Episode 1: Primeval Footsteps and the Warmth of Tamales

Episode 1: Bonfire and Tyranno's Teacup An ancient land hundreds of thousands of years ago, long before human history was recorded in writing, when the fog of time had settled down. In a corner of the magnificent plateau, where glaciers carved out huge granite canyons and virgin coniferous forests endlessly waved, there was a strange and peaceful nest that was not recorded in any myth or history book in the world. A cave on the side of a rocky mountain with red maple trees and huge fern bushes hanging like a curtain. The entrance to the cave naturally blocked the fierce rain, wind and night fog, and deep inside the cave there was always the fragrant smell of burning pine branches and the warmth of a bonfire.

In the round stone oven in the center of the cave, oak firewood was burning with a red flame, making a cozy crackling sound. Next to the fire pit, there were large clay pots and rough but neat tea cups made of clay, and on the floor were two spacious stone beds lined with layers of dried moss, soft grass, and thick mammoth fur. One was a small bed tailored to the human body, and the other was a stone platform that had been carved so large that it could comfortably fit three or four oxen. The name of the man sitting cross-legged in front of the bonfire was ‘Bau’.

Bau was a primitive young man with a bushy brown beard, stocky shoulders tanned by the sun, and eyes that were clear and gentle like a lake rather than the sharpness of a hunter. He wore a rough dress made of woven animal skin and a necklace carved from animal bones around his neck, but like other primitive tribesmen, he was a natural pacifist who hated cruelly slaughtering animals or using violence. The tribe that Bau originally belonged to was the warlike 'Red Stone Axe' tribe that dominated the rough mountainous region. They revered strength and violence, and hunters who did not shed blood were considered weak and cowards.

However, instead of killing innocent animals by stabbing them with a sharp stone spear, Bau preferred to walk deep in the mountains, smell the scent of wild flowers, and dip his feet in the clear stream water. While the tribe members were fighting over the meat they had hunted, Bau would sit in the shade of a rock and drink wild mint leaves, chamomile petals, and pieces of sweet arrowroot collected from the mountains, boiled in clear water. In the end, the tribe's elders tried to expel Bau, calling him an alien species that disturbed the tribe's rules, and Bau happily left the bloody tribe and entered this peaceful hideout cave.

“Whoo-whoo-”

Bau opened the lid of the earthenware kettle placed on the campfire and carefully blew on it. Inside the kettle, wild herbal tea brewed in clear valley water was bubbling and emitting fragrant steam. The spicy yet sweet scent of grass leaves filled the narrow cave. It was right then. A heavy earth movement began to echo from the coniferous forest outside the cave. Every time the giant beast's heavy steps crushed the ground, clear dewdrops fell from the tip of the stalactites hanging from the ceiling of the cave.

It was such a terrible vibration that a typical caveman would have run away screaming or hiding in a corner holding a stone ax in fear. However, there was not a trace of fear on Bau's face as he sat in front of the campfire and made tea. Rather, a wide smile filled with joy and kindness spread across his eyes.

“Tino! The tea has just finished boiling. Come in!”

Bau shouted sweetly towards the cave entrance. Then, a huge shadow the size of a house came through the gap in the huge rock of the cave. Kugugoogung! The being that popped its head into the cave was a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a tyrant from the Cretaceous period who reigned as the most ferocious and powerful ruler in the history of the Earth! Thick and rough yellow-brown scales, huge sharp jaw joints, and sharp purple serrated teeth that can crush even an elephant's leg bone in an instant. However, contrary to its fearsome appearance, this Tyrannosaurus's eyes were bright and full of curiosity, like those of a newborn puppy.

What was even more surprising was the object hanging around the giant beast's neck. A thick brown leather necklace made by Bau, hand-tanned and carefully woven from tough bison leather! At the center of the necklace was a bell-shaped decoration made of polished round river stones. Flutter-! Every time the giant dinosaur tilted its head, a cheerful sound rang out from its leather leash.

"Grrrrr... Purrrrr..."

Tyrannosaurus 'Tino' came to Bau's side, crouching carefully to avoid hitting his head on the cave ceiling. Then, he gently rubbed his huge snout against Bau's shoulder and cheek, and let out a low, loud growl like a cat. The vibration was so loud that Bau's entire body was shaking, but Bau chuckled as if he was used to it and gave Tino a cool scratch under his huge chin. “Hahaha! It tickles, kid! Did you pick up a lot of acorns in the forest today and eat them? There’s a lot of dirt under your chin.”

