Argo was hiding behind a boulder, blue eyes locked on the goat eating not far from him. He slid a stone into the sling's pouch and started using the new weapon like he was taught, aiming at the target. Seconds later, he stepped out, releasing it. The projectile hissed through the air, creating a whizzing noise.
The stone arched through the air, burying itself in the Windrunner's skull like a bullet when it connected. The creature didn't know how it died as blood sprayed the ground below. The nearby herd witnessed it dropping dead and scattered. Afterward, a lone male was the only one remaining, standing over the dead one, nostrils flaring with anger.
Soon, Argo realized it was her mate and felt a slight pang of guilt, but it was wiped away when notifications popped up, bringing his attention back to the present.
[Experience Gained: 10]
[Beast Points Gained: 1]
Argo ignored the guilt because it was a necessity; survival was the priority in this world. After all, he needed new stuff to get through the upcoming winter, or he'd suffer like he had during his childhood. His clothes were worn out due to everything. He shook his head, smiling as he turned to the big cats.
''Finish him. That's your dinner once I've taken the pelt for new gear,'' he ordered.
Aslan and Artemis surged forward like two blurs. The big cats split, flanking the angry goat, who wasn't backing down and was seeing red. Argo's gaze tracked his beasts as the Nightclaw feinted left, causing the Windrunner to suddenly lunge in her direction, horns slashing through the air.
The wind brushed past Artemis's fur, but she was able to get away from the enraged creature. Moments later, the American Lion vaulted onto its back, jaws clamping the spine just behind the skull. Just then, a loud, sharp crack echoed out as Aslan twisted his head, using his powerful jaws.
Argo chuckled as the beast dropped dead due to having its spine broken, and another notification popped up, causing him to dismiss it instantly.
[Experience Gained: 10]
[Beast Points Gained: 1]
Argo smiled as he stepped between the fallen Windrunners, glancing at each creature. Aslan then hauled the female Windrunner's body to his feet, leaving a blood trail. Artemis was crouched on top of the male, blue eyes scanning the horizon for scavengers. Moments later, he knelt as he pulled out his Skystone Dagger to get to work.
He placed the blade against the female's throat, just behind the jaw, and began the long, patient work of removing the hide from flesh. Each cut was calculated: a shallow angle to keep the pelt intact, a twist of the wrist to follow the grain of muscle. Blood, still warm, ran between his fingers; the iron smell mixed with crushed grass.
Athena dropped from the sky without a sound, wings folding like a cloak. She landed on a sun-bleached rib of driftwood next to him so she could watch the process. 'Will this be enough for the winter stuff?' she asked.
Argo didn't look up as she answered. ''No. One hide won't cover or keep me warm from the incoming cold weather. We need another Windrunner, or maybe a Great Horned One. Their hides are thick and more suited for warm clothes.''
The owl tilted her head, offering. 'Shall I scout the grasslands for you?'
He paused, wiped a streak of gore on his thigh, and nodded, looking at the Grey Own. ''I'd owe you more than thanks. Head west past the salt flats, then north along the mountain forests. Anything big enough.''
Athena dipped her head, then launched into the sky. One beat, two, and she was a speck against the sunlight. He returned to the Windrunners, working the blade beneath the shoulder, peeling the pelt back. It peeled away with ease. Argo eased it onto the dust, flesh-side gleaming pink and wet in the sun.
Argo ran a finger along the inner surface. No tears, no damage; the Skystone was perfect for such a job. He couldn't help but smile. ''This is good, I can wrap it up and take it home to dry out.''
Only then did he let his shoulders drop as he settled cross-legged beside the goat bodies, the heat of its blood still rising against his shins. The wind carried the smell away across the flats. Aslan paced closer, a low growl sounding in his chest, blue eyes fixed on the steaming pile of meat.
Artemis mirrored him on the far side, tail twitching in excitement at the coming meal. Argo flicked some blood from his knuckles as he looked at the big cats. ''Patience, guys. You can eat soon.''
Following that, he got back to work. He took the best parts for himself before turning to the beasts. ''You can eat now, but make sure to stay alert.''
After some time, Argo was done with the two goats, and Athena had returned to join in on the feast. Without glancing at him, she revealed. 'There's a lone Great Horned One a few miles away, it looks young and has been separated from the herd.
This caught his attention as he knew the creatures were Arda's Bisons. He remembered seeing one when he was a child. Once he decided to hunt the giant creature, he took the spear off his back after packing away the pelts and continued, with Athena leading the way, high above.
Artemis returned to the Beast Realm, dragging the corpses inside. 'They can take food into it?' he thought as Aslan did the same thing.
Argo shook his head, wiped the last of the blood on his thigh, and set off across the grasslands. The wind combed the tall grass in waves; he kept his eyes sweeping, every shadow that might hide another beast or a Urvak hunter. Nothing moved but dust devils and the occasional hawk.
Athena flew ahead and banked once, twice, then spiraled down toward a bend where the river flashed like hammered tin. He followed the owl, making sure not to lose her. The ground softened, turned to mud that sucked at his boots, and the smell of water rose sharply. There, half in the shallows, stood the Great Horned One.
It was a fortress of muscle and horn, shoulders humped higher than Argo's head, with a dark grey hide. When seeing how big the beast was, he was shocked and muttered. ''How the hell do I kill that?''
Artemis padded from thin air. 'Aslan and I take the flanks, drive it to you. You put your pointy stick where the neck meets the shoulder. Simple.'
Aslan materialized beside her, a mountain of fury, and dipped his great head in agreement. ''Do it. But mark this, we need heavier. Something that hits like a landslide. Death-in-the-Dark or the Beast-of-the-Hunt.''
Athena dropped onto a log. 'Dream smaller,' she teased. 'Those names are older than your bloodline. You're strong, but you're not there yet. Try them now, and they'll use your ribs to clean their teeth.'
When Argo heard this, he laughed but continued as the cats melted into the grass like shadows into dusk, surprising Argo as they vanished instantly. The American Lion took the left, Artemis the right, staying low. Athena dropped to a log and gave a single, sharp hoot that cracked the afternoon open.
The bison swung its head, gazing at the Grey Owl. Steam snorted from its nostrils. For one heartbeat, it stared at the owl, ears twitching, then Aslan exploded from the reeds. He hit the bison like a battering ram, claws raking deep trenches through the creature's side. Blood welled dark and instant.
Artemis struck the far side a breath later, claws punching through muscle. The bison bellowed and flung its shoulders. The American Lion sailed through the air, landed rolling, and came up snarling. But Aslan spun and bolted when realizing the enemy was going to charge.
The Great Horned One lowered its horns and charged, earth drumming beneath a ton of fury. Argo planted his feet in the mud, Skystone Spear angled low. Wind whipped his hair across his eyes; he blinked it away and waited, counting heartbeats, until the beast filled the world and was on top of him.
Suddenly, he stepped left, dodging the charge as his spear thrust up under the jaw into the soft hollow beneath the skull. The impact hurt his arms to the shoulders; the bison's momentum carried it forward, horn scraping sparks from the spear haft. Hot blood sheeted down the shaft, over his fists, spattering his chest.
Moments later, Aslan appeared and raked his claws across its front legs, bringing the beast down thanks to torn muscles.
[Experience Gained: 40]
[Beast Points Gained: 5]
It crashed to its knees, kicking once, then stopped. Silence rushed back in, broken only by the river and the wet drip of blood into mud. Argo felt his arms shaking thanks to the raw power of the Great Horned One. He shook his head and turned to Aslan, who was sitting there, a proud glint in his blue eyes.