In the chill of early autumn, a lone Neanderthal trudged through the dense forests of ancient Northern Eurasia. His broad shoulders and robust frame were cloaked in a patchwork of furs, and his keen eyes scanned the landscape with an intensity born of survival. The world around him was a mosaic of towering conifers, tangled undergrowth, and the occasional glimmer of sunlight filtering through the canopy.

The Neanderthal had journeyed far from his familiar valley, driven by an instinctive urge to find new hunting grounds. He followed the scent of prey, deer, and wild boar, across rugged hills and deep river valleys. The forest was alive with the rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds, a symphony that was both comforting and foreboding.