“Keeeeek-!”

Tino seemed to be in a good mood as he stuck out his big pink tongue and licked Bau's face. It was an incredible moment of communication between a primitive youth and a tyrant dinosaur that no one in the world could have imagined. The relationship between the two began seven years ago, during a huge flood during the Ice Age. In the rough muddy water that swept through the canyon, Bau found a large egg buried in the mud and cooling down. A strange egg with emerald spotted patterns. Bau carried the frozen egg inside his fur clothes and brought it to the cave, where it basks in the warmth of the campfire day and night.

The one that finally broke out of the eggshell in Bau's arms, as warm as its mother's heartbeat, was a baby Tyrannosaurus rex the size of a palm, slightly larger than a chick. The baby dinosaur that opened its eyes for the first time in the world imprinted Bau, who was sweating profusely in front of him, as his mother and father. Bau gave him the affectionate name ‘Tino’. Despite being born with the genes of a bloodthirsty carnivore, Tino grew into a completely different being under Bau's gentle hands. Bau did not feed bloody raw meat to newborn Tino.

Instead, we fed them mashed sweet raspberries and ripe wild grapes, and fed them fat silverfish and trout caught from the clear shallows of the valley, roasted over a bonfire and covered with thorns. As Tino grew up little by little, Bau took him deep into the forest and taught him how to dig up giant wild horses, pumpkins, and arrowroot. Tino's powerful front claws and strong hind legs were not used as weapons for biting off the necks of other animals, but became the best farming tools for digging up huge sweet potatoes and root vegetables buried deep in the ground. As a result, although Tino grew into a huge adult Tyrannosaurus rex measuring 8 meters in length and weighing 4 tons, he became a 'large herbivorous dog' with an extremely gentle personality.

At first, the deer and rabbits in the forest were scared and ran away when they saw Tino's shadow, but when Tino gave them raspberries by wagging their tails, they became close friends to the point where they climbed on Tino's back and took a nap. Bau lifted the boiling earthenware kettle from the campfire. Then, I poured steaming herbal tea into two heavy mugs carved out of large stones. One was Bau's own cup, and the other was a large two-handled teacup made especially for Tino.

“Come on, Tino. It’s hot, so you have to blow on it and drink it.”

When Bau handed him the stone cup, Tino surprisingly carefully wrapped the handle of the cup with the two claws of his short front legs. The appearance was so simple and delicate that it looked like a humorous painting under the light of a campfire. “Whoo—whoo—”

Tino carefully blew on the surface of the teacup with his huge nostrils. As the tea splashed lightly with his strong breath, Tino closed his eyes and scratched his head, and Bau burst out laughing. “If you blow too hard, it’ll all overflow, boy! You have to blow gently like this.”

As Bau demonstrated and took a sip of tea, Tino imitated him and placed his huge spout on the cup and drank the tea with a slurping sound. As the sweet and fragrant scent of mint enveloped the tip of my tongue, Tino's tail tapped the cave floor! widely! He expressed his joy by hitting it. A night with a warm bonfire, fragrant tea cups, and each other’s warmth. It was the best feast and rest that only two beings could enjoy on this harsh primitive earth. After drinking tea, Bau approached the cave wall, carrying a shell filled with charcoal powder and red ocher paste.

The walls of the cave were filled with numerous petroglyphs that Bau had drawn over a long period of time. However, the paintings were completely different from the ordinary scenes of mammoth hunting or bison herds drawn by other primitive people. There, the strange and fantastic ‘unknown world’ that Bau saw in his dreams every night was depicted. Huge square rock towers soaring into the sky (modern skyscrapers),

Instead of flames, thin vines (neon signs) emit colorful light inside a transparent glass tube.

A metal horse (bicycle and food truck) that plays music while rolling two round wheels;

And the sight of countless people walking on a smooth road (asphalt and sidewalk blocks) paved with black stone slabs and sharing mysterious food... Bau began drawing a new picture in a corner of the wall with his hand holding the charcoal. A picture of long pieces of meat and bread spinning on a cart with round wheels, and white, sweet cotton balls like clouds floating in the air. Next to him, a person riding a bicycle with a large bell was pictured carrying cool ice snacks and handing them out to children. “Krrr…?”

