Two months have passed since the last events, and the narrative opens with a vast depiction of the Far West as an immense, untamed wilderness of prairies stretching endlessly under the sky. This region is presented as both sublime and terrifying, where nature unfolds in overwhelming abundance and complexity. The landscape is described as a vast green ocean filled with rivers, hills, and dense vegetation that initially appears uniform but gradually reveals subtle variations and hidden structures. The flora is portrayed with extraordinary richness: towering trees such as acajou, palms, and banana trees coexist with cacti, vines, and flowering plants, while the ground is covered in vast fields of brightly colored blossoms and tangled vegetation. This chaotic fertility creates a sense of both beauty and disorientation, emphasizing nature’s uncontrollable force.
The fauna is equally diverse and vividly depicted. Herbivores such as deer, elk, bison, and wild horses move across the plains, while predators including pumas, jaguars, bears, and wolves stalk them. Reptiles and amphibians populate the undergrowth, from venomous snakes to camouflaged lizards and massive boas. The skies are filled with birds ranging from small songbirds to large predators like eagles and vultures. This ecosystem is presented as a constant struggle for survival, governed by instinct, predation, and relentless competition. Within this environment, Indigenous peoples are introduced as the true masters of the wilderness. Skilled, agile, and deeply adapted to the terrain, they move with confidence through the prairies, hunting and navigating dangers that would overwhelm outsiders. However, their domain is under pressure from expanding European civilization, suggesting an impending conflict between two worlds.
The narrative then shifts to a specific moment along the Rio Gila, where a lone man emerges from dense vegetation in a state of exhaustion and despair. This man, known as Cèdre-Rouge, is revealed to be a seasoned frontiersman or squatter, yet he now finds himself in an unprecedented situation: completely alone, without food, weapons, or supplies. Even his survival tools, such as a rifle and horse, are absent. His only companion is a loyal dog. In the hostile wilderness, such deprivation places him in immediate mortal danger, as isolation in the Far West is equated with death. Despite his experience in surviving harsh conditions, he is psychologically shaken by the absence of human contact and material support, confronting the overwhelming scale of nature and his own vulnerability.
He begins a desperate journey through the prairie, moving without clear direction, enduring hunger, exhaustion, and constant exposure to danger. Wildlife surrounds him, yet no longer reacts with fear, emphasizing his weakened state. As night falls, he is forced to sleep in a tree for protection against predators, suffering an agonizing night filled with fear and hallucination. The following day, weakened further, he continues wandering until starvation forces him to consume wild roots resembling yuca, which temporarily restore his strength. This small recovery allows him to continue his search for survival.
During his movement, he notices an unusual patch of dense grass, which triggers his experience as a hunter and trapper. Recognizing it as a possible sign of a hidden cache, he begins digging with great difficulty. The work is exhausting and prolonged, and he repeatedly faces despair as no immediate result appears. However, his persistence eventually leads him to uncover a buried structure covered with a hide. Overcoming hesitation, he opens it and discovers a hidden cache containing weapons, ammunition, and essential survival equipment left by other frontiersmen. This discovery transforms his situation completely, restoring his strength, confidence, and identity as a hunter. He carefully selects what he needs, respects frontier customs by leaving the cache largely intact, and prepares to continue his journey. Empowered once again, he sets off into the wilderness with renewed determination, ready to face the dangers of the prairie.