Eight days later.

  Purple streaks stretched across the sky as the sun slowly descended just beyond the horizon. The temperature steadily dropped to a cool degree as a light breeze danced along the grass and tree leaves.

  Edrimar spoke, his voice stern and gravily. “We still have seven more days before arrival, we should make camp tonight and get some rest.” His gaze remained sharp, matching the fierceness of his scar.

  The group followed the curve of a narrow path until the trees opened into a small clearing beside a clear, running stream. The sound of water felt like a relief after the long day’s march. Soft. Steady. Promising.

  Without a word, the adults began their tasks. Swiftly. Gracefully. Efficiently.

  Zarien crouched by the stream and dipped his fingers into the water. A faint glow rippled across the surface and the current slowed just enough for him to fill their animal skin canteens.

  “InuShin, Syelira,” Edrimar started, his expression neutral. Unreadable. “Gather some dry sticks for kindling. We’ll handle the rest.”

  Nodding eagerly, InuShin darted alongside Syelira into the underbrush, both quickly collecting armfuls of dry branches and fallen twigs of varying lengths and widths. Once they couldn’t carry anymore, they returned and placed the majority of them into a pile.

  Edrimar knelt beside the bundle and pressed a hand against one side. A spark leaped from his fingertips, and with a whisper of heat the fire sprang to life, casting flickering shadows across their faces.

  Maelira gently projected air into the flames, feeding them and circulating the warmth around them.

  Dravien, with a wave of his hand, flattened a section of the clearing, removing roots and stones until the ground was smooth enough for sleeping.

  No tent. No walls between them and the wild. Just bedrolls and simple woven pads that served as pillows. InuShin laid his pad out near the fire, feeling the warmth already seeping into the earth beneath him.

  With a little nudge from her elbow, Syelira teased him as she spread hers out beside his. “You’ve gotten faster at setting up camp.”

  He scoffed with laughter. “No more stumbling, but it’s easier the more I practice.”

  The rush of necessity gave way to the rhythm of the evening as the adults continued their work. The stream sang a lullaby. The fire crackled as the woodsmoke curled into the air.

  For a moment, InuShin stood there and embraced everything. A quiet magic of their small camp forming under the dusky sky.

  As the fire settled into flickering embers, Edrimar collected his spear and cleared his rough throat.

  “We’ll need meat for supper,” he said, his tone practical but inviting. His sharp gaze fell on InuShin and Syelira. “You two are coming with us tonight. It will be good practice. Leave your weapons, you won’t need them.”

  InuShin straightened immediately, nerves fluttering in his chest. Previously, he only watched them hunt but never partook in it. He nodded as he grabbed his tantō, securing it under his leather belt.

  “I heard a fyrboar nearby.” Edrimar motioned to their left. “Should provide us with plenty of meat.”

  InuShin fell into step behind Dravien and Edrimar, his ears pricking at every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs. His heart pounded at the uncertainty of what could happen.

  Syelira nudged him slightly and leaned closer, whispering. “Relax. It’s not so different from sneaking into the council meeting. Only this time you’re allowed to be here.”

  He shot his gaze towards her and noticed her tongue sticking out. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. I may be allowed here, but I’ve never killed anything. What if I don’t have it in me?

  Dravien crouched ahead and pressed his hand against the dirt. The ground shivered faintly and after a breath, he said. “Tracks. Fresh.”

  InuShin peered over Dravien’s shoulder, examining the hoofprints. They were large and deep, pressed sharply into the soil. His throat tightened. That thing must be massive.

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  As they moved, Edrimar kept his hand cupped, a faint glow casting soft light over their path. Bright enough to light their way, faint enough to avoid disturbing the forest creatures.

  In a small clearing, a fyrboar stood at 1.4 meters. Its thick, soot-black bristle coat emitted a faint warmth. Jagged tusks curving upward. Small embers flickered with each snort and grunt.

  That must weigh over five-hundred kilos. He stared in amazement. How are we gonna be able to take it down?

  “Remember,” Dravien muttered, “we work together. InuShin, Syelira, you two will distract it and draw its attention towards here. I will soften the ground to trap it. Once stuck, Edrimar will pierce its thick hide with his spear. So wait for the signal.”

  InuShin nodded, a shaken breath escaping him.

  Syelira offered an encouraging smile and mouthed, You’ve got this.

  “Enough talk,” Edrimar said flatly. Coldly. “Get into position.”

  Everyone took their assigned positions. InuShin and Syelira took their position behind a small bush. Dravien crouched beside a rock, palms pressed against the ground. Edrimar leaned back against a tree, spear in hand.

  Clearing his throat, Edrimar nodded towards InuShin and Syelira.

  Pushing themselves from behind the bush, they channeled their elements. InuShin pulled a narrow stream from his animal skin canteen and Syelira generated a sharp gust of wind. Both elements hurled towards the large creature, each one connecting with its face.

  Startled, the creature’s molten orange eyes zoned in on them and bolted towards. Grunts and squeals as it accelerated quickly. Ember-like sparks danced along its spine.