Tino approached with eyes full of curiosity and put his huge nose to the mural Bau was drawing. Bow pointed at the mural and whispered sweetly. “Tino, look at this. I saw that place again in my dream last night. A city of light where tall and splendid towers fill the sky and it doesn’t get dark even at night... Instead of the howls of rough and ferocious beasts, the streets were filled with beautiful songs flowing from magical instruments called musical instruments.”

A faint light of yearning appeared in Bau's eyes. “People smiled at each other as they walked along the smooth streets called sidewalk blocks, and at every corner there were piles of delicious food carefully made by hand. Sizzling meat skewers, sweet cotton candy, and fragrant tea and coffee... When will we be able to see such a peaceful and brilliant world?” As if Tino understood Bau's words, he stretched out his short paw toward the corner food cart depicted on the mural and tapped it. Then he laid his head on Bau's chest and took a long, gentle breath.

It was not simply a caveman's delusion that could not come true. The invisible attraction of music, connecting soul to soul beyond the dimensions of time and space, was quietly pulsating in the hearts of the two beings. That night, an unusually cold autumn wind began to swirl around the canyon and make a strange whistling sound. In the night sky, a huge purple and turquoise aurora that was not normally seen was shining as brilliantly as a dragon's scales. The wind blowing through the cave entrance contained not only the familiar scent of pine needles, but also a completely unknown and mysterious scent.

The sweet, sizzling smell of baked corn dough,

The spicy and tangy scent of cinnamon and fried bread,

And the cheerful acoustic guitar strokes and clanging metal bell sound softly echoing across the distant night sky... "Chiring-chiring-chanlang!"

“Dang... Dang... Ding... Dong...” Tino opened his eyes and perked up his ears. Its large tail hit the ground and it let out a low growl that was a mix of anxiety and curiosity. “Crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn…”

Bau, who had been sleeping, was also startled and suddenly woke up. “Tino, what are you talking about? It’s not coming from the forest.” Bau and Tino walked towards the cave entrance with careful steps. The night sky in the canyon outside the cave was filled with incredibly enchanting and bizarre light. Clusters of purple and emerald light swirled around, sucking in the thick night fog that was lying at the bottom of the canyon. At the center of the light vortex, cracks began to appear in the space-time barrier, as if a huge mirror had broken.

Grrr— Boom! A round dimensional door opened wide in the air with the clear sound of glass shards. The sight that was glimpsed beyond the door of light... Surprisingly, it was the very 'city of the future' that Bau had drawn in his cave paintings! Dazzling neon signs flash, car headlights flow like starlight on the asphalt road, and countless people wear colorful clothes and enjoy the festival on the sidewalk block streets! And the huge wind of gravity pouring in through the door began to pull Bow and Tino strongly.

“Bow! It’s dangerous!”

Tino instinctively wrapped his huge body around Bau. However, the dimensional vortex swirled so violently that it seemed as if it would swallow the two beings whole. Bau held on tightly to Tino's leather necklace, and Tino also tightly wrapped his claws around Bau's waist so as not to let go of Bau. “Tino! Hold on tight! No matter what happens, don’t let go!”

Rainbow-colored rays of light, like a colorful kaleidoscope, covered the two people's vision in white. Space was warped, time was running backwards, and the primordial, quiet cave was disappearing into the distance. Breaking the ancient silence, the prelude to a brilliant serenade flowing over the sidewalk blocks was finally taking place. While falling through the storm of light, thousands of sounds rushed into Bau's ears at once. It was not a fearful scream of doom. It was the most vibrant and dazzling heartbeat of a street full of life. 'Steam rises, tamale stands haze,

Neon mango cart, kaleidoscope days. Hot dogs spinning, wheels in the air,

Cotton candy clouds, dreams everywhere. On the curb, the incense burns slowly,

Patchouli whispers where the churros glow. Sidewalk serenade, flavors parade,

Every corner’s got a story handmade.’ From somewhere, a soft acoustic guitar melody and a sweet low-pitched singing voice enveloped my soul through the melody. The smell that passed Bau's nose was no longer the smell of mud or dry grass from the primeval forest. The cinnamon scent of sweet churros fried in oil,

The delicious steam of traditional Mexican tamales wrapped in corn husks and steamed.

