Chapter 39: Calm before storm

It took them a while to bring back their haul to their camp. First they had to remove the blood and carry back what they are capable of bringing. it was a messy affair. The city pair was very uncomfortable with the whole process and Ryan even vomited once again after the whole thing.

But that wasn't the biggest hurdle, they had some other problems to deal with. And it was they had to constantly deal with other beasts and animals that wanted to take away their prize. They were attracted by the scent of blood from them. 

Leila had continuously warned them of even before they went to the province, but wasn't able to do anything about it because of their after-hunting state. They really cannot spare some brain cells for that matter for now.

Khelly was okay physically, but mental worn out. She isn't too resilient on matters that involve life and death. The girl needs to come in terms with her actions on her own. that way if faced in even more disadvantageous or unfavorable situations, she can do what is best to survive. An empathized part of the training Leila had in mind for the girl.

Ryan on the other hand was both mentally and physically exhausted. Apart from Leila who had a solo with the eagle, he had the most work done. Improvising traps, attacking the beast, running from the beast, and going for a swim because of Khelly's brilliant ideas. He had it tough, especially when their target died by his own hands. that gave a blow to his mind more than anything.

Thankfully, grandpa Rodleo is more hands-on on the way back. If it weren't for his now pronounced presence, they had to deal with even more issues. 

The old man scared off the ones they cannot handle. Assist them whenever the children by distracting them with trivial facts they could learn from. And he especially told them of his own first hunt in the forest. Which is hundreds to thousands times more harder than what they did. After all, at his time if he died his mentor would only bring back his corpse. No help whatsoever, just pure tenancy and desperate want to live.

The young villagers nowadays were lucky. They actually have more caring mentors than of the aged past. back then to learn the craft, people had to intimately know death. For three days they had to struggle to live instead for a day and night of today's practice. And things are not really too favourable back then, not many knew how to use mana without harming themselves. Casualties were high, but insured the quality of the defenders of the village.

The Rodleo family never participated in that gentler approach. Though they do step in when things go nasty, but generally they just let their young ones survive on their own. 

So back then when the giant green eagle appeared grandpa Rodleo haven't taken the matters his own hands. One was to test them and another to observe them. His only granddaughter of this generation is more than capable of scare it off or kill. No need for his old bones to get cracking. He graciously explained to the grudgingly children

Jokingly, the old man proposed they could experience their family version of hunter's baptism during summers. He'll accompany them to know the real baptism.

The children were scared off and dealt with their issues on their own. They might not experience what the old man is saying, but thinking carefully they are indeed fortunate. At least they are in a group and have people to assist them. And they are unlikely to face something like this again in their whole life. So they'll just pass that opportunity to someone else more interested in it.

Too bad for them, things are all coming for a change. Matters they thought they would never experience and know will be thrown to their faces sooner than they could ever dream of. But this is a story for a later time.

"...can you at least be more mindful?" Ryan said as he stopped himself from planting himself to the ground for nth times since they got nearer their camp. 

Khelly has always been a little air-headed. That much he knew from the daily bases he interacted with the blond. He always thought she was a harmless little thing, but the girl is the type to get others in trouble. You know those who get to land others in many messes.

Compared to Harvey who commands aggro with his words, Khelly's likes are those who liked to poke at the hornets' nest due to curious curiosity. effectively harming herself and others with her in the process and aftermath. The timid chubby boy is now more than biased to the always frowning boy, than the rest of the original trio now. Leila is just too scary to stick into. She after all fought alone back then and on the way back.

"You guys are back? You were quite faster than anticipated. " A voice who had enough said as the hunting party placed their things. It was their public leader(sacrifice).

From the looks of their members who stayed behind, they too didn't have it easy. Although their clothes are not that rugged as those who went out, they looked worn out enough to tell how much work they did while waiting.

"We were lucky to find a prey a few distance from here. Got into a fight with this antelope and some mishaps here and there. In my opinion we are not fast in going back as you believe." Leila simply answered and gave instructions to the curious Sophie about how to handle the meat. 

Grandma Rodleo has more knowledge on this type of matters, so it's better to do a simple cleaning to it for now. 

"Talk to Ryan about what we have done if you're feeling like a cat. You'll get more authentic and more details from him than with Khelly. I'll distract her for a while so take advantage of it."

Harvey nodded to the black haired girl's words. He wanted to point out that she could tell him herself, but with the dark look she had as she looked at the blond. He knew that he should just follow her arrangement for now.  

Turning to the now sitting boy on the ground, Harvey asked how they were out there. The green eyed boy took note of the general state of the hunting party.

The chubby boy also looked worn out. He had some mud and other stains all over him. Like he had some rough housing in the ground.

