The last rays of the orange glow from the setting sun were disappearing. Cillian had been following a trail of blood and feathers for longer than he could count. He had found it after hours of stumbling around and managed to correctly guess the direction that he and the owlbear had fallen in. The consistent trail that he was following did not seem to end, but the blood appeared to be fresher. In the fading light, however, it became harder to find the next bits to track with.
It’s getting dark now.
Cillian remembered what Tygus had told him earlier, that the beast was a much stronger hunter in the darkness.
Even in the middle of the day we still couldn’t kill it. That was with all three of us together. What chance do I have now?
Cillian shook his head, expelling self-doubt.
The owlbear must be badly injured by now if it’s not already dead. It’s been bleeding out this entire time.
The first day of spring had treated Cillian well with its weather. It was just cool enough for one to sense the dying fragments of winter while keeping the promise of the coming warm summer. Cillian didn’t take any time to appreciate the atmosphere or worry about the cuts and bruises that littered his body. There was only one thing he cared about.
After a few more minutes of tracking in the growing darkness, Cillian came upon a clearing in the forest. It was in the divot between two small hills. Immediately, he saw it. The trail of blood and feathers continued forward and grew until it ended at the owlbear itself.
It was curled up in the center of the clearing. With its face tucked into its stomach, and its legs and wings brought close to its body, the owlbear just appeared as a round mass of fur and feathers.
Cillian slowly entered the clearing. Keeping his body crouched low, he carefully placed every step, doing everything to keep the noise of his approach at a minimum. Stepping on a single dried twig could summon the beast.
As Cillian drew closer, he was trying to discern if the animal was still alive. His eyes were glued, and he was looking for any indication of life. Then he saw it, the gentle up and down undulation of breathing.
It’s still alive. This is my chance.
The hunter stopped moving when his next step would have taken him on top of the massive creature. He raised his spear. A pang of sudden guilt and sadness entered his mind. The owlbear was dying and Cillian couldn’t help but feel for it. After all, he was part of the reason it was like this.
The poor thing did nothing to deserve this, and now it’s suffering. Killing it would be a mercy.
Cillian brought his spear down into the owlbear. He didn’t know where to aim, there were no discernable features for him to tell. As soon as the point pierced the beast’s fur, it rose with a shriek.
Violent spasms knocked the spear out and put Cillian onto his bottom. The owlbear shakily got to its feet and roared at Cillian. He saw that the other two spears were no longer impaled in the beast. The thing, towering directly over Cillian, made whatever offense he hoped to have completely evaporate from his mind. Fear dominated Cillian at that moment.
The owlbear stomped its wings and the frightened boy kicked his feet back, trying to get away. The eyes Cillian saw were bright yellow with pitch black pupils in their center. The awakened monster raised its head high and brought its beak down for a violent bite.
Cillian didn’t know what to do. He reacted instinctually, turning his head away and sticking his arms out. It just so happened that Cillian’s hands were still gripping the spear.
He expected that to be the end of him. Instead, a kind of gurgled whimper came followed by the thud of the mighty beast falling to the ground. Cillian turned to look. His spear was jammed through the owlbear’s neck. In its pain, confusion, and desperation to live, the dying animal had attacked Cillian, but it unknowingly impaled itself with the outstretched spear. Its instinct to survive is what killed it.
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Cillian looked on in disbelief.
It’s dead?
He just stared with his mouth agape. His hands were trembling, his breathing was irregular, and his heart was racing uncontrollably. Cillian lost his connection to reality, his mind trying to process what had happened.
“Cillian!” A hand on his shoulder shook him. He turned up and saw the white-bearded dwarf staring down at him. It was dark now and Cillian could barely make out his face.
“Huh?” Cillian replied absentmindedly. He was slowly regaining his awareness.
“What happened, boy?” Tygus reached down and pulled him up to his feet.
“I…don’t,” Cillian stammered.
“I’m so glad you’re alive,” Tygus said as he hugged Cillian, embracing him tightly. He pulled away and examined the boy.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt at all?” Tygus asked.
“Y-yeah, I think so,” Cillian replied.
Tygus saw the hunched-over form of the owlbear.
“By the gods, you killed it,” the dwarf whispered.
“Oh, yeah. How did you find me?” Cillian asked.
“I was out searching for you and then I heard the owlbear. I came running as soon as I did,” Tygus said as he attentively looked over the corpse. He pushed and moved it, trying to get a better look.
“Wait, Ravel,” Cillian said remembering. “What happened to Ravel? Is he okay?”
“Aye, he’s back recovering in the cabin,” Tygus lifted the head of the owlbear to see where the spear had struck.
“His leg?” Cillian asked.
“Completely broken. This thing crushed that thing to dust,” Tygus poked the owlbear.
“What!” exclaimed Cillian. “What do you mean by dust?”
“Hah, not actually dust,” Tygus faintly chuckled. “I was pulling your tail a little, but that thing is broken badly.”
Cillian felt sorrow. He remembered the blood-curdling cry Ravel gave when the owlbear rolled over onto his leg. He couldn’t imagine what pain Ravel was going through. All he wanted to do now was go back and be with his friend.
“Boy, how many times did you stab this thing?” Tygus asked as he took the spear out of the beast’s neck.
“Uh,” Cillian hesitated in answering.
That first one didn’t count. It didn’t go all the way through.
“One,” Cillian said.
“Are you sure, boy? You’re not throwing dust in my eyes?” Tygus finally turned and faced Cillian.
“I’m serious, just one,” Cillian said again. He avoided eye contact with the dwarf.
“That means you did it,” Tygus said quietly. “You did it!”
He grabbed Cillian’s shoulders and started to shake him. “The perfect hunt! Three spear wounds, you did it, lad!”
“Yeah! We did it!” Cillian joined in on Tygus’ excitement.
“Not just an elk from Velgalir, but a whole Vluroz Hefjor,” Tygus lifted Cillian onto his shoulders and started to parade him about. “Rejoice! My boy’s first hunt was a perfect onet!”
After some more time celebrating, Tygus finally let Cillian down. With an uncontrollable grin, he started to drag the corpse of the owlbear.
“Come help me, Cillian,” Tygus ordered. “This thing is heavy, even for me.”
Cillian obeyed and helped to pull.
“We are gonna have to skin this beast and cook her ourselves,” Tygus said as they walked. “Ravel will not be able to prepare our meals for some time now.”
Cillian did not say anything as he thought of his injured tabaxi friend.
I was lucky. That could have easily been me, and then I wouldn’t be able to train for months.
“Her?” Cillian asked, breaking the silence. “How did you know this was a girl?”
“You couldn’t tell?” Tygus broke out into laughter. “This is the most feminine owlbear I have ever seen. She’s a beauty.”
Cillian rolled his eyes and kept on pulling. He took a moment to reflect.
I did it. I completed the perfect hunt, and I proved to Mr. Dronbar that I am capable.
“Hey, boy,” Tygus said, interrupting Cillian’s thoughts. “From the looks of it, you can handle a weapon quite well. When we get back, I think I’ll let you choose your weapon. You proved you’re ready to start that training.”
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[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/601007576796233728/1013931207693717634/Bbejekekekekekek_bear_laying_in_clearing_in_a_forest_light_snow_fd9109ce-1089-4499-b33d-5469f5f3897e.png]
Injured Owlbear