The Red Lands 1

by ForestRage

  Miki pinched his arm and pointed to the forest stifling a gasp from her mouth.

  From the forest in the dusk, shadows emerged from under the trees, materializing into familiar shapes.

  A wolf pack had arrived.

  Chapter 21

  A Beginner's Guide to Hunting

  "Chu what do we do?!"

  "Should we hide in the cellar?"

  "They might smell us and try to dig us out!"

  "Then run? I heard tales that no one is faster than wolves on the open grasslands. They wear you down before closing in for the kill!"

  "Maybe we should climb up to the lookout and hide?"

  "But if they stay, we would starve, no way we can carry food, and all fit up there."

  Chu didn't pay much attention to the conversations around him. It was normal for children to panic. Even children who were forced to live a tough life in the slums. Currently, the most important thing was to stay calm and focused. This advantage he alone had over the others.

  His experience as an adult allowed him to calm down and assess the situation faster than a child. Taking some deep breaths to clear his mind, he focused on recalling a procedure. Out in the wilderness, he expected a raid by wild animals.

  The design on the interior of the barn accounted for such eventuality. His heart pounded not because of fear, but from the excitement of implementing a carefully thought out plan for the first time.

  He planned to tread carefully, step by step until the task was completed.

  The preparations and modifications suited this situation, but the sheer number of the wolves made him nervous.

  "Sakura, take your time and climb up to Miki. I want you to provide a quick count."

  "Miki. Look around and see if there are other beast besides wolves lurking around. Especially those like wildcats and Jagas. "

  Chu read about tree climbing cats in the guide. Wildcats had similar features to a leopard on earth but with green and black stripes, while a Jaga looked like a brown coated large tiger. The cats relied on their speed and stealthy ambushes to subdue prey.

  These animals also possessed great climbing skills.

  Miki had keen eyes, suitable for her role as a lookout. Sakura had a quiet disposition, but she could count the best, except for Chu. If not for the education classes most of these children would only know what eight coppers looked like.

  Saving eight coppers would buy the staple of the slums diet, used for making gruel—A rock bread.

  "Sue carry any food we have by the oven into the cellar, and hand me a few pouches of the emergency rations. Dyna help her. "

  They could access the platform from the new trap door that led to the space under it via a ladder. The location at the rear placed it away from the barricading fence and away from danger. Even someone wielding a long spear couldn't reach them.

  "Clod make sure the fence under the platform looks good and get the ropes for the doors ready."

  "Ming, you and Lucy get two spears, the crossbows and bolts. Leave the rest of the weapons in the cellar. Bring them up to the platform."

  Chu was calm as he gave out the orders to the group. He spoke clearly, and loud enough for everyone to hear. One of the first things he learned on the job was the importance of taking control. Displaying fear and uncertainty as a leader would only serve to foster doubts in his team.

  "Why are you running? Stop and take some deep breaths, that’s it. We have practiced for this type of scenario for a month. Leave everything to me."

  On the grasslands what he felt was a different story. Out in the open plains he might seem like a juicy steak laid out in front of a hungry dog. When Griz relayed the information on the wolves he was as unprotected as the people in the slums.

  He felt stupid in not considering the risk involved in walking to the village as highly as he should have.

  If they had delayed by one day, there was no doubt he would have died on the grasslands today.

  'I was such an idiot. Like I wanted to test if this world has reincarnation! I was a fool for not reading the situation properly!'

  Chu's main wildlife experience came from documentaries watched in the comfort of his couch. He retched a few times when he strained the waste fat making the pellets. He vomited after the first kill, his lungs refusing to draw air after the adrenaline rush had subsided.

  Living in a time where death, blood and gore occupied a person’s daily life nauseated him at first. The fact that he had no path to return home to earth, along with the harsh conditions needed to survive, steeled his heart.

  Bile might still rise in his throat at a gory sight, but he didn’t retch and vomit like before.

  With the mind of a man within this child's body, he already told himself to suck it up. One thing he did earn from firsthand experience was that wolves were the same as back in his world. Albeit bigger and vicious looking.

  They were cunning and vindictive in planning.

  They were also ferocious when attacking as a group.

  But they were deadlier and more overwhelming if they caught you on open ground.

  But they couldn't climb.

  He learned this in the forest, and he would use that useful knowledge he had risked his life to earn.

  It was also the reason behind the contraptions built during the last month.

  "Ming, bring up the large jar with the mushroom pellets."

  Chu stood up with his hands behind his back as he supervised them scurrying around. He portrayed the picture of a team leader issuing instructions to his subordinates.

  "Chu, all I see are the wolves. Most of them are standing just outside the forest. There are two of them circling around the barn at a distance and gradually coming closer."

  Sakura climbed down to the platform her face flushed.

  "I counted twenty-three. Miki said she didn't see anything further in the shadows of the forest. The darkness makes it hard to see."

  Chu patted the little girls head.

  "Good job. You did well."

  It didn't take long for the orders to be completed. Despite the low temperature, the children tugged at the drenched clothes. Chu provided some time to allow the heavy breathing to subside, and for their minds to calm.

