Chapter 45: Ominous Clouds

As the three teens and one old man were going nearer the lake's waters, the sky was slowly turning cloudy and looming. At the moment none of their party was in the mood to notice the gradual changes of the atmosphere.

A loud thud was heard throughout the area as a smoking red boar struck into a huge tree. A green eyed boy, barely able to dodged the attack, looked at the beast with a calculated gaze. His surroundings were burning and smoking. Arrows from a black haired girl in a distance made sure that he had enough time to take a breather.

"....once a beast bigger and stronger than you appears the first thing you should do is find where to run. Regardless if you are to fight you need to have a way out first and foremost." Grandpa Rodleo said as he watched the children engage in a fight with the huge boar.

It's a Flamme Boar. As its name suggested it's a fire attributed beast. But it's not only a fire based one, it is also an earth attribute beast. It looked no different from a normal boar other than its size and when it is enraged.

Like now it looked sizzling red with smoke steaming all over. Slowly burning the surrounding with the increasing heat it is producing. And more importantly it is stubborn as a bull when it chases someone.

Harvey was very preoccupied with the beast's attacks to actually digest whatever the old man is saying. Sending a particularly powerful kick at the boar's belly, he retreated in the side to make a distance. Thankfully his boots were made from special materials, if not it is sure to be burnt just by stepping into the boar's skin.

Sophie immediately took his place and launched a powerful blow over the beast's head using her staff. After doing so she then sent a fire spell on the boar to deal more damage. But instead of dealing damage, it seems to heal it instead.

"In engaging a beast one must know its attributes first before launching a powerful attack, especially so if it's one you're not familiar with. Instead of defeating it you'll end up either helping it or empowering it." The old man said as he supplied his granddaughter's dwelling arrows.

After doing his intent, he once again took a distance to continue commenting using a spell that allows them to communicate in short distances. He fully intended not to intrude them in their fight.

"Although possible to over power it using its own attribute against it, you're clearly not capable of it yet."

The short haired girl paled upon hearing the old man's words. As what was said, the beast was indeed healing and was dead set in impaling her with its tusk. Thankfully Leila had saved her by distracting the beast with another mana induced arrow.

The brunette nodded her head to convey her gratitude to the black haired girl. After she had given her thanks she once again put all her attention to the beast. This time she is taking care not to bring more harm to herself by helping the enemy.

The green eyed boy who recovered slightly as the short haired girl took cover for, was taking note of the old man's words. He sent a water ball to test the waters. It reacted badly at first, but it then sent tremors on the ground in retaliation. The boy lost his footing and was in danger of being stamped. Thanks to his good reflexes he was able to avoid it.

"Good choice of testing the waters, but you didn't take note of your position and the fact that once a beast is cornered it is bound to be even fiercer. But still, good job finding a weakness of the beast." The grandpa laughed as he jumped into the weird tree that wasn't burnt by the beast." Can you guys still continue?"

The children didn't answer him. Instead they show him that they can still fight. Sophie and Harvey made a joint attack. The boy used a water spell while the girl used a barrier spell.

The boar issued a low howl as it was trapped inside the dome made by the barrier. It struggled inside as the water rose upon its neck. The high temperature of the beast's body was slowly being cooled down by the water. As moments went on, the beast was getting weaker.

Seeing that the boar is now at least comparable with a normal animal, Harvey gave a decisive strike on the beast. Sophie also gave a thunderous attack on her own. And Leila just lowered her bow and watched them finish the beast.

"Good job kids!" Grandpa Rodleo said as he wet and inspected their game. "It went better than the ones yesterday."

Huffing series big breath, the green eyed boy and the short haired brunette let out a small smile hearing the compliment. They manage to defeat it with minimum help from the grandfather and granddaughter pair.

The boy went near the prize they won and cleanly took one of the beast's tusks. He then took out a piece of clothing he had on his being and carefully wrapped the tusk.

"I see you have some knowledge about hunting practices." Grandpa Rodleo commented as he helped harvesting the remaining tusks for the short haired girl. "I gather this isn't the first one you hunted."

"No this is the first one." Harvey said as he started to drain the beast's blood. "My grandfather used to bring me along when they went out and hunt. I only watched and learnt some practices, but I never killed a beast ever since. Grandfather says father should be the one to guide me as it is tradition. But I have grown this old and things happened. I only had the opportunity to practice today."

"Complicated life you have." Grandpa Rodleo said as he deemed the boar's blood is all drained.

Leila placed a hand on the boy's shoulder to comfort him. Green eyes shoot at her in silent thanks and focus on the tasks at hand.

"My luck is quite bad to have the same attribute as the beast." Sophie can't help saying as she carefully kept the proof of her first hunt in a special bag she had prepared. "I actually made it heal back when I attacked it back then."

The old man chuckled upon hearing her words." Well it's not that bad, encountering such a situation. At least now you learn how to adapt to it when a similar thing happens again."

"Well I suppose you're right about that one." Sophie could only agree. Live works like that. She can't always have it her way. Perhaps it is indeed good for her to encounter this early.

Sophie was the first one to notice the cluster of clouds forming uncharacteristically in the sky. "Did the weather forecast for today says about rain? That mass of clouds is way too heavy not to downpour."

"No there wasn't." Harvey said as he recalled the forecast for the week before they went on this trip. He casted a stern gaze on the clustering clouds.

"Maybe something happened that we didn't know that caused this weather." Sophie then dismissed the weirdness of it and just started to think of things to do or prepare if it did rain.

The pair of grandfather and granddaughter on the other hand were a little worried when they heard the word rain. Raining means the lake will increase in size. And increasing its size means the community of animals and beasts migrating to safety. Meaning their camp may no longer be safe for them to stay on.

"Sophie. Harvey. Hasten everything. We need to go back to the camp. Fast!" Leila said in urgency as she saw birds were flying ominously in the sky.

The two heard the seriousness of the matter and made their pace faster. The old man helped to carry the game for easier and more convenient movements. Moments later they are running at their fastest speed to their camp.

Upon arriving, they saw that the camp was already prepared to move. Their things were neatly packed and already on the remaining people's backs as they stepped into the parameter of the arrays set on their camp.

"Thank goodness you're back now!" Grandma Rodleo said as she gave some of the bags to the newly arrived kids." We need to go. The animals are turning restless as we speak. If we go any later now the beasts will be here soon.``

They didn't have any time to talk about what was happening as the natives of the area were already urging them to get moving. Grandpa Rodleo took the lead while his wife took the rear. The children are conveniently placed in the middle of their formation with Rebecca as they hurry back to the village.

"Leila what is happening?" Ryan asked as he struggled to keep up with the group.

"The lake is expanding in size." Leila simply said. As the rest were not familiar with what it entails she continued. "It means that the beasts and animals will be moving a little farther than the lake to take refuge."

As if confirming her words, they felt tremors on the ground. It was like a pack of huge animals or beasts were behind them. Moving at a fast pace at their very direction.

Rain was starting to fall as they felt more and more movements behind them. Birds taking lead in the sky, only to land should they deem their distance and the place is safe enough. Other creatures also did the same. One by one the commotion behind it quieted and returned to relative peace as the rain became heavier.

The children were relieved when they noticed the quietness. While the old couple were tense than ever. Urging everyone to accelerate, they didn't stop running until they saw the village's houses.

But before they reached the village. An unexpected accident happened.