by ForestRage
If this world followed the same rules as earth, there was no way in hell these mushrooms were edible.
Finally finishing, he placed it to cool on the side. Taking the fat that had begun to solidify he molded it into a pellet. Making a hole he stuffed the mushroom gruel inside and sealed it.
During this time Ming returned, dragging the branches measuring around six feet in length.
Chu set him to work showing him how to burn and scrape the ends with the small knife, to sharpen it to a crude point.
Just before sunset they completed the task with seven pellets and eight sharpened rough spears. The remaining poison, Chu smeared it onto the spear points. Chu looked at Ming who twisted and turned, while trying to avoid his eyes.
"Hey, get dressed! Don't even think of backing out now."
Chapter 4
The Idiot's guide to Trapping
By the time they bundled up, and left the slums the sun was already throwing out its last rays. Their shadows stretched out long behind them, as if trying to escape from the direction they trod. Within the forest the shroud of darkness had begun to descend.
The path turned vacant, as everyone had long since returned to the village. The two lone figures entered the forest, with Chu leading the way to the chosen site, he had seen during the day.
During this brief walk, the forest bared its fangs.
Not surprisingly, the danger came from one of those lone wolves, who had developed a taste for humans.
The wolf had a reputation of being a skilled hunter. Before winter, these outcasts preyed the forest alone and divided their hunting zones. A cunning hunter, it stalked the areas around the lumber camp. When darkness fell, they would venture brazenly into the lumber camp area, sniffing and reclaiming their area.
As a modern-day individual, this would be a standard narrative in wildlife documentaries. Unfortunately, these memories were not at the forefront in Chu's mind.
AWOOO!
"Hey! What the heck was that?"
Chu grabbed Ming shoulder and asked. The latter turned his head slowly and stiffly, in a manner like gears badly in need of oil. His face also sported an eerie forced smile.
"What do you mean, WHAT was that? Isn't that the sound a wolf makes?"
Chu felt Ming's reply was demeaning, as if trying to belittle him. Similarly, Ming on the other hand felt he could hold this idiot, and bitch slap him back into sanity.
AWOOO!
"Holy shit! It's getting nearer, did you hear that?"
As virgin hunters being in a dusk lit forest, accompanied by those howls proved an exquisite experience. The only thing missing was a bladder release from them.
"Hey, think about it. We are probably the only two crazy idiots in these woods. To top it off, we are carrying a pot of blood and those smelly fat made pills, you concocted. Maybe we should just put out a sign saying eat me."
Ming looked down and gave him such a philosophical speech. If it wasn't for the blissful face as some pressure had been lifted, or the yellow liquid puddle forming at his feet, Chu might have taken the boy seriously.
"Quick let's run, we are nearly there."
They burst into a run, and hastened to the designation. On reaching the location, another minor problem surfaced.
"Hey, what gives. Why are we stopping?"
"Hurry, we need to climb. You go up first, and I will hand you the spears and bag."
"..."
"Hey Chu… I can't climb."
Ming answered with a straight face.
AWOOO!
A couple of seconds later, they were both sitting on a tree branch.
Chu had placed three pellets on the ground and scattered the blood liquid around it, before shimmering up the tree. Their crude spears lay nearby, supported on the tree branches. Silently, they peered into the shadows.
A short time later, a wolf trod out from the darkness.
The intimidating size, the sleek shape that melded in the darkness, the cunning eyes and seemingly glowing white fangs.
Modern day Chu balked at his first sighting, hoping to silence the loud thumps within his chest.
The creature sniffed around, while rambling towards the tree. Sniffing the blood-stained ground, it wasted no time in licking and gobbling the fatty pellets.
The blood from hares and other creatures, proved a good choice. If he had chosen the ingredients from an animal classified as poisonous, it might have been different. Chu however, had no time to conduct experiments on such a theory.
The beast continued sniffing around until its gaze pierced the branches, falling on the irregular occupants. A growl escaped the throat as it lunged onto the tree baring its fangs.
"NO! It found us. Damn I knew I shouldn't have listened to you. If you wanted to die, why drag me along."
Ming sat half screaming, while clutching onto the tree trunk for dear life.
"Hey, hey, it's all part of the plan. We just need to keep it here until the poison takes effect."
Those fat pellets should probably be melting in its warm stomach by now, releasing its mushroom poison. It made sense to try to keep the wolf occupied until the concoction took effect.
Useless company, still classified as company. Chu grew bolder on hearing Ming's voice. The actions tonight opened up two options, an instant death, or a progressive one.
Chu grabbed a spear and handed one over to Ming. After a couple of minutes facing the creature, his clumsy actions smoothened out. He planned to take full advantage of the tree.
Chu stepped on a lower branch, out of reach of the clawing wolf, but low enough to launch a spear strike. For every lunge, he retaliated with mostly weak misses.
Ever so often, he hit the trunk to keep the animal in a state of rage. Ming switched with him, when he became tired.
This routine went on for nearly half the night. The moonlight cast poor lighting on their surroundings, causing the laborious movement to become treacherous.
"Hey Chu. Did you really feed that wolf poison?"
