by Brett Vonsik
Rogaan heard only the wind and distant water, and featherwings and swarms of flying biters, which now kept their distance. Skeptical, he closed his eyes. The wind, water, and animal sounds became louder to his ear, but no “song” came to him. The light breeze cooled him, drying his sweat. It felt good, but was futile to getting dry. More sweat poured from him just as quickly, keeping him wet from head to toe. He listened, yet heard nothing except his own heartbeat…slowing. Unconvinced, Rogaan took the moment just to rest with his eyes closed. He relaxed into the moment. He then heard something more: a vibration more than a sound. It had an awkward rhythm, but it was a “song.” A low, reverberating melody, almost inaudible, tickled his senses. The animals were singing.
“I hear nothin’,” Pax complained. His eyes were closed and he appeared to be straining to hear the song. He scowled. “Nothin’. Except da biters and da wind.”
“It’s there, youngling,” Akaal chastised with closed eyes. “You’ve spent too much time inside walls. You don’t belong here.”
Pax’s eyes snapped open and glared at Akaal. “Meanin’ what?”
A smile -- more a smirk, really -- came to Akaal’s face. Akaal seemed pleased with himself. Pax’s scowl grew deeper yet; his eyes narrowed as his body tensed. Just when Rogaan thought Pax was going to jump at Akaal, the haft of Kardul’s short spear struck the ground between them.
“Enough!” Kardul growled.
“Kiuri’Ner, forgive me my bluntness.” Akaal spoke seriously. “These younglings aren’t fit for hunting, and you know it. They’re going to bring the Wilds down on us.”
“We be just as ready as ya!” Pax growled.
“They will learn.” Kardul spoke flatly at Akaal. He gave Pax and Rogaan each a hard look. “If they live to sunset.”
“They’ll have to prove that,” Akaal declared dismissively.
Rogaan felt his guts sink to his knees at Akaal’s words. There it was, out in the open for everyone to agree with. Rogaan started to feel unworthy as a forest warrior. Maybe Father was right?
“Enough!” Kardul growled. “Rise and get ready to travel...hard. We have ground to cover to get in place to pick our prey and drive it to the cliffs.” Kardul impatiently flicked his hand at the three of them, motioning them to move then started off at a hard pace, without waiting to see if they followed.
Pax looked at Rogaan and offered him the favored position, with the wave of his arm and a half smile. Rogaan only shook his head, letting Pax know he did not intend to follow Kardul so closely. Pax then looked at Akaal, who shrugged his shoulders while he kept his place. With a frustrated snort, Pax started off, but only after giving Rogaan a disappointed glance. Rogaan looked at Akaal, expecting…no, hoping…that he would follow Pax. The man remained still, though he cocked his head a bit while returning Rogaan’s stare. Rogaan shrugged and hoped Akaal would see it as indifference, then followed after Pax. The baraan waited from Rogaan to move out. Akaal fell in behind Rogaan, all sprinting to catch up with the Kiuri’Ner.
They traveled fast through the valley forest, with Kardul keeping a hard pace until the sun had risen past halfway, to its mid-day height. A strong tremor in the valley struck in the late morning sending all the featherwings and leatherwings flying. Traveling was difficult with the humid forest overgrown and dense. In places so much growth impeded their travel that Kardul needed to hack a path to pass. Open spaces between stands of gum, cedar, and pine groves protected by low razor-frond ferns were common when they were not in a thicket. Rogaan welcomed open spaces, despite having to all but sprint to keep up with Kardul’s trot. Stinging and bleeding cuts on his arms and legs made him curse the Ancients for creating the plants. Kardul avoided most open areas, except when crossing them seemed his only choice, and he plunged them all back into thicker foliage as quickly as possible. They stopped twice for water, and once to allow a pack of two-stride-long leapers to pass. That was an unnerving experience for Rogaan. Rogaan welcomed the short rests and was thankful to Kardul that the green and rust-colored leapers did not notice them. They pressed on with sweat pouring, Rogaan suffering stinging eyes and soaked clothes, making him uncomfortable from chafing in several choice places. Pax, just as soaked with sweat, fought with his spear as they worked their way through the forest. He was struggling now to keep pace, and looked close to exhaustion. Kardul kept at the hard pace, and Akaal proved able to keep up without much struggle. They both somehow seemed immune to the heat and the grueling run.
