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
Snow was starting to set on the ground and coming down harder. The men and Yavin were moving slowly as the terrain was not very forgiving. The trees were thick and the forest dense, it went on as far as any could see, especially with their visibility being slightly obscured.
Gunthry was ahead of the group with Badan, taking the lead and looking for track marks.
“It’s important to stay close to the group,” Dhiig told Yavin, looking him in the eye, “the group is strength. Together we are strong. We must rely on each other.”
“Listen to Dhiig, son. What would you do by yourself against a beast ten times the size of Ifko here?”
“I…” Yavin began.
“The boy would piss himself!” Gunthry laughed.
“I wouldn’t.” Yavin responded softly.
“What was that? I couldn’t hear ya over the sound of you pissing yourself!”
“Son, Gunthry is proof that you don’t have to be scared of something to piss yourself.” Badan inserted himself into the conversation.
“I’m just speaking the truth.” Gunthry shrugged and continued ahead with Badan.
“Don’t listen to him, Yavin. You’ll make a fine warrior one day.” Dhiig comforted him, he had a sense of Yavin’s uncertainty of the hunt. He wasn’t sure what it was, but the way he was acting, he couldn’t quite read him. “Besides, fear is a natural response to danger and massive beasts. If you aren’t afraid, you aren’t alive and you ,my young friend are just beginning to live. Now come, let us make you a man.”
Yavin looked at Dhiig with admiration and awe. Without having to say anything they both understood how appreciative he was of the words Dhiig just offered him. Dhiig continued at a slightly faster pace to catch up to Badan and Gunthry.
“Have you ever seen anything quite like them?” Ifko asked.
Yavin took a moment to take in all three men ahead of them. Badan, strong and rugged but reserved and focused at the same time. Gunthry, rotund yet agile, surprisingly so. Dhiig, lightfooted to where he left no tracks even in the fresh snow.
“You don’t have to worry, if you’re ever in trouble’s path, I’ll get in the way.” Ifko patted Gavin on the shoulder.
“Thanks Ifko…how do they know what to look for?”
“They pay attention to every detail.”
“But…how can they see anything through this?” Yavin motions to the imperceptible depth of the snow and fog. “It all looks the same.”
“Not if you know what you’re looking for.”
They continue moving, slightly behind Badan, Gunthry and Dhiig.
Badan stops the group and motions for Dhiig and Gunthry to look at what he’s seen. There are marks on several nearby trees. Some sort of animal has been rubbing on the tree and left scuffs on the surface.
“What do you make of it?” Badan motions to Yavin to take a look.
“Some sort of horned animal?”
“Anything else?”
Yavin looks around, but can’t see anything else. The cold had hit him suddenly giving him a shiver.
“No, father.”
“Look ahead”, Badan points towards several trees further ahead of them, “the marks continue this way.” They move through the forest, following the markings on the trees. The snow was falling harder. It was getting hard to see as they continued tracking their prey.
“Stay close everyone, it’s easy to lose one’s senses when all you see is white and grey.” Badan warned.
“I hate seeing white.” Dhiig added. “Give me golden land of fire and curse this misery.”
“It’s not so bad, Dhiig.” Ifko laughed.
“Maybe not for you, Ifko. You’re three men in one.”
The hunters continued moving through the forest, but their trail had apparently disappeared. Yavin stayed with the men, doing what he could to listen to them and find the wisdom in their words. He still couldn’t understand how they were able to see through the white. Everything looked the same to him.
Dhiig continued, “This is not agreeable with me. It slows me. Dulls my senses.”
“It dulls everyone’s senses…but what it truly does is it tests what a man is made of.” Gunthry added, “…and it seems like we’ve lost the trail…
”Keep an eye out for anything and your wits about you, but most importantly, stay close.” Badan was looking through the distance, peering through the snow trying to find any sign of their prey. His focus was singular on finding the prey for his son, to lead him towards being a man.
Yavin kept looking for a sign. He wanted to be the one to find the trail again and lead the men to their bounty. He stopped for a moment and observed his surroundings. The wind was whipping in every direction as the downfall had become a full fledged blizzard.
Yavin found a sign. It was fresh, but it wasn’t the same as the ones they were following. The tree was scuffed up, but it continued upwards three or four body lengths above Yavin. He was amazed to find something so massive. He had heard stories and seen pieces of mammoth beasts, but up until this moment he had only felt small in the shadow of men, he never felt so overwhelmed by the enormity of something, or rather, his imagination of what it might look like.
