I stumbled through the dense underbrush, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The forest was alive with the sounds of unseen creatures, their calls echoing ominously through the trees. I had been walking for what felt like hours, maybe days, without a clear sense of direction. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows that twisted and turned like dark fingers reaching out to ensnare me.

"Help!" I shouted, my voice cracking with desperation. "Is anyone out there?"

The only response was the rustling of leaves and the distant cawing of a crow. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder of my dwindling energy. I leaned against a tree, trying to catch my breath, when I heard it—a soft, almost imperceptible sound, like the whisper of footsteps on dry leaves.

I spun around, my eyes scanning the shadowy forest. There, just at the edge of my vision, I saw them. Two figures, tall and slender, moving with an eerie grace. They were dressed in simple, tattered clothing, adorned with feathers and beads. Their faces were painted with intricate patterns, their eyes glinting with a mixture of curiosity and something else—something darker.

"Who are you?" I called out, my voice trembling.

They didn't answer, but they didn't need to. I could see the intent in their eyes. They were not here to help me. One of them stepped forward, her movements fluid and deliberate. She was older, her face lined with experience, her posture commanding. The other stayed back, watching me with a predatory gleam in her eye.

"Please," I begged, taking a step back. "I don't want any trouble."

The older woman spoke, her voice low and resonant. "You are lost, wanderer. This forest is not kind to those who stray from the path."

I nodded, my hands shaking. "I know. I just need to get out of here. Can you help me?"

She tilted her head, studying me as if I were some strange creature she had never seen before. "We can help you," she said slowly, "but it will come at a cost."

My stomach tightened. "What kind of cost?"

She smiled, a slow, deliberate curve of her lips. "A price must be paid for trespassing in our lands."

Before I could react, the younger woman moved, her speed startlingly fast. She grabbed my arm, her grip strong and unyielding. I struggled, but it was no use. She was too powerful, her strength far greater than mine.

"Let go of me!" I shouted, but my cries were swallowed by the thick foliage.

The older woman stepped closer, her eyes boring into mine. "You have entered our domain, and now you must pay the toll."

I tried to pull away, but the younger woman's hold only tightened. She reached down, her fingers brushing against the hem of my pants. Panic surged through me as I realized what she was about to do.

"No!" I screamed, but it was too late. Her hand slipped beneath the fabric, her touch cold and clinical. She cupped my testicles, her fingers pressing firmly. I gasped, the pain sharp and immediate.

"Stop!" I pleaded, but neither of them paid any attention to my pleas. The older woman watched with a detached interest, as if this were nothing more than a routine task.

The younger woman's grip tightened, her nails digging into my flesh. I writhed in her grasp, but she held me steady, her strength unwavering. She pulled back, revealing a small, curved blade, its edge gleaming in the fading light.

"Please," I whimpered, tears stinging my eyes. "Don't do this."

She didn't respond, her focus entirely on the task at hand. She positioned the blade carefully, her hand steady despite the violence of my struggles. I could feel the cold metal against my skin, the pressure building as she prepared to cut.

"This is your punishment," the older woman said, her voice calm and matter-of-fact. "For entering our land without permission."

I shook my head, my breaths coming in short, desperate gasps. "I didn't know," I whispered. "I didn't mean to."

But it was no use. The younger woman pressed the blade harder, the tip piercing my skin. A sharp pain shot through me, and I cried out, my voice breaking. She began to slice, the blade moving with precision, cutting through flesh and muscle.

I screamed, the sound echoing through the forest. The pain was unbearable, a searing agony that seemed to consume me. I thrashed in her grip, but she held me firm, her expression impassive.

"Almost done," she murmured, her voice soothing in contrast to the brutality of her actions.

I could feel the blood flowing, warm and sticky, pooling beneath me. The pain was overwhelming, a constant, relentless torment. I wanted to pass out, to escape the horror of what was happening, but I couldn't. My body refused to let go, forcing me to endure every second of the mutilation.

Finally, she finished, pulling the blade away with a swift, practiced motion. She held up her hand, displaying the severed testicles between her fingers. I stared at them, my mind reeling, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

The older woman stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the bloody prize. "This is your mark," she said, her voice filled with satisfaction. "From now on, you belong to us."

I collapsed to the ground, the world spinning around me. The pain was all-consuming, a fire that burned through my body. I could feel the blood soaking into the earth, the life draining from me.

"What... what have you done?" I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible.

The older woman knelt beside me, her gaze piercing. "You are now one of us," she said, her tone final. "A eunuch, bound to serve our tribe."

I wanted to protest, to scream, but the words wouldn't come. All I could do was lie there, staring up at the canopy above, the world fading into darkness.

"Rest now," the younger woman said, her voice gentle. "You will need your strength for what comes next."

And then, everything went black.

If you find this interesting, here's the full part.