stories from The Fire
The story is presented as it was originally written by Jared before it was adapted into a comic book script and made into the comic book you see. You are reading this in its raw unedited but otherwise complete format.
New sections of the story will be uploaded in the coming days and weeks until the first chapter is completely uploaded. Here you will be able to find original stories and scripts and other details about the world of the Bone Herd Chronicles.
I. The Awakening
Yavin awoke with excitement, it was his special day, the day he was going to become a man. It was his first hunt and he thought about about creeping through the forest with the other men at his back. He thought about the possibilities of what his first kill would be, each one more fantastic than the last.
Would it be a gigantic mammoth with enormous tusks and a hide so thick that no normal man, not even one as strong as Ifko could pierce it? Perhaps it would be a wild saber, a beast so ferocious its jaws could crush anyone’s skull, anyone except his father or one more skilled? it could be the deadliest and scariest creation of them all, the Titan Serpent, a slithery demon bigger than ten men that could swallow a man whole in one bite, only a man more agile and graceful than Dhiig could even think about escaping with their life, much less taking the demon’s head as their prize.
His mind raced at the prospect of bringing down his imaginary prey. The blood splattering on his face as it falls to the ground, the life escaping from its eyes. Removing his spear from the beasts still beating heart.
He imagines receiving his fathers adulation. Being held close and showered with praise, hearing the joy in his voice. Seeing the happiness in his eyes and the pride in his eyes.
The rest of the hunters cheering him on as they gather around him. Gathering his trophy, his prize and providing for everyone for the next moon phases. Returning with everyone surrounding him in joyous celebration of a job well done, and his passage into manhood.
He rolled over onto his side and gazed upon his parents. They were sound asleep, as they would normally be, it being several hours from First Fire. He rolled out of his sleeping fur and put on his hunting boots and his warmest fur and crept outside of his family’s hut, being careful not to disturb his mother or father.
II. The Seer
Upon stepping out of the hut he immediately bumps into someone and falls onto his bottom. While on the ground he looks up and sees Elora, the Seer.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.” Yavin utters, immediately regretting it.
“Didn’t…see…me?” She responds with purpose. “Is that supposed to be a joke young Yavin Badanson?”
“I…I…”
She begins laughing, “Oh, it’s quite okay I suppose. Now stand up out of the snow.”
He calms himself and rises to his feet.
She puts her arm out and reaches for him, he grabs her hand to assist her. She feels up his arm and pulls herself close to him, hooking her arm inside his so they can walk together.
“So today, you will become a man.”
“Yes.” Yavin nods.
“And you are excited?”
He laughs, “How could you tell?”
“Just because I cannot see”, she looked at him with her pale, empty eyes and smiling, “doesn’t mean I can’t see.”
“So…Elora…have you seen…”
She interrupts him, “Your first hunt?”
He nods.
“Young one,” she caresses his innocent face, “you mustn’t concern yourself with the future, whether it is already written or not. You must concern yourself with the life that is before you, and travel that path. Now, see me inside.”
They wandered to the entrance of the Hall of Mammoths, unknown to Yavin as he was listening to Elora more than paying attention to where they were walking. He led her inside the entrance of the Hall, through the giant bone arch and into the structure itself. He had only ever seen it from the outside, only a glimpse here and there, but never had he actually been inside.
III. The Gift
It was a magnificent structure, more grand than he had imagined. There were several trophy skulls hanging from the roof, including a mammoth skull larger than Yavin had ever seen before in hanging in the center. Elora felt him linger, knowing his gaze was on the mammoth she let go of his grasp. She was aware of her surroundings, moreso than he was.
“Your gaze meets the wondrous beast does it?”
“Yes…it’s…”
“Huge? Yes. Your father felled it, young one. It was a harsh winter and you were still suckling on your mothers teet.” She made her way to a stone altar beneath the mammoth skull in the center of the Hall. We had not eaten in weeks and feared we would all go hungry…so Badan set out for a hunt. There were several others with him, Gunthry, Farin, Vivae and I think Bimm as well, though they didn’t offer much help in the hunt. They were far too weak already by that point.”
She had been mixing several concoctions, potions, while she spoke. She continued with the story as Yavin was hanging on her every word, “Badan had gone ahead of the group, he assured them to save their strength, that he would return soon.”
She handed him a red liquid inside a carved mammoth horn, “Drink.” He drank without questioning.
“He had wandered beyond the forest, beyond the river, into the mountains and while he was there he came across the beast. He said it let loose a roar louder than anything he had heard before. That it had froze him in his stance. That he felt fear.”
“Fear? My father?”
“Yes, young one. It stared him down, its eyes narrowed and it charged your father.”
“What did father do?”
“He was frozen where he stood. It slammed its head into his chest. He flew into the mountain side. How he survived that blow is only because the Gods decided to spare him. He was hurt, but he gripped his spear and steadied himself.”
