The Rejected Hunger
The hot breath of the East drifted across the steppe, setting the sky ablaze. The dry grass stood silent. Even the wind seemed exhausted, and the smell of earth lingered low against the ground.
The man stood at the farthest edge of the steppe.
A stone staff rested in his hand.
He did not hold it like something to lean on, but more like a weapon. Its lower half bent the light, its middle held it still, and its upper end gave off a light of its own. The stones looked as though they did not belong together.
And yet, they would not separate.
No sweat ran down the man's forehead,
nor did his skin burn.
It was as though the sun itself avoided him.
He saw the smoke of hearth fires rising beyond the hill before him.
He narrowed his eyes.
“This is the place.”
He took a step forward.
Crossed the hill.
And walked toward the place beyond the village.
He knew it no longer had a name.
Once, they had called it Odmar.
He struck the ground with his staff.
—Tok.
The fires trembled.
Then steadied again.
A path stretched out before him.
The stone-bearer stood still for a moment.
His gaze grew heavy.
For a while, he watched the village in silence. Then he turned toward it and began walking with slow, heavy steps. When he reached the edge of the village, he stopped.
His eyes slowly lowered to the ground.
The earth would not hold water.
The first to see him was the oldest man in the village.
The old man rose at once. Even with his lame leg, he did not stop; he hurried toward the man.
When he stood before him, he said nothing for a while.
He stared at the man’s face without looking away.
Trying to understand if it was truly him.
It was…
The stone-bearer.
Then the old man lowered his head.
“Welcome, Eminence.”
His voice carried fear, though he tried not to show it.
“The road must have wearied you.”
“We have food.”
“Come, eat with us.”
The stone-bearer looked at the old man.
“Food is unnecessary.”
“I need a place to stay.”
The old man pointed to his own house.
“Yes, yes… take my home.”
He gestured toward the village.
“If it does not please you, we can prepare the master’s house at once.”
The stone-bearer stepped closer to the old man.
“Yours will do.”
The old man nodded and quickly turned away. Ignoring his lame leg, he hurried into the house. He gathered the scattered belongings in haste and cleared the floor. Before long, the house looked cleaner, more orderly.
He immediately stepped back outside.
“Please, Great Eminence, my home is yours.”
The stone-bearer walked forward with heavy steps and entered the house.
The old man did not stop; he moved to step outside.
The stone-bearer called out from behind him.
“Old man.”
“Where are you going?”
The old man stopped at the threshold.
“I’m going to the village, Great Eminence.”
“Please, rest comfortably.”
“If you need anything, I will bring it at once.”
The stone-bearer spoke from inside.
His voice was clear.
“I will not stay long.”
“Do not look for another place to stay.”
The old man did not answer immediately.
“I will not, Great Eminence.”
“If you permit me, I will go to the village.”
The stone-bearer gave no answer.
Some time passed.
The old man still waited at the threshold.
Then the voice came.
“You may go.”
As soon as the words were spoken, the door closed. The old man began walking at once. Despite his lame leg, he moved quickly. A neighboring woman called out after him.
“Where are you hurrying to like that?”
The old man did not stop.
Without answering, he continued on his way.
By the time he reached the center of the village, his breath had grown short.
The master’s house was built from white stone. Yellow cracks ran between the stones, and its great door stood over the other houses like a heavy shadow.
The old man stopped before the door. For a while, he drew short, uneven breaths. As his chest slowly calmed, his heartbeat settled once more.
He knocked on the door.
Without waiting for an answer, he knocked again.
A woman’s voice rose from inside.
“Slowly… Master will be angered.”
The old man ignored her. He brought his fist down against the door once more.
When the door opened slightly, the woman stared at him with wide eyes.
The old man did not stop.
He pushed past the woman and hurried inside.
“Master.”
When no answer came, he called out again, louder this time.
“Master!”
A muffled voice rose from the kitchen.
“Why are you shouting?”
The old man immediately moved toward the sound.
“Master.”
He leaned over the table. His face was so close that their noses nearly touched. He glanced around for a moment, then lowered his voice even further.
“The stone-bearer has arrived.”
The large man jolted to his feet.
His body was enormous. Layers of fat trembled with every movement. His swollen belly struck the table; iron plates crashed to the floor, their harsh clatter echoing through the white stone walls.
He did not wait for anything to be cleaned. He stepped across the spilled food. His foot struck a plate on the ground; it rolled over and spun upside down. The plate kept spinning longer than it should have, as though it refused to stop.