“Father!” He turned around only to find he was by himself. He was so preoccupied with the search that he lost sight of the rest of the group. He was right behind Ifko when he stopped and looked around. Which direction was that? He looked around, never before having been lost, much less alone.
“Ifko?”
He ran in the direction he had previously come from, or so he thought. The blizzard was coming down so hard that his footsteps would disappear almost instantaneously.
“DHIIG!?” He was becoming worried. He was with the best hunters, and Gunthry too, he thought, how could this happen? “GUNTHRY!!”
He was in a panic. “FATHER?!?!”
He collapsed to his knees and felt the tears building up, “…anyone?”
His fear controlled him for a moment…but he rose to his feet.
How would they find him?
Yavin tightened his grip around his spear. He knew he was on his own, but if he would have any chance he would have to keep moving. He marched through the forest and grew angry with himself for having lost the group. He stabbed a nearby tree in a fit of rage, the bark falling into the snow below before marching on.
VII. The Hunt for Yavin
“We’re back on track boys!” Gunthry bellowed, extremely pleased with himself. He had found the trail again. Badan, Dhiig and Ifko ran towards him.
“Great job Gunthry. Yavin, we’re close. Are you ready?” Badan turned towards Yavin, expecting to find him beside Ifko but found nothing.
“Yavin?” He turned to Ifko.
“He was right behind me.”
Badan’s rage overtook him as he punched Ifko in his face, knocking him down into the blanket of snow.
“HE WAS RIGHT BEHIND YOU?!”
“He can’t be far. If he just stays put, it’ll be fine.” Dhiig advised. “It will be okay, Badan.”
Badan looked at Dhiig, aware of what he had done.
“I’m sorry, Ifko.” He held his hand out to Ifko who grabbed it and pulled himself up.
Ifko just nodded at Badan, as he understood why he was upset.
“We will find your son.” Dhiig placed his hand on Badan’s shoulder, reassuring him and helping to calm him down more. “We are wasting time, let’s move.”
The group ran for a few minutes until they instinctively returned to around where they had been when Yavin had become separated.
“YAVIN!” Badan screamed.
“Where are ya, boy?!” Gunthry joined in.
Dhiig and Ifko looked for any sign but there was none as the snow obscured everything.
“What could’ve drawn him away?”
“He is still a child…it’s his first hunt, he’s trying to prove himself. It could have been…” Dhiig’s eyes catch a glimpse of the scuffed tree Yavin had stopped at previously, “…anything.”
“We were looking for tracks, marks, anything. Yavin must’ve caught sight of this.”
“Ifko’s right. Look around. See if there’s any sign of where he might’ve gone.” Badan commanded.
They looked around, looking for a trail, a sign, anything that could lead them to Yavin.
Gunthry crouched down and looked far ahead in the distance. “Now where have you gotten off to?” Dhiig was swiping through the snow with his weapon, trying to find compacted snow beneath, possible footprints to determine which direction he was going. Badan was looking at the trees, searching for any kind of marking on them.
Ifko was walking when his foot kicked something. He noticed a piece of bark on the ground. He picked it up and observed it, noticing what looked like a cut along it.
“Badan,” Ifko held up the bark, “it looks cut.”
Badan ran towards Ifko. “Was this where you found it?” Badan asked about where they were standing.
“I booted it, about one pace, one and a half paces back.” Ifko walked to where he was when he noticed it.
“Stay here.” Badan commanded then grabbed the piece of bark. He looked around trying to find the puzzle, as he had the piece. It didn’t take long until they were able to put it back on the tree where it belonged.
Dhiig looked at Badan and Ifko in relation to the tree and where the bark was found. It didn’t take him long to make a determination as to which direction Yavin was going.
“That way.”
The men ran in the direction Dhiig had pointed them.
Towards Yavin.
Ifko having felt the most responsible left the other men behind as he ran the path.
As Ifko disappeared into the white fog ahead of him, Badan thought, “sometimes Ifko is amazing. What he can do is otherworldly. He truly has no equal.”
He was glad Ifko was on his side.
VIII. The String of Fate
Yavin had gotten separated from the group. He cursed at himself for losing himself. He was too anxious and his youthful ambition had gotten the better of him. The wind was howling and the snow created an impenetrable wall impairing his vision.
It was easy to lose one’s sense when all you see is white and grey…he thought about what his father had said at the beginning of the hunt. The truth in those words were all too prophetic as he had become lost. Still a child and not yet a man he was afraid. He saw as each breath escaped him and was carried off into the unknown.