  "Miki, Ming, Lucy and I will remain on the platform. The rest of you will hide in the cellar. Keep the trapdoor closed until we reopen it. If anything happens, immediately move to the passageway. Use the spears in the passageway if you find yourselves in danger."

  He continued, looking at the dismal faces attached to jittery bodies.

  "We should finish and wrap things up here by tonight.”

  Chu gave some words of comfort and had Ming follow them to help shut the cellar door. They had the torches and oil lamps for light and enough food to last for weeks down there. He just had some food as a precaution in the event something unexpected happened.

  "Miki how far are they now?"

  "I can't see, because it's getting dark, but every now and again a wolf would keep coming closer and then run back into the darkness."

  "Ming light four of the oil lamps on the walls. Don't bother with the bonfire. Lucy, get two pellets into the holding bay for now. You and Miki are responsible for throwing the pellets into the cage."

  On the wall of the barn Clod had made small shelves about eight-foot-high to rest the small oil lamps. If they ever ran low on firewood Chu would use them for a light source during the late evening and early night. Using a small portable ladder Ming started lighting them. These lamps were secured in place by the bottom being placed into custom made fitted boxes.

  Chu gave Lucy about forty pellets. She scattered them as instructed by Chu. Once completed she returned to the platform with the remainder.

  "Miki have the wolves reached up to the barn?"

  "No, but they are moving closer, in a few moments they would be really close."

  Chu snorted.

  "Let them come, we are not the same frightened slum children as before."

 
Don't forget the reason for living far away was not only to get away from the slum ruffians. Since he came to this world he had to survive by hunting. He had no idea how to hunt, much less to track animals.

  He could only rely on those animals bold enough to approach him. Wild birds, hares and even deer proved unfeasible because he possessed zero skills in tracking and trapping.

  He long realized the simplicity in targeting animals willing to approach him. Chu only hunted predators.

  "Ming get the rope for the door ready. Double check it and make sure to unblock the doors. Get up here soon as you’re done."

  The doorway of the barn had undergone some modification by Chu. It had also taken nearly the whole month to complete. The barn had two entrances at the front. One was the small entrance which they were accustomed using for day to day activities.

  The outside design had it looking no different from the walls of the barn. It was a hidden entrance way when closed.

  The other had the appearance of a small door from the outside, complete with a door-frame and the works. The height reached to about four feet, and wide enough to allow one person to pass through freely.

  The door opened by means of a rope raising it off the ground, similar to a sluice gate.

  On entering this door, a person would be trapped in a small fenced area, with another sluice gate.

  Ming unbarred the doors last and made sure the ropes were on the platform. He then clambered up a portable ladder to reach Chu. Together they raised the ladder up onto the platform.

  "Lucy get some more bolts up to Miki. I want her to remain there so as to keep a lookout and help us escape if by chance a wolf makes it onto the platform."

  "The rest of us will remain down here. Ming and I will have the spears, since Lucy will keep a crossbow for emergency. We need to ensure all the wolves come inside. None must be allowed to escape."

  If they knew what eyes that reflected dollar-signs looked like in this world they would have finally seen it in real life. The aura seeping from Chu was not the kind that even a guard would emit on learning he was surrounded by a hungry wolf pack.

  They did know what it felt like with their little experience from living in the slums.

  It was akin to a slum resident spotting a free loaf of rock bread discarded on the ground.

  Ming shifted away as he glanced at Chu warily.

  "Then what boss?"

  Chu looked at the idiot grinning sheepishly on the side. He very well knew the answer to his rhetorical question.

  "Ask me a stupid question like that again and the next time we need something from the village, it’s going to be you making that trip alone."

  The grin quickly turned into a pitiful expression.

  "Shush! they're coming!"

  Ming and Chu hoisted the outer door. Now the inner one remained closed.

  Chu and the others sat on the platform quietly watching the entrance. Miki kept her eyes roaming between them and outside.

  Low growls and sounds of pattering feet echoed eerily from outside. After a wait that seemed like ages a low growl finally came from the entrance. First the snout, the head then the entire body slowly very slowly walked through.

  Chu could never be accustomed to the fear this animal brought. If caught in the open by this beast, then the fearsome aura reeking out from it was enough to throw a person into despair. He silently berated himself again for the risk he had taken unaware of this danger on that simple journey yesterday.

  The growls continued as the wolf sniffed around. It raised its head constantly trying to peer behind this fence, but the children were partially hidden. The growls deepened as if trying to scare them into moving.

  No matter where you were, this was a horrifying sight.

  Chapter 22

  Using a little experience

  The large canine paused as it scanned the interior of the barn.

  Sniffing around it found a fat coated pellet and quickly swallowed. Once Chu saw the action of the wolf, he signaled to drop the gate. The beast scratched and pawed the wooden planks and then noticed the opening leading into the barn.

  Stepping into the large open area, it raised its nose and sniffed. Another pellet attracted its eyes, however as it trotted over to gulp it down. Ming open the outer doors, securing the rope to the side of the barn.

