Blood dripped from my mouth. Gasping lungs breathed in and out. My mother stared down at me coldly. The world was fading away so soon without making it to my twenty-seven birthday tomorrow. How dark was nothing like? Would it be quiet? At least no one would look down on me or beat me ever again. No one would see me weak.
"Four fruits this time." A seven-foot chieftain brimmed with pride.
"In the end, it was worth the hunt of the sand pits despite the losses, my mate." A slightly shorter giant spoke.
Before them stood an immense blackened tree with red veins flowing through it. Giant, fleshy, and transparent fruits held young elves inside. The fruits are bloody red except for one, which is silver.
"Grimvorn, have you heard any stories about silver fruit?" the chief asked.
"None. They are always red."
"The youngling is so small, too, along with the fruit. Weak."
"It could be weak or could be just different. Time will tell, Valgrim."
The tribe gathered around the bloody tree. Three dozen male muscular elves. Hair of various white and silver, long and flowing. Red eyes. Scales of matching color barely covered their private areas. The elves had long tails, teeth, and fingernails. Their ears forked to result in a double point. Pale bone white skin reflected boldly against the red sand beneath them, below the cavern walls of their home.
The four fruits drooped and fell. The first test. Not all made it to the ground and emerged alive. A juicy splat of red blood and membrane covered the ground. Four young elves awoke to the bright, hot world around them. The size of large human children five feet at birth. One of which, the silver born was barely four and a half feet.
"The three look promising, but that one?"
"Runt."
"His eyes look at his eyes blue as the sky!"
The tribesman can't help but sneer and laugh at the weak little elf. Even his eyes look weak look human. Vilgrim silenced the tribe and stood before the younglings. His mere presence towering.
"You are carrion elves. I am the strongest elf and chief. I shall name you."
The first was the biggest of the band.
"Thornak."
He was broad and already had clear muscle and a club-like tail. A loud roar was the response. A massive smirk on his face. His name was a strong one, 'thorn warrior.'
"Skarulf."
The 'scarred wolf.' He was lean and had some muscle definition. He had the longest tail that curled gently in response to the breeze. His hair was a dim silver hue, and his eyes a bright ruby red. He seemed relaxed in the world and unmoved by everyone around him.
"Veyrik."
He also had a long tail, but thicker and less agile. His body was more average carrion build for his age and even his general appearance. His expression was rather excited, playful. He was named a 'wanderer.'
Then there was the smallest, thinnest, the blue-eyed one. His tail held two spikes at its end. His eyes were scanning everything around him with a rather bewildered expression.
"Litrik."
The tribe burst into laughter at the fitting name.
"Ah, small fang!"
"Small everything!"
"Weak little thing!"
The curious Litrik shuddered for a moment. His eyes narrowed, and his face fell. Hands clamping down on themselves. A thwack near his feet and sand flew into the air. His spiked tail expresses himself clearly.
"I am not weak."
The laughs erupted again. All but his fellow youglings. Skarulf looked at the little one curiously while Veyrik grinned brightly. Thornak decided to test out his natural strength and slammed into Litrik's side, causing him to fall.
"Weakling!"
Litrik pulled himself up and slashed his tail at Thornak. A bloody scrap on his cheek. He let out a yelp. The two clamored at each other in a rage. Using claws and tails to tear at each other.
"Enough! If you are going to fight, go hunting instead!" Grimvorn pulled the two apart.
…
During my time in the fruit, I gained knowledge. What to eat, how to kill, and my role as a carrion elf. It didn't explain why I was reborn, but it gave me the same instructions as every carrion elf. Live, hunt, and enjoy.
The elves chased us younglings out to hunt. Thornak went off on his own. Skarulf kept quiet while Veyrik kept wiggling. Without a clear direction, I walked east. Following the canyon walls, hoping for an exit. Along the path, Veyrik acted his age, eyeing up any little rock or plant.
"What do you think our prey is?!" His voice was loud enough to echo down the canyon.
"Hopefully something edible."
"Edible?! I want it to taste good!"
We reached the end of the wall. The outside was endless dunes. Not a thing in sight. Is there anything even out here to eat?
"Whoo!" the idiot charged and smashed his feet into the sand.
Skarulf made his way off toward a random direction. I realized he was trailing after small tracks in the sand. Over a few dunes, we saw an oasis. A patch of plants is being nibbled on by a band of rabbits. Well, if rabbits were the size of cows and had six eyes. They were bright pink with no fur.
Crouching, I tapped the two with my tail. They followed my motion. It was hard to feel how dangerous they could be or how fast. The best bet was to separate one and try taking it down together.
"Ahh!" A certain oaf got tired of crouching.
The rabbits reared up on their back legs. Eyeing the young elf. A big buck bellowed and landed back on all fours. Shaking his head as he closed the distance.
