Notes on Monster Hunting

by Chad Retterath

  “You okay?” I asked.

  Kully smiled. “Never better.”

  I sat beside him and put my arm around his shoulders.

  “Will you be able to walk?”

  “We don’t know yet,” said Teke. “The acid really damaged his leg.”

  “Doesn’t it hurt?”

  Kully slowly shook his head.

  Teke nodded his head. “It will. He just can’t feel much at the moment.”

  “I can tell,” I said as I looked at Kully, who was smiling. “Did you have a chance to decide what we’ll do now?”

  “Teke and I have been talking.”

  I nodded and looked between them, waiting for someone to talk.

  Teke elbowed Skrale. “Keep talking.”

  “Right.” He loudly sniffled. “With how exhausted we all are and Kully’s injury, we think we should remain here. That’ll mean war, but these people are defenseless against trained creatures like the remigins. Imagine bigger, more dangerous beasts under the control of an army. You specifically handled the fights in the woods incredibly well and I think we can help save Tullinbran.”

  “You always said we weren’t soldiers and we didn’t get involved with political affairs. You and Cremn promised me we wouldn’t fight humans. I looked past it in the woods because I was angry and I wanted to protect those families. We killed a lot of people in a single night. Those bombs blew them apart. It was horrendous. Is that really what we want to be doing?”

  I could see the tears in my eyes and feel them running down my cheeks and I couldn’t figure out why I was crying.

  I wiped my eyes and asked, “Why help Tullinbran? What have they done for us?”

  “Will Etikstan stop after Tullinbran falls? No, they’ll continue. They’ll kill everyone in Geziksan, and keep going until they reach Dranelton. They’ll capture and train creatures like witches and ornisects. You always say you don’t believe animals can be evil, but what about people? I know it’s a lot and it isn’t a decision Teke and I are making on our own. We’ll talk to everyone later today and take every opinion. We’re a family and we’ll do what’s best for all of us. Okay?”

  Skrale brushed hair out of his face and moved over beside me. His eyes were red and his face was flushed.

  “Okay,” I said.

  Skrale wiped a tear from my cheek and smiled softly.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you to kill those men.” He grabbed my hand.

  I shook my head. “I’m not angry. I was happy to kill those monsters.”

  Skrale stared at me, then squeezed my hand and the tent.

  I looked at Kully and saw he had fallen asleep, so I laid my head on his shoulder and accidentally fell asleep.

  Skrale gently woke me some time later. Kully was still asleep and had a large wet spot from my drool on his shirt.

  “I’m going to gather the company. If you can, wake Kully and talk to him. Get his input and share it for him so he can keep resting. I’ll talk to everyone and you can share yours and Kully’s opinions when you come out.”

  “Yeah, I can do that.”

  Skrale smiled and left the tent. I noticed a warm bowl of oatmeal and a cup of tea next to each of us and a jug of water beside Kully. I think Skrale made it for us. I poked my finger against Kully’s cheekbone until he woke. He loudly groaned and shifted his body.

  “What’s happening?” he asked as he wiped the drool from his cheek.

  “There’s some food for you if you’re hungry.”

  Kully looked at me and smiled. His eyes were dark, but he looked good. He tried to move his leg and winced.

  “You’re a medic. You should know to keep your leg still.”

  Kully grabbed his thigh and shifted his leg slightly to the side. “If I wasn’t in pain, I’d try to argue.” He bent his torso, sniffed the oatmeal, then grabbed the bowl and began eating.

  I slowly ate and drank the tea and kept my eyes on Kully. Every movement looked painful, but he hid it well. As far as I knew, his thigh could just be liquid from the acid.

  “Have you seen your leg since it happened?”

  Kully shook his head. “I’m not too eager to see it.”

  “Teke really damaged the skin.”

  He put a spoonful into his mouth and slowly chewed and swallowed it as he nodded the whole time. “We talked about it when I first came to. The powders may have helped stop the acid. We aren’t sure. But the fire helped stop the bleeding. Teke said to be prepared for my leg to potentially not work anymore.”