  InuShin’s heart pounded as he froze in place. They didn’t say what to do next!

  “InuShin, move!” Dravien’s voice echoed.

  “Shin!”

  As the fyrboar closed the gap, the ground beneath them shook and it softened beneath the creature’s hooves. It sank into the ground, squealing and grunting.

  Panic filled its eyes as it struggled. Puffs of hot air and embers expelled from the creature as it jerked in the thickened ground, unable to escape.

  Edrimar stepped out from behind the tree, spear in hand, and with a quick, precise strike, it pierced through the creature’s side. He twisted it clockwise and a sharp squeal escaped it.

  Each of them crouched beside the fyrboar.

  He stood there, watching, breath ragged. Never before had he witnessed the pulse of life fade so quickly.

  “InuShin, come.” Dravien motioned him over.

  Once he knelt beside the creature, Syelira closed her eyes and the others followed suit.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, voice quiet but strong. “For the life you gave, for the strength you shared, for the meal that will keep us moving.”

  InuShin repeated the words under his breath, their weight settling into his chest and shoulders. I just froze… Will I even be useful during a war?

  Edrimar pressed with palm against the ground, sending a brief glow of warmth through the soil. A final gesture of thanks. After rising to his feet, Edrimar hoisted the fyrboar over his shoulders with ease. “Let’s get this back to camp. We’ve earned our supper.”

  After returning back to the camp, Edrimar quickly took care of the fyrboar’s body; cleaned, sliced into thick cuts, and grilled it using some of the herbs and spices he brought along with him.

  His mother gathered some Bealraun berries from a nearby bush and Zarien brewed some Silfra Mossflower tea.

  Quietly staring at the meat, InuShin held his chopsticks in hand, examining the glistening char.

  An aroma mixture wafted into the air, smokey peppery from the fyrroot powder and savory, mushroomy and slightly sweet from the ochre spore.

  The crackling wood filled the silence between the occupants as they surrounded the fire.

  “Shin, you okay?” his mother said, disrupting his thoughts.

  He sat silently for a moment longer, exhaling. “I’ve never… killed anything before.” His voice was soft, almost swallowed by the crackling fire. “When my Father and I needed meat, we bought it. We never… did it ourselves.”

  Edrimar glanced at him over his meal, his tone blunt but not cruel. “You’d better get used to killing if you want to survive here. Meat doesn’t just appear on the fire.”

  InuShin’s shoulders tensed, carefully setting down his chopsticks.

  His mother said gently, cutting through the tension. “He’ll learn, in time. Survival is not only about knowing how to take life, but also understanding when and why you must. InuShin’s journey will teach him that.”

  What if I never learn? What if I’m not meant to ever kill? His heart twisted with the weight of failure.

  Syelira, seated beside InuShin, quickly changed the subject. She leaned forward, her eyes curious but kind.

  “Shin, what else did you and your Father do?,” she asked softly. “I remember you saying he was a blacksmith, but what about when he wasn’t making things.”

  Caught off guard, he blinked a few times. Slowly, a faint smile tugged at his lips. “We lived a quiet life because blacksmithing required a lot of time and dedication, especially for the level of craftsmanship he created.”

  He paused, shoulders relaxing as fond memories of his Father flooded his mind. “But in the time of relaxation. We would go for walks in the forest, swim in the nearby ocean, and whenever we had swords to present, we would travel to meet with the Shihai…”

  “What’s a shihai?” She tilted her head, ears perked high.

  “The ruler of our part of Japan. Japan is, or was, at constant war within itself. Everyone fighting for dominance and claim over the lands.” He grabbed his cup of tea, taking a sip as the minty aroma filled his nose. “So whenever my Father made enough swords, we’d go to the bigger village to present them to the Shihai. And while there, we’d sell farming tools and knives and then buy our meat there.

  “He taught me how to fish, too, although I wasn’t very good at it. It was a quiet life with him.” He forced a small smile. “I was better at taking care of our horse, Mikage.” His eyes shot open. “Mikage! I completely forgot. I hope she’s doing okay.”

  “I’m sure she’s doing well. Your Father took exceptionally well care of her before you were born.” Maelira joined in. “Your Father always had a calmness about him, even when times were difficult.”

  His chest tightened once more. I wonder what he’s doing right now.

  “My parents were like that too,” Syelira shifted her gaze towards the fire, its light flickering in her gentle zaffre eyes. “They were always helping someone, whether patching a roof, mending clothes, or just listening to someone’s troubles. They believed that kindness was the strongest thing a person could give.”

  She swallowed hard. “Even during the war, they refused to stop helping others. Even those outside our village. They never broke their promise to make the world a little better.

  Silence fell over the group, the fire popping softly.

  InuShin reached out and gently touched Syelira’s wrist. “They sound like good people. I think my Father would have liked them.”

  Syelira gave a small, grateful smile. The weight in the air lifted slightly The breeze whistled between the nearby leaves.

  The adults finished their meal and Zarien took the dishes to the stream, cleaning them.

  Without words, InuShin and Syelira returned to their supper. A slight crunch from the charred meat, mixed with the savory and sweet flavors.