"The more contented we are with our own problems the less intrusive we will be of other people's cup of tea." -
Vincent Okay Nwachukwu

The rustling leaves immediately transition to an unsettling silence, before a deep, husky voice addresses us from the shadows.

"It would not help to move, humans. You are surrounded It would not help to run: we are faster. Do not try to attack - we will win."

Five skados step out, initially barely discernible from the shadows and trees. Their leather clothes, in different hues of nature, blend in perfectly. With faces painted green, brown and black, the red markings on their skin appear unnatural - the only thing betraying their presence. Illuminated by the firelight, their tattoos appear to be moving and telling stories of their own.

"We only wish to pass through. We do not wish you any harm," I state carefully.

One of the skados, the tallest and most muscular of them, steps forward. He is dressed scantily in black leather with edges adorned with feathers of various bird species. "There is nothing to pass through to and you are dangerously close to our village. We consider our privacy and isolation quite important."

The other four are clutching short spears. Although not pointed at us, those skilled in weaponry can see that with the flick of a wrist their weapons would be ready for attack.

One is clearly female, but no less dangerous. She is the only one, other than the one who first addressed us, who has feathers adorning her clothes. Rows upon rows of small bones are woven into her hair. Her alligator-like eyes are narrowed in suspicion.

I turn back to their leader. "Ag helam unger sha, set Concilla nov aet helam."

His stoic face reveals neither surprise at nor acknowledgement of my spoken words when he answers. "So few speak that language. We did not mean you any harm, but now, since you have invoked hospitality, you will have to come with us."

"Thank you." A sigh of relief escapes my lips.

"I am Schatô. These are my tribesmen, Daram, Kotel and Barok, and Keta, a tribeswoman of our neighbours."

With a pair of axes on his back, Daram who is almost as huge as Schatô, looks ready to kill.

Kotel is a scrawny skado with spidery limbs. Although all of the skados are eyeing us with suspicion, his eyes seem to be filled with hate and animosity. Clenching his free fist, he regards us with pursed lips.

Other than Schatô, Barok is the only one completely clean-shaven. Although holding his spear in one hand, he holds a bow and arrow ready in the other.

"I greet you with the favour of your lady Silver. This is my companion, Rorith." Respectfully clutching my hands in front of my chest, I offer them a slight bow.

Rorith nods his head in acknowledgement as I point to him.

Initially not bowing, he realises his mistake when Kotel gives a snort. Rorith follows with a bow deeper than my own. Luckily Kotel doesn't comment on Rorith's ridiculously deep bow.

"You have not introduced yourself, human." Schatô's eyes are pensive, as if he senses that I am more than meets the eye.

"If you will extend me the courtesy of only introducing myself to your chief, I will gladly do it, friend of the moon."

"It will be as you wish. We will need your weapons."

I nod and hand my sword, bow, arrows and dagger to the skado named Barok.

"I refuse to give my weapon away!"

Schatô bares his teeth. "You have no choice, human."

"I always have a choice."

I smack Rorith lightly on the back of his head. "Just do it."

He grudgingly hands his weapons to Kotel.

Rorith and I follow the skados in silence.

We travel much faster than Rorith and I did on our own. The skados know the marshes very well.

The dense foliage gives way to a deep river covered in bright moss.

Keta surveys the river in silence before giving the rest of the company a nod. "There doesn't seem to be any crocodiles closeby."

The others hand Daram all the weapons, while only keeping their own spears.

Kotel wades into the water first, spear poised and ready. With slow movements, he is careful not to disturb the water. When he can no longer walk, he effortlessly swims across.

The others survey the water in all directions for any movement. When he finally reaches the other side, Daram gives a sigh if relief.

He crosses next. With all the weapons strapped to him, he takes much longer to reach the other side, than Kotel did.

"Barak, you will go next with Rorith."

Rorith luckily does not offer any protest when Barak hooks an arm around Rorith's waist. He whispers something to Rorith which causes the latter to stiffen his back.

When they approach halfway, Keta's clear birdlike whistle pipes up.

Barak freezes and looks to his left. The faint disturbance in the moss is barely noticeable as it heads towards them.

He says something to Rorith before letting go. Rorith swims toward the riverbed - the noise echoing across the water.

The predator lifts his snout out of the water, revealing a narrow reptilian snout with rows of sharp teeth and black, beady eyes. It changes it course towards Rorith before picking up speed.

Barak silently moves again, but adjusts his course to meet the crocodile. His spear disappears beneath the water.

The crocodile almost catches up to Rorith before Barak reaches it. Barak rises up into a firm stance before thrusting his spear. It sinks into his prey's skull, letting the crocodile go limp in the water.

Kotel offers Rorith a hand of assistance and pulls him out. Patches of green moss still stick to Rorith's clothes as the black water drips from him.

Barak grabs his spear and pulls the crocodile to the edge. Assisted by Kotel, they hoist it up, before Barak gives us a nod and a smile - revealing teeth just as sharp as those of the crocodile he just killed.

Schatô turns to me. "We'll have to cross quickly. The blood will soon draw more of them. If you hear Keta's call, I'll heave you forward. While your life depends on how swiftly you reach the other side, I will hunt it silently behind you."

His arm encircles my waist before we wade into the water. We carefully tread over rocks and roots until the water reaches our shoulders. Schatô propels us up before soundlessly swimming to the other edge.

Relief washes over me when we finally reach the other side.

During our crossing I was so focussed on scanning the water surrounding us for any signs of movement, that I didn't see the other skados skinning the crocodile.

Keta makes her way across, moving the fastest of everyone. Within no time she is at our side.

Schatô inspects the crocodile skin, before handing it to Barak. "You did well. Our lady will be proud. The skin should be a good wedding gift for Rak-kne. We'll give the rest of the carcass to our lady. "

Barak nods and bundles the skin before tying it to his back. The blood still dripping from it onto his back doesn't seem to bother him at all.

Keta and Kotel pull the crocodile carcass to the edge of the water before heaving it in. Schatô whistles an eery tune. The swamp falls silent, before splashing water from all directions is heard.

The crocodile horde descend upon the carcass, tearing into and tugging it between them. Their splashing echo behind us as we press on through the swamp.