CHOICES THAT AFFECT LIVES.

Mr Thomas moved closer and slowly removed the hay uncovering the body beneath. The baby lay still with her small hands outstretched. The old man lifted the child off the ground, scooping her up into his arm.

"She still feels warm."

"Her smell was stronger a few moments ago, but it faded when we arrived. When we noticed the small stiff hand, I called for you. I did not want to uncover her, lest we had to witness something similar to the courtyard."

Lucy replied in a choking voice.

Chu was in the middle of his heaving when he heard the conversation. Something clicked in his mind, the remnants of a memory and world from the past.

"Quick, give her to me!"

He removed his cloak and literally grabbed the tiny child. After which he gently placed the baby on it. Mr Thomas was right, the girl felt warm to the touch. Hopefully he yet had time.

'What was the ratio again? 15:2, 40:2?'

He panicked as he began a rough version of CPR. Halfway through his repetition he calmed down his mind.

"No you idiot! It's thirty, thirty to two."

Chu shouted to himself as he began anew. Thirty presses with two blows. When he had first entered his company, his training program included a first aid course. Part of this course included a mandatory CPR training. That certificate received was supposed to be renewed every couple years but he never bothered.

He never thought that, he would ever have the need to use such knowledge in his life.

Until now.

Ironically it happened in a place, where and when he could never double check his current memory.

Lucy stood on the side with her little hands clenched. Mr Thomas returned to his wife who had regained her consciousness. The woman groaned as she slowly shifted to a sitting position and then followed the gazes of the other two as they watched the boy kneeling on the ground.

The boy shouted to himself as he performed a strange action, akin to some ancient ritual. Such thoughts filled the woman's mind as she observed.

Chu felt his brain become light headed with the vigorous repetitions. Just when he was about to give up, the miracle he hoped for happened.

Cough, cough!

Waaaah!

Chu quickly reached into his pouch and pulled out the empty healing potion vial. He dipped his finger inside hence wetting it with the remains. This finger he pushed into the child's mouth rubbing it inside. Maybe it might also help in re-vitality like a vitamin boost, he really did not know.

At the moment he was willing to try anything. Chu dropped to the ground as fatigue washed over him. No matter how fit he was, his body had the constitution of a fourteen year old. When he pulled himself together he found the others staring at him.

Lucy had her hands still clenched but tears rolled down her eyes. To her, Chu could always achieve the impossible. Mr Thomas and his wife had faces mixed with amazement and respect, mixed in with a hint of fear.

In this world, there existed no one and no item to bring a person back from the dead. What Chu did before their eyes resided in the realm of impossibility. Not even the chief healers, nor the Tower Mages would dare to say they could accomplish this feat.

Did he hold the gift from the Heaven's, or a slave contract of the Abyss...

Mr Thomas finally broke out of this paralysis.

"Boy, you never cease to amaze me."

Mr Thomas finally spoke as he used the cloak to wrap the child while lifting her up. He moved so carefully, it was akin to him holding some precious object more fragile than glass. Chu raised himself off the ground still feeling the effects of fatigue. Lucy rushed over to him and embraced him, if not for her controlling her strength she might have sent him flying.

"Chu, I was so scared. I am so sorry, I waited with Mrs Thomas by the wagon but I kept getting this smell mixed in with the others. Then I finally remembered the baby scent and took Mrs Thomas with me to track it. I know what I did was wrong, I could have placed us both in trouble. Then this..."

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Chu patted her head like a grown up would console a child. Lucy usually put up a strong front, while she kept her feelings bottled inside. Her venting these feelings every once in awhile could only be a good thing.

"So what next."

Mr Thomas reminded them of the reality still ahead. He handed over the baby to his wife. Mrs Thomas though still in awe, scanned the child. The disbelief she harbored in her mind, dispelled by the living proof she now held. She finally understood the reason Sue and the others placed this boy on a pedestal.

"How would the garrison respond to this news?"

Chu inquired.

"Well first they would increase the guards on duty in the village. Then send out two patrols, one to warn surrounding farms while the other would be to investigate and scout for signs of remaining bandits."

The boy remained silent lost in his thoughts. He faced Mrs Thomas as he replied to the words from the man.

"The Hoyle household can be considered our friends so we have to help them if we can. First we will return to the village and make the report. Let John also know so as to warn the traveling merchants. Then we hurry back to our farm, once we secure it we will return a favor to the Hoyle's."