I'll just let Veyrik test it by himself first. Skarulf moved closer and slightly in front of me. A slightly amused smile on his face. Sensing my gaze, we locked eyes for a moment. Only to turn back to watch the hunt.
Veyrik charged in wildly, reaching out to clay at the buck's belly. Only to be head-butted back in the sand.
"Oof!"
He seemed dazed but not hurt. The buck bellowed and shook while the females called back. We watched as he tried repeatedly and was knocked back by the buck.
"It doesn't seem that dangerous. Let's try to surround it."
Skarulf and I split up, moving slowly to the other sides. The rather confident rabbit either didn't notice until it was too late or didn't care. Here we go.
"Attack at the same time!" Shouting to the others, we all launched.
Our claws at the ready, the buck turned his head toward me. He prepared to head butt, only to screech, feeling his flesh dug into by two younglings. Veyrik had dug in and not let go, even using his teeth to bite down and slap his tail against the beast. Skarulf has preferred to slash and dash out of range. I took advantage of the beast's pain and went for the eyes.
Blood dribbled down, and the buck thrashed around trying to escape Veyrik's hold. Grabbing hold of the neck area, my tail slammed into the side, causing more blood to spill. On two legs once again, it hopped and thrashed away, leaving dents in the sand. Veyril started to chew and tear at the buck with his teeth as his claws kept tightening their grip. Skarulf, sensing weakness, jumped onto the buck's back and climbed. His claws took turns slicing the neck. The three of us held on and continued to inflict wounds. The sand below was turning into bloody puddles. Finally, the beast bellowed for the last time and collapsed forward.
Panting, I released my grip and fell over. My companions did the same. Nearby, the females were hopping away in fear. Not bad for a first-time hunt. Seems to be no injuries. Hmm? What's that crunching sound? Skarulf and Veyril were eating the rabbit raw, blood dripping down their faces as they tore flesh from the body with their teeth. Disgusting.
"Shouldn't we cook it first?"
They lifted their heads, confused. Right, why would barbarian giants know how to cook? There was nothing to burn as fuel either…
"Never mind."
I gulped. hoping that it tasted decent and that carrion elves had strong stomachs. I sliced off a piece of flesh with my hand and took a small bite. Oh, it's good! It was better than any meat in my previous life. Juicy and flavorful! Losing myself to instinct, I dove fangs first and devoured with the others. There was still meat left when we finished. Half the kill. To think three of us could eat so much. It must have been half a ton of meat.
"We should bring it back to the tribe."
I had the feeling food was indeed a blessing in the desert. Veyrik had the easiest time dragging the body, while Skarulf had a slightly harder time, while I… why won't this damn thing move!
"Pfft! Litrik is too weak for the small food!"
I growled at him, and he shut up but continued giggling. This damn body of mine! Skarulf pushed Veyril forward.
"The strongest should drag it back for us weaklings."
The first words from him showed the intelligence I sensed earlier. This guy. He smiled over at me and pointed confidently over the oaf pulling the rabbit.
"Hah! I am strongest!" He beamed with his tail wagging.
We arrived at the village before Thornak. I flinched in horror at the scene I walked in on. The whole tribe which I remind you is all males was… fuck don't think about it! Uhh. They were mating, yes, that's the biological term. From my understanding, all elves came from the tree. So why were they?! Uhh. My face flushed from embarrassment, and I turned around to leave when Skarulf grasped my arm.
"Where are you going?" he seemed unfazed, but not as unfazed as Veyrik.
The oaf was dragging the food all the way to the center under the tree.
"I brought food!" The tribe gave no response, clearly occupied so confused Veyrik scratched his head.
"Litrik?" Skarulf prompted.
Feeling heated, I yanked my arm away.
"Elsewhere. I won't go too far."
I felt Skarulf follow me. This was just too weird, and the orgy was the last straw. Why the hell was I reborn in this tribe?! I took my anger out on a canyon wall. Skarulf decided to watch from the opposite wall. After a good minute of venting, I turned around to face my companion. Whose expression was filled with amusement.
"Are you jealous, Litrik?"
I blinked at him. My face turning bright red. Like hell I was!
"Patience, we will be adults in a month."
"I'm not jealous!"
Seriously, even if our minds are essentially fully developed because of the tree, we reach maturity quickly. Eww. Just eww. A shiver snaked its way down. In my past life, I never had a partner. I don't even recall being interested in anyone. I didn't have the energy or time for that.
Skarulf took my overreaction as a hint. He decided to give me some space. I heard a quiet laugh from him as he walked off. Unsure when it would be safe to return, I crept to the ground for a nap. When I woke, the sky had turned black and starry. Skarulf had reached out his hand and brushed my cheek.
"It is safer back at the tribe, Litrik."
My eyes narrowed at him.
"Is it?"
"Hmm."
