The dense air of the clearing, charged with the tension of our encounter with the evolved humans, seemed to press against us from all sides.
It was in this palpable silence, under the watchful eyes of beings so alike yet so different from us, that I took the first tentative step towards bridging the chasm that lay between our worlds.
Mustering all the courage and hope I could, I extended my arm in a slow, deliberate wave, my other hand open and facing upwards in the universal gesture of peace.
It was a simple act, one we'd used countless times in our own world to signal goodwill, but here, in the heart of Jungoria, it felt like casting a stone into the unknown depths of a dark lake, unsure of what ripples it might create.
The evolved humans watched intently, their vibrant eyes tracking my every movement.
