Tygus, Ravel, and Cillian were standing in front of the cabin in the cold. It was nearly pitch black, save the subtle moonlight, and the entire forest felt calm. The three were armed with long spears that rose high above their heads, and nothing else. When they were inside, Tygus explained that they would have to travel light, and all that they needed was their weapons. With a grin, the dwarf had told them that if anything happened, he would easily take care of it.
“Wait,” Cillian suddenly said. “What about breakfast?”
“The traditional Velgalir way is to not eat until the completion of the hunt,” Tygus answered. “Let your hunger be fuel so that your actions are ferocious.”
“Ah,” Cillian frowned as he rubbed his already growling stomach. “I should have expected something like that.”
They departed in a straight line, with Tygus in the lead, Ravel in the middle, and Cillian at the back.
“I can’t see anything,” Cillian blurted out. Around the cabin, the moonlight was strong enough that he could make out Ravel’s yellow fur, but as they started delving into the surrounding trees, Cillian lost all vision.
Tygus and Ravel stopped. They just stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out why Cillian had said that. For them, it was dark but perfectly visible. Tygus’ years spent growing up in an underground keep and Ravel’s tabaxi eyes had given them both ample vision in the darkness.
“Here, grab this,” Ravel said while offering the back end of his spear.
Cillian reached out, groping blindly until he felt the wooden shaft. Ravel gently pulled from the other end, just below the metal crossbar, and they all resumed their expedition.
“Mr. Dronbar, why did you say that the perfect hunt almost never happens?” Cillian asked.
“For many reasons, my boy,” Tygus said as they methodically moved through the dark. “But it is almost always the fault of the youngest in the hunting party.”
“Why is that?” Cillian followed up. Without any sense of direction, Tygus’ voice helped him to stay oriented and not lose track of Ravel’s spear.
“To hunt is not a simple affair. It is a messy, chaotic, struggle of life and death. If it is a young dwarf’s first time, the unpredictable nature can really throw them off balance. They would barely know how to even use a spear. Sometimes, the lad doesn’t have the stomach to kill, and in their hesitancy, they lose the opportunity,” Tygus replied.
“By the time it's the turn for the final killing blow, the elk already feels its death coming. To land just one decisive finishing strike is hard for even the experienced hunter. It usually takes many to bring the beast down. I had only heard of two perfect hunts in my entire life,” Tygus said.
Cillian’s thoughts flowed freely.
I want to deliver a perfect hunt. I know I won’t hesitate to kill, but can I finish it in just one attack? If it’s hard for just elk, then this should be even harder.
Stolen story; please report.
“You never said what we are hunting,” Cillian said.
“Oh what a beast it is. I don’t know if you would consider it an animal or a monster. It is this huge, giant creature. It has a vicious beak, powerful wings, and razor-sharp claws. In dwarvish we call it the Vluroz Hefjor. I think that the Manezan word for it is owlbear, but don’t worry, as long as you two listen to my orders everything will be fine.”
Tygus paused, stopping to ensure he was tracking properly before continuing. “I was very surprised when I first found it living here. You know Cillian, its den is not too far from where you used to live.”
A cold knot tied up Cillian’s stomach.
Something like that, close to my cabin? All those noises Amalea used to hear, was it this owlbear? Was there really something in the forest all this time?
“Um, does it,” Cillian hesitated to finish his question. “Does it eat people?”
“It’s purely carnivorous. Anything the size of a deer or smaller is game,” said Tygus.
Cillian tensed up and tightened his grip around both the spears he held.
This will be a perfect hunt. I have to prove to them that if this thing attacked Amalea, I would have been able to protect her. I have to prove to them I’m strong enough.
For almost an hour they slowly trodded in silence. The white moonlight faded away and was slowly replaced by the first orange threads of sunrise. They had climbed down the mountain and were now walking somewhere across it. Cillian couldn't see it, but he could hear the trickling of water from a stream.
The leading dwarf came to an abrupt stop.
“Okay, here we are,” he said.
“Where is it? I still can’t see anything,” Cillian complained.
“It’s a ways in front of us. Now listen you two, you have to do exactly as I say. If not, this hunt will be a failure,” Tygus said.
“Of course Master Dronbar,” Ravel said.
“Ravel, I need you to climb up and wait in…” Tygus spun around looking. “That tree,” he said, pointing.
Ravel gently pulled his spear out of Cillian’s hands and gave it to Tygus to hold temporarily. The tabaxi used his claws to climb up the maple tree that Tygus had chosen. Once he was steadily perched on a branch, he reached down and took his weapon back from his master.
“Alright boy, you’re gonna stay down here with me,” Tygus grabbed Cillian and guided him to behind the tree Ravel had climbed.
“Okay here’s the plan,” Tygus waited a moment for Ravel to hang down to listen better. “I will go inside the owlbear’s den and draw it out. It’ll want a piece of my tasty dwarven ass, so it will chase me out. I will bring it here and then give it the first strike. Ravel, then you will jump down and give it the second. Aim for the middle of its back. Cillian, the beast will be rampaging, so I want you to wait to give your strike. Wait for my signal, and only my signal.”
“Understood?” The dwarf asked.
“Yes, sir,” Cillian nodded.
They sat together in silence until the light of dawn was strong enough for Cillian to finally be able to see.
“Okay, I can see now. What are we waiting for?” Cillian asked.
“Relax, lad. The Vluroz Hefjor is a powerful nocturnal predator. If we attacked now, it would have the advantage,” Tygus answered. “We are going to sit here and wait until the peak of midday. That’s when we have the advantage.”
Cillian let out an exasperated sigh. His body was aching to go. He did not want to wait any longer.
“Are you worried, Cillian?” Tygus asked with a sly timbre.
Cillian didn’t respond.
“Don’t be, if need be I can fell the beast in one blow,” the dwarf proclaimed proudly.
That isn’t what I’m worried about, Cillian thought.
He gripped his spear till it hurt.
This is going to be a perfect hunt.
***
The sun had reached its meridian. At this height, everything in the forest was well illuminated. Cillian spent the hours in anticipation fighting against sleepiness until he eventually lost and dozed off.
“Hey! Get sharp,” Tygus smacked Cillian on the shoulder.
The sleeping boy was startled awake. “Huh? What happened?”
“Get ready,” Tygus snapped his fingers so he had the attention of his two compatriots. “I’m going in there, it’s time.”
Cillian watched Tygus get up and methodically edge forward. He saw the den in the distance, a large opening that bore into the side of a hill. To Cillian, the inside of the den appeared darker than coal, and he couldn’t make out anything.
The dwarf gently eased his way into the home of the owlbear, spear in hand, until he disappeared into the black.
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[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1008571111530836068/1013229536382570509/jfjeodjskak_Den_in_forest_4d3164d1-5047-47a4-933b-b9c078c88431.png]
Owlbear Den