  “What will you do if you can’t walk?”

  Kully shrugged. “I don’t want to leave the company, so I guess I’d finally learn how to ride a horse.”

  I finished my tea and poured the rest of my oatmeal into Kully’s bowl. He looked confused, but he still ate it.

  “What if the company stays here and fights for Tullinbran?”

  Kully stopped eating with the spoon in his mouth. His cheeks were full of food and he looked at me with his eyebrows lowered.

  After a moment of chewing, he swallowed and said, “Why would we do that?”

  “Skrale thinks it’ll be the best way to help these people. Those remigins were trained to kill people. Imagine the other creatures they may have. And Skrale mentioned that they may continue to expand if they conquer Tullinbran.”

  Kully leaned on me and offered me a spoonful of oatmeal. I grabbed the spoon and reluctantly put it in my mouth.

  “I’ll follow you. The company is my family, but Fourth squad is like my brothers and sister. I’m going to stay with you and I trust your judgement.”

  I put my arm back around Kully’s shoulder. “It doesn’t bother you that fighting people is against what we stand for?”

  “But is it?” He leaned away and looked at me. “They’re people with the single goal of hurting others. It’s not like we’re fighting old ladies or children. Whoever marches with Etikstan does so for a reason. I think staying here and helping these people would be the best thing our company has done.”

  I hugged Kully and stood. “I’m going to join the others and share our thoughts. There’s some water beside you and I’ll bring some food later.”

  “What if I need to pee?”

  I looked around the tent and tried to hide my smile. “I guess just let it go.”

  “Please ask Teke to help me pee when you see him.”

  I nodded. “I’ll tell him.”

  I left the tent and stepped around First squad’s smaller tents to join with the rest of the company at the central fire pit. Everyone sat down as a mixed group. Heff pushed Lekk until there was enough room for me to fit between the two large men. Iliun was talking, looking primarily at Skrale.

  “Our involvement seems unnecessary. Will twenty something people change the course of a war Tullinbran seems to be losing?”

  “It could,” said Urny. “Our knowledge could be the one thing Tullinbran has needed. We would lead the troops we trained, so they can best utilize their new skills.”

  “Most of us have never been in a real fight. Especially not with the numbers that we’d be against when they invade Lamberg,” said Iliun.

  “They haven’t even started to produce their own explosives,” said Groose. “I’d like to help them through it so they don’t throw duds in the middle of a fight.”

  “I agree with Groose,” said Trennor.

  “I agree with Trennor,” said Carner.

  “I agree,” said Wennel.

  Skrale and Teke both grinned as all the munitions experts nodded their heads in sync.

  “Kully and I talked for a bit,” I said loudly. “We all decided to stay here to help with the remigins, right? Why wouldn’t we continue to stay and help? If we run, these people may be destroyed by creatures and the work we did to find and kill those remigins would be for nothing. What if Etikstan continues its rampage and slaughters everyone in Gettleville? Then Cremn would’ve died for nothing because the clay mason was the least of their problems. I was hesi
tant at first and angry that Skrale even had the thought of staying. I was told I wouldn’t ever have to harm a human life with the company and last night I helped kill so many men. I gave the order to bomb them. Their flesh and blood splattered through the whole area and I didn’t think anything of it because I could see all the remigins with their bloated stomachs from feasting on those families. I was angry when Skrale suggested that we join the army because it seemed like it goes against what he stands for, but as a company we fight the unknown, dangerous creatures to help people who can’t defend themselves. Etikstan is unknown and dangerous. It’s not political. I don’t care about the king. I don’t care about the kingdom. But I care about the people. The people we’ve helped and traded with. The alchemist who hated us in Geziksan. The families we managed to save from the remigins. So many people we saved that we could continue to save by staying where we already are. It would be more work to run then to stay and fight.”

