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Ever since that fishing bond, it seems Slace, Valerius, and Herald had stuck together.
"You really need to do it this way, Slace!" Herald reprimanded him for launching his rod into the river.
"I know, dumbass!" He said, casting his rod into the river, Herald's face planting
"That's the hundredth time you did it wrong, Slace!" Herald announced.
Slace sighed, taking the fishing rod and putting it away.
Valerius analyzed the situation with intrigue. "It's surprising that fishing is one of your flaws, Slace; I took you for a quick learner."
Slace sat down resting. "I've never fished in my whole life, but still doesn't mean jack shit."
Herald put his fishing rod down, taking out his bow, changing objectives.
"How about we go hunting instead? It's on the list, and we can come back to this later."
Valerius nodded. "Seems pleasant."
Slace got up, agreeing, "If it'll take my mind off this, I'm willing."
Slace could've left the two now, but he wanted to learn more about a potential future enemy called Valerius, so he stayed.
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The three arrived at the hunting ground; it was a huge dense forest, the occasional sunlight peeking through the leaves of the trees, while the noise of animals scurrying around could be heard every few minutes.
Herald, who was in the front of the ground, shifted his body and turned towards the two, taking out a map from the pouch wrapped around his back.
He opened up the map showing the two the whole map of the nature kingdom; he then took his finger and circled the whole region, explaining.
"This whole forest is a hunting ground; I would say we separate."
He suddenly shook his head, taking the map, rolling it up, and putting it back in his pouch before tilting his glasses, hearing footsteps.
"But because it's hunting season, there are a lot of hunters here, so splitting up would be bad; it's best if we stay together to optimize the speed of the hunt."
Valerius perked up, getting it. "Ahh, I see, it's like three eyes versus one."
Herald nodded, correcting Valerius. "Well, six eyes versus two, but you are correct."
Slace sighed, unsheathing his blade. "Stop yapping and let's get this over with."
The two nodded as they began their hunt, walking further into the nest of trees.
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"Good work, Valerius," Herald praised, shooting at the animal trapped in ice.
The arrow knocked right off the animal's skin, hitting the ground as the animal fumed smoke out of its nose. Herald signaled for Slace, figuring out what type of animal this was.
"It's a bullin; that's your job, Slace."
Slace stayed absolutely silent right beside Herald, his gaze locking onto the Bullin; he then dashed straight forward at it, and in one clean sweep its head was cut clean off, his blade stained with animal blood.
Herald walked towards Slace, placing his hand on his shoulder, but Slace slapped it away, causing Herald to step back. He had a surprised look before shaking his head, changing topics as he began to complain about the Bullin.
"I hate bullins; their skin is too tough to pierce with arrows." Herald explained.
Valerius picked up the head of the bull as if he were analyzing it.
"And they're pretty big too, like an enhanced bull perhaps?"
"Well, they do have tusks," Herald joked. He then switched topics again. "Anyways, let's continue."
The three heard footsteps as they began to look around cautiously. Herald spotted three shadows in the peeking sunlight.
One of them was short, the other was tall, and there was another who was medium height.
As Slace and Valerius looked forward, the group finally came out from the trees; it was another hunting group.
"What is it that you want?" Herald asked, tilting up his falling glasses.
One of the people walked forward; it was the person in the middle. Herald looked surprised; after all, the person was a kid who kept a smile.
The kid stopped as they looked up at Herald, the slick of their golden-blonde hair falling into bangs covering their forehead.
Herald looked down at the kid, those amber eyes looking straight into his with unassuming innocence.
Then the kid's mouth opened as they began to speak, his long elf ears twitching ever so slightly.
"It's a pleasure to meet both Herald and the prodigy knight Valerius; my name is Finn."
Both Valerius and Herald felt flattered by the comment as they bowed in respect of Finn, not because of the flattery but because of status.
The medium-height person in the group, about Slace's height, pointed at Slace with an agitated look.
"Kneel now! You're in the presence of an el-
Finn brought out his hand, shaking his head as the person became quiet.
"It is quite alright, Pouka." Finn then looked at Herald and Valerius, his smile faltering into an awkward one. "And you two can get up; just because I'm of elven lineage doesn't mean you have to kneel."
The tall person of the group put their hand on Pouka's head, ruffling their long black hair while they laughed like an old man.
"Have you forgotten to not act until told by Finn Pouka? You are young and ambitious yet too hotheaded."
Pouka pouted, tightening her fist. "I'm sorry, Rowan, but I just hate when people disrespect Finn."
Rowan gave a reassuring look to Pouka. "It's quite alright; just make sure it's actually disrespectful next time."
Herald and Valerius got up as Finn looked at Slace, who was keeping a distance between everyone.
"Sorry about her. Pouka is a bit overprotective; at least that old geezer calmed her down."
Slace averted his gaze. "It's whatever."
Finn looked back to Herald, closing his eyes while smiling.
"Let's say we have a little friendly competition." Finn opened his eyes, looking around. "Whoever can hunt more animals wins; no rewards, like I said, friendly."
Herald was thinking about it before Finn looked up at him with a pleading look in his eyes like a dog.
"I know you can't touch me because I'm an elf, but you still agree, please, Sir Herald?"
Herald sighed, rubbing his palm against his forehead, slightly stressed by the rushing.
"Sorry about that; I guess I can't take all day to think about it. Anyways, I agree, it'd be a nice boost for our teams."
Finn nodded, clapping once, his smile gaping.
"I never even thought of it that way, Herald! Thank you!"
"It's no problem." Herald responded back.
Finn then left with his group, waving goodbye as he left some parting words, "This'll be very fun, Herald!"
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"Why didn't you bow? That was an elf Slace!" Herald asked, irritated by Slace's constant revolting.
Slace didn't seem to notice it, ignoring Herald as he walked forward, his sword ready.
"Let's go already; we don't have time to waste."
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The hunt began. Hunt after hunt, the two groups were leaving all the rest in the dust, stealing all their prey.
Now they were side by side competing, tied with each other.
"I had no clue you had such a good team, Finn." Herald said, running alongside him
Finn smiled, seeming happy by the compliment.
"Well, thank you, but your group is not bad at all either."
Herald smirked confidently. "Of course they are."
Suddenly an animal appeared running away, and Finn got his daggers ready.
"Thing is, we're better." Finn announced
With that, Finn rushed forward at the animal, Pouka shooting it down pinning it as Finn went for the killing blow.
Herald looked shocked before noticing another animal, Finn's golden eyes already on it.
"GET THAT ANIMAL BEFORE THEM!" Herald yelled, getting his bow ready, but Finn was already there.
Finn stuck out his tongue. "Sorry, but I'm just faster and nimbler than you!"
Finn went to stab his blade into the animal.
, then a clanging sound of clashing rang out.
Finn got knocked back as he looked forward, a nervous smile on his face as a blade was already inside the animal; it was Slace.
"That's our kill, Elf."
"Good work Slac—" Valerius covered Herald's mouth. "Remember."
Herald nodded.
Finn looked at the three suspiciously before shrugging, pouting with the usual smile.
"Well, alright, you win that kill, but the next one won't be so easy, Edgie (edgy person)."
Suddenly the noise of footsteps matched through the forest as a colossal shadow overcast the two groups.
The two groups looked up; it was a giant black bear towering over the whole forest.
Slace then spoke, stating the obvious, getting his sword ready.
"You were right, it won't be easy."