The Andurin

Ikrei P.O.V.

For the next few days we went back to our daily routine. We prioritized making pelts by hunting the rabbits and an a few shadow wolves as target practice for our skills instead of permeating or treating other people’s catch.

Giving Luc the impression we were hurting for money and resources bought us a few extra days, enough to pay a visit to auntie Olga at Bizar town. One-day light trek without supplies.

We reached Olga’s abode by midday, we intentionally travelled by night to prevent onlookers and Luc’s minions. We took a risk, but we were carrying gourds filled with water and a list of things we needed. Not much that could be taken from two orphans who had very little to most eyes.

“Hello buggers.” Kindly said Olga as we entered here hut.

The old lady was always cheerful and busy with hunter matters one way or the other. She was scribbling away on a parchment.

“Auntie, we are sorry to bother you. I came to cash in that favor you promised my old man today.” I said looking hopeful.

“I figured as much, I heard what happened to you guys while I was away. Sorry I cannot do more than this.” She said in an apologetic tone.

“Alas, let me look at you Ikrei, come, come.” She gestured us to sit down beside her.

“You are the image of your late mother kid. Tall as your dad. I know being mixed race isn’t easy on you.” She said. “Easterners have it no better with such contrasting features around here, toughen up” She continued as she glanced at Teng.

“No worries Chief Olga, it goes as it comes.” Answered Teng.

“Now then, what can I do for you boys?” She was intrigued.

“We need supplies and traps to hunt a musky bear. Fifteen days’ worth” I replied.

“Oh, so a test of valor? Those pesky bears are inside the forest near the first mountain range from your home.”

“You can say that; we need the resources urgently.” Teng said being blunt.

“I can see your friend here is carrying a slight smell of flowers, almost imperceptible.” She whispered while pointing at Teng.

Startled I immediately asked, “Shit! What do we do?”

“Relax, most cannot tell and unless you are at least a priest, a knight or an Augir. Only I, as the Chief hunter of this village can tell through my blessing.”

“This is part of the oath I owe your father so even Malgrun cannot interfere.” She explained.

We both had simultaneously sighed in relief.

“I’ll arrange for my men to pick of your game at your home. I’ll get you a life force infused honey pot to lure out the bear and a couple of huntercraft traps for your hunt.

Finally, you will accompany a small caravan we are guarding that’s going by the border route of the forest so you can sneak out unnoticed.” She said while giving us her customary grin.

“I don’t know how to thank you.” I said as I quickly grabbed both her hands nervously.

“It’ll be 20 Ucra. I am giving you a hefty discount here already.” She replied.

We were dumbfounded and silent. How are we going to get the extra money?

So I quickly explained to Chief Olga how we were managing our money and resources. Listening attentively, she said, “If you succeed, remember this village and this day. You are using Zurian sigils within a circle with mana tears within it, right?” She asked looking at Teng.

“Yes Chief hunter.” He answered very politely with his back straight as an arrow.

“Good, now go and keep doing what you are doing, I’ll let you know when the caravan departs.”

We stood up and bowed in gratefulness before auntie Olga and turned to leave.

Just before we exited she said, “Boys, never make sacred oaths lightly, never ever.”

“You hear?” She emphasized as we nodded and left.

I must say that last thing she told us sounded dangerous.

A few weeks later we were travelling with the caravan as porter boys. As we neared the side of the road that was near the first mountain range we deftly made our exit from the group under the cover of darkness. We made sure nobody noticed our leaving.

A couple of young buys with haversacks filled to the brim would definitively catch other people’s eye if you were not careful.

As to why would I, son of a hunter, decide to do a two man hike up a mountain? There were two reasons.

Misery loves company

There is strength in numbers.

I am no hero, so I need to draw courage from wherever I can get it. I trust my brother and my brother trust me. This is very precious in any life and I truly hope it last forever.

As I was lost in my thoughts and we were making way through the forest towards the mountain were the bear’s den was located Teng asked me:

“Are our provisions enough to pull this off? You are an expert on Andarian beasts, yes?”

“We have one huntercraft trapline, lurkan fish to feed half a dozen bears, a force infused honey pot, two orgonid blades, and one orgonid charge with rune engravings. As long as we make it there, we should be fine.” I said reassuringly.

We continued to make our way carefully avoiding the different beasts of the forest. Teng was particularly sensitive to fowls. Thanks to it, we were able to approach the mountain through uneven and treacherous terrain. We had to do it slowly.

