u017eu\u0161inu: \u201eUtekaj!\u201c Aren sa oto\u010dil a uvidel star\u00e9ho samca, ktor\u00fd s chobotom vzt\u00fd\u010den\u00fdm k nebu mieril priamo na neho. Tor ho v poslednom zlomku sekundy strhol k zemi a obaja len o vl\u00e1sok unikli drviv\u00fdm klam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dragr tak\u00e9 \u0161\u0165astie nemal. Mamut ho zachytil v behu, nabodol jeho telo na dlh\u00fd, zakriven\u00fd kel a odhodil ho s \u013eahkos\u0165ou handrovej b\u00e1biky o skaln\u00fa stenu. Kosti mu praskli s hlasn\u00fdm zvukom. Aren zreval \u010dist\u00fdm \u017eia\u013eom a hnevom. Mimra, ktor\u00fd sa pok\u00fa\u0161al utiec\u0165 nahor po svahu, prepadol zo z\u00e1vetria dravec. \u0160ab\u013eozub\u00fd tiger, pril\u00e1kan\u00fd pachom krvi, vysko\u010dil zo sk\u00e1l a v okamihu mu mas\u00edvnymi tes\u00e1kmi rozkusal hrdlo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aren, zaslepen\u00fd hnevom a stratou svojich mu\u017eov, nev\u00e1hal. S revom sa vrhol vpred a z boku vrazil svoj o\u0161tep hlboko do rebier \u0161elmy. Tiger za\u00fapal, mocn\u00fdm \u00faderom laby odhodil Arena bokom, no Aren v amoku vstal a prenasledoval zranen\u00e9 zviera, a\u017e k\u00fdm tiger po p\u00e1r krokoch neklesol na zakrvaven\u00fd sneh. Aren do neho bodal o\u0161tepom znova a znova, bez zmyslov, k\u00fdm ho Khar silou-mocou neodtrhol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eBiely tiger je m\u0155tvy! Dostal si ho, Aren! Dos\u0165!\u201c upokojoval ho Khar, s\u00e1m sa tras\u00fac od \u0161oku. Arenovi uvo\u013enili prsty z poriska o\u0161tepu a so slzami, ktor\u00e9 mu okam\u017eite mrzli na l\u00edcach, sa zr\u00fatil Kharovi do n\u00e1ru\u010dia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zostali len traja. Aren, Tor a Khar sedeli v tichej jaskyni pri tele m\u0155tveho tigra. Vonku fujavica pomaly pochov\u00e1vala tel\u00e1 ich druhov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eM\u00e1me m\u00e4so z tigra. M\u00e1me jedlo na p\u00e1r dn\u00ed pre klan. M\u00f4\u017eeme \u00eds\u0165 domov,\u201c navrhol potichu Tor, h\u013eadiac na svoje dor\u00e1\u0148an\u00e9 ruky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arenovi v\u0161ak v hlave ako ritu\u00e1lny bubon zneli posledn\u00e9 slov\u00e1 m\u0155tveho Dragra: Rob\u00ed\u0161 to pre klan, alebo pre seba?<\/em> Ak sa vr\u00e1ti teraz, s jedlom na tri dni a polovicou m\u0155tvych lovcov, klan zimu nepre\u017eije. Bud\u00facnos\u0165 vy\u017eadovala hrdinu. Alebo obe\u0165.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aren vstal, v o\u010diach mal chladn\u00fd lesk. \u201eNie. Tiger nesta\u010d\u00ed. My vieme, kam ve\u013ek\u00e9 stopy id\u00fa. My pr\u00eds\u0165 domov ako hrdinovia, my nebudeme zbiera\u0165 drobky zo stola zimy!\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n Khar a Tor na neho pozreli. V jeho hlase u\u017e nebola detsk\u00e1 p\u00fdcha, bola tam desiv\u00e1 odhodlanos\u0165 stare\u0161inu. \u201eOddel\u00edme najslab\u0161ieho. Spolo\u010dne ho ulov\u00edme,\u201c prik\u00fdvli napokon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n O p\u00e1r hod\u00edn nesk\u00f4r Aren a Tor znova le\u017eali v snehu. Sledovali chvost ustupuj\u00faceho st\u00e1da, a\u017e k\u00fdm Tor neuk\u00e1zal prstom na star\u00e9ho, osamel\u00e9ho mamuta so zlomen\u00fdm klom, ktor\u00fd zaost\u00e1val za