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The Modern Wanderer
Chapter 7: Wild Hunt

Chapter 7: Wild Hunt

Lucius double-checked the satchel slung over his shoulder and picked up a leather roll. He unfurled it carefully, revealing an array of knives. Each one was sharpened to precision, arranged for different purposes - skinning, cutting rope, or carving wood.

He grabbed a small pouch filled with dried meat and bread. "Provisions are important. Even if we find something quickly, you’ll need energy, especially if you’re not used to walking long distances or waiting around," he said, his focus still on the equipment.

Beside him was a small sack containing grains and herbs, intended as bait. Lucius picked it up and secured it to his belt. "Bait for small game, in case we need to lure something closer," he explained briefly. Nearby, a quiver full of arrows leaned against the wall, alongside his bow and a bundle of simple snares.

Joey watched Lucius methodically gather each item, noting the quiet efficiency with which he worked. There was no wasted motion, no hesitation, as though every piece of equipment had its place and purpose.

"Alright," Lucius said, standing up and adjusting the satchel. "Knife, provisions, bait... and the arrows... Ah, here they are," he muttered, grabbing the quiver and slinging it over his shoulder.

"I’m ready," Joey said with a grin, adjusting his own simpler pack. "And my leg doesn’t hurt anymore."

"Let me see," Lucius replied, gesturing for Joey to lift his pant leg. Joey complied, revealing the faint scar where the wound had been. Lucius crouched to inspect it closely.

"Amazing," Lucius murmured. "The wound has almost completely healed. Sure, there’s a scar, but that shouldn’t bother a man."

"Not at all. I’m ready and excited," Joey replied, his grin widening.

Lucius smirked, catching a bit of Joey’s enthusiasm. "I can tell. This is your first hunt, isn’t it?"

"Yeah, I’ve never been hunting before," Joey admitted.

"Perfect," Lucius said with a chuckle. "That means I have the honor of leading the way for our rookie today."

"At your service," Joey replied with a mock bow.

Lucius grabbed his bow and slung it over his shoulder. "The plan is simple. First, we’re going to find something for ourselves, enough to last a few days. If we bring back more than we need, we’ll head to the market and sell the surplus. That’s usually how I do it - hunt more than necessary, sell the extra, and use the money to buy materials or other things I can’t make myself."

Joey nodded eagerly. "Sounds good. Let’s do it."

Lucius chuckled as he headed for the door. "Stick close, listen to everything I tell you, and maybe, just maybe you’ll learn something today."

Joey and Lucius made their way into the forest, with Lucius leading the way deeper into the dense woods. The forest was alive, a mix of towering oaks and chestnuts, their thick trunks covered in moss. Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, creating shifting patches of light on the forest floor. The air was rich with the scent of damp earth and wild herbs, and the occasional chirp of a bird or rustle of leaves added a sense of vibrant energy to the scene. Vines climbed trees like green snakes, and wildflowers peeked out from between roots and fallen logs.

The undergrowth was dense in places, with ferns brushing against their legs as they walked. Occasionally, Lucius pointed out markings on trees, faint claw marks or the shredded bark left by some animal rubbing its hide.

Suddenly, Lucius stopped and dropped to his knees. He moved gracefully, his fingers brushing lightly against the ground as he studied it closely. "Do you see this?" he asked Joey, his voice calm but alert.

Joey crouched down beside him, watching as Lucius traced a large impression in the soil with his hand. "These are tracks, tracks of a wild boar. And not just any boar... this is a beast. Today is our lucky day," Lucius said with a grin spreading across his face.

"Look at the width of these marks here," Lucius continued, pointing to the deep, wide grooves in the dirt. "This tells us it’s a massive boar. Its hooves are spaced far apart, meaning it’s heavy, and this indentation here shows it was moving slowly, probably grazing." He stood up, brushing dirt off his hands.

Joey stared at the tracks, trying to decipher what Lucius was seeing. To him, it was clearly an animal, but identifying the species or its size was far beyond his skill. "And now what? How do we track it?" he asked, looking to Lucius for guidance.

"First, we follow its trail. We need to get close enough to see it before making a plan," Lucius explained. "The problem is, for a beast this size, a single arrow won’t bring it down. We’d need to take it on directly, but that would be far too dangerous for you. You don’t have the combat experience for that," he added, eyeing Joey thoughtfully.

"Then how are we supposed to do it?" Joey asked, frowning.

"We’ll think of something once we find it," Lucius replied, stroking his chin in thought. "There’s no point in overplanning before we even know what we’re dealing with."

"Fair enough. Let’s just track it down first," Joey said.

"Agreed. No sense wasting time," Lucius replied, setting off again.

The two continued their search, following the tracks deeper into the forest. They moved carefully, Lucius pointing out subtle signs, a broken twig here, a patch of disturbed leaves there - that kept them on the right path. As they walked, Lucius shared his knowledge about the forest, showing Joey various plants and fungi.

