My family’s evening meal was interrupted by someone clapping outside the door. “It is Ghitha. I have come with a gift of meat.”
Aluali paused his story about being dared to put his head inside the giant dog Jesei’s mouth by one of the neighbor kids. From the proud expression on his face, my guess was that he’d succeeded, but I wouldn’t know for sure until the story’s conclusion. I gestured for him to wait and got up to open the door.
Ghitha and Banan stood outside, with the Albei team leader carrying a wicker basket full of meat wrapped in fronds.
“It is good to see you well,” Ghitha said. He took one of the frond parcels and handed it to me. “This is a token of my esteem to you and all the other hunters.”
Banan nodded along. “The javelina was a mighty beast, but thanks to Ghitha’s sponsorship, we killed him before he could become a danger to the village. This is something I’ve learned over the years as a hunter: remove threats before they can become a true danger during the Long Dark.”
“That is why I am also sponsoring a hunt for the kalihchi bear,” Ghitha said. “The longer we wait, the more dangerous he becomes.”
“I’ve seen creatures like him before,” Banan said. “If you let them grow, they become catastrophes. Ghitha’s sponsorship of this hunt is a true service to the village.”
“I am a man of Voorhei,” Ghitha said. “Of course I would see the village safe. That is why I offer half an antaak to those willing to join the hunt, and another half at its conclusion. My hope is that you will join us, Eight. You have already demonstrated skill and bravery in helping my family find their rest. I am sure you will be satisfied with this hunt as well.”
The two men had their pitch down, I had to give them that. As for the offer, assuming the hunt was successful, the reward was a small gold coin. That was practically a fortune, worth just about two hundred days of peasant labor.
When Ghitha saw me hesitating, he said, “You do not need to decide tonight. The hunt will take place in forty days’ time. Banan and his team will reside in Voorhei until then and join in our lodge’s activities. You will see their skills for yourself and feel assured of the hunt’s success.”
“I have already heard much about you, young Eight,” Banan said, “and I offer my team’s help in transporting the bodies of our sponsor’s family.”
Banan’s voice was sincere and serious. He looked me directly in the eyes, but I wasn’t convinced. There was this niggling thought at the back of my mind—a suspicion that they had somehow led my team astray just so they could bag the giant javelina before us.
“No, thank you,” I said. “The help isn’t necessary. I scouted the task already and have a plan in place. Thank you for the offer, though.”
Banan nodded. “My team will escort Ghitha when he attends the meeting with the spirit called Ikfael, so if you change your mind, let us know.”
“Albei’s hunters will be going?” I asked Ghitha.
“Along with the normal escort, yes.” He gestured toward the pyramid. “Our Sheedi doesn’t travel through the forest alone, and she welcomed the additional protection. She felt it would give her request to Ikfael additional weight.”
I didn’t know Sheedi that well yet, but that did sound like her. “All right. I’ll keep that in mind, thank you.”
“Of course. We are hunt brothers,” Banan said.
The man was laying it on thick, but I did my best not to show my dislike for him and his team. They were all at least Level 5. It wouldn’t do to get on their bad sides. Plus, I didn’t know for sure that they’d engaged in any funny business. The forest was a strange and dangerous place. The reason my team didn’t find the giant javelina could’ve been completely unrelated.
I saw Ghitha and Banan off, then returned to the family meal. They’d heard everything, of course, and had questions and concerns. Especially concerns. Bihei shared stories of the two previous times the village had tried to hunt the kalihchi bear. Apparently, they’d been disasters.
The bear was too canny for traps, and also resistant to poison. He possessed monstrous strength, claws that carved through steel, and the ability to cast lightning at will. Inleio had barely survived the last hunt. Five other hunters did not.
The meal went on, but the atmosphere was a lot more solemn.
To lighten the mood, I asked Aluali to finish his story from earlier. For the record, he managed to put his head inside the giant dog’s mouth and come away unscathed.
The next day, Mumu’s team was assigned the area to the southwest of the village again. The Albei team, though, was given a new assignment—still adjacent, but they were tasked with the borders of the wolves’ and the kalihchi bear’s territories.
The two teams traveled together on the way to our assignments, so we got to see their woodcraft in action. Eh… maybe I was being picky, but the Albei team wasn’t so hot. I mean, their Stealth skills were okay, but they didn’t become part of the landscape like Mumu, Haol, or even Teila. The only exception was Otwei, which made sense since she was their scout and tracker.