He seemed to get my meaning and sighed.
"You are odd." He laughed and made room for himself next to me.
"Sleep, I will be here to watch."
"You sleep first, I already slept some."
Skarulf smiled and tilted his head to rest on mine.
"Hey. Use the wall, not me."
"This is the price for me sleeping here."
"…"
We took turns that night guarding each other. I had no nightmares for the first time in a while. When the sun rose, Skarulf dragged me back to the tribe. There were pairs separated and mating, but others were gone entirely, out hunting. I suppose I had to get used to this way of life, but that didn't mean I'd participate in it! Thornak and Veyril are near the chief's mate Grimvorn. Talking about places to find prey. Thornak had appearantly didn't find any prey yesterday.
"Hah! I found food and hunted! That means I am stronger than Thornak!"
"I am strongest, and I will prove it, Veyrik!"
Now there were two loud ones. Great. Skarulf stopped pulling. He seemed disinterested in joining the other younglings now. We locked eyes again. Perhaps an escape was in order. Stepping back, I got a sigh from my companion.
"You are a cowardly elf."
My eyebrow twitched. Fine, but you have to suffer too. I took Skarulf by the hand and tried dragging him toward the oafs, but he didn't budge. He smiled down at me. He was too heavy to move. He walked forward on his own. His hand clasped tighter on mine. He seemed to enjoy the sensation too much. I felt my face heat up.
We reached the group right when Grimvorn noticed us. His eyes wandered down to our interlocked hands, and he smirked.
"Already picked a mate, youngling? You have odd taste, Skarulf. Is it because you see him as prey?"
I ripped my hand away and thrashed my tail. Dissatisfied.
"Litrik hunted just as well as us."
Grimvorn eyed me curiously. He was entertained for sure.
"Time will show all. I look forward to it runt."
A growl showed my opinion. It was the equivalent of an angry kitten to a lion. The second in command laughed and walked away.
"Hey, runt. Show me where the food is, and I will show you how much stronger I am."
Thornak confidently stood in front of me, leaning ever so slightly forward to intimidate me. His face showed such arrogance for a day-old child. It would be nice to knock him down a peg. My tail flicked against the ground ever so slightly.
"I have no reason to help you." I crossed my arms.
"Do it, or I will crush you." He growled deeply.
My tail whipped up to smack his face.
"You!"
Thornak moved back right before it did serious damage, but his face had a bloody gash in the center. He snarled and launched himself at me. Moving back, I whipped my tail once more at him, aiming for the side this time. Only he clearly wasn't as dumb as I had expected. He took hold of my tail and pulled. Yanking me over and thrown on the ground. My body felt the crash, and it was lifted again, tossed to another spot.
"Hah! You are so small I barely feel your weight, runt!"
His laugh was short-lived. Veyrik had charged up behind and slammed Thornak aside. In mid swing, I expected another bit of pain, but I landed in soft arms. Skarulf had caught me, and he did not look happy. His tail wrapped around my body defensively. Unable to appreciate the kindness right now, I glared at Thornak. He was currently wrestling with the oaf. Still enraged, I tried to move forward, ready to join the fight. Only to flinch in pain. Skarulf had tightened his grip momentarily on my sore body.
"Stay, you are bleeding."
Indeed, several scrapes were scattered across my body and tail from the thrashing. Still, I wanted one more good hit on the jerk.
"Skarulf, I'll just hit him once more."
"No."
As the weakest, I didn't have a hope of getting out of these arms. I watched as Veyril was slowly losing ground on Thornak. He was the biggest of us after all.
"Vehrik kick his groin!" Veyril didn't acknowledge my words. "His dick kick his dick!" I screamed, and the oaf understood.
Thornak, not deaf, defended that area with his arms. Frustrated, I struggled a little bit and felt the painful reminder. A hand pats my head for a moment.
"Stay. I will handle this."
Skarulf let go, and I contained myself enough to watch. My tail swishes violently. While Thornal was busy, Skaruld kicked him from behind right in his balls.
"Fuck!" he roared.
He collapsed to his knees. Leaving Veyrik to cheer. An uncontrolled smile appeared on my face
"Serves him right."
The few tribemans that had watched were laughing at the younglings.
"Noisy brats."
"They will be good hunters."
I also heard the other comments.
"That runt must have seduced the long tail."
"He must have a good hole."
My smile vanishes. Vivid memories resurfacing. Not realizing I was shaking. My expression cold. White-hot anger showing in growls. Thankfully, Skarulf was well aware of my temper. He and Vyrik approached.
"Litrik. Veyril says he knows where there is easy food for us. We could feast again today."
"Yeah, I will hunt and feed you both today!" the big oaf was grinning brightly like usual.
No more than before. It seemed I've gained good friends. Forcing my body to relax, I nod my head at them
"Let's go."