"See these mushrooms?" Lucius said, gesturing to a cluster of small, white caps growing near the base of a tree. "You can eat these, but only if you’re certain of their type. These ones, however," he pointed to another nearby patch with red-spotted caps, "will kill you within hours. Memorize the differences, or it’ll be your last meal."

Joey nodded intently, committing the shapes and colors to memory. Lucius also explained how to recognize edible herbs and which plants could be used for first aid in emergencies, even demonstrating how to crush certain leaves to create a simple poultice.

After a while, Lucius stopped and wiped his forehead. The sun had risen higher, and its warmth was becoming more intense. "Let’s take a break and gather some energy. The sun’s high already, and I haven’t eaten anything today," he said, glancing at Joey.

Joey found a fallen tree to sit on, its roots jutting out like gnarled fingers. It must have toppled during a storm, leaving its massive trunk stretched across the forest floor. Lucius began gathering materials for a fire, pointing out dry twigs and leaves as he worked.

"You need to find the driest materials you can for kindling," Lucius explained, holding up a handful of dried grass and small sticks. "Once you have that, look for slightly thicker branches to keep it going." He demonstrated how to arrange the materials into a small pyramid shape before striking flint against steel to create sparks. "The trick is patience. Don’t rush it, and don’t smother the flame as it grows."

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Joey watched closely, noting each step. When the flame finally caught and began to grow, Lucius added larger branches until a steady fire crackled before them. "There we go," Lucius said with satisfaction.

As the fire warmed the air around them, Joey reflected on what he had learned. Each step Lucius had demonstrated felt manageable, though not without effort. Joey could feel the information sticking in his mind, not perfectly clear but enough to give him confidence that he could replicate it if necessary.

Lucius, noticing Joey’s focus, smirked. "You’re picking this up faster than most people. Makes teaching you a lot more enjoyable," he said.

Joey smiled back, feeling a small sense of accomplishment. "I’m just trying to keep up. You’re making it look easy," he replied, leaning back slightly as the warmth of the fire took the edge off the morning chill.

For a moment, the two sat in companionable silence, the sounds of the forest enveloping them. They still had a beast to track, but for now, they allowed themselves a brief break.

After their brief rest, they packed up their supplies and extinguished the fire. Lucius ensured every ember was out before standing and nodding to Joey.

"Let’s move," Lucius said, his tone low but focused. "We should be close now."

Suddenly, a deep, guttural bellow echoed through the forest, sending a shiver up Joey’s spine. The sound was raw and feral, a rumbling "HRRROOOAAGHH" that reverberated off the trees.

Both men froze, turning toward the direction of the sound. Lucius’ eyes narrowed as he gestured for Joey to follow him. The path ahead wasn’t flat anymore; the forest floor sloped upward, and the trail led to a steep rise covered in gnarled roots and loose soil.

"We’ll have to climb that," Lucius whispered, motioning to the incline. Joey nodded silently, gripping a nearby tree for balance as they began their ascent.

As they crested the rise, the sight waiting for them stole Joey’s breath.

There it was: a colossal boar. The beast was unlike anything Joey had ever seen, its massive frame towering over any normal wild animal. Its thick, bristled hide was dark and scarred, with streaks of mud caked along its flanks. Curved tusks jutted out from its powerful jaws, gleaming like ivory blades, each as long as Joey’s arm. The beast’s eyes glowed with a feral intelligence, scanning its surroundings with a predator’s awareness.

Its sheer size was mind-boggling - easily larger than any animal Joey could recall from documentaries. The creature stood at least as tall as a car at the shoulders, its bulk casting a shadow over the clearing where it grazed on the forest floor. Every movement it made seemed to shake the ground, its hooves leaving deep impressions in the earth.

"Holy... shit," Lucius muttered, a grin spreading across his face wider than Joey had ever seen. His whole demeanor shifted, adrenaline and excitement coursing through him like a surge of electricity. Joey noticed Lucius’ hand trembling slightly as it hovered near his weapon.

Joey’s thoughts raced. "I don’t remember boars ever being this big. That thing’s larger than a polar bear... like the ones I used to watch in those nature documentaries," he thought, unable to tear his eyes away from the beast.

Lucius turned to Joey, his grin still plastered on his face, stretching from ear to ear. His eyes sparkled with an almost wild energy.

"So, Joey," Lucius said, his voice brimming with excitement, "what’s the plan?"

Joey’s mind blanked for a moment. "Plan? What plan?" he thought nervously. "How about we quietly back away and pray it didn’t notice us?"

Joey hesitated before saying, "I was thinking... maybe we could set a trap? Something to make it fall into a pit. But there’s no way we can dig fast enough without it noticing or worse, charging straight at us."

Lucius chuckled, his grin never faltering. "You’re not wrong. But we’ll need to act fast. That thing won’t stick around forever, and if it gets wind of us, it’s going to be one hell of a fight."

