Vol.1/Chapter 10: Hunt

As the rays of the new dawn breaks upon the ragged structure of our tents, the time has come for the long awaited and much persevered Longhorned Angus Hunt. Many of the wolves stretched their body, conditioned their mind and readied their weapons. Everyone know that these docile creatures can deal a devastating blow with their famous massive horn. One wrong strike and one's liver or lungs or heart be decimated in an instant.

On the horizon, a herd of Anguses graze peacefully within the grassy field, not even aware of the danger lurking from far beyond - us. Theo, now awake, immediately pack his load for much more efficiency. Everyone knows that we need to finish by noon so we can rush back to the tribe on the Full Moon Festival.

The shackled Alder, still angry on me, is on the side. He is guarded by Aman and Bakura. The other wolves are also readying their flaying and butchering knifes. The plan is to kill at least two or three adult cows, flay them, pack them on the readied bags and each one of them will bring the corresponding amount of meat. As you know, demiwolves are pretty strong on their own. They can rip apart those cows when they use their primal self but as a mythical and a rule of the tribe, they can only use their Primal Strength when only protecting the very tribe.

I know, kinda fucked up. They could've used it to help Aldrich from the giant snake but because of those damned rule, they can't. Anyways, because they are strong itself, they don't have any problem carrying those two to three ton meat (one adult cow can weigh roughly a ton excluding their horns) while I carry my part using Iresh, my big ol' cat.

"Hey Theo, spotted any targets. We prefer a big target separated from the herd so we can not be in the way of the stampede.", I said.

"Yeah, no luck at all, though. The babies are surrounded by the bulls while the females are busily grazing.", Theo smirked.

On the distance, I can see the edge of the cliff, which is very dangerous for both Anguses and hunters once the stampede starts. We would like to avoid that part as possible.

I was busily thinking about the plan when I noticed from a far distance, on the other side of the trench, three smoke reaching up.

"Theo, look at that. Do you know anything living or camping there?", I pointed at the said location.

"As far as I know, there is no more tribes living beyond the trench but there is also a pathway on that other side towards the human's territory. I know there is kind of a town beyond this so maybe this is just a campsite or something.", Theo explained.

As I look closely on the three smoke, my Bells of Death are ringing faintly. So soft that you need to focus to hear it. I look at my surroundings but the lush grassland is too peaceful to have dangers compared to the Redwoods. I stepped forward slowly as the ringing grows stronger and stronger towards the smoke.

"Your Bell of Death acting up huh? I never seen you in such trance when you're not using it so I guess there is something dangerous nearby. I'll alert the group." Theo noticed.

"Wait. There's something wrong.", I said.

"What's wrong?", Theo confusedly said.

"You said that on the other side, there's a pathway to the human town. The Bells of Death are ringing towards those smokes. Where does this pathway connect?", I questioned.

"Uh to the Valley. To our tribe.", Theo slowly realized.

"What if those are humans wanting to strike the tribe?", I trembled.

Theo and I realized that there is something wrong. Maybe we need to hurry up this hunt or not do it at all and go back to the tribe. We then gathered everyone in the party. We explained how those smoke signals may be dangerous.

"You're right. We need to be cautious as the tribe is kinda vulnerable with less warriors on it.", Aman said.

"But how about Aldrich's sacrifice? We cannot just stop right now. We need to continue.", another wolf uttered.

"I get it. So our plan right now is to strike right now since the bulls are busily protecting the babies. We separate the cows from the rest of the herd then instantly finish them. With my Shadowmane, we can easily do this.", I explained then looked at Iresh.

Iresh was just licking his hands as the group agreed with the plan.

"But how about Alder? Who's gonna guard him?", a wolf questioned.

"I'll do it. He's shackled anyways so he can't do anything.", Bakura proudly proclaimed.

Alder just smirked on Bakura as the latter guards him. The rest of the party immediately sets out. The plan is now ongoing. Thanks to the high grass areas, we can slowly sneak out towards the herd without alerting them. The rustling of the grass is deafened by the howl of the wind. We want to be as quiet as possible to prevent an immediate stampede.

Theo and I looked at each other. We nodded to each other and ordered the party to advance. I looked at the other wolves and the nearest one starts to separate the cows. The herd was instantly alarmed as wolves after wolves separate the cows from their group. We managed to isolate two cows and one bull that decided to attack us. The rest of their herd ran off.

I whistled - the hidden Shadowmane pounces from the ground as it caught the bull. She managed to find the neck of the bull and crush its windpipe while the energy of her prey slowly dims out. The two cows were now afraid and they tried to ran but the two groups I immediately formed, surrounded them and immediately manage to kill them. The party cheered up as we managed to hunt three adult Longhorned Anguses.

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Bakura's POV:

"Man, I wished I was there in the hunt and not babysit this traitor.", I looked at Alder. "That looks so much fun, man."

Alder was just silently on the side so I left him in the tent. I guarded the outside as the breeze from this plain is so damn good. I could live here. Then I remembered all about my friends' sacrifices and the ordeals they did.

"Everyone has something brave they did and I didn't do anything. I feel useless.", I said to myself.

Out of nowhere, a familiar raspy voice of a traitor emerges from by back.

"Yeah, everyone knows you are useless, Bakura.", Alder headbutted me.

"Uwagh! Shit! Aldeeeer! You're gonna pay for that!", I screamed.

I tried to stab him with my spear left and right as he dodges every one of it. Then he decided to catch the blade of the spear to break his shackles. The blow was so hard, it also broke the pole. I was staggered in my feet as the now free Alder slowly approaches me.

"Ho, you're approaching me? Instead of running, you dare to approach me?", I nervously said.

Without saying a single word and with a swift movement, Alder low swept me as I fell to the ground. He was looking at me and the last thing I saw was his grin and his fist.

"Sleep well, Bakura."

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Luca's POV:

"Good job everyone! We successfully finished the hunt but we still got a job to do. We need to go back to tribe, possibly warn them about the things we saw and things that happened. Now, everyone pack everything. We're leaving.", I ordered.

I must say, being a leader was hard but still it's fun. I'm gonna make everything better. Iresh was just walking beside me, with the meat in her back, when she immediately ran off to the campsite. She moans to inform us as we see the now unconscious Bakura on the ground. The wolves immediately set out to find Alder in the campsite but to no avail.

"Oy, Bakura! Wake up, Bakura! What happened?", Theo slaps his face left and right to wake him up.

"Shut up! You're annoying! Urgh, it hurts! Fuck that Alder, he managed to escape and knock me out. Fuck!", the now awake Bakura immediately informs us.

"Forget about him for now. Let's treat your wounds. Men, help Bakura.", I directed.

The other wolves helped him as Theo and I looked at each other. We knew helping the tribe is much more important than this internal strife.

"Men, pack everything! We're going back! Forget about Alder for now. Secure our hunt and our supplies. Alerting the tribe is our number one priority from now on.", Theo ordered.

All the wolves agreed on him as they immediately load everything. Meat secured, tents secured, everyone started going back. It's starting to get to noon. Going back to the Redwoods would be easy now because of the sunlight.

As we now know our way, this should be easy. Iresh is on my side, guarding as always. Theo is on the rear, also guarding the others while I positioned Aman on the front as he has the best memory out of all of us.

This should not be hard now considering we diminished the Hyaenodons' pack and killed a Titanoboa. The group picked up the pace as the sun peaked upon us providing not only light but also intense heat. We need to go back to the waterfall as fast as possible.

Whatever the outcome of this, I hope the tribe is safe...