The large man moved as quickly as he could. With the first cloth he could reach, he wiped his mouth. Then he cleaned the food from his feet and threw the cloth into the corner of the room.
The woman watched him with curious eyes.
She was waiting for an answer.
But no one spoke.
The old man and the large man quickly set out.
The villagers were curious. Some had stepped out to their doorways, while others watched in secret from behind their windows.
With every step the large man took, the earth beneath him gave way slightly. The old man, despite his lame leg, struggled to keep pace just behind him.
Before long, they stopped in front of the old man’s house.
The large man turned his head and looked at the old man.
“Walk ahead.”
The old man nodded.
Slowly, he opened the door.
His voice was hesitant.
“Great Eminence… may we enter?”
The stone-bearer’s voice was clear.
“The house is yours.”
“You may enter whenever you wish.”
The old man slowly crossed the threshold.
The large man stopped at the doorway.
He looked as though he were about to step inside.
Then he pulled back.
“Great Eminence… may I enter as well?”
“I will deal with the village myself.”
The stone-bearer did not answer at once.
He waited.
Then he spoke.
“Ask the owner of the house.”
The large man turned toward the old man.
His face had clearly changed.
“May I come in?”
For a brief moment, the old man understood.
“Ahh…”
He turned to the large man.
“Of course, master. Please, come in.”
Together, they entered the room.
The room was not large. Beneath the windows stood low wooden couches. Thick cloths stuffed with sheep’s wool had been spread across them. On the couch directly opposite the door, the stone-bearer sat.
The old man entered first, then stepped aside.
The large man entered the room behind him.
“Welcome, Great Eminence.”
The stone-bearer nodded.
“If you wish, we may move to my house. It is more spacious.”
The stone-bearer raised his head. He looked at the large man for a while. Then his gaze shifted to the old man.
The question remained hanging in the air.
The large man grew uncomfortable with his hands swaying at his sides. He did not know where to put them. He felt larger than he should have. He clasped his hands over his belly, as though trying to make himself appear smaller. His gaze remained fixed on the stone-bearer. He had already understood that no answer would come.
The old man spoke up.
“I asked him.”
“Great Eminence will stay here.”
The large man nodded.
Then turned back to the stone-bearer.
“Do you have any orders for me, Great Eminence?”
The stone-bearer turned his gaze toward the large man.
“No.”
For a while, no one spoke.
At last, the large man spoke, his words hesitant.
“Few ever come to these lands, Great Eminence.”
It was not a question.
But it was clear that it meant to be one.
The stone-bearer answered at once.
“All roads lead somewhere.”
This time, the large man asked in a whisper.
“Is there danger in our village?”
Before answering, the stone-bearer remained silent. Then he slowly shook his head from side to side.
“I am going to Odmar. I stopped here on the way.”
The large man took a step back.
“No one goes there.”
“The fire…”
Then he fell silent.
He lowered his head.
“May I… leave, Great Eminence?”
The stone-bearer nodded.
“You are not needed.”
The large man slowly turned away. His head never lifted from the ground. He was just about to take a step when the stone-bearer’s voice rose behind him once more.
“Tonight…”
He stopped.
“Do not eat.”
The large man turned back toward him.
His brows lifted slightly.
“Why?” he muttered to himself.
But he did not ask the question aloud.
“I will not, Great Eminence.”
Then he lowered his head once more and turned toward the door. The old man silently followed behind him.
They were just about to cross the threshold when the stone-bearer’s voice rose again.
“Old man… you stay.”
For a brief moment, the old man stopped at the threshold. As the large man walked farther away, The flesh on his body swayed heavily with each step. Then he pulled the door shut behind him and left.
The old man silently watched the door close.
Lowering his head, he entered the room once more.
“What would you have me do, Great Eminence?”
The stone-bearer slowly rose to his feet.
He took a step toward the old man.
“Do you know how to share?”
The old man paused for a moment.
“I have nothing.”
The stone-bearer stepped closer still.
“Does the village love you?”
The old man thought for a while.
“I do not know.”
“Some do.”
“Some do not.”
This time, the stone-bearer asked more quietly.
“Can you make them heed your word?”
The old man raised his head slightly.
“If I must, Great Eminence.”
The stone-bearer slowly turned away. After leaning his staff against the wall, he sat upon the couch once more. Slowly, he closed his eyes.
“Call the shaman.”
The old man did not wait even for a moment. He asked no questions, nor did he hesitate. The instant he turned away, he began walking quickly despite his lame leg. Before long, he vanished from sight.
