As the hunting party neared the edge of the Drabatan camp, Kroe saw his father, mother, and a few of the village children walking out to greet them. It had taken three of the hunters just to carry the massive canine back to the village, and a group of other locals came rushing out to help relieve them of their massive game.
“Welcome back, son,” Kroe’s father Tetch’Draba’Moroe said as he marveled at the mighty beast, “I see you have done well. I am proud of you.”
Kroe was holding his bandaged arm as he laughed in triumph, “I told you not to doubt me. I can take on any challenge you throw my way.”
Tetch smiled and ushered Kroe towards his mother. “‘Leena, go call the medman to have him look at that wound, and then have Kroe wait for me in our dwelling. I want to talk with him about the arrangements we have made for tomorrow’s ceremonies.”
Obo pulled the aging chieftain aside as some of the Drabatans began dressing the beast, and Kroe made his way towards the largest structure in the middle of the circular village, a building made of logs and animal hides and recycled chunks of Imperial machinery, which served as the home of the chieftain and family.
“Your father is excited for you, as am I,” Kroe’s mother Leena said as she walked him into their family’s makeshift kitbashed yurt. Kroe’s saw his younger brother Lee approaching him from the back of their multi-roomed shelter.
“Look’s like a nasty wound.”
“I’m going to call on the medman, so be patient for just a few more minutes,” the boys’ mother said as she pushed aside the cloth draped over the door.
“Sure thing mom,” Kroe said and exhaustedly plopped down in his chair.
“So, you ready to be clan leader?” Lee asked curiously, pulling up another woven straw chair across from his elder brother.
“I guess,” Kroe said, trying to mask his dread with feigned excitement, “I don’t know if I’m really ready to lead. It’s too… peaceful here. Too many rules to keep life boring.”
Kroe knew he could always go hunting whenever he wanted, but he still yearned for more. He didn’t care how or why, he just thirsted for nonstop action and excitement.
“Yeah, that really doesn’t sound like you,” his brother laughed, “but hopefully tomorrow’s hunt will satisfy you for a while. What do you think you’ll have to kill?”
The Drabatan chieftain-to-be shrugged, “they say it always changes from year to year. I suppose I’ll just have to see when dad gets back.”
The sibling’s discussion was cut abruptly as the medman made his way into the shelter. “I’m sorry to intrude, boys, but I was told to check out that arm of yours,” he said pointing at Kroe’s bandages. “The sooner we can get that fixed up, the sooner we can have you ready for tomorrow’s ceremony.”
Kroe rolled his eyes as the man spread a strange concoction of berries, animal saliva, and a blue liquid siphoned from a pilfered Imperial medpack on the gashes in his arm, his brother watching on in avid curiosity. Their father walked in as the wound was being properly bandaged, and the doctor chanted a rudimentary spell over Kroe’s arm before gathering all of his things together to leave.
“How’s he doing, Ktum?” Kroe’s father asked as he patted Lee on the back.
“His wound will have scarred over by the morning, chief. He will be fine,” the medman said. “Can I speak to you outside for a moment?”
Tetch’Draba’Moroe sighed, “I seem to be incredibly popular today. As you wish, my friend.”
“You’re only popular because it’s your last day officially leading us,” Lee said, calling after him and laughing, “‘Chieftain Emeritus’ just doesn’t have the same ring to it.”
“That’s still ‘father’ to you, young man. And I’ll be back inside in a moment to discuss tomorrow with you, Kroe.”
“Fine by me,” Kroe said. He rubbed his arm and started walking to his room. He wasn’t scared, but he also had a feeling he wouldn’t be resting much tonight.
Kroe heard his mother come home and step inside his brother’s room. He couldn’t tell what she was saying, but he could hear concern in her voice.
Out of his parents, she was actually the greater hunter, and she did not approve of his personal hunting methods. She said he was reckless, loud, and overall far too confident. Tomorrow, he would prove to her that his confidence was not misplaced, no matter the monster he was pitted against, and no matter the weapon he was given to do so.
Kroe was cleaning his favorite blaster when his father finally entered his room. He sat down at the foot of the small, creaky bed and took a deep breath.
“I’m proud of you son, we all are. But Obo told me what happened during today’s hunt…”
Kroe huffed, “I’m sure he did. But dad, you have to trust that I’ve got this. I killed the Howlrunner, didn’t I? That’s all that matters, right?”
Kroe saw his father’s shoulders sink ever so slightly, “I have no doubt in your skills. But you cannot charge into these things blindly. It’s not a viable strategy for every situation, and it’s not a very promising trait of a soon-to-be leader.”
Tetch stared directly into his son’s scrunched eyes and lowered the tone of his voice. “It is something you absolutely cannot do during tomorrow’s ceremony. Every movement and decision you make must be precariously thought out and meticulously executed. If you rush into this hunt, you will surely get yourself or someone else hurt.” He pointed towards Kroe’s bandages, “and it won’t just be a scratch.”
“What exactly will I be hunting? Please don’t tell me it’s a Varactyl, I would much rather prefer to hunt down one of those giant Gorimax that they dropped off here.”
“Actually, son, it’s neither… tomorrow, you’ll be hunting something that I had to kill when I was your age. Something that was still quite new to Pipada at the time.”
“You’re kidding!” Kroe said, sitting up in his bed.
“I’m afraid not. Tomorrow you are hunting the elusive, and deadly, Gundark.”
Kroe’s massive mouth turned up into a wide smile. The Gundarks were a relatively new invasive species on their big-game homeworld of Pipada, and they had quickly made themselves the apex predator. Yet somehow they had also made themselves incredibly scarce, and only chose to live in select caves in the mountainous region to the north.
“That’s going to be quite a trek?”
“Are you ready for it, then?” Tetch said curiously.
“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life,” Kroe said with a smirk.
The old chieftain stood to his feet and walked over to the door, “good. I truly do mean it when I say I’m proud of you, Kroe. I admire your confidence. It reminds me so much of your mother’s spirit. Just make sure that confidence doesn’t become overconfidence. As I’m sure your mother has told you a thousand times, you are still young, and you’ve got a lot of learning left to do.”
Before Tetch exited the room, he stopped and turned back around. “Oh, and I forgot to mention, but the Ktum said that Opal came down with a severe sickness today. We talked it over and Lee is going to replace her on the ceremony’s overseer party tomorrow. It will be good experience for him to watch you, and, as I know you would put it, he should learn from the best, right?”
As Kroe rested his head back down onto his straw pillow, he heard his father walk into the next room over and inform Lee of the news. He also heard his brother’s excited shouting, and was glad his brother would be joining them on the trip. It wasn’t like he needed him, but it would be a nice opportunity for Lee to learn a few of his tricks.
Tomorrow was going to be the biggest day of his life, and there was no way he would let himself fall prey to sleep before then. He would just have to stay up and reassemble his blaster collection again. He would just have to stay up…
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