Kaara followed her mother through the camp. It was still so lively at night. The hunters were gathered, sharpening their weapons, taking inventory of their arrows, and eating a hearty meal.

Kaara got to enjoy some Malaki jerky and Ingen jam on fresh baked hardtack.

“Quit thumping your tail while you eat.”

“I cund hulb it”

“Swallow your food. Did your father not teach you any manners?”

Kaara gulped, “I can’t help it!”

After breakfast, Kaara was given a dark colored pelt, bow with seven arrows, a stone ax, dagger, and a hunting spear. Along with a bit of food she’d be having for lunch, leather armor to protect her body and her tail, and a knapsack with a healing potion and a waterskin.

Kaara felt cool wearing the armor. She went around to the other hunters to show off how cool she looked.

When it was finally time to move out, Kaara followed her mother, “Me and Tiksu did some talking. We’re both going to mentor you. If there are Malaki in the area Tiksu will be with you. If not, I’m with you. Learn as much as you can from us, alright? I can only hope this isn’t a fleeting obsession of yours.”

Kaara was doing poses with her spear, “I’m a Venator Knight mama! We honor promises when we make them!”

“Then keep up. It’s time to learn how to become a huntress. If we don’t come back with some food, the camp will go hungry.”

Kaara gasped, “No! We can’t let that happen!”

Tika nodded, “People are counting on us, so get serious.”

Kaara put on her serious face, “What are your orders, captain?”

Tika shook her head, smiling, “I suppose that’s the best I can hope for with you. Alright, we’re going to be tracking down Katuul today. They’re large elemental bovines and they can get territorial if left alone. They’re dangerous, but you’ll be with me so you’ll be fine. I want you to practice hiding. Learn to erase your presence with whatever means you can. And watch me very closely.

Kaara shadowed her mother, trying to remember the training she’d gotten since she was old enough to walk. She remembered how the Stickbug had still been able to sense her when she was hiding.

She needed to do better.

Her feet pressed over the damp soil. It had rained during the day, and the smell of soaked leaves filled the air. Small drops of water slid down from the trees onto her clothes. When her mother got low, so did she. When she stopped, Kaara stopped. And as much as Kaara had been trained in stealth, her mother was almost unnaturally good at it.

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Where Kaara still breathed, stepped, and rustled with dampened volume, her mother was a ghost.

She glided along the forest floor in absolute silence right down to her breathing. Kaara wondered how she could still see so easily in the dark like this.

Kaara wasn’t as blind as a human in the dark, but her mother seemed to notice every detail like it was still daytime.

“Watch your step. That’s a trapvine.”

“How could you see that?”

“You’ll learn how soon enough. But I didn’t see it, I could smell it.”

Kaara sniffed the air. It smelled sweet like a bakery.

It wasn’t long after that Kaara heard branches snapping as a massive creature began to move. Tika raised her hand to signal a stop.

The moonless night was illuminated by red flames as a massive maned bull strode through the forest. Its horns curled and split in so many directions they almost looked like antlers. Kaara could feel the ground tremor from each step of the mighty beast. Its skin sagged and swayed over its muscular frame as it walked. But something else caught Kaara’s eye.

“Its balls are huge!” Kaara said in only a half whisper.

“Kaara!” Her mother hissed as the bull looked up in their direction. Smoke poured from its nostrils looking for whatever was challenging its territory. It stomped at the soil, daring them to breathe.

When unchallenged it resumed its trot.

“That’s our target. Now, watch and learn. I’ll try to go slow so you can see, so watch carefully.”

Kaara studied her mother. The way her muscles relaxed, how swiftly she snuck up on it. She barely held onto her javelin, cradling it in her fingers. With fluid practiced motion, she raised her weapon.

Then, with a single snap her javelin pierced through the air, sinking right into the Katuul’s heart. The beast reared up, but Tika was far too quick. She slammed her warhammer into her javelin and drove it deeper.

The bull tried to muster up its strength, shooting off flames. It was a hardy one, knocking down trees with its horns as it tried to attack Tika.

Kaara’s mother caught it by the horns and twisted its head, tossing it to the ground as it kicked and roared. It weakened so fast, losing energy.

Tika muttered a prayer to it, consoling the dying creature as life left its eyes. Kaara crept closer, catching the tail end of her words, “...peace and renewed life.”

What had seemed like an impervious beast was made mortal before Kaara’s mother.

The once powerful creature, one who could make the ground quake with its steps, now rested peacefully in her mother’s lap.

She stood up, reaching into a pouch on her hip and tossing something over its body.

Seeds?

“What are those for?”

“Ingen seeds. They’ll drink up the blood and bare some fruit. It’ll also make sure a Malaki can’t corrupt its corpse before we can butcher it.”

Kaara saw the seeds come alive in the creature’s blood, sprouting rapidly and flowering out of its open wound. White pedals went blood red as they soaked up its blood.

Kaara knelt down and pet its fur, “Sorry big guy.”

Tika palmed her head, “Now it’s your turn. You’ll be hunting something a bit smaller, but I’ll be behind you to help if something goes wrong.”

Kaara looked at the creature, a knot in her throat. She didn’t like it. She’d just seen this thing moving a second ago, and now looking at its lifeless body, she only imagined the life it could’ve led.

“Don’t feel bad for it. All life comes to an end at some point. That is why we make the most of it while we have it. Its soul will find its way back to creation and be reborn one day. Just like all of us.”

That made Kaara feel a little better. She stood up clutching her spear, “I’m ready.”