Chapter 49.1: The Remaining Days of the Cold Winter Season - Hunting
Year 0003, Month XI-XII: The Imperium
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Day 163: Visiting the Beast and Forest Hunting
The long-awaited day to return and check on the beasts' welfare had finally arrived. August rose before dawn, leading his crew through their established morning routines alongside hundreds of migrant people who had come to participate in this daily ritual. The compound had become more than just a military outpost—it served as a beacon of hope and structure for those displaced by the harsh winter and recent conflicts.
They prepared and cleaned themselves methodically, each movement practiced and efficient. Today's mission was clear: they would journey to the beast compound to check on Kirpy and Rexy, their bonded companions. August harbored few doubts that anything catastrophic had occurred in their absence, as there had been no emergency summons or whispered tales of deadly encounters circulating among the citizenry. Still, responsibility weighed heavily on his shoulders—these creatures were not merely beasts of legend, but living beings under their care.
After sharing a brief but hearty breakfast of porridge and preserved meats, August assembled his team. The composition had changed since their last venture: Milo and Nina now filled the positions previously held by Marcus and Andy. Joining them were the familiar faces of Angeline, Erik, Bren, Betty, Adam, and Isabel—each bringing their own skills and experience to the group dynamic.
August had made a deliberate decision regarding their transportation. "We will be walking," he announced, shouldering his pack. "The entire ten kilometers. No carts, no horses—just our own two feet." The decision served multiple purposes beyond mere physical conditioning. This would be an opportunity to test the cohesion of their reformed unit, particularly with two new members who needed to find their place within the established rhythm of the group.
Nina, though not a combatant, would serve as their designated VIP for this exercise—a roleplay scenario August had devised to simulate real-world protection missions. This dual-purpose training would accomplish two critical objectives: strengthening bonds and camaraderie among team members while conducting a practical security escort exercise. The theory was sound, but August knew that theory and practice often diverged in unpredictable ways.
They wasted no time in their preparations, packing their bags with the efficiency born of countless similar expeditions. Each member carried their personal weapons, survival gear, and enough provisions for the day-long excursion. The weight was familiar, comfortable even—a reminder of their shared purpose and mutual dependence.
The journey itself became a study in group dynamics. August watched as Milo, initially hesitant and uncertain, gradually found his stride both literally and figuratively. Nina, despite her non-combatant status, proved surprisingly resilient, matching their pace without complaint. The established members naturally took on mentoring roles, offering quiet encouragement and practical advice as they navigated the snow-covered terrain.
The landscape around them bore the scars of winter's harsh embrace. Bare trees stretched skeletal branches toward the gray sky, while patches of snow clung stubbornly to shadowed hollows. Their breath formed small clouds in the cold air, and the crunch of frozen ground beneath their boots provided a steady rhythm to their march.
After several hours of steady progress, the familiar silhouette of the beast compound emerged from the morning mist. The guards stationed at the perimeter had spotted their approach long before they arrived—a testament to the vigilance maintained at this remote outpost.
Captain Roberto, the commanding officer of the post, emerged to greet them personally. His weathered face bore the marks of someone who had spent countless days in the field, but his eyes held the sharp intelligence of a seasoned military professional. "Good day, sir," he said with a respectful nod. "I trust your travels were without incident."
August returned the greeting with equal formality. "Yes, Captain Roberto. We incorporated training exercises along the route, which accounted for our slightly delayed arrival. Tell me, is there anything of particular concern regarding our bonded beasts?"
Roberto's expression remained neutral as he delivered his report. "Nothing significant to report, sir. Both creatures have demonstrated remarkable cooperation and intelligence in their responses to our handlers. We've maintained a cautious approach, naturally—one can never be entirely certain how such powerful beasts might react under stress. They've remained within reasonable proximity to the compound, venturing out to hunt in the nearby forest areas. Their behavior patterns have been quite interesting to observe."
He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "The Grimfang—Rexy, I believe you call her—has displayed a notably playful disposition, almost dog-like in her enthusiasm during interactions. The peregrine eagle, Kirpy, maintains a more reserved demeanor, spending considerable time in elevated positions surveying the surrounding territory. Both show clear signs of intelligence and emotional attachment to their bonded partners."