ostatn\u00fdmi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eMy ho oddeli\u0165 od zvy\u0161ku. Vypla\u0161i\u0165 ku skalnej \u0161trbine,\u201c zavelil Aren s pokojom sk\u00fasen\u00e9ho vodcu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tor vybehol s divok\u00fdm krikom, h\u00e1d\u017euc kamene, \u010d\u00edm zviera vystra\u0161il. Spolo\u010dne s Kharom zahnali star\u00e9ho samca do \u00fazkej, zradnej skalnej rozsadliny. Mamut sa na klzkom \u013eade po\u0161mykol a s \u0165a\u017ek\u00fdm zadunen\u00edm padol na mas\u00edvne kolen\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tor k nemu prisko\u010dil a zaryl mu o\u0161tep hlboko do slabiny, no zranen\u00fd kolos sa odmietal vzda\u0165. \u0160vihnut\u00edm mohutn\u00e9ho chobota zasiahol Tora do hrudn\u00edka a odhodil ho \u010faleko medzi kamene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eTor!\u201c vykr\u00edkol Aren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tor, le\u017eiaci v snehu, len s n\u00e1mahou zdvihol ruku a urobil smerom k nemu r\u00fdchle gesto \u2013 Be\u017e. Udri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aren vzal do r\u00fak oba zvy\u0161n\u00e9 o\u0161tepy a rozbehol sa priamo proti r\u00fatiacemu sa obrovi. Ka\u017ed\u00fd krok mamuta znel v \u00fazkej \u0161trbine ako hrom. Aren jeden o\u0161tep pevne zapichol do zeme, hrotom nahor, a v poslednej stotine sekundy odsko\u010dil nabok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mamut sa vlastnou v\u00e1hou nabodol na fixn\u00fa zbra\u0148, no st\u00e1le \u017eil a z\u00farivo \u00fato\u010dil chobotom. Aren, poh\u00e1\u0148an\u00fd \u010dist\u00fdm in\u0161tinktom pre\u017eitia, zdvihol druh\u00fd, \u0165a\u017ek\u00fd o\u0161tep s paz\u00farikov\u00fdm hrotom a celou v\u00e1hou ho vrazil hlboko do oka padaj\u00faceho obra, priamo do mozgu. Ke\u010f Khar a doudieran\u00fd Tor pribehli k m\u0155tvemu zviera\u0165u, uvideli u\u017e len Arenovu nehybn\u00fa ruku tr\u010diacu spod bielej prikr\u00fdvky. Divoko ho vyhrabali von. Aren krv\u00e1cal z nosa, z \u00fast, ruku mal pol\u00e1man\u00fa a hrudn\u00edk rozdrven\u00fd v\u00e1hou zviera\u0165a. D\u00fdchal len ve\u013emi plytko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eTy si to dok\u00e1zal\u2026 Ty zachr\u00e1nil n\u00e1\u0161 klan, priate\u013e,\u201c za\u0161epkal Tor s hlbokou \u00factou v hlase a slzami v o\u010diach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aren sa len vy\u010derpane, slabo usmial. Z mamuta orezali to najcennej\u0161ie m\u00e4so a tuk, nalo\u017eili ho na proviz\u00f3rne nosidl\u00e1 z mamut\u00edch ko\u017e\u00ed a ved\u013ea neho polo\u017eili Arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ke\u010f ho viezli domov cez no\u010dn\u00fa pl\u00e1\u0148, Aren h\u013eadel na chladn\u00e9, jasn\u00e9 hviezdy na oblohe. V duchu si naposledy polo\u017eil t\u00fa ot\u00e1zku: Bolo to pre klan, alebo pre Arena?