Every once in a while, I caught Banan and Kuros glancing our way with amused expressions. They confidently moved between the trees, likely trusting in Otwei to spot any danger heading their way, while we moved much more carefully.
Haol must’ve noticed the disdain. His shoulders rose up, and his lips pursed. He didn’t say anything, though, and stuck to his trail discipline.
Tegen gave him a light nod of approval. “Be easy,” he signed. “We follow our own path.”
Haol nodded back and took a breath. He straightened his shoulders, focusing his attention on the forest where it belonged. Interestingly, the amused glances from Banan and Kuros stopped soon after. It seemed they weren’t getting under Haol’s skin anymore, so why should they bother? To my eyes that had clearly been their goal: to mess with the country bumpkins.
Yeah, Banan and company are strong, but what good is that strength when they’re so petty?
Once we split from the other team, the rest of the morning went more smoothly. Teila and I practiced our archery against a metal-beaked vulture circling in the air. While the creature didn’t pose a danger at a distance, hitting a moving target at fifty yards proved difficult.
We tracked down the body afterward, and Tegen explained how this variety of vulture didn’t depend on scavenging like their brethren. Instead, its beak was strong enough to sever small limbs. It’d fly in, latch onto a body part, bite through, and fly off with it.
The beak, claws, and feathers were all useful, so we took them as well as its silverlight. The rest we left for the forest to consume.
Later, we ran across some chishiaxpe, and I used the opportunity to harvest more poison. The others became concerned by my enthusiasm for cutting the vines in half, so I told them about how I’d been stung once and nearly died. If it hadn’t been for Ikfael, I would have. It was personal between me and the vines. Plus, the poison was super useful.
The team helped me clear the whole patch and milk the chishiaxpe of their poison. We didn’t finish until nearly two in the afternoon, and we ate a lunch of corn dumplings stuffed with pork. Well, it was actually javelina meat, but the taste was the same.
The weather was still gods-awful hot, but we found a sweet little shaded glade that kept the worst of the heat away. On top of that, the ground was dotted with pretty little yellow wildflowers, the same color as mustard plants.
I was just about to ask Tegen if they were edible, when the uekisheile slammed my qi into action, spinning it up into the pattern for Dog’s Agility. My body twitched as something sharp missed my throat and cut across my chest instead.
The area in front of my eyes blurred. Vaguely, I was aware of the other hunters reacting, but all I could do was to put distance between me and whatever had just attacked me. I rolled off the rock I had been sitting on and found my feet.
I’d left my spear on the other side of the rock, so I drew my hunting knife. The blur lunged at me. Things were moving too fast for me to remember anything of the knife forms I’d learned, so I jumped back, my knife swinging to keep the creature away.
I didn’t dare blink for fear of losing sight of my attacker. The blur distorted around the knife’s edge. For a moment, I saw the shape of a furred head and eyes. A spear came flying out of my peripheral vision, but before it could connect the blur vanished with a soft pop.
All around me, qi surged as the hunters invoked their spells. Haol and Mumu got faster. I’d never seen Tegen fully in action, but now I saw him transform, his skin thickening. There was also a new density to him, like he was made of iron. Meanwhile, Teila had disappeared.
With another pop, the blurred figure reappeared, this time to swipe at a nearby bush. The bush burst as Teila rushed out, colors blurring while her Camouflage spell fought to keep up with the movement. Spears lunged at the creature. An arrow sped past. But the creature was gone again.
I smelled iron, and realized my shirt was soaked with blood.
Conditions Occupied (Treaty*), Bleeding (1) |
The damage wasn’t as bad as I’d feared. The creature’s claws had got caught on my jacket and the edge of my chain shirt. Teila hadn’t been so lucky. She stumbled out of Camouflage, her jacket shredded around the left shoulder. Blood flowed freely.
Tegen ran to her and placed his hands on the wound. I felt the pulse of qi, green and nourishing, flow between them.
“Eight, help her as well,” Mumu said. “Haol and I will watch for the blynx.”
I nodded to show I’d heard, and pulled out my water skin to douse Teila’s shoulder with half of the Healing Water spell I cast. The rest got poured on my chest. My bleeding stopped, as did Teila’s.
“That’s a good spell,” Tegen said. His voice was deeper and rougher than before. He sounded like a roadhouse ruffian, not the thoughtful mentor I’d gotten used to. “Up, Teila. Get your spear and fight through the pain.”