It took until morning to arrive at the base of the mountain.

We had to avoid the major beasts like the musky bears but specially the ragnars, a mixed breed of panthers and lions. Fast, strong, cunning, everything you wanted in a predator.

And everything we were not.

Besides taking down a trailing shadow wolf with our new orgonid blades, the trip was stressful but far less dangerous than expected up to the mountain.

Being able to kill a shadow wolf while carrying supplies on lizard skin haversacks was a major accomplishment for our young selves. The blades were worth the money for sure.

We could see the cave within the mountain of the musky bear up ahead, about three furlongs high.

Musky bear as it implies it’s a smelly type of beast in the Andara Forest because it has absorbed the energy of orgon crystals and survived. In short, the monster beast is strong.

We set up base about 300 steps away from the cave. The smell of the bear was strong.

“Urgh, that odor is potent.”

“I know Teng, this means he’s absorbed plenty of the crystals. No wonder ragnars stay clear of this place.”

“That’s why hunters don’t come here either. They think it is a ragnar’s den.” Teng suggested.

“I’ll set the bait here, the lurkan fish and the honey pot. Just unpack the haversack, take the orgonid, the blade, go around the mountain and when the bear leaves the den, you signal me with a glint.

“The sun is useful like that.” We shared a laugh.

“Thank you brother.” I said to Teng.

Teng swiftly went ahead to go around the area of the mountain so he could come up from behind. I slowly prepared the bait from our haversacks and placed the heap of fish and cracked open the force infused honey pot as soon as Teng glinted me with his blade.

I rushed to follow my friends’ tracks, making the hike around the rocks fairly easy. I made it just in a few sand grains of time. An awaken hunter’s son is, if nothing else, fast, too fast for a normal human.

Then, we covered ourselves with tuken lard to have our scents covered an evade the delicate senses of the beast.

And with the sun on top of our heads, like this, we waited.

By the second hour of waiting we saw the bear coming out of the cave and head towards the bait with the honey pot.

We got very lucky and timed the bears hibernation with a good day’s weather. Just perfect for him to scout around for free food. Teng and I smiled, we made thumps up to each other.

If possible I would have toasted one for the thread of fate.

We scurried inside the den. The cave was quite big for a bears’ den, orgon crystals and all. I wasn’t planning of being greedy. Teng went about to cut of the crystals from the cave rocks that were readily minable. I went about setting the huntercraft cable at the entrance.

Within thirty minutes we were mining every small orgon crystal in the vicinity. Just enough for our needs for the following fourteen days. Our haversacks were already half full. We were happy.

“Being too greedy is dangerous.” Said Teng.

“Yeah, let us just get that last big chunk on the right side wall and leave, we could exchange it for a true Argon parchment.” I suggested.

The orgonid blades worked wonders in just a few moments an arm wide pure crystal was coming out of the wall. One more cut and we were gone.

Teng sliced up the rock wall to free the crystal.

The rounded crystal fell to the ground, we deftly worked together and placed it in Teng’s haversack.

We were setting up to leave and checking everything was properly strapped.

Rumble. Rumble, rumble.

The ground shook and the wall were the crystal was came crashing down. The path to the outside was partially obstructed. We panicked.

“The bear! The mongerbeasting bear Ikrei!” Shouted Teng.

“Grab the sacks, let’s bolt!” I said urgently.

As we were running to the exit we heard it. A roar like we haven’t heard before.

GRAAAAWL!!!!

The earth shook. The bear was approaching us full steam ahead.

“Shit, shit, shit!” I screamed.

I pulled Teng back inside the cave while cutting the huntercraft’s invisible cable with my blade.

As we plummeted back inside with the shaking of the cave, the mana filled cable expanded and contracted becoming visible sparkling lights. The device caused an explosion.

BOOOM!!!

The entrance collapsed. The bear crashed into the rocks outside.

We survived. But we were trapped.

“What have you done, Iikrei?” Teng asked in anger.

“Do you think you can take him or out run that beast out there, brother?”

Teng was looking around in silence fists clenched. He wanted to punch me.

“We have very little food.” Teng said thinking out loud.

“We now have a ton of crystals as you can see in this cave.”

“So what are you saying Ikrei?”

“We either breakthrough in here or that beast breaks through those rocks.”

“We awaken or we die.”