She handed him another drink, this time it was green.
“Drink.”
He drank without questioning.
“When the beast charged again this time he was ready. He thrust the spear through its eye as it pinned him against the mountain again, it’s tusk drawing ever closer to penetrating your father’s insides. It kept pushing, but as it pushed your father, it continued to push his spear…all the way through the back of its own skull. It collapsed before him. Its strength was its downfall. Now you may begin to feel a bit…light-headed…”
“Wha-…”
“It’s nothing…well, it’s not nothing, but just lie down and embrace what comes next.”
His senses were overwhelmed as the room had begun to swirl in his vision. He was losing his balance and as he was listening to Elora the room began to get dark. He fell down as Elora moved to where he was. She turned him on his back and grabbed a bowl off of the altar filled with blood. She set it aside them as she removed his furs from his torso. She pours it onto his chest and smears it around his stomach, chest, shoulders and arms, finally drawing a pattern onto his face.
“Now, experience your death.”
Yavin was standing alone in the mountains. How he had come to be alone, he did not know. The snow had started to fall violently, he couldn’t see more than a few paces in front or behind. Everything was white. He turned to look for the others and saw a towering figure in white fur behind him. The towering figure in white fur clubbed him in the head. He dropped his spear. Blood was rushing from his head. He was delirious and couldn’t see. The blood…it felt warm as he was surrounded by the cold snow. As his vision regained it was already too late, the club had already started towards his head a second time. By the time he knew what was happening he was already dying. It took another two or three strikes before his head was no longer there.
Yavin startled awake.
“What did you see?” Elora asked inquisitively.
“I’m…wh…?”
She grabs his face and presses her forehead against his. “What did you see?”
“I…I saw…I don’t know…”
“Focus.”
He thought back to the vision. What he had seen.
“Snow. Lot’s of snow.”
“Good. What else?”
“I…”, recalled the club. “It hurt…then it didn’t…”
Elora listened closely.
“I felt warmth…blood from my head…I dropped my weapon…by the time I finally saw, I was…”
“You were?” She placed her hand on his shoulder, “It’s okay to say it. We all die one day,” Yavin felt rattled, but Elora continued, “but it may not have been your death. It could have been your death before this life.”
“Are you saying…it wasn’t my death?”
“Nothing of the sort. It could very well be the way you die in this life. But it could be how you died in your last life. Or one before that.”
“But…”
“But, what is important isn’t always the vision, sometimes what is important is the lesson you take from it. Sometimes what you see is true, other times, while it isn’t real it is how you perceive it. Maybe what you saw was your death, you are no longer a child, you are a man and in order to become that man, you must destroy what you are. Now, young Yavin, he who is soon to be a man, return me to my hut. I have a gift to give you.”
Elora rose to her feet and extended her hand to Yavin. He took it and stood up. The world felt different than before. He already experienced death, or so he thought, he felt as though his fear disappeared. She hooked her arm around his once more as he led her out of the Hall of Mammoths back outside.
“I feel…different…”
“Oh?” Elora feigned surprise.
“…what did I drink?”
“Just a little something to make your journey a bit easier is all.”
“Oh.”
They arrived at her hut.
“Now, wait here,” She turned to go inside, “and close your eyes.”
He did as told and closed his eyes and waited for her to return.
What was this about he wondered. Why did he have to close his eyes? Was it starting to get colder? Was his vision a prior life? What does he need to learn from it? Is it snowing again?
Elora returned, “You can open your eyes.”
It had started snowing again.
Elora’s arms were outstretched and inside her hands she was holding a special spear for his thirteenth birthday. It was the most beautiful weapon he had ever seen. He took it from her and felt the weight of it in his hands. It was light and balanced evenly. He took a couple practice stabs excitedly.
“This is…” He hugged her appreciatively.
“A man needs a weapon. Keep it close. Keep it safe.”
He smiled at her.
“Now go back to your father and mother, they’ll be up soon and they’ll want to see you.”
“Yes.” Yavin started to leave then stopped, “Elora….thanks.”
“My pleasure young one.”
“Bye, Elora.”
“Good bye, young one.” She waves goodbye to him.
IV. Journeys
Upon returning to his home his father and mother were already up but lying awake under their sleeping furs.
“Where did you run off to?” Truset inquired.
“Oh, uh…just out.” Yavin stood in place, holding the spear with both hands below his waist.
“Just out, huh? Where’d you get that spear?” Badan quizzed him.
“Elora, she gave it to me.”
“And I bet she gave you that too.” Truset continued on about the markings on his face. Yavin rubbed his face, unaware of the markings Elora had drawn on him.
“Leave him be, Truset. Elora’s started him on his journey to manhood. Today is his day, remember?”