“Yes,” she said, gritting her teeth.
We two apprentices stood back-to-back while the others scanned the forest, ready for the blynx’s return.
The beast’s real name was blinking lynx, a lynx that—in the blink of an eye—moved from place to place. In other words, a teleport. Matched with an unparalleled Camouflage ability, it made for a deadly ambush hunter. Fortunately, most blynxes were small, only a little larger than regular lynxes, and solitary hunters. That was why it’d likely gone after me and Teila. We’d be easier to carry away to somewhere safe to eat.
Tense minutes passed, but the blynx didn’t return. It must’ve realized that with the failed ambush, trying again would be too dangerous. Mumu gave the all clear.
“It’s gone,” she said. “But stay on your guard. Haol and I will keep watch. Tegen, make sure the wounds are clean.”
As Tegen knelt to look at my chest, he said, “I’ll never mock you for that patchwork of a chain shirt again.”
“I didn’t realize you had.” I clenched my fists to keep them from shaking. The adrenaline drop was hitting me hard.
“In the quiet of my head,” he said, “but I’ll apologize for it now. And thank you for healing Teila. Your spell is much faster than mine.”
“Of course. She’s my hunt sister.” As for the chain shirt, I didn’t blame him at all. It made me look ridiculous, like an adventurer hobo, but if that was the cost of its usefulness, I’d happily pay it. If not for it and the uekisheile’s quick response, I would’ve died.
The blynx’s tracks disappeared for long stretches as the beast changed directions by teleporting to a new location. Each time we lost signs of its passage, we were forced to hunt in ever-widening circles to find them again. The animal seemed particularly fond of teleporting through thorny brambles and up steep rocky slopes.
I drifted in and out of the land, looking for where the forest spirits were upset by the animal passing through. Three hours of tense searching later, we found blood; the ground was splattered where the blynx had caught new prey.
The area stank of the musky spray of a skunk. We were careful at first, just in case it was the poisonous variety—they had those in this world—but none of the plants were wilted.
“Easy now,” Mumu signed. “Slow and silent. Look for a hidden or enclosed space. The blynx will have taken their meal there to eat.”
We circled the area and found blood drops smeared against the roots of a tree fifteen yards out. We circled again and found a blood trail another ten yards away. The ground was disturbed, as it seemed like the blynx had dragged its meal for a time, and then the trail disappeared again.
Above us was a rocky hillside. Mumu gestured for us to wait. She climbed slowly, the loose rocks threatening to shift under her feet. The rest of us hunkered down, each taking a direction to watch.
Mumu made her way across the hillside, and about twenty yards up and to the south, she knelt to examine the ground next to a gathering of large boulders leaning against each other. A moment later, she waved us closer.
We were greeted by the stink of a dead skunk. Another smear of blood led inside the small opening. None of the adults would be able to fit through, though, so I started to slip off my backpack.
Tegen put a hand on my shoulder to stop me. “We can wait to ambush,” he signed.
“It’ll just blink away again once it’s outside,” Haol signed.
Mumu frowned, but Haol was right. Our best shot to kill the blynx was for someone to crawl inside where it wouldn’t be able to get away. In the open, our ability to contain the blynx dropped to zero.
I was the best choice to go, given the size of the opening. While I was only an apprentice, I was also technically an adult. Or at least at the beginning stages of being one.
Mumu, not seeing any other solution, reluctantly nodded and gave me permission to go ahead. I took off my backpack and set aside my spear. The length wouldn’t work inside the small space, so I drew my hunting knife.
Tegen stopped me again, but this time he brought me down the hillside. Then, he searched for a short branch, about two feet long, and chopped it free. He trimmed it and bound one of my stilettos to the tip to make an improvised short spear.
“Use this instead of a knife,” he signed. “Do your best to keep the blynx’s claws at a distance. Now, show me what you remember of the ground fighting forms.”
The Hunter’s Lodge had a set of forms for when one was on their back, so I ran through the ones I’d likely need.
Tegen nodded and helped me stand up. “It’ll do.”
When we rejoined the others, Mumu and Haol were debating the benefits of firing arrows into the opening. There was a bend in the crawlspace, though, so we’d have to catch the blynx by surprise as it came around the corner for the plan to work.
“Change of plan?” Tegen asked.
Mumu gave a quick shake of her head. “We trust in Eight’s skill.”
I put on my bravest smile and dropped to the ground to crawl through the hole, bringing the improvised short spear with me. The smell of skunk and raw meat was so much worse inside.
