Chapter 17: A new test to take on
Looking at this lone barbarian was a man around his middle age wearing a bone necklace around the neck area and black mid-night long-short hair. Full black beard looking to be kept at a decent cut. Dark black eyes, tan-skinned, filled with tribal tattoos on the exposed upper muscular body.
A few bleeding wounds could be seen on this barbarian being poof in taking part in the battle which took place in the area. In the left hand, there was a weapon in bad condition, half covered red in blood.
Gonten and Sensus kept their guard on like the others in this hunting group when one of them took the intention of moving forward to get face-to-face with the barbarian.
“Hey, Gonten, be careful. Don’t do anything foolish now, you hear me when walking towards that barbarian.” Sensus warns his friend.
“Don’t worry, I can handle it if things get out of hand.”
“If you say so, my friend.”
Gonten takes his steps slowly being watched by the barbarian who was also keeping an eye on his movements. When at the right range they stare at each other as the air goes on to be silent around them and those watching as well.
The barbarian picked to be first in speaking, but his words were spoken in a language there was no way anyone would be able to pick up on.
“I don’t get what you trying to say to me, don't speak whatever language you're trying here with me.” Gonten honestly says to the man.
“Are… you…. Friend or enemy.”
This time the barbarian used some simple common words that Gonten could now understand, but the way this person talks is clear this guy is not used to talking like this.
“I wouldn’t call us friends and as for the enemy part, well that is to be on you, tell me barbarian what has gone on here,” Gonten asked the important question, wanting to gain some information about what has gone on with all these bodies of other dead barbarians around on the ground.
“Here…. We… ambush.”
“You were the ones to ambush these other barbarians, is that what you are telling me.”
The barbarian shakes his head slowly and opens his mouth to speak more understanding words for Gonten.
“No… we were…. The ones.” it is what the man said to him.
“You were the ones then that means, you must be the only survivor then, why did these same barbarians attack you and your people.”
The question doesn’t get an answer right away when seeing the barbarian take forward thinking at first the man was going to attack, but in reality, the barbarian wasn’t able to keep on being so tired losing control falling over to the person who was speaking to him.
Gonten caught him not letting this barbarian hit the ground, probably out of a bit of kindness.
“Gonten what are we to do about the barbarian leaving him be or… you know end his suffering.” Sensus had to ask since things are a bit more serious now.
“I say we take him back to the village and have our healer take care of him. These wounds don’t look to be that serious to be counted as life-threatening.”
“WHAT!? Are you crazy, you can’t take this sort of human back to our home. There is a reason we are trying to keep our new home from being spotted again.”
“Relax it just to get as much knowledge on what went on here to be sure there are to be no more of them around these woods. If they are, we have to take care of them in one way we know how.”
“Oh, if that's the case…” Sensus gets cut off when hearing a roar, a type of roar both knew well what it came from.
“Tail Ape.” Both said at the same time knowing full well of the beast that is near giving the sounds and vibrations of its moments.
It became soon apparent that a large Tail Ape appeared before the group of were-tigers hunters that quickly went on their guards up and in their fighting, stance witnessed the beast roar more and smack with such intense force onto the chest.
What they see is a young adult hot-blooded Tail Ape with dark black fur all over the muscular body. The reason for one to be roaming alone instead is either it is seeking to hunt down prey on its own and show it to the female Tail Apes to gain a great impression from them and the male Tail Apes to be respected by or looking into gaining territory for whatever group it may be a part of.
“Sensus take him back to the village with the others, I would stay behind and face the Tail Ape alone.” Sensus Fastly hands over the pass-out barbarian to his companion.
“Hold on Gonten, you're not considering fighting this thing all by yourself.”
“Yeah, this is to be another test I would take.”
“Gonten you are one crazy were-tiger that blood of yours must be filling your head with that idea. Think what you're talking about here friend this is a Tail ape, fighting alone is not done without more people together and you're lucky it isn’t an elder Tail Ape these are way threatening.”
Sensus gets a good look at his friend's face, noticing that the expression of one committed to what they plan on doing and no words will do much to change such a person's mind.
“Shit, you want to do this on your own… fine, but you're only getting the time we are gone, so you better not die by this thing when we come back. I don’t want to be held responsible for it.” Sensus says in an all-serious manner making sure that he gets the point and understands it.
“Then hurry this Tail Ape is a young one waiting around as it is ready to attack.”
Gonten was right, the young Tail Ape didn't wait anymore charging at them with speed not easy to match, but the two were able to get out of sight and once it had a chance to stop itself from running any further Gonten used his wooden spear to strike the beast from it back when stabbing at the back.
It let out a painful cry and quickly turned around to look upon the one who did that, making its eyes aimed at the target the Tail Ape anger will be released on.
“GO NOW!” Gonten tells them, Sensus nods and has the rest follow him while taking the barbarian along.
They safely went for Gonten and the Tail Ape to be the only two as there was no wait for who was to be the first to make their move. The Tail Ape had its tail strike at him like a stinger from a scorpion or bee.
Gonten jumps to one side right when that tail stabs right into the ground cracking it with such strength inside it. Gonten doesn’t waver from the beast knowing this creature to be greatly strong by the size and body.
He stood back up and took a deep breath to let out a powerful roar at the Tail Ape letting it know who it was about to face will not be one to back down to die or fear it.
The Tail Ape returned one of its matches with Gonten showing him back it wasn’t going to do the same either in this battle between each other.
Right afterward the beast charges, having both hands brought together into one fist to bring down its opponent. Only Gonten wasn’t going to stick around, he didn’t plan to dodge this time instead choosing to charge as well forward like a brave warrior or as a fool seeking an early death.
Lucky Gonten is much of a warrior in heart and the blood pumping in his vines as he makes contact with his wooden spearhead stabbing into the left side of the beast. It let out a cry but was able to make a comeback with its right-hand swinging from the side to hit Gonten with intense force to send the poor soul flying in that direction.
Gonten's whole body crashed through two trees before being able to stop when crashing into a large rock into the ground. It comes down hard staying in place the way it laid where no muscles part of the body came to move or twitch in showing signs of one being alive.