Chu decided in a firm tone as he nodded to Mrs Thomas.

The group wasted no time after that. They had to also worry about the baby. As planned they went to the village where Mr Thomas reported the news to the garrison captain. He further informed the man that he would later return to bury the bodies of the family after securing his own farm.

May and Jim were briefed on the way. On arrival it did not take long for the farm members to gather in the workshop. The women seated themselves on one end of the dining table surrounding the little baby. Chu was at the other end with the rest of the members standing in a semicircle.

It was no secret to the members who was the true boss of this farm. Everyone present knew this boy was a genius. A figure who walked out of the Slums on his own. Since they had all gathered here, Chu left the watch to Dyna.

She had the wolves out circling the farm on sentry duty.

Chu drummed his fingers on the table before speaking.

"You heard the story from Mr Thomas, I am open to suggestions, but time is of the essence if we decide to act."

He looked around waiting for any feedback. It did not take long for someone to speak.

"Boss, you took me and my wife into your home and saved us from winter. I am not a fighting man so normally I would never try to risk my life for somebody already considered dead. But if something ever happened to my wife or myself I would certainly want you to save me or at least avenge me.

My skills with the sword is pathetic, but I can now shoot pretty well with the crossbow. Whatever you decide, count me in as support."

Rugol took a step forward and spoke his mind.

The other couples including the wives voiced their agreement.

Everyone knew the dangers and risk involved if they decided to act. These types of actions in the past normally led to people being wiped out. Bandits had a reputation of retaliating brutally against rag-tag survivors seeking revenge.

The only ones who remained unusually quiet was the regular vanguard. Even Ming remained silent with not an ounce of emotion showing on his blank face. Whatever Chu wanted would always be treated as a law to them. Unlike the newer members they did not have to prove loyalty, they mainly bickered on how to get it done.

"Okay, then this is the plan. The scouting group will consist of myself, Lucy and Ming. Mr Thomas will take us along with Toll and Dareck to the Hoyle Farm. While our group begins tracking, the men will bury the dead.

The rest of you will secure the barn and keep a watch on the tower until Mr Thomas and others return. Dyna let one of the wolves follow us. If we find anything we will relay a message. Presently we have no idea how large this bandit camp is, so we cannot split our resources too much."

His words raised a clamor.

"Brat why should you take the risk? It's easier to protect you in the barn, if something happens to you out there..."

Chu silenced them all with his hands. He grabbed his map and spread it open on the table.

"Griz once wrote in a letter about bandit activity in the south. I think this is the work of the same group. Therefore they are either moving north, or have struck the farm and decided to double back somewhere.

I think they are hiding in a camp nearby. They did not all come with horses otherwise that skirmish for the baby would have never taken place."

Chu further iterated,

"Don't worry our goal is to find them, once we do then the garrison can take over from there. Alright let's move out, before the trail runs cold. Hopefully we can rescue the missing women."

It did not take long for the farm to spring into action. In mere moments they outfitted themselves and secured their weapons. The wagon then left in haste carrying an unusual load- a wolf covered under a large quilt. On the way, Chu noticed Ming fiddling with his pouch.

"What do you have in there?"

"Nothing. I just took some of my pills with me."

Chu rolled his eyes. This guy was trying to sell these things to John since a few months ago but the merchant constantly refused. Who in their right mind would purchase something that even the manufacturer had no idea of its effects.

By the time Mr Thomas returned to the farm, the patrol was finishing up their investigations. Toll diligently parked the wagon away from the mounted patrol so as not to alarm the horses with their unusual cargo.

Mr Thomas headed over to meet the men.

"Like you said Farmer Thomas, it was certainly the work of bandits. We have gathered all the bodies of the deceased in the house to prevent desecration by wild animals. We have already placed the bandit's head on a spike higher up the road and also thrown his body in the plains.

This type of vile action cannot be condoned. Tomorrow the garrison will have a team of trackers out on their trail. At the moment we have to get the news out to the rest of the farms around the village. Take care!"

The leader of the patrol conveyed his thoughts to Mr Thomas and rode off with his men.

When the coast was clear, everyone mobilized. Chu, Lucy and Ming headed out into the grasslands with an enormous wolf walking at their side.

The Hunt had begun.