August nodded approvingly. "Excellent news, Captain. I hope you and your men are maintaining good spirits during this assignment." He gestured to one of his team members, who produced a collection of wrapped bottles. "We've brought something to help with morale—ten bottles of quality liquor to share amongst your personnel. A small token of appreciation for your dedicated service."
The captain's eyes lit up with genuine gratitude. "Much appreciated, sir. The men will be delighted—it's been a long winter, and small comforts make all the difference."
With pleasantries concluded, they entered the compound proper. Erik and Bren, barely containing their excitement at the prospect of reuniting with their bonded companions, quickened their pace toward the beast enclosures. The rest of the group proceeded to their designated quarters to deposit their travel gear and take a brief rest.
The two bonded handlers wasted no time in calling for their creatures. "Kirpy! I'm here, my friend!" Bren's voice carried across the compound with obvious affection. Erik's call followed immediately: "Rexy! I've come to visit you, girl!"
The response was almost instantaneous. The massive forms of their bonded beasts appeared with surprising grace, moving carefully to avoid damaging the surrounding structures or inadvertently injuring the humans present. The reunion was touching in its simplicity—two young men embracing creatures that could easily destroy them, yet chose instead to nuzzle them gently in recognition and affection.
After an hour of well-deserved rest following their lengthy march, the entire group assembled for the day's primary objective: a hunting expedition in the surrounding forest. It had been some time since August had personally led such an excursion, and he found himself looking forward to the challenge. Milo and Nina, however, displayed obvious nervousness—this would mark their first official hunt as part of the group, and the weight of that responsibility was clearly evident in their demeanor.
Erik and Bren, drawing upon their beasts' intimate knowledge of the local wildlife, took point in guiding the team deeper into the forest. The winter had been harsh, but they reasoned that most hibernating creatures would have emerged by now, driven by hunger and the gradual warming of the season.
As they moved through the dense woodland, August found himself appreciating the subtle changes in his team's movement patterns. The new members were learning to read the silent signals and body language that veteran hunters used to communicate in the field. It was a delicate dance of coordination that could mean the difference between success and failure—or even life and death.
Erik suddenly raised his fist, the universal signal to halt. August immediately gestured for the team to spread into their practiced formation, while quietly instructing Milo to keep Nina close and position them both at the rear of the group. Through the winter-bare trees ahead, they could see a herd of grazing beasts unlike any August had previously encountered in these woods.
His SYSTEM interface activated automatically, scanning and identifying the creatures before them. The information that appeared in his mind's eye was both fascinating and concerning:Wild Elderwood Eightfold Stags (official beast Index name), more commonly known as Stag Striders (common name). These were ancient, sky-antlered colossi whose eight powerful legs carried them through Gremory's primordial forests with earth-shaking strides.
The creatures were truly impressive specimens—living mountains standing nearly ten to twelve feet tall, moving with surprising silence through the deep woods despite their massive size. Their towering antlers seemed to scrape the low-hanging clouds, while their immense presence instilled both primal fear and deep reverence in any who witnessed them. These were the rarely seen but often felt terrors of the woodland heart, formidable denizens whose very existence marked them as undeniable forces within the capital's surrounding ancient groves.
The herd before them consisted of approximately forty individuals, led by what August's SYSTEM identified as a Commander-ranked beast. Such creatures were not typically considered prey by most hunters—their size, strength, and herd mentality made them extremely dangerous opponents. Boss-ranked specimens were virtually legendary, capable of uniting scattered herds into massive, unstoppable hordes.
This was August's first encounter with these magnificent beasts, which meant they would need to proceed with exceptional caution. The team spread out further, maintaining a safe distance while they studied their potential quarry. Every member understood that patience would be their greatest weapon in this hunt.
For over an hour, they shadowed the herd from a respectful distance, learning their movement patterns and identifying potential vulnerabilities. August's experience told him that direct confrontation would be suicide—instead, they would need to employ the tactics of pack hunters, separating the weakest members from the protective embrace of the herd.
When August finally signaled that the time had come to act, each team member knew their role instinctively. The strategy was elegantly simple in concept: they would wound several beasts simultaneously, causing panic within the herd and forcing the weakest to separate as they fled in different directions.