With each step he prayed to ? to save him. He gripped his weapon tight and readied himself for anything. He was prepared to fight, but he was scared to die. He didn’t know how he’d react, if he’d react or if he would be the most fierce warrior like he dreamed about. He tried to occupy his mind and kept focused on the next step.
Step. Breath…snow.
Each step became harder as he pressed forward, or rather backwards towards where he had separated from the pack. He looked at his weapon, offering his trust that it is the only thing that will keep him safe. He is a foolish boy. In truth he was far beyond the point he had become separated, all he was able to see was the next step.
Step. Breath…snow.
The world can sometimes be cruel. He had maybe been ten paces ahead of the group when he became separated. He turned and saw no one and felt overwhelmingly disoriented. Nothing but snow…nothing but white and grey. Had he stayed put and remained calm, he would not have become lost. Instead he kept moving, kept going forward.
Step. Breath…snow.
He had come to a large moving shadow before him. Even in this unyielding storm, it was apparent that this was a monstrous beast. Yavin froze, he was immobile. Unable to move. Unable to breath. All he could do is stand there and wait for his fate. The shadow was overwhelming to him and it grew closer. He swore the ground was actually shaking, but the reality was his knees were trembling.
He thought back to the morning.
Thought back to his vision from his meeting with Elora.
The snow…
The club…
The pain…
The warmth of his blood streaming down his face…
His vision going red as the blood entered his eyes…
The vision of the world dimming as he felt the next blow…
The darkness…
He closed his eyes. Hoping that it would somehow change his fate. Then he heard it. The whipping of the wind as an object rushed towards his head.
…or so he thought.
He had braced for the worst.
He had accepted his fate.
He was ready to die…
What happened next he wasn’t ready for.
He opened his eyes and was awestruck. He saw a magnificent beast unlike any he had before. He had heard stories. Seen pieces. Bones. But never live.
The beast towered over him and he beheld its true form.
How had his father and the other men killed something like this before? His father had killed one by himself. If his father had, perhaps he was able to as well? He thought for a moment about attacking it, trying to kill it…but it didn’t feel right.
He felt like his fate was being tested.
To attack would surely be his death, regardless of any vision and as much of a fool as he may be, Yavin knew better. Instead his eyes met the eyes of the beast. They stared at one another, motionless and captive by the moment.
The world stood still as the snow continued falling around them.
…Yavin lowered his head, almost in reverence to the beast.
The beast continued by Yavin.
He felt it get further away as the ground shook less and less until it was just him.
He was alone again.
Yavin watched as his breath escaped him, drifting above and disappearing into the haze of fog and snow. He rose to his feet and gripped his weapon tightly before looking around and deciding which direction he would continue. He closed his eyes again, but this time it was to focus on the environment surrounding him.
His vision was obscured, but he thought perhaps he could listen and find his way back. He felt the direction of the wind, was it going up the mountain or down it? If it was downward, he would just need to follow it and he would reach the forest once more. Surely the hunters couldn’t be far, he thought.
The wind was howling and whipping in multiple directions, but they were mostly all going downward. He had found his bearings and continued downward. He had no idea how he had traveled so far up in such a short amount of time, at least he thought it was a short amount of time. The reality was he had become delirious until his meeting with the beast moments before. He had been wandering for nearly an hour and climbed the mountain path more than a thousand paces.
He wasn’t close to the hunting party, but he was closer, finally on the right track.
Yavin continued going down the mountain.
The snow and wind were relentless.
He could no longer feel his hands or his feet. He knew he needed to get out of the storm, even if for a moment. He looked around to try and see if he could find anything as a shelter. Peering through the storm he saw what looked to be an opening down a small trail in the mountain side. It’s better than freezing to death he thought.
He made his way towards the opening. Trudging through the snow which had become nearly knee deep during his trek. He gripped his weapon tightly and leaned against the mountain as he crept down the trail on the side of the mountain. It would be dangerous enough without the snow, but with the added encumbrance Yavin moved slowly, digging his spear into the ground before him and pulling himself forward, step by step. Finally, he reached the opening.
Yavin pulled himself inside, away from the raging snow storm outside.
It took a moment and a few breaths before the stench inside the cave completely overwhelmed him. He retched at the smell of decaying flesh. Piles of bones, limbs pulled from their sockets half eaten, bodies decomposing and the smell mixed with old blood. Yavin could barely see a thing as the darkness inside was nearly impenetrable, but in short order his eyes adjusted and beheld the horrors before him. He couldn’t contain himself and vomited the contents of his stomach on the ground beneath. Slowly he backed out and back into the raging storm. He would rather face nature over whatever lived here. If it was here, he needed to get out immediately. If it was not, he needed to get out before it returned. Back into the storm he went, to face the unknown storm over the unknown horror.