For the hundredth time Ming asked him that question. The wolf moved like if it had eaten steroids, instead of poison.
Chu remained focused on the wolf, that showed signs of tiring. Foam dripped from its mouth as he constantly baited it.
Once he even gave a yelp and pretended to fall of the branch, when it had decided to turn away. This feint caused it to remain, growling in anticipation.
Another hour passed, and the wolf movements finally turned sluggish. Like a drunken man it tottered and swayed while walking. In a crazy manner, it jumped and pawed at the tree.
In the moonlight, the glazed eyes seem devoid of menace.
Observing this sign, Chu finally decided to act. If he waited any longer the wolf might lumber off into the darkness.
Together they started raining the wolf with the makeshift spears. Under the howls, two spears accurately pierced into the back of the beast.
In the dim lighting, this could maybe count as some success. But it had the power of malnourished and frail arms behind the throw. Consequently, the damage done petered down to a bare minimum.
With the last two remaining spears they jumped down the tree as the wolf tried to stumble away.
"Hurry and kill it!"
Ming remained busy beating his spear on the wolf, that had tottered and fallen on the ground.
"Stab it you fool! Stab it. It's a spear."
"But it's a branch, who says I can't use it as a club?"
Ming replied staunchly.
"Why the heck do you think we spent half a day sharpening the point? Don't make me mad, STAB IT!"
Chu nearly screamed out at the boy. Only because of their location did he grit his teeth and stifle the shouts.
The wolf seemed to be far poisoned, to launch a retaliation. In the beginning it snarled and lunged, but these soon turned clumsy and unfocused. The two assailants slowly gained advantage over the weakened creature.
If not for the mushrooms causing it to hallucinate, the wolf w
ould have already killed these two idiots. Not only did they act totally uncoordinated while leaving themselves open for attacks, they apparently also had zero skills in weaponry.
Which sane warrior would switch from beating to stabbing and then beating again. Worse yet they sometimes prodded it with the blunt ends of the spears, only switching after their reasoning overcame the adrenaline rush.
Under a howl of remorse and denial, that the Heavens allowed it to meet such vile characters the wolf died. If it could have cursed these two idiots who continued with the beating, its anger may have quelled.
"Ming I may not be a doctor, but I think it’s dead."
Ming continued to walk around the wolf prodding it with his spear.
"What's a doctor? Wait, I know a way to tell if it's pretending. Get ready Chu"
Ming moved to the rear end of the wolf and speared the beast in the rear. Feeling satisfied, he smiled and gave Chu a thumbs up ,as if completing a normal action. Likewise, Chu stepped back in a reflex action with one hand moving to cover his ass.
"Oh... Okay, good job there Ming."
With the mission being accomplished, they gathered their spears and returned up the tree to wait until dawn. Hauling a dead animal, through the forest at night posed too much of a risk.
His adrenaline rush spent, Chu spent some time in climbing the tree.
"Hey Ming, if it's so easy by climbing a tree, why don't hunters use bows, and simply kill these wolves like we did?"
Ming looked at him with a wry grin.
"Do you really think that only wolves live in the Great Western Forest?"
White bears come down from the north, during middle of winter. Human meat is a delicacy for them. Wildcats are frequent raiders, changing their coats to blend into the winter surroundings.
The forest remained full of opportunity, but rife with danger. It also acted as the source of legends and the unknown. Just last winter there was rumor of a supposed demon beast that stalked the slums, agile like a wolf, and with the strength of a bear.
Ming recalling those tales woke Chu up. No wonder hunters feared to spend nights in the forest. In a stroke of bad luck, they could easily lose their lives. Tonight, was lucky but what about the future?
By the time his poison acted, a bear or wildcat might already be cleaning its teeth with their bones.
Crazy thoughts played tricks with his mind, as he remembered the stories in the village used to frighten young children.
Tales of ferocious beast, and cunning green creatures made him restless. He expected every snap, or howl as an omen of some deadly creature.
The fear of the dangers, coupled with the excitement from bagging his first beast, curbed his sleep. Only the tiredness and toll on his weak body made his eyebrows heavy, causing him to doze occasionally.
The chill of the night did little to ease his discomfort along with a growling belly.
Under the light of the morning sun, they viewed their surroundings as they tumbled down from the tree. Chu waited until it was near mid-morning before they hauled the carcass to the Trading Post.
Even though they used a makeshift stretcher, the vile beast felt like it weighed a ton.
At this time most of the villagers would be in the forest and the path would be empty. A dead wolf was worth much more than a rabbit. It would not do for them to be robbed, after all who would believe two slum children killed a wolf?
Just like that they sneaked their way to the Trading Post. Leaving the wolf behind a thicket under the watchful eyes of Ming, Chu strode wearily to the Trading Post.
Chapter 5
Different World but same Merchants
The collection bay was devoid of activity, during this time of day. The clerk in charge, chatted at the back while assisting the hired hands. The end of autumn proved a busy period for the Trading Post.
The morning lull would soon make way to shouts and bickering.
Autumn allowed the last opportunity for merchants to buy goods and transport cargo, before the roads became near impassable by snow.
