A new day comes to show off the light of the sun and the clear blue sky up above in an open area where a village of the were-tiger people. Rising along the new day to start on the duties needed to be done for the village to go on existing onward the coming days.

Today, a small group of six were-tigers made of four males and two females, going on an early hunt to catch as much prey as possible to fill up the food supply. If the village is to live through the wintertime or more of them, they need a high amount to get through.

Gonten was in this group given that last night's talk with Xyma left the poor young man to not sleep until the night was halfway done on its job.

It was when the first light was, he aperach by his good friend coming to his hut asking him if he wanted to join on the hunt. Seeing it was a good chance to take Gonten's mind off what he had learned from Xyma, even the learning part on the traditional battle between his brothers.

Such a day like that would've been one Gonten wished to not happen in fighting against his blood. It is the way for one were-tiger who carries the blood of the divine tiger god to rule and lead those of the whole race, a thing that his other brothers will not give up on.

For now, Gonten would have to put it at the back of his mind while walking with the group in the woods with Sensus by his side, taking note of the expression of one who had not had enough sleep.

“Jeez, Gonten, you look like shit. What happened? The night wasn’t good for you.” Sensus asked while the two were walking.

“Well, you can say that Sensus, I was not having a good night. There were things on my mind that couldn’t let me sleep well.”

“Things you say bothered you last night.”

Sensus comes up with the thought for the two of them to go on the hunt for fish, given there is a stream at the much northwest in these woods which fish like to use in their swimming travels.

“Hey, how about you come with me to do some fish hunting.” Sensus offers for Gonten to join him.

“Oh yeah sure.”

Sensus told the other four were-tigers hunters they did not mind the two parting away from the small group to fish while the rest went on to hunt down prey on the lands.

After a time, when at the stream, once they arrived a few minutes later, they caught a few and missed a few. The basket was made from the body of trees to use for caring for the dead fish stabbed and caught by the wooden spear in their hands.

“All right, listen, this fishing thing was for us to talk in private.” Sensus outright just said it, wanting nothing more than to break this weird silence as it was killing the mood.

“Yeah, and what is it, Sensus? There is something you have to talk about.”

“Come on, Gonten, I know something is eating up if you care to share it. Would you be a good buddy here who is willing to listen?”

Gonten was silent as he had stopped trusting the wooden spear into the stream, really considering whether or not to have such a discussion with his good friend on it.

“Look, if it is about what you and Gabriel were talking about the other day, then don’t hold back. Share it with me.” Sensus just went straight into telling him the truth about that part looking to get things started.

“You heard what the two of us were talking about, huh? So that's why you want to have a piss.”

Gonten takes a look at his friend's face, seeing that nervous smile and the one hand behind the head rubbing the back.

“Yeah, well, that part was true, but it was a long one to take a piss before I got the better of being curious about what you two were going to talk about. Didn’t think it was going to be something I was going to be shocked by when keeping a good distance on top of a tree branch.” Sensus explains.

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“I see, well Sensus with much to tell you, you think to handle it.”

“Lay it on me.”

Gonten opens up telling all he has learned from Gabriel and Xyma where his good friend listens on with no other expression shown than a series one all the way through while he is standing with arms crossed as his friend spilling his guts is sitting on top of a rock.

“So, our ancestors are not only tigers but humans as well who today age to be our enemies. Damn, that is something to truly think deeply about with the way things are between our people. The question I have is, does our race know about this fact, picking to not acknowledge it, or when the times pass on, did we come to forget it along the way.” Sensus didn’t know much about having human blood in his vines.

“It is something I am still working on how to feel about; I am more focused on being a descendant of our great tiger for the moment now.”

“Oh yeah, that must be great. From what you told me, there are good things to come from the blood. Even if it feels like cheating to those of us not blessing the same way, lucky shit, now I’m going to have to work extra hard.”

“Yeah, the cost of a fight must be settled for the way for one to be the leader of our people.”

Getting reminded of that by Gonten and does his best inside that head to come up with the best words to be used for this moment.

“Well, it's not like fighting to the death has to be the only way there are the other two opinions.” Sensus goes on to use that since I was told by Gonten's mouth.

