Kapitel 7: Chapter 7: First Hunt Together
The first light had barely touched the tops of the houses when I stepped out into the street. The air carried the smell of the sea and damp earth, still cool from the night. The village was already stirring—fishmongers setting up tables, a cart rolling past with bundles of firewood, and a few men walking toward the docks with nets slung over their shoulders.
I had a clear order for the morning. Before heading into the forest, I needed a map. It wouldn't be detailed enough to mark every tree or clearing, but even a basic layout of the surrounding land would give me a starting point for planning.
The shop sat near the middle of the village, a small building with shelves of parchment, ink, and simple goods. Inside, a woman in her thirties stood behind a wooden counter, sorting bundles of dried herbs into small cloth pouches. She looked up when I entered.
"Looking for something?" she asked.
"A map of the coast and the nearby inland routes," I said.
She nodded toward a shelf behind her. "Got a few from a peddler last month. Not perfect, but better than guessing."
I stepped over and looked through the rolled parchments. The one I chose showed the coastline in detail, with a few marked trails leading inland toward larger settlements. The northern cliffs and forest edges were roughly drawn, but they were there.
"How much?" I asked.
"Two coppers," she replied.
I paid without argument, tucking the map into my satchel.
Back outside, I unfolded it briefly to look at the markings again. The forest clearing wasn't noted—too small and unimportant to anyone who made this chart. That was to my advantage. I traced a finger along the coast, marking where the cliffs began, and considered how a stronghold could fit against them.
A kingdom wouldn't appear all at once. It would have to grow in pieces—first, a secure base of power. Then, protection for the people nearby. From there, trade, agriculture, and the infrastructure to sustain more than just soldiers. My advantage was that I could skip years of gathering conventional armies. The pack would be my start. The larger beasts could come later, but raptors could keep small threats at bay and move unseen.
With the map stored away again, I made my next stop—the butcher. His shop was open, the air thick with the smell of fresh meat. The man behind the counter was tall, his apron stained but clean of loose scraps.
"What'll it be?" he asked as I stepped in.
"Two chickens," I said. "Whole, not cooked."
He nodded, moving to a side table where the cleaned birds were laid out. He wrapped them in oiled cloth before handing them over.
"Three coppers," he said.
I paid, then stepped back into the morning light. The weight of the chickens in my satchel was light, but I knew it would mean much to the hatchlings. This would be their first real meat, and I wanted to see how they handled it together.
The walk to the forest was direct, the path familiar now. I followed the same route—four hundred steps in, right for two hundred—until the clearing came into view.
The five hatchlings were near the nest when I arrived, their heads lifting the moment they saw me. They moved quickly toward me, their calls short and sharp.
I crouched and unwrapped the first chicken, setting it down on the grass in front of them. The nearest hatchling snapped at it first, then pulled back as the others closed in. There was no hesitation—each lunged in, tearing at the meat. They pulled apart the first bird in less than a minute, small pieces vanishing into sharp jaws.
When the second chicken hit the ground, they swarmed it together, pulling in different directions until the bones cracked. They were efficient, each taking a portion without slowing. When it was gone, they licked at the grass where the juices had soaked in.
Feeding done, I stood and began walking toward the far side of the clearing. The hatchlings followed without pause, their steps quick and light. I kept moving, leading them toward the thicker forest beyond.
We moved at a steady pace, the raptors weaving slightly between trees as we passed. Every so often one would dart ahead before looping back to the group.
It was during one of these loops that the sound reached me—a low grunt, followed by the distinct rustle of heavy movement through brush. I stopped, raising a hand. The hatchlings stilled instantly, their heads turning toward the sound.
From between two thick bushes, a boar pushed into view. Its body was low and heavy, coarse brown hair covering its back. Small tusks curved from its lower jaw, and its dark eyes locked onto us.
The hatchlings reacted first. Their bodies lowered slightly, tails level, eyes fixed on the boar. The Beastmaster's Ring grew warmer as I focused on keeping their attention coordinated.
The boar grunted again, taking a step closer.
The first raptor darted in from the left, snapping at its flank before springing back. The boar spun toward it, but another came in from the right, claws raking along its side. The sound of impact was sharp—skin breaking under the force of their strikes.
The boar tried to charge forward, but the remaining three hatchlings cut off its path. One leapt directly toward its head, jaws snapping at the exposed ear. The boar bucked hard, shaking it loose, but the distraction gave the others an opening.
They swarmed together—one at the hind leg, another at the shoulder, a third latching briefly onto the boar's side before springing away. The coordination was instinctive, each movement forcing the animal to turn and leaving it open elsewhere.
It took less than a minute. The boar's movements slowed, its grunts turning to labored breaths before it collapsed to the ground. The hatchlings stayed alert, circling, until I sent the signal through the ring to stand down.
The boar lay still. The hatchlings closed in again, tearing at the fresh kill. I let them feed, watching the way they moved—still young, still learning, but already efficient together.
When they had eaten enough, I gave the signal to pull back. They obeyed, leaving the remains where they lay. The forest was quiet again, but I knew scavengers would come for the rest before long.
We turned back toward the clearing, their steps steady and quick behind me.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein