Coming of the Gods

The red‑sanded plains of Mars stretch out beneath a relentless sun, a stark contrast to the tangled jungles where razor‑toothed snakes and carnivorous plants make every step a gamble. Ro, a hardened wanderer with skin the color of rust, has finally left those perilous woods, driven by a yearning to reunite with his family and the dark‑eyed Na who haunts his dreams. His long trek across the open country is a meditation on the places he has seen and the comforts he hopes to find back home.

Just as his stride eases, a frantic chase erupts on the horizon: a squat, vicious Oan lunges after a fleeing Na, its snarling tail a blur of menace. Ro’s reflexes kick in, and with a thrown stone he fells the predator, rescuing the woman he loves. Their brief embrace hints at deeper ties, while distant silhouettes of strangers in black space, wielding unfamiliar weapons, loom on the edge of the horizon—an ominous promise that the quiet of Martian life may soon be shattered.