The scent of spicy and exotic taco sauce dancing on the grill,

And the scent of cool ruby-colored pomegranate juice and jade-colored lemonade bursting in a transparent cup... All those tastes and smells formed one huge symphony, awakening Bau and Tino's previously closed senses. Tino curled up his huge body and buried his face in Bau's arms. Although it was a fearsome Tyrannosaurus, Bau's warm body temperature was the only refuge in the face of an unfamiliar fall in space and time. Bau gently patted Tino’s back. “It’s okay, Tino. I’m with you. We’re together wherever we go.”

Tino closed his eyes and purred lowly as if relieved by Bau's warm touch. The dimensional vortex slowly began to slow down. Beyond the white shattering flash, a solid, flat gray floor vaguely came into view. It's not dirt, rocks, or grass... it's a sea of square stones cut straight and delicately connected by human hands—

It was a ‘Sidewalk’! thud-! Kugoogung! With a heavy impact sound, Bow and Tino landed heavily on the gray sidewalk block floor. The rainbow-colored fog of time and space that had risen thickly around them dissipated like magic, and the cool night air of the city rushed into the lungs of the two people. Bau staggered to his feet, rubbing his numb buttocks. “Ugh… Tino, are you hurt anywhere?”

"Krung... Krung..."

Tino also lifted himself up from the floor and shook his large head from side to side. Fortunately, both of them were completely unharmed. But the moment the two raised their heads and looked around—

Bau and Tino's mouths dropped open and they froze like stones. The scenery that unfolded before their eyes was a world completely different from the primordial canyon they lived in. Red brick buildings and glass buildings towering over the sky,

Pink, mint, and golden neon signs hanging from the eaves of those buildings and flashing so brilliantly that they are blinding.

Exotic wheeled carts and food trucks lined up along the edge of the sidewalk block,

And then a procession of white smoke and delicious smells billowing out from the top of the cart! And the hundreds of modern people filling the sidewalk blocks,

After witnessing an unbelievable sight, they all stopped and looked at them. A young caveman wearing animal skin clothes, a bone necklace, and a bushy beard. And standing nearby, wearing a leather necklace and wagging its tail, is a real, living Tyrannosaurus as tall as the second floor of an apartment building! Click! Click! Click! Someone's smartphone camera flash flashed, breaking the silence. “Aaaah! What is that? Is it a real dinosaur?!”

“Is it a filming prop? Is it special makeup? Is it an animatronic robot?”

“Amazing! Look at them blinking and breathing! The quality is crazy!”

“The caveman guy next to me is completely realistic too! I guess he’s promoting a movie!” The people's murmurs and cheers spread like waves. At first, people were scared and backed away, but instead of attacking them, Tino sat down on his butt, waving his huge tail and blinking his big eyes, and their fear quickly turned into curiosity. The bell decoration on the leather necklace around Tino's neck made a clear clanking sound. Tino was rather amazed by the many people's flashy clothes and the small shiny square boxes (smartphones) in their hands, so he tilted his head and snorted.

Bau too was not embarrassed and slowly raised his right hand. Just as they did when they met other animals in the primitive cave, they opened their palms wide to mean, “We have no intention of harming you.” At that simple and warm smile, people completely let down their guard and each burst into laughter and waved their hands. On the street corner right in front of me, the savory steam of corn was rising from a tamale stand, and the sweet scent of a neon cart selling peeled mangoes was blowing through the night breeze. Under the streetlight on the other side, a young busker carrying an old acoustic guitar looked at Bow and Tino with surprised eyes, then smiled happily and started plucking the strings of the guitar.

Ding-diling-challang. The clear sound of the acoustic guitar was the melody in Bau's dream that he heard while looking at the bonfire in the cave. The very dream world depicted in cave paintings of the distant past. A street where delicious food and warm stories, carefully prepared by hand, live on every corner. Ancient cavemen and a huge Tyrannosaurus crossed the dimensional wall and entered the midst of this brilliant festival of music and gastronomy. The streetlights danced under the night sky, and the great feast of life was welcoming them in the city's ballroom illuminated by the moonlight.

The cheerful footsteps and laughter of street vendors echoing endlessly over the sidewalk blocks, it was the world's warmest and most beautiful tribute to two lonely souls. Bow and Tino escape from a primitive cave and crash land in the middle of the 21st century city. The serenade of unprecedented taste and music unfolding on the sidewalk block was coming to a brilliant end at this very moment.