"Well she had done a lot of things." Ryan could only describe it as such as he pointed to the blond girl who was excitedly sharing her tales to their third female member as they moved their hands. Ryan curses whatever forces that make the girl seem almost untiring. He is not at least envious, he just thinks it's unfair.

Following the chubby boy's fingers the green eyes light up in comprehension. No wonder Leila was in a bad mood. That girl is in trouble though not now it seems. But surely the things of today will be used later.

"But never mind that." Ryan said and retold their experiences the best he can to the other boy.

Leila and the girls on the other hand got their hands full. She taught them how to simply take the furs and how to chop the meat. For the intestines and the internal organs she has no idea how to deal with that. She normally just buried them somewhere, but khelly was very insistent on using it for dinner later. They have enough time to prepare it, said the girl.

Well their little cooking teacher has spoken. So it will be their dinner. even though most of them are a little dubious with the claims of tasty dishes with those parts.

The blond then instructed them to thoroughly clean the intestines as she will deal with the other innards. She was murmuring some words, probably what they are going to cook later. Thinking that it's useless to wonder about it, they just called the boys to help them out.

The adults on the other hand had their own discussion about the events that happened in between. And from the looks they had it was quite serious. Thankfully most of the children were not paying attention to them, remaining ignorant of the looming gloom that surrounded their escort and guards.

"Are you sure of what attacked you guys a while ago?" grandma Rodleo asked with a frown marring her brows.

"I'm afraid I am." grandpa Rodleo said with a wry smile. "It's a Grewan Eagle. From its size and shades of its feathers it is still quite young. But definitely strong enough to threaten the city kids. Leila managed to avert it, but who knows it will show up again later."

"Now this is a little tricky to deal with." the elderly woman said as she took a look to the direction of the lake near the huge cliffs. " We have to take more precautions. If needed we'll call some villagers for help."

"Question." Rebecca cut the two elderly. "What is all of this about, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Ah yes, you don't know the significance of the bird's appearance." Grandma Rodleo said as she remembers that the children's teacher is with them.

"Well how to say this. that bird is a local tyrant in its territory. Extremely territorial as most beasts are, only this species have its natural territory where they thrive ever since the village knows of it. See that mountainous area in that direction? Lake lola is located there and it is their territory. Never did they wander outside that area at least until now." the elderly woman explained the general points that the teacher has to know. There are some details omitted, but not really a business that the teacher has to worry about so they conveniently.

"So if it appears here, meaning something is up. Either a change in the food chain or something worst." Rebecca summarized. The teacher got a little frustrated upon the knowledge. She anxiously took a glance over the children and how they are doing.

She saw them quite busy for their next agenda. Preparing their makeshift kitchen. Cooking is definitely their next lesson. Ignorant of the heightened level of dangers that they are to face now.

"Damnit! The school was wrong in its decision to send the kids here. Wherever the children will go to take practical experience with is more precarious than anticipated." Rebecca cannot help herself but curse. 

The elderly couple was alarmed with the words they heard. They insisted that they needed to hear more of what the teacher meant. Which the woman could only helplessly narrate the reason this trip is even allowed to happen.

"You guys have heard that Mt. tres had been showing some volcanic activities right?" Rebecca started, which had the couple nodding. Saying that it was what they were told to.

"Well that was all a lie. The actual situation was that there were new beast sightings there. Being a popular area, almost every corner of that place was chartered. All known flora and fauna is documented. But suddenly an almost overnight change happened.  There were many abnormal behaviors and creatures not seen before were increasing. It significantly increased the difficulties in keeping things controlled. At least for a while the public and the students were kept in the dark about it for their own safety. For now all local authorities including not only our school but also those who have interests on the mountain are trying to suppress things until they are more or less controlled. Now with what you are saying is one of the signs that was recorded before everything became strange back at that mountain." Rebecca told them the obvious reason. Then further explained that for the students' safety, the school is looking for a new place to send them. By some coincidence, Leila put forward this province placing it to one of the choices to choose.

Rebecca trained her eyes for their reactions. Weirdly the couple was not that alarmed, instead they looked like they were expecting it for some strange reason. The teacher didn't call them out for it, she just contributed it to them being old. Her student had said they were very old despite their appearance. One of the many reasons why the children had their permissions easily. They had seen the world longer than her, so maybe this wasn't the first time something like this took place.

But after a while they noticed the way the teacher looked at them, they hid their thoughts with surprise. Something that tells people that there are secrets hidden in plain sights. Things that are better hidden until its time to show itself.

It was not Rebecca's place to call them on spot. Like them she hid her curiosity. A curiosity that cost more than the current she could afford.