We didn’t meet anyone else on the trail. The bear did tell me that someone had vommited beside the path…but anyone with a nose could have smelled that. Scott is only having a mildly better day than myself.

My Dad has taken to asking questions of the bear, with me as interpreter. I think it helps him forget about the pain he is in…not sure, it could be riding a bear…that you only met an hour ago.

“Where did you come from?” …and the bear chuffs, the forest.

“Did you meet another patrol?” …no, I am too quick for most humans.

“Why did you bond with my son?” …because he called to me. Now this last answer had me a little interested. I don’t think I yelled to meet a bear today. With that thought, the bear clarified, my spirit called for him…which is cool really. I have a bonded bear. My brothers are going to be so freaked out…so will my sister probably.

“What affinity are you?” …chuff… Apparently, my bear buddy doesn’t want to say, or doesn’t know.

“You’re light right?” I ask with a thought. The bear chuckles in my mind. The sound is like a mountain avalanche. I guess having a bond doesn’t imply he has to tell me everything.

I can begin to make out the walls of the village now. Rammed earth, 15m high with solid black stone pillars every 4m or so. The top of the walls are black stone as well, with various ports and covers to handle a variety of monster attacks. Birds, bears, boars, etc, the village has to be able to handle everything. The walls are not meant to be an absolute defense, just enough to slow the beast down, so someone with skill can kill it. Birds are usually the worst, but they are also easier to take down.

There are 7 towers around the village. Four are set on corners, with the remaining three covering areas that need extra help. The towers are solid stone as well, but I don’t know why, or what they look like inside. They look cool though.

Now the main gate is very cool. Two sorta-round stones 6m high and 15m wide. It takes two Parity’s to open and close the gate. The two stones roll from either side and basically double the width of the gate. Behind the gate is a tunnel with another gate located 3-4 cart lengths from the main gate. This is roughly the same size as the main gate, but it is twice as thick. My sister says this is so they can close the main gate quickly and assess the threat. It takes several Paritys to close this gate. The whole entrance goes slight uphill, and spills out straight into the main gate tower. The entire tunnel and tower are covered in a white stone, so the tunnel area is really bright.

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There is a skewer place on the left side of the tower, it has really good stuff…not sure I am going to have time for skewers today.

Ten more minutes of walking and we come in direct sight of the main gate. And wow…the main gate is really busy. This is like autumn field day busy. The trail begins to merge with the main road and that’s when I noticed that the guards are holding up traffic on the main road…about 200m back from the split. All the activity by the gate is from 20-30 people running around pushing carts and people through the gate.

As we rolling-amble our way closer, I hear a yell, and everyone outside of the gate starts running as fast as they can through the gate. Carts are left unattended. As the last of the people make it through the gate, a group of guards funnels out and the gate closes behind them.

“Dad, this doesn’t look good.”

“What’s going on Harry?”

“Everyone was running inside, and then 15 or so guards came out, and the gate closed.”

After passing on this information, the second guy who ran to the village came jogging up.

“Ah, kid. We have a healer inside, but it was decided not to let your guardian in.”

“That’s ok, Harry wait out here…Patrolman, is there a place to wait? It looks like closing the gates and holding up traffic will cause issues.” Apparently, my dad had been thinking while riding here.

“Sure, Dad.” My head turning back towards the rear of the bear.

“Ah, yes Sir…sorry forgot about you…well, I can’t really see you…just a leg…ah, well…that’s not important…yes, ah if you go back to the split and head up to the field below the tower. It’s only a 15 minute walk, there is water, and we can inform your son when you ready”. To say he was flustered, was a bit of an understatement.

With that said, the Patrolman waved back to the guards and 4 men came jogging up…well, they jogged up until they were 5m or so away…then they just slowly approached.

“Is is ok to get near the bear, young man?” The patrolman asked with that “talking with a kid” voice. I nodded, the bear chuffed…and one of the guards that came up squeaked.

Slowly, they lowered my dad down on one leg. Two of the men then held him under his shoulders and shuffled him back to the gate. The patrolman then turned to me, “Depending on how bad it is, it might take awhile. Do you have food and water?”

I did have my fathers backpack, so yes, we should be good. So, I nodded and turned around…the bear turning with me as we headed down the road back to the trail.

“Ah kid, we’ll have someone in the tower, so yell up if you need anything.” With his spiel done, the patrolman and the two guards turned around and headed back to the gate.s