“Of course.” She stood up from beneath the furs she and Badan were sharing, naked.
Yavin averted his eyes. Badan laughed.
“I made you this, child.” She grabbed a mammoth hide that was specially formed for Yavin to wear on his upper torso. “It’ a bit large for you, but you will grow into it.” She placed it on his shoulders and gave him a hug.
“Today you will become a man. I am proud of you.” Badan rises from his bed and stretches, basking in his own nakedness while Truset gets herself dressed in her warmest furs to prepare for the day ahead.
“Take it in. Aren’t I glorious!” Badan finished stretching and walks over to Truset kissing her.
“My love, today is to be a day of days!” He walks away as Truset smacks his ass. He laughs. Yavin is embarrassed by their affection in front of him.
“You’re embarrassing the boy.”
“Says you with your cock flopping around everywhere.”
Badan laughs and gets dressed as well. “Today son, we will hunt, we will get bloody, we will feast and be merry! You are to become a man!” He bellowed.
“Yes, father.”
“Ah, that’s my boy!” Badan walked over and patted Yavin on his shoulder assuringly. “You ready?” He looked down at his son.
Yavin looked up at his father, forgetting how he had previously released his fear earlier with Elora. He hadn’t ever looked at his father before as he just had. How he towered over him. Felt his strength when he was patted. He never realized that he was this imposing. His father had always looked at him like he was his child, but today his father is acting different towards him. Looking at him differently. Treating him differently.
“I am.” He nodded at his father.
“Good.”
Badan grabbed his spear and walked outside with Yavin.
V. The Gathering of Hunters
It had begun to snow more in the time since Yavin had returned home. His father walked with him to gather up the other hunters for the day. They stopped by Gunthry’s hut first. Gunthry was Badan’s most trusted and oldest friend. He has been around the habitat since it was founded. Yavin liked to joke with Gunthry and the feeling was reciprocated. He is bald. He is fat. And they both love to joke about it. He is also, more importantly, the Keeper of the Fire.
The Fire is the most important thing to all who live in the habitat.
It gives life to all and lights the way for all who leave its safety. Should it go out, even for a few hours, it could mean death for everyone. It is under Gunthry’s watchful eye that The Fire often stays. On the rare occasion he does go out for a hunt, like he is on this day, his wife Drea maintains it. They are the most reliable people to take on the most important job.
Badan walked in without regard to anything that might be going on inside. Though nothing ever was happening inside.
“Gunthry you fat bastard wake up! It’s——“ his voice trailed off inside the insulation of the furs on Gunthry’s hut. Yavin waited outside as his father collected Gunthry. While they were occupied pissing about, Gunthry and Drea’s daughter Dreana rushed outside.
“They’re both disgusting!”
“Yeah…”
Dreana always had liked Yavin but never acted on it or let him know. They’ve been around each other since they were infants, they and their parents being the first and oldest inhabitants. She was slightly older than him, but wouldn’t be considered a woman for another couple years. They remained outside standing beside one another, remaining silent. They stared into the wild, beyond the safety of the huts, walls and habitat they live in.
Through the snow, beyond the forest, into the mountains and into the unknown.
“Today you become a man, Yavin.”
“I’m well aware. Everyone keeps reminding me.”
“You aren’t excited?”
“I was…”
“What happened? Yesterday you couldn’t shut up about it.”
Yavin looks disappointed in himself.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“No, it’s all right…I was…but…”
“What happened?”
“…to be a man means to be death.” He walks away from her, gripping his spear tighter.
“What do you mean?”
“I must kill, and I must bathe in the blood of my kill. Once I do, then I become a man.”
“You always knew that Yavin, why is it different now?”
“I…”, but he was interrupted by Badan and Gunthry exiting the hut, bellowing with laughter.
“I’ll join you in a moment after I take me morning shite.”
Badan laughs heartily and grabs Yavin around his shoulder. “Tell Dreana good bye, you’ll return with a glorious bounty and a bounty-less glory!”
As he continues walking away towards his morning spot Gunthry yells, “Ana, go back inside and help your mother with anything she needs today. Must have a big fire tonight! Big! Big BIG!”
“Yes, father!” She turned back towards Yavin, yelled and waved, “Bye Yavin. Have a good hunt!”, before returning inside their hut.
Yavin turned towards Dreana and waved to her with his free hand as he gripped his spear tightly once more. He and his father continued towards the next hut, that of the one called Ifko. He was the largest man Yavin had ever laid his eyes on. He was almost twice the age of what Yavin is, and twice the size of what Badan is. He wondered when he was the same age, would he be as large as Ifko? Would he be as strong? Ifko was the only other man who had ever defeated his father in a contest of strength, though he was a simple man without any want other than to life a peaceful and long life.