The bear-like man, managing the Trading Post was called Griz. Chu felt like it suited him even though there were no grizzly bears in this world.
Although Griz came over on spotting the boy, his countenance darkened, when he realized the kid approached empty handed.
'Another brat wasting my time by coming over to beg.'
As someone not new to business, Chu at once picked up on that subtle action. In a busy time as this who would have time for a kid. A lazy child has no value in this village. Chu already had a feel for this person, since he begged this man for the animal fat yesterday.
He wasted no time in being blunt and to the point.
"Morning Mr Griz, I am not here to waste your time. I have a wolf carcass to sell, what's the going price?"
Griz looked at the small kid in front of him. The child looked malnourished and so thin that a single blow might break him in two. Yesterday this boy deposited a load of firewood and asked for the waste materials from scraping the animal pelts.
Now he came today with an absurd question to follow up on the previous request. Griz was sure he didn't hear correctly.
"What did you..."
"Let’s not waste time Mr Griz, I know this is a busy time. How much for a wolf?"
"Wolf buys for five silver."
Griz subconsciously answered. The tone of the speaker made him feel like he bartered with a Merchant. He scrutinized the stiff face of the composed brat who continued
"And a wolf whose coat has turned white?"
"Five silver."
Griz looked at the boy and gave the same reply.
Almost immediately came a retort.
"Come, come, Mr Griz. I said we shouldn't waste each other’s time. We both know that a white wolf sells for much more because of the pelt. Otherwise why would some hunters risk their lives to take a chance in winter."
Griz stared at the boy.
If it wasn't for the sorry state of the child that his eyes were registering in front of him, Griz was sure he was talking to an old, greasy merchant.
"You have a wolf?"
"A gold nugget is coveted by many. How much for a white wolf?”
Griz understood the meaning behind the kid’s words. What he didn't understand, was how some backwoods, illiterate child could rattle them out his mouth like normal. The child didn't even show fear. Instead, this conversation drifted down a path of two merchants haggling.
"White wolf sells for six silvers."
"Twenty silvers, or I sell it to a merchant on the outside."
What the heck! Griz looked like he swallowed a slug. This kid had the gall to bargain?
"Seven silver. And if you don't sell it to me, I will make sure not to buy a piece of firewood from you."
"Eighteen silvers, or I sell on the outside and just leave this village. A homeless bum like myself, has nothing to lose in this dump."
The brat had a point, scrutinizing him only reinforced his point. Griz was convinced the guy was a bum.
"Eight silvers. Most of the merchants deal with the Trading Post, so nobody is going to buy from a kid. Who is going to believe you killed a white wolf?"
"Twenty silvers, I will sell it to a Merchant not affiliated with your Trading Post. I can always say my dad killed it."
'Frick, the kid just jacked up the price! And now he had a dad?'
"Ten silvers then. No higher."
"Deal! Give me some time to get it. Won't take me too long."
The kid bounced out the shop and before Griz could process what just transpired, returned with another friend, dragging a white wolf on a stretcher. Griz stepped across and inspected the animal lying on the crude ladder-like transport.
The beast had recently been killed with the pelt in good condition, barring some holes at the back and neck.
"Good, good. When did you kill this?"
"Last night, you can tell the body hasn't even gotten overly stiff as yet."
G
riz made the usual thorough inspection shooting glances every now and then at the boys. The slightly larger one sported a dumb face, typical of the village children. His knees rattled every time Griz sent him a chilling stare.
The smaller boy appeared as calm as could be, conducting himself with the bearing of a seasoned merchant selling his wares.
"Good condition. Sold for ten silvers."
Amidst the noise from the large boy fainting to the ground in shock, the younger one remained standing furthermore stroking his chin with his hands. He didn't even both sparing a glance, at his crumpled companion.
"Very well. Throw in some of those rag bundles you have on the side and we got a deal. In addition, I need two silvers converted into copper coins. Let’s step inside the shop for this transaction, I want to buy some supplies as well."
Chu turned and headed into the supply shop on the side. He then halted, as he appeared to remember something important. Turning around he returned and slapped Ming awake before leaving the bay.
Griz just shook his head and followed. Once inside the shop Chu purchased some items and collected the remainder of the money. Currently, he served as the only customer, so he remained free of any curious eyes. He made doubly sure of that while they traded.
"Hey kid."
"Hmmm..."
Came the hum, as the brat turned busy counting his money.
"What would you have done if I just said I wasn't going to pay?"
Griz looked at the boy standing over the counter. He seemed interesting compared to the others from the slums. Even the village children didn't give off that aura.
"I take you for a merchant. No matter where you go merchants are the same. They know when to take advantage, and when a good deal is smacked on their faces. You offer your water well for the slum dwellers and gain cheap and free labor in return. But you know the limits. You won't rob me because I am the same as you--we can each bring the other benefits."
Griz narrowed his eyes and gazed at the ragtag boy in front. The kid did not have money for food, much less to travel. Is this boy really from the slums?
The older kid stood squirming on the side, as if he was holding up a hot shit. Very annoying and distracting. It broke his train of thoughts.