Xyki was always seen as the one in his village that needed to be protected. The one that was likely to get himself into trouble in his own hut. The one that couldn't be trusted to do even the most menial of tasks for fear that he would cause destruction of unimaginable proportions. His father was always quick to remind him of this. Eager to point out that the other young males were sent out hunting and fishing and exploring, while Xyki stayed at home to cook with the women. His mother, on the other hand, loved that he was in the village at all times. She had great difficulty conceiving children, so while the rest of the women they lived with had around five children, Xyki was her only one. The fact that she knew he would come into no danger and was constantly under her care was a great comfort to her.

In truth, Xyki didn't mind cooking and staying behind. He loved chatting with the girls and helping prepare tasty meals for everyone to enjoy. It was sort of the one thing that he had always taken pride in. His mother had always said that it was equally as manly to cook food for the tribe as it was to hunt it in the first place. He tended to agree. However, the other men didn't see it that way at all. They saw him as basically another woman, not to be included in anything that they wouldn't let their daughters or wives do.

However, that all changed that morning. Xyki was about to go on his first ever hunting trip with his father and several other of the tribesmen.

"Are you sure you want to go?" his mother asked worriedly as she helped him strap his arrow holster on.

"Of course. I need to prove myself," he said with a steely determination.

"You don't have to prove yourself to anyway, Xyki! You're great just the way you are. Everyone can see that. The boys just joke around with you, that's all. You're just the same to the rest of us as they are." She turned to her husband and glared. "This is all your fault, Tiberon!"

Tiberon shook his head and motioned for the men to follow him, no words were needed. They walked for what felt like hours to Xyki, his feet weren't used to this and he wanted to stop.

"Father," he said before having about five men hush him almost immediately.

"Hush up there, you'll scare off the animals!" someone urged in hushed tones. "Tell you what, how about we split up? Meet back here when the humidity rises."

Everyone began splitting off. Xyki was way out of his depth. He didn't know his way around like all the others. How was he to know how to get back here? He couldn't track and nor could he catch. This was not the expedition that he had planned. Perhaps, it would be best for everyone, if he just returned to the village. With that, he began to back track, hoping against hope he was going in the right direction.

The river carried the large ship silently deeper into the jungle. A large man stood on the bow scanning the trees for life. There was nothing more than a few birds and monkeys making their ways through the trees. Alex breathed deeply taking in the scents of the jungle. He closed his eyes and cataloged each smell, A few uganii warriors, jaguar, and the river village. Alex smiled at the familiar scents as they washed over him. Even after all he has been through, the jungle was still his home.

Leaving the front of the boat the guide ducked into the navigation room. A group of Americans stood leaning over a map talking. Alex stepped forward, “Dr. Howard. We’re about a mile out of the fishing village. I recommend that you and your party get your bags. I’ll be taking you on foot from here on out.”

The older man in the party looked up for a moment then waved off the guide looking back to the map. “Yes, yes…thank you Alejandro.” The doctor’s assistant gave Alex a look of apology.

Scowling the guide left the room without another word. Once out of earshot Alex let out a low growl of anger. Damn Americans. In his 400 years of life they never stopped irritating him. There were numerous days that he wished he could abandon them to the native cannibals, but he could never subject others to the fate he suffered.

Luckily, his curse allowed him to traverse the Amazon with little problems from the native tribes. The legend of the Monster with eyes the color of the forest, was a common story among all of the tribes Amazon. Most of the natives avoided him at all costs, there were a few tribes that he was friendly with. After the murder of his beloved, he had wandered through the jungle as the animal without purpose, love or even the will to live. It took years for the Spaniard to adjust; to not turn when he was angry or let his eye color slip.

“Senor Margil, we’ve reached the village.” The voice of the ship’s captain shocked him out of this memories. Alex checked his pack then headed back up to the deck. The researchers were gathered on the deck, waiting for him. Dr. Howard and his two assistants Tony and Mildred. With the team was Jonathan Klaus, their security advisor. The doctor and his assistants were harmless, but Klaus…Alex worried about the man. He nearly growled at the sight of the German strapping a large rifle to his back. The guide had tried to talk the researchers out of employing the mercenary, but there was no changing their minds.

“Alright let’s get moving. We should be able to reach the Mirakos native’s village by nightfall.” He nodded to the trees. Alex thanked their captain and headed lead the group into the jungle.