In the beginning Ker was asleep, the oh so sweet sleep. And then came the harrowing awakening.

With ringing in his ears Ker woke up. 'What is this noise?' As metal on metal sounded through the camp.

Hallauer, the old chef, hit with his metalspoon on the used pot:" wake up, wake up, no time like the morning, brake up the camp and prepare for the hunt."

All motivation aside, a painfull groan escaped his mouth. "Why, why so early in the morning..." to his complaints, a voice said yawning:" Because we'll need all day to find the beast. And you whippersnapper, should prepare, for this is your first real hunt. Hear to the experienced adventures colleges, you may learn a thing or two." The voice belonged to an older boy, a fellow adventurer Helk or Snap how he was called. "Sure, sure and you are how much older, two years?" retorted Ker and saw a slight smile creeping ab Snaps face. "Once you are in my shoes..." but he couldn't end his sentence as the firm voice of the expedition leader Helm rung out:" We are near the area where our target was last seen. So pack everything up and stowe all you don't immediately need by the support personal. Make certain that your weapons are as sharp as you senses and prepare for a long hunt. For we will not risk to rest when nearby such a beast. Be aware and be alert, every hint may help us to find our well priced tatget. I certainly don't need to remaind you all, that the target is worth pounds on gold, but only IF we find it! Now get back to the preperations, we will leave within the hour."

That marked hasted packing and sorting for everyone in the entire camp. About two dozen hands were busy with breaking tents, filling wooden boxes and lifting those on cards. While this happend Ker asked himself where he put his dagger and the all-purpose knife. Not having enough time, he rolled up his sleeping back and gathered all the things he could leave for the time being. As wanted to stand up, a hand appeared just over his right shoulder, with exactly the knife he was looking for. "You forgot this" said Snap. "Thanks, I should have looked at the campfire." replied Ker slightly guilty. Snap grinned:" You just need to remember who your awesome mentor is." To that Ker rolled his eyes and a grounded female voice questioned:"So you want to take responsibility over the new ones. Take charge, show what is done how and get your ears chewed off by Helm for every mistake they make!" By that she grinned mischievously, while Snap's eyes wandered around and looked for a distinct way out of the situation:" I think... we don't have that much time... and I really need to pack my thinks."

She sighed:" So I am stuck with you lot, guess I need tough earskin." Her name was Ellora, a blond woman, her hairs put in a practical ponytail reaching her lower shoulder blades. She obviously was strong build, a necessity for the job, but still with attractive features. Right now she was putting on a helmet, always with a side eye to her part of the camp, looking if everything was in acceptable boundaries.

Ker was busy strapping on his own helmet and sword. Of course as a beginner adventurer he could only afford a leather helmet and a cheap, used shortsword. Actually he could be happy about it, since on his own he could have never efforded such arms. Including the tools that were lend to him as his lended-bearings. They said that it was normal and necessary so that he could work. But he suspected that his late ouncle Timboury had played a role in this. So he thanked his ouncle every day for the help. To be honest he didn't know much about that side of his family, just that they had money and influence in large quantities. However, he focused on this moment where his future were decided. And he wanted to make certain that he had a good future as an adventurer. For that he needed the right foundation, fitting skills and good equipment. Skills came with time and equipment with better contracts, but on a good foundation he could work on right now.

Ker inspected himself, all arms were cheap but reliable and the tools were lend and useful. All in all very acceptable. 

Just as the group started moving, he was ready as well. Ellora called him over:" So what do you know of the beast we're hunting?" Ker quickly sorted the information he remembered:" It is sized between a big cat and a joung bull, it is supposed to have claws and teeth of a predator. It wields them as weapons to cut and bite, but it can manipulate the sorrounding and is cappable of basic tactics. It employed guerilla like tactics and frontal assault to singular people and groups. It's strength was valued between level 10 and 20 over a month ago and should now be over level 30.

But even when it is level 30, it is just a beast, should Helm allone not be enough?"