August, Erik, and Isabel drew their bows in perfect synchronization, their arrows finding their marks on three different Stag Striders. The effect was immediate and dramatic—the herd erupted into chaos as the commander bellowed a loud cry, an order for a general retreat for the entire herd. The wounded beasts, driven by pain and fear, scattered in multiple directions as planned.
With Kirpy providing aerial reconnaissance and Bren mounted above, they had a significant tactical advantage. The team split into pursuit groups, each following a different wounded quarry through the dense forest.
August, confident in his abilities, chose to pursue his target alone. Rather than delivering a killing blow immediately, he had deliberately wounded the creature just enough to slow it without causing unnecessary suffering. His enhanced physical capabilities allowed him to keep pace with the massive beast as it crashed through the underbrush.
Meanwhile, Erik and Rexy worked in perfect harmony, their bond allowing them to coordinate their attacks with deadly precision. A Grimfang's natural hunting instincts, enhanced by her intelligence and training, made her an ideal partner for such pursuits. They cornered their quarry after a brief but intense chase, Rexy delivering a swift bite to the throat that ended the creature's suffering quickly and mercifully.
The third group, consisting of Angeline, Betty, Isabel and Adam, while Milo and Nina trailed behind them, employed more traditional human hunting tactics. Using their limited but real time knowledge of the terrain and the wounded beast's likely escape routes, they successfully herded their target into a natural bottleneck between two large boulders. Isabel's precise arrow to the head, followed by coordinated spear thrusts from Angeline and Betty, brought down their quarry efficiently.
Throughout the hunt, the team maintained communication through August's PARTY CHAT function—a feature that continued to amaze newcomers like Milo and Nina, who marveled at the seemingly supernatural coordination it enabled. August made a mental note to consider adding them to the party system once he was satisfied with their integration into the group.
His own hunt concluded when he leaped from an overhanging branch, delivering a devastating blow to his target's skull that rendered it unconscious before administering a quick, merciful death stroke. The massive creature's weight made dragging it to their predetermined rendezvous point a significant challenge, but August's enhanced strength proved more than adequate to the task.
The team reconvened as planned, each group having successfully completed their portion of the hunt. The sight of three massive Stag Striders represented not only a tactical victory but also a substantial contribution to the food stores of the beast compound.
They returned to the compound well before nightfall, their arrival greeted with genuine enthusiasm by the stationed soldiers and beastmasters. Word of August's skill in field-dressing game had spread throughout the region, particularly after his group's charitable efforts during the terrorist attack crisis, when they had provided free meals to starving civilians throughout the harsh winter months.
The decision was made to prepare one of the beasts for human consumption while offering the other two to Rexy and Kirpy as well-deserved rewards for their assistance in the hunt. The preparation process became a community effort, with August at the lead along with Erik and Bren working together to process the massive carcass.
As the evening cooking fires were lit, an incredible aroma began to fill the compound. The scent of roasting meat, seasoned with wild herbs gathered from the forest, created an atmosphere of celebration and camaraderie that transcended military hierarchy and social boundaries.
The group gathered around a large campfire constructed in the compound's central courtyard, sharing not only the fruits of their successful hunt but also stories, laughter, and the deep satisfaction that comes from meaningful work accomplished together. Soldiers who had spent a few days in isolation at this remote outpost found themselves laughing and joking with the owners of the compound who had traveled here from the city to share this simple but profound experience to them.
As the night deepened and the fire burned lower, August looked around at the faces illuminated by the dancing flames. Milo and Nina had found their place within the group's dynamic, their initial nervousness replaced by quiet confidence. The veteran members had once again demonstrated their reliability and skill, while the bonded beasts rested contentedly nearby, their bellies full and their spirits at peace.
The day concluded with every participant's belly filled with satisfaction, but more importantly, with hearts and minds enriched by the shared experience of successful cooperation, mutual support, and the timeless satisfaction of providing for one's community through honest work and skillful hunting.
As the last embers of the cookfire faded to glowing ash, August reflected on the day's accomplishments. They had achieved their primary objectives—confirming the welfare of their bonded beasts and conducting valuable training exercises—while also strengthening the bonds within their reformed team and contributing meaningfully to the wellbeing of the compound's personnel.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges and responsibilities, but tonight, surrounded by friends and allies, with the taste of fresh meat still lingering and the warmth of shared success filling their hearts, all was well in their corner of the world, but for how long only the passing days could tell.