By the time he reached the shaman’s house, the sun had already withdrawn behind the hill. Darkness was slowly descending over the village.
The old man did not stop.
Approaching the door, he called inside.
“Shaman.”
He did not wait for an answer.
He called again.
“Shaman.”
Each time, his voice rose a little higher.
“Shaman!”
The door suddenly opened. The shaman stepped outside in quick strides. The moment he saw the old man, his expression hardened. He motioned with his hand.
“Come.”
The old man shook his head from side to side.
“No… you come.”
The moment the words left his mouth, he turned and continued on his way. He gave the shaman no time to answer.
The shaman remained where he was for a moment.
Then, silently, he followed after the old man. Several times along the way, he looked as though he were about to speak, but each time he saw the urgency on the old man’s face, he held his tongue.
When they reached the house, the old man stopped before the door. After catching his breath for a moment, he turned his head toward it.
“Go inside. The one calling for you is within.”
The shaman silently nodded. Reaching out, he pushed against the wooden door. As it slowly opened, a long creak spread through the air. It was as though the door itself did not wish to open.
He crossed the threshold.
Then shut the door behind him.
A short while later, he stepped outside once more. The shaman’s face had changed. Without speaking, he began walking toward the village with quick steps.
The old man slowly opened the door.
The stone-bearer stood directly before him.
It was as though he had never moved at all.
“Do not enter.”
Slowly, he raised his hand toward the North. With his finger, he pointed into the darkness.
“Gather everyone… take them there.”
A brief silence followed.
“The fire will protect you.”
The old man silently nodded.
He had just opened his mouth to speak when the stone-bearer had already disappeared into the darkness.
Then he heard a sound.
Like a heavy tremor.
—Tok.
The old man flinched at the sound. He waited no longer. Despite his lame leg, he began moving quickly toward the village. At the same time, he shouted as loudly as he could.
“Everyone, come!”
But he did not stop.
“To the square!”
Those who stepped out into their doorways watched after him. A man shouted from behind.
“What happened?”
The old man turned and looked at him. His breathing had grown harsh.
“I said hurry!”
“Everyone to the square!”
Night had already fallen over the village. Slowly, people began gathering in the square. Some carried firelight in their hands, while others silently tried to understand what was happening. As the crowd grew, the voices began to blur together; whispers became a heavy murmur.
But the old man did not speak.
Without answering a single question, he only waited.
At that moment, the shaman was inside the large man’s house. Not a single sound came from within. The silence felt heavier than it should have been. It was as though even the wind avoided that house.
The large man first felt the pressure in his chest. He struggled to breathe. His heart beat unevenly. His soul could no longer carry the weight of his body.
The shaman slowly shook his head from side to side. Quietly, he whispered.
“This is not a sickness.”
He lowered his head.
There was no cure for death.
The large man lifted his gaze toward the shaman.
He gave no answer.
Then his eyes drifted away again.
They settled on the meat.
In a single motion, he seized the bone.
Steam still rose from it.
Fat dripped from the flesh.
He brought it to his mouth.
He tore away a massive bite.
He knew he had little time left; he swallowed the meat without chewing.
His eyes closed.
He drew his final breath.
His enormous body slowly began sinking into the earth.
The shaman flinched.
“It should not happen here.”
He took a step back.
“This place lies too far.”
He quickly turned toward the woman.
“Quickly! Get outside.”
The woman remained frozen.
The shaman grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away.
The body rose again.
Beneath the skin were swollen wounds pulsing like heartbeats. The large man’s body no longer looked human. Its flesh had grown dry, deep cracks spreading across it.
At the very moment they thought he was dead, his eyes opened again.
They were white.
His mouth was larger now.
It screamed with hunger.
The thing that returned was not him.
Because death did not accept singularity.
Now his soul hungered.
He neither died,
nor continued to live.
He only wanted to devour everything.
As the shaman closed the door, he spoke a single phrase.
“The Hunger Yekboş.”
Those who saw it stopped eating.
Those who came too close understood that the hunger could spread.
The villagers said they could hear its breathing at night.
Sometimes sheep vanished.
Sometimes people.
Those who survived that day took refuge beside the fire.
And the Hunger Yekboş
was never satisfied.
—
This is not a curse. This is a consequence.
—
🟣 YERGOK — A fragment from the Age of the Deep.
—
This was only a forgotten tale from the steppe.
In YERGOK, deeper thresholds are waiting for you. 🌑