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A v tej chv\u00edli, uprostred ticha umierania, kone\u010dne spoznal odpove\u010f. Pochopil, \u010do mu chcel Dragr poveda\u0165. Nebolo v tom \u017eiadne hrdinstvo. Bola to len \u010dist\u00e1, krut\u00e1 da\u0148 za to, aby \u017eivot kme\u0148a mohol pokra\u010dova\u0165. Zaplatil svoj\u00edm \u017eivotom, aby klan mal zajtraj\u0161ok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n V kmeni vypukli nefal\u0161ovan\u00e9 oslavy. \u017deny, starci a deti vybiehali zo stanov, brali m\u00e4so z nosidiel a s jasotom v\u00edtali pre\u017eiv\u0161\u00edch hrdinov. \u201eZachr\u00e1nil n\u00e1s, diev\u010datko,\u201c povedal jej Tor s hlavou sklonenou k zemi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diev\u010da sa pozrelo na Arenovu bled\u00fa tv\u00e1r. V jej o\u010diach sa zaleskli slzy, no tentoraz neurobila \u017eiadne gesto. Prv\u00fdkr\u00e1t v \u017eivote prehovorila. Jej hlas bol tich\u00fd, no zlomil srdcia oboch lovcov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201eZachr\u00e1nil n\u00e1s\u2026 Ale nie m\u0148a,\u201c za\u0161epkala a s hlasn\u00fdm pla\u010dom utiekla do hlbokej tmy svojho stanu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tor si utrel zamrznut\u00e9 o\u010di a h\u013eadel na chladn\u00fa tv\u00e1r svojho priate\u013ea. Bol py\u0161n\u00fd na to, \u010do dok\u00e1zali, no v srdci c\u00edtil hlbok\u00fd, \u010dierny sm\u00fatok, ktor\u00fd u\u017e nikdy neod\u00edde. Khar a ostatn\u00ed starci sa postavili ved\u013ea neho a v absol\u00fatnom tichu padaj\u00faceho snehu spom\u00ednali na mu\u017ea, ktor\u00fd dal ich klanu bud\u00facnos\u0165.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Aren nehybne le\u017eal na zamrznutej zemi a h\u013eadel na Tora. Ten mu z\u00fafalo gestikuloval, \u017ee sa maj\u00fa okam\u017eite stiahnu\u0165. V\u0161ade…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2073,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-fullwidth.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pribehy"],"menu_order":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dominikbako.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dominikbako.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dominikbako.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dominikbako.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dominikbako.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2072"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dominikbako.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2074,"href":"https:\/\/dominikbako.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072\/revisions\/2074"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dominikbako.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dominikbako.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dominikbako.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dominikbako.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Gendir prik\u00fdvol, zuby mu drkotali: \u201eKe\u010f slnko zapadne za \u013eadov\u00fa skalu, ve\u013ek\u00e1 stop\u00e1 pr\u00edde.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Katastrofa pokra\u010dovala ako lav\u00edna. \u010eal\u0161\u00ed mamut, tla\u010den\u00fd st\u00e1dom zozadu, pripu\u010dil Jasemira k zemi takou silou, a\u017e sa jeho telo rozletelo do str\u00e1n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obrovsk\u00e9, tonov\u00e9 telo kolosu sa s definit\u00edvnym vzdychnut\u00edm zr\u00fatilo k zemi. Sila p\u00e1du v\u0161ak so sebou stiahla aj lav\u00ednu snehu a kamennej sute, ktor\u00e1 Arena privalila.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arenova mal\u00e1 sestra podi\u0161la k nosidl\u00e1m, na ktor\u00fdch le\u017ealo nehybn\u00e9 telo jej brata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n