Joey swallowed hard, glancing back at the massive creature, its tusks glinting in the rising sunlight. Whatever they did, they’d need to do it soon and it wouldn’t be easy.

After a few brief moments of silence, Lucius spoke, "I have a plan. Follow me."

His earlier excitement and anticipation seemed to vanish, replaced by a state of hyperfocus. Lucius moved with precision, each step calculated and deliberate. Joey noticed the change immediately. Despite the forest floor being littered with twigs and dry leaves, Lucius' movements were nearly silent, as if he were a shadow gliding through the underbrush.

"You still have the axe?" Lucius asked, his voice low but unwavering, his gaze locked on the massive boar ahead.

"Yeah," Joey replied, gripping the handle tightly.

"Good. Then don’t let it go," Lucius said, his tone sharp and commanding. He didn’t look at Joey as he spoke, his entire focus fixed on the beast.

Lucius steadied his bow, his fingers tightening around the string as he took a deep breath. The massive wild boar stood before them, snorting aggressively, its monstrous frame shifting with each breath. Its coarse bristles glistened with sweat, and its tusks, as thick as a grown man’s arm, curved menacingly. Joey watched in awe and terror, clutching the axe Lucius had given him earlier.

"Hold still," Lucius muttered, his tone calm but focused. He exhaled slowly, releasing the arrow.

The arrow flew straight and true, its tip striking the boar directly on its thick skull with a sickening thud. The beast let out a deafening roar, stumbling back as blood began to trickle from the wound. The arrow hadn’t penetrated deeply enough to kill, but it had created a weak spot. The boar’s enraged squeals echoed through the forest, and it swung its massive head from side to side, its tusks carving deep gouges into the dirt.

"Good shot!" Joey called out, his voice shaking as adrenaline coursed through him.

Lucius didn’t respond. His eyes scanned the area, calculating their next move. "The arrow wasn’t enough," he said, his voice laced with tension. "We need to finish it before it charges again."

As if on cue, the boar turned its attention toward them, its red eyes blazing with fury. Lucius grabbed Joey’s arm and pulled him back. "Quick, over here," he said, gesturing toward a nearby tree where they had set up a rudimentary trap - a pit concealed with leaves and branches.

The plan was simple. They would lure the boar into the trap, where its massive weight would cause it to fall through. But as Lucius waved his arms and shouted to grab the beast’s attention, it did the unexpected. It turned, its focus locking onto Joey instead.

Joey’s heart dropped as the boar charged, its tusks aimed directly at him. Time seemed to slow. He tried to move, but his body felt frozen, rooted to the spot as the monstrous creature barreled toward him.

"Joey!" Lucius shouted, throwing himself in front of the boar at the last second. The beast’s tusks grazed Joey’s side, but Lucius took the full brunt of the attack. He was thrown to the ground, grappling with the beast as its enormous weight pressed down on him.

The scene was chaos. Lucius struggled beneath the boar, his arms straining to keep its tusks away from his chest. Blood from the wound on its head dripped down onto him, mixing with the dirt and sweat that already covered his face. "Run!" Lucius yelled, his voice strained as the boar’s raw strength overwhelmed him.

But Joey didn’t run. Something inside him snapped into place. His fear dissolved, replaced by an intense clarity. His eyes darted to the axe lying a few feet away, and without thinking, he grabbed it. He sprinted toward the fray, his grip tightening on the handle as he climbed onto the boar’s back.

The beast thrashed violently, but Joey held firm, his heart pounding as he raised the axe above his head. For a moment, everything seemed to blur - everything except for a faint shimmer. It was as if the sunlight filtering through the trees had caught the bloodied spot where the arrow had struck the boar’s skull. The shimmer was faint, almost imperceptible, but it drew Joey’s attention like a beacon.

"That’s it!" he thought, the words echoing in his mind without him realizing.

He didn’t question it. With every ounce of strength he had, Joey swung the axe down, aiming for the shimmering spot. The blade connected with a sickening crack, burying itself deep into the boar’s skull. The beast let out a final, agonized squeal before collapsing onto the ground, its massive body shuddering once before falling still.

Joey stumbled back, panting heavily as he stared at the lifeless creature before him. Blood pooled around its head, soaking into the earth. His hands trembled as he released the axe, letting it fall to the ground.

Lucius groaned, pulling himself out from under the boar’s body. He was battered and bloodied, but alive. "You… you did it," he said, his voice weak but filled with relief.

Joey nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. He looked at the shimmering spot where the axe had struck, now obscured by blood and fur. For a brief moment, he wondered if it had even been real.

"Nice hit," Lucius said, clapping Joey on the shoulder before wincing in pain. "But let’s never do that again."

Joey laughed nervously, the tension easing just enough to let him respond. "Deal," he said, though a faint memory of the shimmer lingered at the edge of his thoughts, distant but not entirely forgotten.