Just short of mid-day, when Rogaan started to think the dense forest would go on forever, they came to the edge of a large clearing dotted with broken stands of twisted oaks, pines, and patches of ferns, all completely stripped of their greenery except the very tops, though the area was anything but empty. The pungent odor of dung hung heavy in the air, making Rogaan’s nose wrinkle. Longwalkers, two-footed plant eaters that sometimes walked on all fours, with blunt noses and large sweeping tails, moved off the clearing at a browsing pace, honking and bellowing deeply as they went. They were spectacular to Rogaan, with rust-colored heads and irregular white and blue vertical stripes from shoulders to the tail tips. Rogaan started wondering how these longwalkers could be taken down as prey. They were so big -- too big. Many raised ground-nests made of dirt, plant branches, and leaves dotted a nearby clearing. At most raised circles, large adult longwalkers tended their eggs. Rogaan stood in awe at the sheer number of beasts, ranging in size from about three strides long to more than twice that. The largest moved in pairs when running off creatures considered a threat to their unhatched eggs. Green and red-colored stripeis and other small, fleet-footed tanniyn scampered among the giants, seeking any opportunity to get at a meal just as the myriad of featherwings, flying above, circling, swooping, and diving for a meal when the longwalkers left nests undefended. Several different sized and colored leatherwings, moderate in numbers, circled high overhead, occasionally squawking while looking for opportunities to feed on eggs and small prey, but they were not as aggressive as the annoying low-flying featherwings. Low to the ground, thick clouds of biters and bloodsuckers buzzed amongst the tanniyn just about everywhere.
“There must be hundreds of them,” Rogaan mumbled in amazement.
“A thousand,” Akaal added. “Maybe more.”
“All!” Kardul spoke calmly, but in a serious tone as he pointed to the opposite side of the clearing, more than three hundred paces distant. “Look to the far side of the herd...there. Leapers. And more over there.” Rogaan found both packs by following Kardul’s pointed arm. Without the Kiuri’Ner, Rogaan would have likely missed both packs, until it was much too late. Leapers, green and black in color, lingered in the shadows of large patches of trees and underbrush at the far edge of the clearing. They were almost invisible against the forest; only their movement gave them away.
“I no see ‘em,” Pax complained, while squinting.
“Big surprise,” Akaal chided sardonically. “No experience -- and blind. A wonder they’re not in the darkness already, Kiuri’Ner.” Akaal exchanged unfriendly glances with Kardul then lazily leaned on his long spear, continuing to speak as if talking to air. “Which one?”
“We’ll take one with a few years of growing done,” Kardul answered in a less than friendly tone.
“Why not an adult?” Rogaan asked, disappointed. “They are bigger and will feed more.”
“Too much animal,” Kardul replied simply. “We must kill close to the ravine over there, where another felled tree will allow the others passage to this side. We’ll have to drive it there, or we’ll be in the open and vulnerable to leapers or redfins. That means we take one not guarding a nest.”
“Too much animal?” Pax repeated sarcastically. “Da cutters be done with da big one faster than me blinkin’.” Kardul shot Pax a hard look, making it clear this wasn’t a discussion. Not able to let the moment go, Pax puffed his chest, readying a response, but was cut off by a bone-aching grip from Rogaan on his forearm.
“Leapers stalk the e
dges, looking for easy kills,” Kardul continued with his teachings. “Keep eyes sharp and listen for their talk. They attack in numbers and are fearless, merciless, and quick. When we get closer to the ravine, we’ll pick our prey, make our kill, then defend it until the cutters and carriers get to us and are done.” Without looking back, Kardul started off in the direction of the ravine. Pax, Rogaan, and Akaal obediently followed, though with more noise than Kardul wanted, by his looks back at the cracking sticks or brushed ferns. Kardul followed the edge of the clearing just inside the tree line, not unlike how the leapers traveled.
A reverberating bellow sounded close, startling the hunters and bringing them all to a halt. Only Kardul did not swivel his head back and forth, searching its source. Instead, Kardul held his hand high, signaling for the group to keep silent and unmoving. At first, Rogaan thought the sound was a longwalker bellowing, but a second and third sounding convinced him otherwise. It was a horn.
“Trouble has one of the groups,” Kardul spat, then launched himself in the direction of the horn. “Follow!”
