It was the morning of their departure. The guild master met them at the gates, and the mood was pensive as they seemed agitated and worried.

“The beast was last seen north of here.” The guild master paced back and forth holding their hands behind their back. “One of the woodsmen saw it chewing on a dead animal carcass and didn’t stick around to get a better look. I think he was smart.” the guild master stopped pacing to look mark dead in the eye. “The most important thing is to come back alive. We can still get a larger group together if needed, but you only have one life.”

Mark was nodding along but paused at the irony of that last statement.

“I can understand some amount of fear.” The guild master taking the pause wrong. “But from what you’ve told me, you guys have a solid plan. Stick to it.”

“That’s what we plan on doing. Don’t worry.” Mark hitched at the straps holding his large axe to his back. His breastplate armour shining in the morning light. One of the long spears they had borrowed pointing straight up into the sky.

“I can wish you nothing but good luck from this point.” The guild master put their hand forth to shake.

Taking his hand, Mark shook it once, hard. “We’ll take all the good luck you have.”

With that, the four strode out into the wilderness beyond the gates. Tim took the lead and made their way into the forest.

“We’re going to follow the river until we see any bear sign.” Tim spoke as they walked. “At the first sign, we are setting up camp and doing preparations. That should be the edge of it’s territory.”

“What other preparations?” Paul was also lugging a long spear along with, each step causing it to thump into the ground.

“Mostly it’ll be finding the trap spot.” Tim pointed at a tree with his own long spear. “The net will be held up between a couple of trees. Francis and yourself, Paul, will be up in those trees ready to drop the net. Me and Mark will be hiding in a bush or behind a tree ready to pop out and take the bear with the spears while it’s trapped in the net.”

“Makes sense to me, but why three spears?” Paul shook the heavy weapon he was carrying.

“Would have been four if Francis could carry one, but it’s in case one breaks.” Tim glanced back at the halfling trailing behind.

“Would have been happy to help, but ya know.” Francis gestured down his body. “World isn’t always built for someone my size.”

Tim resettled his own pack which made a slight sloshing motion. “I can’t blame you for that, you’ll have your part to play later.”

“And all that... meat?” Paul poked the overstuffed pack on Tim’s back.

“Plan A for bait.” Paul walked on. “It’s also your guys’ lunch.”

“What’s plan B?” Francis asked.

“Really depends on how fast you can run Francis.” Tim chuckled.

The miles passed on much like the last time they had left the city. Tim led them to the river and they followed it upstream until the sun started to get low in the sky. The wind had brought a slight chill to the air. Tim called a halt to their walk and they made camp by the river.

Packs were dropped, the long spears leaned against a tree, and, at Paul’s insistence, branches and only branches were gathered for a fire.

“This campfire will be lit. [Prestidigitation].” The red rune ring flowed easily down Paul’s arm and encompassed the stack of firewood. The logs quickly engulfed in flames becoming a campfire.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“That is a neat trick.” Tim patted Paul’s back. “Not needing tinder or kindling saves a bunch of searching.”

“It’s good practice too.” Paul suppressed the painful tingle in his right arm. “I think I’m getting used to the backlash.”

Francis was digging through Tim’s pack. “What do we have to eat today?”

Tim reached past Francis to grab a specially wrapped package. “This is venison apparently. And what we’ve got for the bait is mostly organs. The smellier the better. So don’t go opening packages willy nilly else we’ll be found by the bear in our sleep.”

Francis immediately stopped searching and stepped back. “Speaking of sleep, what were you able to get together for us?”

“For Mark and Myself, we got a tent.” Tim removed the attached roll of fabric from the exterior of their backpack. “For Paul, I found a mat and blanket what with his alternative sleeping arrangements. And for yourself Francis, I got this hammock thing.”

“Never used a hammock for sleeping before.” Francis stretched out the ropes and cloth that acted almost like netting.

“I think you’ll like it.” Tim pointed towards a suitable pair of trees. “Set it up between those two. Won’t ever have to worry about hard ground with that. Next time, we’ll get a tarp in case it rains, but that shouldn’t happen today.”

With the fire lit, Tim skewered the meat on sticks and handed them off to Paul for cooking. From there the dwarf set about erecting the tent they and Mark would share.

“You’re very good at this.” Mark noted as he tied off a guy line giving the tent some shape.

“I’ve had to lead group camps a number of times in my life.” Tim hammered a stake home with their fist. “As we do more of these together I think I’ll be able to take it easier on the direction.”

“You can stay the camp director as long as you like.” Mark smirked. “Be sure to keep us doing the right thing.”

“Ho there!” a voice came out through the trees.

All four whipped their heads in the direction of the sound. From further up stream of the river stood a man covered in animals skins. They were standing on the river bank, waving with one arm and had a bow slung on their shoulder being held in place with the other.

Mark stood up and cupped his mouth to shout. “Hey there, you from West Green? One of the woodsmen?”

The man scratched at their thick beard. “Can’t say that I am, nor am I that other thing. What brings you into these woods this deep?”

“Bear hunting.” Mark continued to yell. “Getting too close to town. Have you seen it?”

The man started walking closer to the group picking their way across the stone and sand of the riverbank. “That bear has been moving around a lot this season.” They got within a comfortable speaking distance.

Tim spoke up. “You know the bear? Has it always been this aggressive?”

“Always this aggressive, yeah I could say that.” The man had a relaxed posture. “It’s usually much further to the north, might have been pushed out of it’s normal territory for some reason.”

“We’ll we’re just sitting down for something to eat. Join us?” Tim gestured to a space next to the fire.

“Kind of you.” the man took a seat and the other four joined him around the fire.

The sun was setting now and the illumination provided by the fire gave everything a warm glow. Cool wind was pushing the smoke out over the river and the rustle of leaves was soothing. It was a perfect early fall day.

The cooked meat was passed around by Paul who started on a new skewer for himself. Mark, Francis, and the man chewed at the tough meat.

“Could use some spices.” Francis gnawed on the meat. “Should have asked Greta for some.”

“If wishes were fishes.” Mark mumbled around his meal.

The man had eaten his piece of meat with gusto. “So, what’s your plan for dealing with Kiva?”

“Kiva, the bear’s name I presume?” Tim raised a pointed finger. “And what’s your name stranger?”

“Never cared for my name, call me the hermit.” the hermit gave a broad smile. “I’ve called that particular bear Kiva all my life. She’s got these scars around her muzzle so that’s how I know she’s who she is.”

“Mark, Francis, Paul, and Tim.” Tim nodded and pointed to everyone around the campfire. “We’re planning a net trap and then spears, we’ve got a bunch of deer guts for bait.”

“It’s a good plan.” the hermit nodded. “What were you thinking of doing with the animal afterwards?”

“Weren’t thinking much. You’re welcome to the carcass if that’s what you’re after.” Tim pointed back the way they had come. “Town was worried about people getting injured. So once it’s taken care of, the problem is solved from our point of view.”

“Then let me do you a favour as you’re about to do me one in turn.” The hermit got up to brush away a spot of ground to lay down their own bedroll. “I’ll lead you to Kiva in the morning. You’ll deal with the animal, and I’ll get myself a pelt. Sounds fair?”

“Fair is fair.” Tim held out their hand for the hermit to shake.

Taking the rock like hand, the hermit shook and glanced over at Paul. “That one supposed to be not moving like that?”

Tim looked over at Francis waving a hand in front of Paul’s face who didn’t react at all. Francis gently took the burnt piece of meat and rested it on the log before gently laying a blanket over Paul’s shoulders.

“He’s just been walking all day. Plum tuckered out.” Tim waved away the concern.