To that Ellora smiled:"Yes and no. We allways engage as group. As you know, there is strength in numbers. And one person can only do so much. Tracking and hunting are very intimate bound to each other, still they are different parts. And who prepares and preserves the once hunted beast? Or catches it. After all there was at least one mage who wanted to pay an absurd amount of wealth if we catch it alive."

Ker needed a moment to think about that.

"Besides this, what else can you tell me about the contract" Ellora questioned further. Ker summarized the details he remembered: the bounty, the targed, the hunting area and potential groups of interest who might buy parts of a successful hunt. "Good, very good." Concluded Ellora, "Now, what about the hunting ground, what do we have to expect here and where do we have to tread carefully?"

Ker draw a long breath, environment was never his strong point

"Mhm, let's see, we are in a wood, coming from the city of Wellsheid, still in the earldom of Merrechief. Then there is the region of he 'kilts in the east and the wilds in the nords. In this region we have to get an allowance for hunting regular beasts and a special allowance for magical and other beasts. So we should be ok. The region of the 'kilts we should only tread with an invitation, though I doubt Sheriff Cathal would give any right now..." to that Ellora lifted her eyeebrows. "However, the wilds we should simply avoid. Way to dangerous." Ker added quickly. Ellora looked questingly for a moment. Then she sighed:" How right this might be, it is largely unimportant for our situation. Far more focus should be put that the woods become swampy in the north. We will encounter several animals, with varying degree of danger. Then there are the lesser beast. Far less dangerous than beasts in their own right. But the paid money is far less. Also we have the beginning of fall. It is getting colder in the evening and we need to be carefull with our movement over uncertain ground."

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Ker nodded, he was missing quite something, but why was he a fletchling adventurer if not to learn. So he decided he would know the facts the next time he was on a hunt. Ellora was still satisfied with his answers and moved to the front of the group.

Ker thought about his immediate future and how this hunt could go. Was he just here to observe, hardly, but what useful could he do. Just a short while ago he was teached the basics of tracking by their tracker Finn. Finn came from the greater island in the southwest. His real name was Finnchán Ó Doiridh and he told Ker quite a bit about his homeland culture. That led Ker to wonder how different that culture could be from their culture.

"Whast are brooding about?" asked Snap. "Was just thinking about my future, I guess going to the Drain'nadeks would be interesting. You now, where Finn is from."

"Yes, that would also be far away. And I heard lots of stories from Finn about their brewery. He treads it like it's an art form or something, but I think our Shinebrew is just fine, don't need any Keel' and no Kaly..." and with that Snap was interrupted by an overeager enjoyer of finer things:" Oye, with that your copin lad. When you never tried the nice dark brew of Drain'. The bitter on you'r toun, the taste of home..." Finn could hardly stopp himself when teaching younger people about the beauty of what he considered real beer. Snap looked incredulous:" I don't need extra bitter beer, can't see the appeal of that when the dark brew from the abbey is already way too bitter."

"That just means you're tastebuds are underdeveloped. You'll need some education, too sad the last delivery by ship was just been made. Now you have to wait till next time, maybe some additional brew will be found in the cargo." Snap grimaced:" Nah, thanks I'm good. I rather wait even longer." Kel on the other hand hoped for a change in things. It was all the same every day. He wanted to explore the world, discover unknown magic, see magical beasts...

His thoughts reeled to a stop, when the firm voice of Helm reched them. " Finn, we may just have started walking, I still expect you on the front of our group. So, would you move ahead and start looking out for tracks."

"Ah, our very serious leader calls for me. In that case I rather o ahead and look for our bounty." Finn declared with a wink.

From there on the hunting group moved with practiced ease. They looked out for any animal and lesser beast, slowed when anything new and potential fitting was found and tracked it to go certain. Until early afternoon they found nothing that would lead them to their target. So Kel was mostly to himself. Even in this large group, everybody got their task and since this hunt was especially important everybody took their part more serious. Kel tried to identify some tracks on the go, but anything that wasn't a squirrel or a lynx was unidentifable for him. At least he could help catching food on the way back. So he decided to try to lean more into his potential role as a frontliner. After all his class was berserker. As it seemed not typical for the profession, was still usefull. Afterall they were mot hunting mere animals, but beasts.

