Annanu and Enkidu wandered together through the forests of Uruk.
This place was endlessly novel to them.
Unlike when they had first arrived in Enlil's forest, where the birds and beasts had rejected and detested them, the wild animals and birds here all liked them—though most of the creatures here possessed no intelligence at all.
One bird took advantage of Annanu standing still to build a nest in his antlers, then laid eggs inside it.
But when Annanu began moving, he flung away the nest along with the eggs inside, then walked off without looking back.
Here, they could freely grow close to the animals. After they had walked for some time, antelopes and cattle would even approach of their own accord to nibble at the moss growing on their bodies.
However, unpleasant things sometimes happened as well.
This was the forest of Uruk, considered part of Uruk's territory.
Naturally, humans came here to carry out their activities.
A hunter had set his sights on them.
From afar, the hunter studied the two strange animals with antlers and swallowed hard.
He had never seen creatures so enormous and beautiful.
The two creatures looked similar, differing only in color. One was a slightly dull yellow, like the old leaves of a cedar tree. The other bore patterns like fresh young leaves—tender green, perhaps emerald green. Maybe because of the light, the hunter could not see it clearly.
Because the yellow one always instinctively kept the green one sheltered at his side.
Were they mother and child, or perhaps siblings?
The hunter guessed at the relationship between the two beasts.
But whatever their bond might be, it still stirred the hunter's instincts.
No one in Uruk had ever hunted beasts like these!
If he could hunt creatures like them, supreme glory and