Chapter 5
Fern Runners
Pax and Rogaan plowed through branches and cutting fronds, trying to keep pace with Kardul. Snapping sticks and branches and the shuddering ring of brushed fronds close behind told Rogaan that Akaal was on his heels. They covered nearly half a march of hard going when another blast of the horn sounded, this time closer. Adjusting their path towards the horn, in less than fifty strides they found themselves falling out of the thickets next to Kardul and looking upon chaos. Ahead, in a small gully next to a rise, Kantus and his Band scampered about, defending themselves against the attacks of an angry pair of fern runners, heavily built ground featherwings with big powerful beaks. Standing three strides tall, featherwings fiercely squawked as they repeatedly struck out with their bone-breaking beaks. The fern runners danced about a pile of leaves and forest debris two strides across and a stride tall; sitting atop that rise was a nest. The fern runners aggressively defended against…attacked the Band one at a time, alternating between targets with each charge. Kantus and his Band were unable to coordinate themselves, disorganized by the fern runner’s ferocity. All of them were bloodied, and two wounded badly enough that they cowered behind an outcrop of rocks close by.
“Dumb enough to steal eggs,” Rogaan grumbled between breaths. Rogaan expected no less from Kantus and his followers.
“And be dumb enough not ta run,” Pax finished after gasping a deep gulp of air.
“Too arrogant to run,” Rogaan corrected Pax, after gulping a chestful of air himself. “May the Ancients protect them.”
“Ya be serious?” Pax asked incredulously. Kantus dodged several lunges from one of the fern runners, the one with a red body and yellow chest, its massive beak catching and slicing off a piece of his new armor. “Where be da Kiuri’Ner? Look! Kantus be stuck by da runner and gonna get his knees cut off. Dat ta size him down just right.”
Kantus scrambled, wedging himself between several pine trees and a boulder with just enough space between him and the fern runner to make its strikes uncertain of hitting. After another several failed bites at Kantus, the fern runner stomped its powerful clawed feet, then looked for another position to attack from. The other fern runner, a brown and black-feathered monster, held tight one of the Band by his backpack. Rogaan thought it was round-faced and -chested Urhug, the fern runner dragging him flailing and bloodied across broken ground. Rogaan stepped toward the two with the intent to help then caught sight of Kardul running toward Urhug and his attacker. Rogaan held fast still needing to catch his wind.
Kantus frantically waved his long knife to fend off his fern runner’s vicious attacks. Rogaan smiled with a sense of satisfaction at Kantus’ predicament then felt a wave of guilt wash over him for it. “We must help Kantus.”
“Ya hit ya head?” Pax asked with his eyes nearly popping out of his head. “Let him be. He be deserving this.”
Rogaan paused, considering what to do, weighing Kantus gone from his life against how he thought he would feel about himself for not trying to keep Kantus from harm. It was only a moment, but Rogaan felt as if he spent much longer making up his mind. In a single smooth motion, Rogaan nocked an arrow and raised his bow, the one given him for the Hunt. He had to act, even if he only distracted the fern runner.
“Rogaan,” Pax protested. “Kantus would no help ya and ya know it.”
“I know,” Rogaan answered flatly. He took a deep breath and exhaled, calming himself, while focusing on the fern runner’s yellow chest, where he thought the heart should be, then drew the bow halfway. Rogaan focused on the spot he wanted to strike. He saw only his target. He took another breath and exhaled. His heart slowed. All else disappeared from his vision. Focus on target. Forty strides. Breath. Exhale. Forty-two strides. Focus on the target where red feathers touched yellow. Breath. Exhale. Follow target…anticipate. Rogaan drew fully the bow. Crack! Ignore the distraction. His concentration lapsed, almost ruining his focus. Focus. Follow target…only the target exists. Breathe. Exhale. Where red meets yellow. Rogaan loosed the arrow. The bow felt and sounded…wrong…weak, as the arrow flew slow, falling far short of Rogaan’s intended target.
“That not be like ya,” Pax sounded surprised. “Did ya eat somethin’ ta keep up ya strength? Maybe ya be seein’ da sign from da Old Ones ta let Kantus get his come-uppin’.”
