Chapter 07: Cunning

Elan heaved a sigh of relief. He had not expected to kill the cowbull with one throw. Smiling, he took a deep breath to calm his adrenaline. Then Elan pulled the spear from the cowbull's head and looked at the others and asked, "How about the others? Did they succeed as well?"

His father pointed to the other group of six. The children followed his gesture and saw that the other group had also successfully taken down a cowbull. They rejoiced, and one of the kids exclaimed, "Yay, we can head home!" Another kid added, "Who would have thought it would be this easy for our first time, huh?" and slapped the back of his friend.

"We were fortunate today. It's not common for cowbulls to wander into this area, this made our hunt easier than it could have been. But don't let this success make you complacent. Hunting can be unpredictable, and not every hunt will go this smoothly. We need to stay focused, vigilant, and prepared for more challenging situations."

"Remember, this was only your first hunt. There will be times when the prey is more elusive, or the terrain is more difficult. You might encounter wild beasts that are far more aggressive or cunning. You must remain sharp and never underestimate the dangers of the hunt."

"Today, you did well. You followed your training, worked as a team, and achieved success. But don't let today's ease fool you into thinking all hunts will be like this. Always be on guard, use your skills, and trust your instincts. Each hunt is a new test, and you must be ready to face it with the same determination and caution."

He finished with a firm tone, "Good job today, everyone. But remember, this is just the beginning. Stay focused, stay prepared, and never let your guard down."

The children quieted down, listened attentively to him, and nodded, including Elan.

"Now, Caleb, bring the large cloth and rope," Daren instructed.

Caleb quickly fetched the large cloth and rope from their supplies nearby.

Working together, the group tied the cowbull securely and rolled it over onto the large cloth. This made it easier to pull the heavy beast.

Elan and the other children took hold of the cloth and rope, and with coordinated effort, they began to drag the cowbull back towards the path they had been on. The method made the task manageable, and the group worked efficiently under the guidance of Elan's father.

As they approached the path, they saw the other group also slowly approaching them. When they finally made it to the path where Elan's group was, they congratulated each other on their successful hunts.

Torin noticed the dead cowbull in the other group and was surprised to see that it was free of wounds. Usually, when they hunted, the beasts were covered in punctures from spears, swords, or knives.

Confused, Torin walked over to the cowbull that Elan's group had taken down. When he saw that the cause of death was a headshot, he let out a whistle of admiration. He asked who had killed the beast. The children all responded in unison that it was Elan, with just one throw. Shocked, Torin looked at Elan with a smile. "Great job, Elan. Keep up the great work."

Torin praised him, and the other children in Torin's group joined in with their compliments.

"Elan, you're going to be the best hunter in the village someday!"

"Yeah, we're lucky to have you on our team."

Elan felt a bit embarrassed by all the praise from his peers and Torin, but he was also proud. He realized that his teammates had a lot of faith in him, as none of them doubted his capabilities for a second. This was exactly what he had been striving for during his intense training sessions.

Daren then cut the celebration short with a serious tone. "Alright, everyone, listen up. I know you're all excited about our success today, but we need to stay focused. We're not safe yet. There have been times when, after a hunt, attracted by the smell of blood, the other wild beasts that aren't afraid of us have attacked, trying to steal our kills. This isn't over until we get back to the village safely, there have been incidents where hunters were injured because they let their guard down, thinking the danger had passed."

Torin nodded in agreement and added, "That's right. I've seen it happen. Just because we've taken down our targets doesn't mean the hunt is over. Stay alert and be ready to defend yourselves and your prize. The forest is full of unpredictable dangers."

The children nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. The excitement from their successful hunt faded slightly, replaced by a renewed sense of vigilance and worry.

Daren noticed that some kids were worried, and he reassured them. "Do not be afraid. Stay together and keep your eyes open. If anything seems off, signal the group immediately. We need to get these cowbulls back to the village in one piece, and that means we all need to stay sharp."

With that, the groups tightened their formations and started slowly pulling the two cowbulls back to their village.

For the first hour, nothing happened. But the atmosphere was tense; the only sounds they heard were the rustling of leaves in the trees and the crunching of leaves underfoot. Every rustle of the leaves and every crunch of the ground made some of the children jump due to the tension. They kept looking around, constantly on guard, in case a wild beast suddenly appeared. Their eyes darted back and forth, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger, and their ears tuned to the slightest noise that might signal a threat.

Another hour passed, and the group began to relax a little, though they remained alert. Even as they relaxed slightly, they kept their eyes and ears open. As they continued to pull the two cowbulls, they gradually ate the meat they had brought along to stave off hunger and fatigue. The occasional bite of food helped them maintain their strength and focus.

Then another 30 minutes passed. The group heaved a sigh of relief when they saw the river, which indicated they were close to the village. Just one more hour of walking, and they would be home. Seeing the familiar landmark, the children's spirits lifted, and their weariness began to fade. They were even more relieved when they noticed Daren and Torin smiling, thinking they were out of the danger zone. The sight of their leaders' relaxed expressions reassured them, and they allowed themselves to believe that the most difficult part of their journey was behind them.

Elan also noticed the relaxed facial expressions of his father and Torin, but what bothered him were the tense muscles in their bodies, signaling to him that they were not yet out of the safety zone. Elan quickly told his fellow children to stay vigilant.

The children were puzzled by Elan's warning, especially since they were so close to the village. However, seeing the seriousness on Elan's face, they decided to follow his advice without question.

Daren and Torin noticed what Elan was doing and nodded to each other in approval, acknowledging Elan's cautiousness and leadership.

Minutes later, and true to Elan's vigilance, a loud rustle and growl suddenly sounded from their left side. The children were rattled momentarily, but Elan's father quickly organized them. They faced the direction of the growl, prepared for any danger. Then another growl came from their right side, and they turned to face that direction. Shortly after, a growl echoed from behind them, forcing them to change positions again.

As the tension grew, some of the children began to voice their frustrations and fears.

"Why is this happening now? We were so close to the village!"

"I thought we were safe when we saw the river. How can we be in more danger now, so close to home?"

Elan, sensing the growing panic, tried to reassure them. "Stay focused. I know it's scary, but we've trained for situations like this. We just need to stick together and remember what we've learned."

Daren spoke to the group, "Elan's right, don't worry. It's just one beast. The real danger is that this one seems to be cunning."

After several minutes of changing positions in response to the growls from different directions, the noises finally stopped. They all faced the path leading back into the forest, waiting tensely.

Suddenly, a very loud growl came from behind them, and they quickly turned to defend themselves. When they saw the wild beast blocking their path to the village, the group turned pale with fear. Even Daren and Torin looked alarmed, and most of the children started shaking, with some even wetting their loincloths in terror.