Yavin stepped back onto the mountain ledge and planted his spear before him, pulling himself along the way, step by step until he was back on the mountain path. He took a short moment to wonder what type of monster lived in there before deciding he’d prefer to never find out. He turned to continue on the downward path he was previously on but bumped into something…large. He fell backwards onto his bottom and looked up towards the towering shadowy figure above him.
It took a second for his vision to focus.
Yavin felt a hard thudding blow land on the left side of his head. The impact of the blow threw him across the path and into the mountain itself, impacting hard on his right side. He felt the warm blood flowing down his face, obscuring his vision from his left eye. He was hurting, but he told himself to stand. To fight. He gripped his weapon…or he tried to, but had unknowingly dropped it when the clubbing blow landed on his face.
He looked around in a panic seeing the hulking figure looking down at his weapon somewhat puzzled. Finally, Yavin saw what he was up against. It was one of the Patac, a neanderthal type of manlike beast, bigger and stronger than a normal man, but lacking intellect beyond a base animal. He was nearly as large as Ifko, covered in filth, shit and blood. It was covered in hair, thick enough that it allowed it to survive in harsh climates.
Yavin rose to his feet, determined to make it beyond the next few minutes. He braced his ground.
“Come on you shit!”
The Patac looked at Yavin puzzled, perhaps it was because it thought the strike should’ve killed his prey. It made its way towards Yavin and prepared to swing again.
Instinctively, Yavin closed his eyes and prepared for the second blow, bracing himself…but it didn’t come.
IX. A Man of True Strength
As Yavin opened his eyes Ifko was standing before him.
“Are you okay, Yavin?!” Ifko asked desperately.
In the moment Yavin awaited the oncoming blow, Ifko had caught sound of the scuffle from below. He had seen the initial club that threw Yavin into the mountain as he was running up the mountain. As the Patac Neanderthal stood motionless, Ifko increased his stride and covered even more ground. The anger filled him. Rage overtook him. He continued forward with purpose. He had gone ahead of the rest of the group.
When he saw Yavin rise, it inspired him to move even faster somehow. He watched as the Patac walked towards Yavin and closed the gap between them. Ifko was still ten lengths away as the Patac pulled his club back. He covered the final gap with three full strides in less than a second tackling the Patac viciously and dropping his weapon in the process.
Ifko immediately turned his attention to Yavin.
“Are you okay, Yavin?!”
It took a couple seconds for Yavin to register everything that had just occurred.
Ifko tried again, “Are you okay, Yavin?”
There was a ringing in his ears, Ifko wiped the blood out of Yavin’s eye.
“Are you okay?”
The Patac was hurting. Anyone who had been tackled by Ifko with that much force would be. This only enraged the neanderthal further. It looked around for its weapon, ultimately seeing Yavin’s spear within its grasp. It reached over and picked it up and rose to its feet.
“Yavin, are you——“ Ifko was interrupted by Yavin’s spear protruding from his abdomen. His blood splattered onto Yavin. Ifko coughed up blood and collapsed to his knees, grabbing the spear with his hands. He and the Patac struggled with it for a brief moment before he summoned the strength to pull the spear out enough and break the sharp end off and dropping it at Yavin’s feet.
“Take it!”
The Patac pulled what remained of the spear out of Ifko.
Ifko fell to the snow, the blood streaming out of him, coloring the snow.
This enraged Yavin. It filled him with a bloodlust. His friend Ifko, dying in the snow before him. This inhuman creature before him, thoughtless, remorseless, unyielding in its act to survive. It is kill or be killed.
The Patac continued towards Yavin with his own broken spearhead. Yavin would not die by his own weapon. He would not die at the hands of this Patac. He picked up the broken end of his weapon. The gift given to him by Elora. He charged towards the Patac, which charged towards him.
The jagged edge held by the Patac entered into Yavin’s left shoulder and out the back as Yavin was determined to not let anything stop him until this beast was dead. He walked through the broken spear, driving it deeper and opening up the wound in his shoulder with each step.
He felt no pain. Closer and closer he got until he was within arms reach.