The red and yellow fern runner drew blood when it nipped Kantus’ left leg. Kantus cried out in pain then started whimpering as he frantically flailed his long knife at the fern runner. The animal’s size and speed proved too much to fend off, and it struck Kantus several more times in the legs, drawing more blood. Rogaan felt helpless, and Kardul was occupied with the other fern runner. Akaal just chuckled at it all as he casually leaned on his spear a few paces to Rogaan’s right. The man seemed to be enjoying the spectacle. A cold man, Rogaan concluded. Dismissing his thoughts of Akaal, Rogaan nocked another arrow and focused again on the fern runner. Bow to half draw. Deep breath. Exhale. Calm yourself. Focus. Forty-two strides. Red feathers meet yellow. Follow target. Full draw. Crack!
The bow broke. “What?” Its splintered remains lay in a tangled mess in his hands. Pax looked at the bow, then at Rogaan with a quizzical expression, while Akaal’s chuckle deepened. Frustrated, and with a growing anger, Rogaan tossed the bow away and reached for his hide case, then paused. “Useless. Pax…your spear. No time for my shunir’ra.”
“Rogaan,” Pax said heatedly. “Kantus deserves da pain. Let him get outta his mess himself.”
Rogaan’s anger swelled. Anger at Akaal for his callousness, at Pax for not wanting to help, and at himself for thinking Pax was right. Rogaan snatched the spear out of Pax’s hands then leaped into the gully leading to the chaos.
“Kantus would no help ya!” Pax yelled after his friend.
“I know.” Rogaan answered and kept running, vaulting knee-high rocks, side-stepping fallen logs, and plowing through ferns. Thirty strides. Rogaan scanned the ground to the fern runner and picked a path to the beast. Twenty strides. He readied his spear in both hands while continuing his charge, bracing it against his right side and securing it under his arm. Ten. Focus. Red to yellow. Follow target. Rogaan slammed the spear into the side of the beast, striking close to where he aimed. A hideous squawk bellowing from the animal surprised Rogaan, causing him to freeze where he stood. The fern runner twisted, trying to pull itself from the spear then snapped at Rogaan when it realized it was impaled. Through the spear, Rogaan felt the fern runner shifting its weight, and anticipating its moves, drove the spear deeper. The fern runner bellowed again then angrily lunged at him with snapping beak, missing his nose by a hand’s width before collapsing to the ground with a thud. The beast came to rest an arm’s length from a shaking Kantus. Rogaan held the spear deep in the beast, expecting it to rise and renew its attacks. Nothing. No movement. No rising and falling of the chest. No breathing. Maybe its light is gone? Hopefully, gone. When sat
isfied that it was indeed lifeless, Rogaan pulled the spear from it, but kept the spear pointed at the fern runner for a few moments just in case. In a ruckus, Kantus recklessly jumped on the lifeless body, plunging his long knife into it as if he meant to kill the already lightless creature, with both his blade and taunts.
Rogaan looked upon the scene of blood and chaos: the fern runner red and newly colored in crimson with Kantus atop it, wailing away at its lifeless body. A mix of surprise and disgust filled Rogaan as he watched Kantus. Pax and Akaal were where he left them, some forty strides away, Akaal leaning casually on his spear without a hint of concern about anything as far as Rogaan could figure. No...Rogaan decided he did not like the baraan. Not one bit. Kardul stood over the other fern runner carcass a short distance away, wiping his short sword clean on its feathered body. The Bandsman, blood thick on his head, chest, and left arm, slowly crawled away from his now-stilled attacker. The other two Bandsmen still hid behind the large rock they had found some twenty strides beyond, peeking over it with eyes wide. After a few more loud moments, Kantus finished his assault on the lifeless body, and rested with his weight on the hilt of his long knife, his head down, and the blade deep in the fern runner. Calm returned to the forest. Rogaan realized with surprise that he had not gotten sick or dizzy. A sense of relief washed over him.
“Guard the area!” Kardul commanded, looking straight at Pax and Akaal. They both jumped at Kardul’s words. Kardul then turned to Rogaan. “Make sure its light has been taken.”
“It is,” Rogaan replied, then jabbed it with his spear to prove the point.
“I see everything here is in hand,” Firik Umsadaa announced with hands on hips at the edge of the clearing opposite Pax and Akaal. Firik projected a calm and strength of confidence that made Rogaan feel safer, somehow.