  Skrale smiled and nodded at me. Heff and Lekk both leaned on me.

  “We agree with her,” said Heff.

  Lekk nodded.

  “Okay,” said Iliun. “I’ll stay.”

  “So, it’s decided?” asked Skrale.

  People mumbled and nodded their agreement.

  “I’ll inform Krelik and see what’ll happen next. Groose, I’ll let him know that you four are willing to work with their alchemists. Actually, I’ll let him know that they just need to gather powders because you four will make better bombs than anyone else.”

  “I’m not sure, sir,” said Groose. “Wennel is really awful at putting them together.”

  Wennel gasped. “How could you say that?”

  “Why do you think you weren’t invited to help in the demonstration before?” asked Carner.

  “But what about me?” asked Trennor.

  “You’re not great either,” said Groose.

  “Alright,” said Skrale loudly. “Even the worst of you will be better than someone new. Groose, work as a team. Practice some leadership.”

  “Yes, sir.” Groose blushed.

  “You’re all dismissed. Nothing else will happen today, so rest. Go buy some food or alcohol. Relax and have some fun. You’ve all earned it. Check on Kully and give him some company. I’ll be in the city talking. Anyone is welcome to come along, but I’m not sure what’ll happen.”

  Nobody moved.

  “I’ll go alone. You all did plenty already. I understand.” Skrale walked to the edge of camp where our horses were and started to put the saddle on one.

  People started to stand and wander to their squad camps or move elsewhere, so I walked over to Teke, who sat in the same spot.

  “I have a question,” I said.

  “What is it?”

  “Kully was wondering where and how he’s supposed to pee.”

  Teke smirked. “He’s already peed himself more than once since last night. He may not be aware. I had to change him. Until he can stand, he’s going to have to keep peeing himself.”

  “Gross.”

  Teke nodded. “You’re welcome to change him next time.”

  “I’ll see if I can find the time.” I stood, but Teke gently grabbed my arm.

  “Are you planning on going into the city soon?”

  “I wasn’t. I still have supplies to last for a few days.”

  He let go of my arm. “Just thought I’d ask.”

  “What do you need?”

  “Nothing important.” He stood and walked to Skrale’s tent without another word.

  I joined Palon, Ralet, and Groose at the fire. The day was warm and the air was heavy, so the fire was unnecessary. Yet, Palon still placed more wood out of habit.

  “How’s Kully?” asked Ralet.

  “He’s good. A lot of pain and he won’t be able to stand for some time. Teke doesn’t know if his leg will work again.”

  “It looked really terrible,” said Ralet.

  I nodded. “He’s handling it well. Teke’s idea with the powders was wild and it saved Kully’s life.”

  “That was incredible,” said Groose. “I’d never seen someone act so fast.”

  “You cracked open live bombs,” said Palon. “That was incredible. They should combust when broken. How did you do it?”

  Groose leaned backwards and pulled a brown ball out of his bag. “Want to see?”

  “Nope. Stop,” I said. “We don’t know if you were just lucky.”

  Groose nodded. “I get it.” He slid the bomb back into his bag. “You don’t want to start on fire or anything. I understand.

  “I don’t think you actually do,” said Ralet. “Could we grab some cards and wine and go join Kully?”

  “Yeah, let’s do that,” I said. I only want to sleep, but Kully is probably bored or worried about peeing, so I think he could use the company.

  Day 179

  Etikstan moves closer. Hogreth has sent scouts to see how much time we have. Few of them have returned, but it sounds like they have a good idea of where the army is. Skrale has been spending most of his time in the castle. Heff, Lekk, Rux, Palon, and Widdy joined him today. The five of them have military experience, plus years of hunting. They thought there may be some insight that the commanders are lacking. I haven’t met the generals and commanders of Tullinbran’s armies. I assume they’re the men always seen around Krelik, but it doesn’t mean much to me. Skrale told the munitions group that there will be powders available tomorrow. Groose is excited to build more. We’ve been low since the clay mason and dreck slider hunts, and the fights against the soldiers didn’t help. Carner and Wennel don’t really have any because Groose hoarded most of the ones he made in Geziksan.