Yavin imagined that Ifko could have been the most fierce warrior in all of creation if he had an ounce of anger, or jealousy, or bloodlust, but he had none of that. It wasn’t who he was. He never spoke of his past, who he was before he arrived at that night at Badan’s hut so many seasons ago. Yavin was still too young to remember that far back, he was barely walking then.
Ifko walked out of his hut, the large hulking brute of the man that he is, as Badan and Yavin were walking up to it. “Hello, Badan. Hello, Yavin. Happy day.” Ifko smiles warmly
“Hello, Ifko.” Badan says while extending his arm.
Ifko ignores it and grabs Badan by the head pulling him in for a hug. Badan while not taken unexpected, knows there’s no use to resist the might of Ifko. If he wants a hug, he’ll get a hug. Ifko released him and looked down at Yavin, Ifko grabbed him by the shoulders unexpectedly.
“What are you doing?” Yavin asked.
Ifko remained silent. He just picked Yavin up and pulled him in for an enormous hug before tossing him into the air effortlessly.
“Ifko.” Badan said sternly.
Ifko again tossed Yavin into the air, like he was a plaything. As Yavin helplessly flew through the air and back into Ifko’s grasp, he remembered when he was a child and they used to do this quite often. He had barely begun talking, but he recalled walking up to Ifko, tugging on his fur and pointing into the air while saying “throw.” Now that he thinks about it, “throw” might have even been his first words. Yavin began giggling, forgetting everything about the day ahead, the hunt, the vision, becoming a man, and genuinely enjoyed the moment. It would be the last time he ever felt like a kid again.
“Ifko, STOP!” Badan commanded.
Ifko caught Yavin and put him back on his feet.
“Father, it’s okay.” Yavin tried to assure his father.
“No, it’s not! He is to be a man today.”
“My apologies.” Ifko turns towards Yavin, “Today’s your first day as a man. May you honor us all, as we know you will.”
“I’ll do my best.” Yavin bowed in front of Ifko.
“New spear? Hm.” Ifko nodded approvingly. “It fits you.”
“Now gather your things, after we collect Dhiig we leave.”
Badan set out ahead of Yavin and Ifko who stayed behind for a moment. Yavin looked up at Ifko who punched his shoulder, “It’s okay little man.”
They looked ahead and saw Gunthry had returned and was talking with Badan.
“Looks like Gunthry is done with his morning shite.” Ifko says imitating Gunthry.
They catch up to the older men, “I tell ya, it was a BIIIIG one! Foot and a half I tell ya.” Badan shakes his head in disbelief, partly because it’s funny, but the other part was that Gunthry was continuing on about his morning shit. Didn’t he have anything better to talk about? He did. Did he ever? Rarely. They made their way to Dhiig’s hut but found it empty.
Dhiig was seated near the exit of the habitat enclosure across a small wooden bridge stretched across a trench dug through the harsh tundra many years ago. Badan and Gunthry still have the scars on their hands from doing the job. They spent many days and lost their fair share of blood, but it was in the days before others had arrived and settled.
Dhiig had often spent most of his days in a quiet meditation. He would often fast for days at a time, something none in the habitat understood. He kept to himself mostly but always was reliable, whether he was needed to defend the helpless or hunt for prey though he was often left to his own devices. He came from a far away land, greener than you could even imagine and he could stay out all day and feel warmth on his skin, the skin which was covered in scars from dozens of battles with beasts in the wild. Every wound a story. Every story an adventure leaving the others amazed. He is revered amongst the people, even when he was not there.
“Dhiig! Gunthry spotted him and waved, only to receive no response. He shrugged, “Ah, he’s doing that quiet thingey again.”
The group made their way towards Dhiig as the rest of the habitat had begun to stir. Drea was and Dreana were working bringing several pieces of wood from their hut to maintain the fire. Cora left her hut to make a run to gather water for her siblings, Ganon, Poli and Baku. She would often run into Li who was more often than not fishing. She waved to the hunters and smiled as they walked by her.
The group of hunters gathered on the edge of the habitat surrounding Dhiig. Although he was still seemingly meditating he spoke, “Is our party ready?” He opened his eyes and looked up and around at the group, the light shining into his eyes partially blinding him and making the others appear as silhouettes in his vision.
Yavin felt the weight of expectation falling onto his shoulders. He was unsure of what to do next. He had people around him he trusted, but in truth he didn’t trust what was out there. He knew that the dangers far outweighed the rewards, but he still felt there was no way out, he had to proceed despite the wariness of the path he was going down.
The hunters made their way to the forest. The people who were out waved to them as they set off and hoped they would return successful.
VI. The Hunt(releasing on 11/23/25)
VII. {REDACTED}(releasing on 11/23/25)
VIII. {REDACTED}(Releasing on 11/25/25)
IX. {REDACTED}(Releasing on 11/25/25)
Chapter 2 – Part 1 (releasing on 12/1/25)