Make A Trap

Luke glanced around and said, "Alright, for this trap, we need a few things—ropes, a knife, and an open space. Here’s the plan: you find a spot where the trees are spaced out enough for us to set the trap properly. Meanwhile, I’ll take care of the rope and knife."
Karan nodded and headed deeper into the forest. After a short search, he found a clearing that seemed suitable for the trap. Satisfied with the spot, he returned to Luke and saw him working with the vines, twisting them together to make strong ropes. In his other hand, he was sharpening a small, pointed stone against another rock to craft a makeshift knife.
Curious, Karan asked, "These look pretty solid. Where’d you learn to make them?"
Luke smirked. "I told you before, my father was a top-class adventurer. I learned all of this from him. We used to come to this forest together often, even went hunting a few times. So I have some experience… but I’m not perfect."
Karan nodded. "That’s impressive. So, what’s next?"
"Now that we have the tools, we just need to use them right. Did you find a spot?"
"Yeah, follow me."
Karan led Luke to the clearing, and without wasting time, Luke started digging a pit. Karan quickly joined in, helping him.
As he worked, a thought crossed Karan’s mind. Oh, I get it. He’s making a pit and covering it with branches to disguise it. When the boar steps on it, it’ll fall in, and we’ll catch it together. Even though this is just a game, the logic is simple. But will the boar even come this way? And even if it does, what if it avoids the trap?
His thoughts were interrupted when Luke called out, "Karan…"
"Yeah, what is it?"
"That’s deep enough. We don’t need to go any further."
Karan looked at the pit, frowning. "That’s it? But it’s not that deep. Will the boar even fall in?"
Luke grinned. "We’re not actually trying to trap it in the pit. If it were that easy, even kids could do it. This pit is just a distraction. Watch this."
He and Karan scattered some bushes and tree branches over the pit, but only lightly, leaving gaps in between.
Karan tilted his head. "Okay… now what?"
Luke got to work, twisting the ropes into four or five loops and setting them up in strategic spots around the pit. He buried one rope’s noose slightly under the soil, then did the same with the others. Karan watched, puzzled at first, but then realization hit him.
With a smirk, Karan said, "Man, I thought this would be a simple trap, but after seeing what you’re doing, I feel like that boar isn’t an ordinary animal."
Luke chuckled. "What do you mean, ‘pig’?"
Karan corrected himself, "Sorry, I mean that wild boar doesn’t seem like just another beast."
"You’re right. These boars are smart. The moment they sense danger, they change their entire strategy. Now, there’s only one thing left to do. Stay here—I’ll drive the herd toward us."
Karan quickly took cover behind a tree as Luke approached the herd. Without hesitation, Luke attacked, sending the boars scattering. Some of them instinctively ran toward the trap. Karan held his breath as they approached.
One boar spotted the pit and hesitated, changing direction at the last second. However, as it stepped onto a concealed rope, it immediately became alert and tried to adjust its movement. In doing so, its other leg got caught in another noose. The more it struggled, the more entangled it became. Soon, all four of its legs were bound, and it collapsed onto the ground, completely trapped.
Luke smirked. "See that? It’s fast and sharp, but it’s still young. In about six months, it’ll be old enough to fight for dominance. If it wins, it’ll become the leader of its herd, and all the female boars will be his mates."
Karan laughed. "So basically, it’s building its own harem."
Luke chuckled along.
Karan then asked, "Alright, so what’s next?"
Luke pulled out his knife. "Now, we kill it. If we don’t, it’ll just keep making noise and attract more predators."
Karan curiously asked, "And then?"
"Then we cook and eat it. Its meat is delicious."
Karan raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know how to cook it properly?"
Luke hesitated. "Well… I’ve seen my mother cook it."
Karan shook his head. "Then forget it. How far is the town from here?"
"About three to four hours on foot."
"Then wait. Don’t kill it yet."
Luke looked confused. "Why not?"
Karan explained, "Look, your mom gave us food, right? That should be enough to last a few hours. If we kill it now, we’ll have to cook it ourselves, and you just admitted you don’t know how. And if we take the meat to town, it’ll start to rot by the time we get there."
Luke thought for a moment. "So you’re saying we should take it to town alive?"
"Exactly. Fresh meat sells for a better price, and if we can sell a live boar, we might get even more."
Luke was intrigued. "How much do you think we’d get for one boar?"
Karan smirked. "Let’s catch another one. We’ll get at least four silver tusks for two, maybe more if we negotiate well."
Luke scratched his head. "I’ve never sold a live boar before, so I don’t know if it’ll work. But it’s worth a shot."
"That’s the spirit. If we’re already putting in this much effort, why not make it worth it?"
They both agreed to set another trap. After finishing their meal, they repeated the process and successfully caught a second boar. Once both boars were securely tied up, they set off for town.
As they walked, Luke shared stories about different beasts and survival techniques. The sun began to set, and by the time they finally reached their destination, the town was bathed in the soft glow of twilight.
Karan took in the sight. The town was massive, much larger than he had expected.
Luke pointed ahead. "There are four gates to this town, each in a different direction—North, South, East, and West. This here is the West Gate, the one closest to our village. That’s why we always use this entrance."
As they approached, Karan noticed a large board hanging above the gate. Bold letters stood out against the wooden surface:
"Welcome to Mutespire Town."