  Skrale told us, “We’re discussing strategies, so I don’t know our role yet. But I’ll find out soon so we can prepare.”

  That’s all we’ve heard. We’ve been relaxing and recovering. Kully said the pain has increased as it heals. Most of the pain feels like it’s from the burnt skin on his thigh. After dinner, I found Skrale sitting by a smoky fire with First squad.

  “Can I join?”

  “Always,” said Orkin.

  I sat beside Widdy. Teke was missing and probably tending to Kully. He didn’t complain or anything. He had become focused and serious.

  I held out Skrale’s book and waved it at him. “Why’d you stop? There’s so many empty pages.”

  He ran his fingers through his beard and stared at the book. “We stopped recruiting and I stopped thinking about it until I found the blank journal you now have. I didn’t have anything new to write, but you did and do. I didn’t need the journal anymore. It wasn’t helping me like it did when I started.”

  “Can I see that?” asked Widdy.

  I handed him Skrale’s book and he enthusiastically flipped through the pages. It made me uncomfortable because he wasn’t being careful with the paper.

  “Why did you write about recruits?” I asked.

  “Same reason you write about dinner and conversations. I wanted to have a record of everything when it came to the formation of the company. I left everything behind to form this and I wanted to remember everyone I met and the creatures I saw. Not in the same detail as you, but it was enough for me. Each entry helps me remember exactly what happened on those days, whether happy or sad.”

  “The last entry is about Prenn? Was he the last one to join?” asked Widdy.

  “Yes?” said Orkin, confused. “If it’s in the journal it’s probably true.”

  “It’s true,” I said. “He joined some time after I did. He was a messenger that hated his job.”

  “That’s what the entry says,” said Widdy.

  Skrale smiled. “I think Widdy is finally catching on.”

  Blood and gore splattering across the trees stuck in my mind. I looked at First squad. They joked and laughed and smiled, and all I could see was the dripping pulp from strangers’ remains stuck in the bark.

  I couldn’t sense any distress from anybody else. They seemed genuinely calm. Relaxed, e
ven happy. I wasn’t sad or angry or distressed. Just stuck with the images in my mind.

  It sounds like we'll be busy with preparations and training. More than before. I will journal when I have the chance and the energy. It may become infrequent.

  Day 182

  Etikstan is close. We’ve been given a house inside the walls on the south eastern side of Lamberg. Gates are closed every night and nobody is allowed on the streets shortly after sundown. Families were forced to share their house so our company could fit everyone into a family’s home. I felt bad, but we needed to be inside the walls and they didn’t want us sleeping in the streets. Anyone able to fight has been given weapons, even if they only use them to defend their homes.

  Skrale has officially become part of the king’s war council. Our company will be on the walls and on the ground behind the gate. We’ll only have to give orders or watch unless the walls are breached or they climb on top. Our trained elite soldiers will be outside the walls with some of the regulars as a primary defense. It seemed ridiculous to put so many soldiers outside the walls, but the other cities had tried to hold, and the tight spaces within the city quickly became places to slaughter Tullinbran soldiers for the creatures. Krelik and Hogreth believe the fields north of the city will give us an advantage. It’s all confusing to me, but I know I won’t have to immediately fight when the battle starts. My rank is still sergeant, but the four of us sergeants have more authority than most of the commanders. Skrale still suspects Krelik isn’t our biggest supporter, but he’s been kind and helpful since our decision to join.

  Groose and the others have spent the last few days building explosives. Everyone in the army that’s capable of handling them safely will have some type of bomb available to them. Groose told me he’s making some of the nastiest tellick bombs he’s ever created by using old, rusted metal instead of broken stones and more oiled powder instead of heetan to give it a bigger explosion.

  “Those are only for us,” he said, referring to the company.