  The growls from the wolf served to attract the pack, as in single file they swarmed into the barn. Since discovering the scent of the children, the wolves snarled and howled, running around seeking a pathway to the defenseless prey.

  As an incentive, the children throwed the pellets into the fray, aiming for the newcomers. Chu counted the line as they entered the barn. On pausing at twenty-one and seeing no signs of further visitors, the sluice gate slammed closed.

  Why didn’t the hunters of this world employ such traps?

  Chu forgot that over the years, the wolf created a reputation steeped in imagination and rumors. Hunters in the forest might take their chances against a single stray wolf but avoided a pack altogether.

  The legends and enigma surrounding the beast, caused most locals to remain wary and fearful. Trapping an animal, much less an entire pack never entered the mind of the superstitious. Villagers left such cunning beast in the hands of the garrison.

  It was truly comparable to the middle ages of earth when common folks simply resigned themselves over to their fates. Even he himself would never try to face these creatures out in the open, much less for the frightened inhabitants.

  With the trap set, Chu lobbed the pellets over at the expectant wolves, as the poison made the journey into different gullets. The faster the wolves lost strength and the rational to think, then he planned to attack.

  Chu did not want the beast breaking through the side boards or chewing and ripping it to escape. He waited until he saw the familiar signs of the pellets. These had been made even stronger than the last.

  Soon Chu witnessed the signs, as wolves one by one began to wobble and trot away from the platform. He focused on the more vigorous and lively ones, feeding them the drug. Convinced the time to pluck the fruit had arrived, he called Miki down from the lookout.

  "Aim for their heads. Try to kill the wolf that stumbles when walking. One shot, we need to conserve our bolts."

  Armed with four crossbows, the whizzing sound filled the barn, followed by yelps and howls of panic. They had practiced for a month by shooting at a large stationary target. It took some time before a mobile wolf finally died.

  "Good job Miki, first kill is yours. Congratulations on your first wolf."

  A few minutes after and Lucy killed the second with a head-shot.

  "Great job Lucy. Nothing less from our bravest fighter."

  "What ya mean bravest fighter? I'm the biggest here, I the bravest!"

  "Why didn't you show your bravery when that damn bear nearly ate me, huh?"

  The thought that kept Chu distracted, didn’t materialize. The wolves had succumbed to the poison such that thought of escape and breaking through the walls never entered their affected minds.

  After a few misses and hits on a wolf shoulder and leg, a crossbolt whistled from his weapon, puncturing a swaying beast in the neck. The target dropped to the ground, gurgling its last breath. Chu finally bagged his first wolf while using a crossbow in this world.

  The massacre continued for the next few hours. Chu had them take turns when his fingers bled from resetting the crossbow. Holding up the weapon proved to be a task, as his arms trembled. As the numbers dwindled, the misses became frequent.

  Chu called a time out, for a welcome breather. The risk of the wolves escaping had long dropped.

  "Crap look at that shot."

  Chu was surprised as well as he looked up. Ming killed a wolf with a bolt through one of the eyes. In this poor lighting that was one hell of an aim.

  Just when he wanted to praise him, the boy had to open his mouth.

  "These crossbows are really hard to reload, I wasn't even ready, and
the trigger accidentally went off..."

  The only thing he could do was close his mouth and shake his head.

  The night continued as wolf after wolf fell from their hands. Halfway through this ordeal some of the saner wolves began to try to seek a way out, but by then the poison had taken its toll.

  It was like drunk men being caught up in a bar fight among other drunk men. Whether they wanted to or not, the motor skills just couldn't deliver them out from being in the middle of the action.

  In the dim light, corpses were on the floor with bolts protruding out of their heads or from other parts of their bodies. As children with no real experience, this outcome secured a passing grade.

  Chu didn't mind if their actions looked clumsy and unprofessional. In time and with training and experience progress would be inevitable. He decided to strike the iron while hot.

  When they were down to five wolves he stopped the attack. He explained the next part of his plan to the children who now sprawled on the platform. After a little rest, Ming opened the trapdoor and climbed down the inside ladder to the kitchen.

  He tiptoed gingerly to grab a spear kept in the corner. With a pounding heart he made his way towards the fence. His near silent footsteps and looming figure alerted the wolves, as one of them stumbled forward and slammed itself onto the wooden plank.

  Bending a little from the body of a quarter-ton wolf the fence withstood the blow. As the rest of the pack mounted uncoordinated attacks, Ming walked while keeping watch on the wolves. His legs regained strength backed by the confidence of the fence.

  "Ming get the trapdoor open, call Clod and the girls up here quickly. Lucy, grab a spear and climb down. Keep the wolves from the fence by stabbing at them."

  "Let's get the others to gain some practice."

  ✽✽✽

  The adventurers considered themselves an average party at best. In terms of tracking and hunting deer and boar within the forest, their skills had them on par with the best in the village.

  For fifteen years they roamed the forest north of the village, earning silvers through the tracking and ambushing of deer and wildlife. They considered themselves as veterans, having survived through the clashes of two wolf packs over the years.