Adam, the full name Adam Wilkinson, said it was one of the group key roles and he was a swordfighter. Adam never spoke much and kept most things to himself, but Kel was positive on the class of Adam. It was also assumed that later on he would directly train under Adam. Since a frontliner should best teach a frontliner.

However, his main task being aware of the sorrounding, was not an easy task. Just a simple one. He would have to be aware of what was going on around him, without getting distracted by anything specific and finally staying aware without getting lost in thought.

Ker liked more to focuse on one thing, maybe a part of his class or maybe his personality. Then not getting distracted by all what was going on around him was difficult at best of times. And the last part was terminally in his endeavour. He was just 16, he had to wait until turning 16 before his mother would allow him to take part in a hunt. Luckily he gotten some training in fighting and hunting animals. 

He choose his class later than most people, at least most normal people he knew. But his parents insisted that a class should be picked with care, you have it for a lifetime. So he trained a lot and was schooled about languages, noble territories and rights. Even basic etiquette was on a plate for him, to his demise. Ker really hated it, all the norms and social rules. His parents had insisted, that he learns how to behave in a proper way. His mom, Hell' thought it was endearing how he behaved like a little gentleman. And his dad Juno had several times pointed out how important proper behavior was in the presence of people of certain high standing. So he had no choice, but to accept the lessons begrudgingly.

Now he was in the woods and no one cared for proper demeanor. Which was alright with him.

Suddenly Finn called out, they found something, a lead, finally. A good part of the hunting party moved to the front to look what was gooing on. Apparently they found a slain animal corpse. Still fresh. Ker couldn't see anything, but that didn't matter to him. He used that opportunity to try and be completely aware of his immediate surrounding. One thing that came to mind was, that his ranger friend Snap was nearly dozing off. Ker couldn't blame him, Snap only got work to do when the actual hunting started.

Suddenly Ker's hackles rose, a telltale sign that something was very wrong. Then a something descended with lightning speed from the tree tops towards his friends neck. Ker could only see the shade of something black and only because his special passive of his class he could anticipate the target of the attack. Ker swung his blade, still in its sheet towards the attacker. The attack was intercepted, but it looked futile, the strenght and speed were vastly beyond Ker's. Snaps neck got pushed forwards and wounded on both sides. But thanks to Ker's effort, the mandible looking things slipped off his blade and missed the arteries. As soon as the attack came, the thing withdraw its appendage.

Snap screamed in confusion, Ker panicked for help and the entire party turned to them. Some spells were swung in the raw direction of the attack, but didn't seem to hit anything. Also the chef Hallauer and the doctor of the group, Cooper, hurried towards Snap. They treated the wounds on his neck and seemed relieved. Mendoz'a diagnosed:" You had luck kid. Incredible luck. Your arteries were missed by inches. I think Ker is in for a tread when we come back. Maybe fetch him a rabbit or something."

Ker was shortly after taken to the side and questioned by Helm and Ellora, Finn was also nearby. "What did you see, how did it look like, how could it attack us from behind when we were all alert?"

Ker tried to answer the questions, but could only provide so much:" It looked black I think. I could only see a shade of it. It was very fast. It was extremely strong. I think it had scales. What attacked Snap looked elongated like a tail. And it had mandible-like things at the end of it. That is all I could take away from this situation."

Helm sighed thoughtful: "That does not fit to the description we got. It sounds very distinct from our target. But it attacked the weaker ones first..."

After Helm and Ellora discussed their further progression, Helm turned to his party: "We will chabge composition. The weaker members have to be accompanied by more experienced ones. We will also look out for ambushes from the rear."

With the decision made firm, the group continued on.