“Banishment and complete submission these two are also a problem in their way if I or they were to be beaten without losing a life. Banishment must be done, which means the one to have lost is to forever never be allowed back, and as for giving up the position, another opinion is not to be taken lightly. When it is done, there is no chance to calm it back, and who to say such a choice is to be picked.”

“Man, Gonten can’t give you advice or the best answer for a situation. I mean if this were to happen between me and Sion. I would not want to take on such a job in having to be a leader and care for many lives on my watch,”

“Do you think he would accept it that easily with no issue at all from him when it was just handed?”

A question Sensus had to take into consideration about his brother Sion's reaction to such a matter. It was not hard on him to answer when one knows one's own flesh and blood feelings in a situation like this.

“Well, we are twins sharing a good bond; I’m sure neither of us would want to take the other's life. We were born together, grew up together, and mostly in the future will die together.” That was to be his answer to his friend's question.

“I wish that was the same for myself, but a gut feeling and Xyma's words last night don’t seem like it would turn out the same way for me.”

Gonten signs depression on the topic the two are talking about right then, at the moment, both come to be great by another matter which comes to them needing attention.

“Gonten, Sensus, we need you both as we have come to find something; I think your eyes should see.” A female were-tiger has just appeared. Knowing the location of the stream, these two will each show no reaction to this Person arriving.

“Seems like a good time to leave this talk for another time, all right, Gonten.”

“Right, my friend, all right, you show us what it is we must see.”

The female were-tiger nodded her head and started off to lead them to what it is that has to be seen by these two. Leaving the location of the stream in the northwest and heading directly in a more downward southwest way in the woods.

Arriving to the remaining three were tiger hunters standing on top of a cliff. They were looking down for the moment till turning back to these three showing up.

Those at the edge of the cliff move out of the way for Gonten and Sensus to have a turn and look at what they are seeing down below.

It is shocking to look with their eyes at dead numbers of humans on the ground. This is something their group on the hunt is not supposed to find in these woods.

“What the tiger shit is this? Why are there several dead humans out here? I'm sure there were no sightings of human settlements around when we came to this land, checking it and making it a new home afterward.” Sensus says they do not like seeing dead humans in the woods they use as their hunting grounds.

“I don't think they are just any dead humans Sensus.”

“What do you mean by….” Sensus cut himself off when he saw Gonten jump off the cliff, sliding down it to the end and touching the ground below.

The rest on top look at each other, then follow behind him, coming down and meeting with Gonten, who was just standing there in the center of the dead bodies, staring as one be examining them.

“Ok, you said they are not just any dead humans, so care to explain that for the rest of us to understand.” Sensus finally gets to stay on that cliff before coming down.

“Take a look, see what these humans are wearing, and you will come to get what I mean.”

Sesnus listens and looks at each of the bodies lying on the ground, studying their clothing. Noticing that they were animal fur clothing from hunting games, mostly some were fully dressed in shorts and sleeveless tops since this is the warmer climax season, showing off much more skin.

There are weapons as well on the grounds: Knives, Machetes, bows, and even half-axes. Yet the quality isn’t even in a great condition to be valued as perfect use of a weapon.

“What the hell are barbarians doing here, I hope it is not these humans seeking to gain more lands for themselves. That is to be a problem that the village doesn’t need right about now.” Sensus voices his concern, and the others share the same feeling their new home has yet to be ready to deal with.

“Something tells me it wasn’t the aim if you pay attention. They were mostly ambushed from the way this scene is. These poor-looking weapons seem to be used against these humans as well.”

Everyone from the hunting group watches as Gonten picks up one of the number of weapons as if it were a Machete. Matching that same weapon to a wound on one of the random bodies in the area.

“Yeah, definitely been in a fight with another Barbarians tribe, but why is the question we got in our head here.” Gonten moves to keep on looking until catching sight of footprints showing that a number of few manage to run away when the ambush happens.

“Then what should be done about this should we concern ourselves on.”

“Seems we may have to go to our village. It could be a target if there are more barbarians around.”

“Hey! you two look over there one of them is alive”

A male were-tiger hunter let those two know about the living single male barbarian standing a few feet from the two of them.