Yavin plunged the spearhead into the Patac’s lower back several times, severing its spine. As it collapsed before him, still gripping the spear in his shoulder. The Patac let go and tried to fight off Yavin, preventing the spearhead from doing any further damage but Yavin pulled it back and quickly plunged it into the throat of the neanderthal. He grasped the Patac’s head with his free hand, holding the spearhead in place while he looked in its eyes.
Yavin wanted to see the moment it died. The second its life passed from its body. Today, he would not be amongst the dead, but this Patac would. He twisted the spearhead and plunged it further, entering the brain and watching the life flow out of its eyes. Yavin released the Patac and watched as it slumped lifelessly to the snow.
“YAVIN! YAVIN!”
Yavin looked and saw the hunters running up the path towards them.
Badan embraced Yavin, shocked at the scene before him. Ifko was motionless on the ground as was the Patac neanderthal. Yavin had his spear protruding from his shoulder but seemed indifferent to it or the pain.
“Ifko needs help….”
Badan turned to Dhiig, “Fix him.”
Dhiig immediately hurried beside Ifko and observed the wound. “Thankfully the cold is stopping the bleeding a little.” He poured a powder into the wound and it began sizzling. Ifko screamed in agony.
“The other…”
“What’s that son?”
“The other side. He was stabbed from behind.”
Dhiig, Gunthry and Badan turned Ifko over and looked at the wound on his back.
The look on the face of Dhiig spelled out the seriousness of the wound.
“The spear struck the spine, although it did not sever it. We must get him back so Elora and Jayna can fix the wound. What I have will only buy us time…”
Again, Dhiig took what powder he had and poured it into the wound on Ifko’s back. Again, as it began to sizzle Ifko screamed in agony.
“Before we go, we need to take care of this.” Badan told Yavin, acknowledging the spear still sticking through his shoulder.
“Do what you must, father.” Yavin responded, numb.
“Now, we shouldn’t remove it entirely until we get back, but…” Badan broke off the longer portion, still leaving room so the could use leverage on getting it out upon returning.
The hunters carried Ifko until they reached the woods. Upon reaching the woods they fashioned a makeshift snow sled out of sticks and attached rope to it. Ifko was in and out of consciousness throughout the journey.
During one of the moments of consciousness, Ifko looked up at Yavin and reminded him weakly, “…told you I’d get in trouble’s way…”
It took everything for Yavin to not cry.
As they reached the village, they were somber…weakened…defeated. They not only returned empty handed, but they returned with a giant of a man, little more than a lump of flesh that could form words. The excitement of the people turned to sadness.
It was not hard for them to recognize the visage of four men dragging their friend behind them. The tools they were to use on their prey instead to stabilize and bring Ifko back to the Bone Herd. No one could believe their eyes. Surely Ifko couldn’t be wounded. He was no mere man.
Vivae, Farin, Onu, Gova, and every able bodied man helped the hunters carry Ifko the rest of the way. They placed him inside the Hall of Mammoths. Elora, Jayna and Truset immediately began working on the wound and trying to save Ifko while others grabbed cloth, water, anything that would be of use.
Moments before, when the hunters appeared on the horizon, the atmosphere was festive. Hopeful.
Just as the day had begun for Yavin. He was hopeful to become a man. To kill a giant, vicious beast. And he did. He killed on this day. He vanquished an enemy. He had saved himself and Ifko…but not before Ifko had sacrificed himself for Yavin.
He thought back to what Ifko had said earlier, during the beginning of the hunt. He would get in the way of trouble, if Yavin ever found himself in its path. He fulfilled that promise and it overwhelmed Yavin entirely. He collapsed to his knees, his broken spear falling from his hand. He hadn’t let it go the entire trip back. The pain of loss filled him with such a rage, such an agony, he couldn’t do anything except cry.
The moment for Yavin is indiscernible. The next moment of clarity he had was his fathers hand on his shoulder, comforting him.
“I don’t want you to blame yourself, son.”
“But if I hadn’t…”
“Don’t.”
Even though he didn’t say much, the words managed to comfort Yavin. He was still crying and he noticed the tears running down his face finally. He wiped them away in an effort to hide them from his father.
“I’m sorry, Father.”
“What for?”
“Men shouldn’t cry.” Yavin stood and straightened himself up and tried to present a strong front for his father. Badan stood up to meet him.
“Son, today you are a man,” he looked down at his son, “and as a man, if you choose to cry, then you cry, son.”
Badan pulled Yavin in close and hugged him tightly.
It was at this moment where Yavin determined what kind of a man he would be.
He would be a man like Ifko.
He would be a man like his father.
A man of true strength.
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