I became one with the land, and together with the uekisheile, we cast Dog’s Agility. We also cast Healing Water in case we needed it later, enchanted our spear and muscles with nature mana and qi, and prepared Cold Snap. As ready as we could be, we inched forward.
We breathed softly and moved slowly. Dog’s Agility wanted us to move fast, fast, fast, but we knew that every movement needed to be intentional, the placement of hands and knees thought out with care. We took our time. Both the uekisheile and Ollie/Eight were patient hunters.
The two had walked the path of the hunter for years. Yes, the uekisheile was a shepherd and farmer of eilesheile, but they’d also ambushed any who were unwary and passed below their spot in the Red Room. As for Ollie/Eight, they had not lived as long, but their memory was rich with experience.
Confidence surged through us. A plan was hatched. Just before the bend in the crawlspace, we separated a portion of ourselves, our tendrils transitioning from qi to physical form. Our mind dimmed as this portion split themselves off from the greater consciousness.
Becoming one with the land, this portion of ourselves traveled up the stone wall to the ceiling of the crawlspace and picked their way around the corner. We no longer had the benefit of Ollie/Eight’s eyes, but our qi sense was enough to detect the blynx only a few feet away. Closer and closer we came until we gripped the stone right above it.
We dropped. The blynx twitched, but it was too late. Our tendrils penetrated its flesh, and we transformed again into qi to dig our way into its meridians.
The blynx yowled in surprise. Its qi was liquid fire, running fast. While we sped through the blynx’s meridians, our consciousness tried to move Ollie/Eight’s body so we could use the spear Tegen had made for us. However, the brain and nerves weren’t designed for a consciousness like ours. Moving two bodies at once was beyond us.
So we focused our attention on the portion of ourselves inside the blynx. Its qi pumped in panic, but our tendrils traveled through the meridians along with it—flowing into two different dantians.
We homed in on the places the meridians connected, then cut them. Qi spilled loose, pooling randomly. We felt a wave of intention roll through the qi, but it was too late. The blynx was nothing more than food now. All that was left was for the body to catch up to that reality and die.
We let our attention inside the blynx dim so we could move Ollie/Eight’s body closer. We noted our preparation for Cold Snap was lost, and our control of Dog’s Agility had been compromised. That was upsetting. We thought we were more competent and our control more precise.
It would have to become another ability to practice. Later. At another time. When the hunt for this blynx was complete.
We crawled around the corner and saw the blynx clawing at the air, attacking an opponent it couldn’t reach. It did not realize we were present until we’d stabbed it with our spear.
The blynx, suddenly given a foe it could reach, lashed out. We pressed to keep it away from our face and body. Pain bloomed along our arms, and our sleeves turned crimson as the claws tore gashes in our flesh. Our hands spasmed, letting the spear go.
We pushed ourselves away. The motion was awkward, but we moved as quickly as we could. Then we felt ourselves pulled. We looked and saw Teila grabbing our feet. Another pair of hands held her legs, and we both were dragged free of the hole.
Tegen gently placed his hands on our arms, and we felt cool, nourishing qi flow into us. It was incredibly refreshing, but it wouldn’t be enough.
“In our water skin,” we said. “There is Healing Water.”
Teila nodded and poured the magic on our arms. The pain eased, and the wounds closed. The delight of seeing our magic at work arose within us. Ollie/Eight as a young child had dreamed of moments like this.
“How fares the blynx?” Mumu asked, spear at the ready.
Haol stood nearby with an arrow nocked.
“Injured,” we said, “and dying.”
Mumu nodded. All of us could hear the blynx’s yowls. Minutes passed, and the sounds of the animal’s death throes diminished.
We let go of the land, and I took a breath. A part of me reeled from the experience of invading another being; the taste of the blynx’s qi was in my mouth. It was a powerful ability—disabling a person’s qi—but it had left me vulnerable. I’d have to be careful with how I used it in the future.
The one thing continuing to go through my head, though, was how grateful I was that uekisheile was an ally. Woe to anyone who is their enemy.
A portion of them was still inside the blynx, but I planned to volunteer to retrieve the body and would pick them up again then. But not yet—the team wanted to be certain the blynx was dead first.
I… we’d done it though—proven that the uekisheile and I could work together, and that the growing pains we’d experienced were worth the effort. The decision to stick together had been a wise one so far. Maybe things will work out, after all.
