The boss boar rose from the ground with deliberate weight, its massive frame casting a shadow over the herd.
To Lanz's mild surprise, it wasn't a scarred male that took charge, but a towering female, her presence dwarfing the others around her.
She carried herself with authority that needed no explanation, and every movement of her body radiated command.
"HRRRUUNGGGH!"
The sound that erupted from her throat was deep and brutal, a guttural roar that rolled through the clearing with the force of thunder trapped beneath the earth.
The vibration of it shook the grass and startled birds from their perches, carrying not only power but intent.
It was a signal, an announcement, and it snapped the herd into immediate awareness.
The sleeping boars, caught off guard by the sudden eruption of noise, jerked awake with alarm, their eyes wide and their bodies tense.
