It was hardly her fault. By the time this particular fast-moving monster was detected, going back in a hurry was already off the table. Nothing but bad luck, really. Not fishy at all. Zero problems.
'We wouldn't even be here without Pando so stop suspecting her !'
Not being paranoid was proving harder than expected.
Regardless, the fight was really happening and they needed to prepare a minimum.
Fortunately, this one was alone. This species, known as galopades, were very similar to horses, except they were carnivorous and extremely aggressive, not to mention two times bigger and stronger. Because moving all that mass took a lot of energy, their blood was almost boiling, so this time, cutting the thing wouldn't be safe either for the assailant.
Besides, why fight a behemoth like this head on when treachery is always safer ?
The beast was heading straight in their direction, following their desired path pretty closely. Sneaking past wasn't an option, and the terrain didn't allow much lateral movement as there were steep slopes to the left and right. Running away was also obviously futile. Despite Pando's impressive range, they'd only had two minutes to prepare.
The situation was so unavoidable it was hard to believe they weren't lead into it.
'But let's not forget it can also very much be pure bad luck !'
Much harder than expected.
Hidden in a tree, Baoba spoke with a volume just high enough so that everyone heard him.
"Everyone ready ?"
The whole team was in the same tree, except for Venus, who made it sway a little when she tried to climb it. To be safe, Baoba banished her to a different one. Now she was sulking about five meters from them.
The ground began to rumble. For once, Pando was not the only one who knew how far anything was, this was very clear at the moment.
The beast was coming. And fast.
Already, it could be seen in the distance. Its hooves were leaving holes in the dirt, and with every breath, steam would come out of his nostrils. As it got closer, the muscles rolling under its skin became more and more visible. Dried blood was visible around its mouth, and the teeth looked more like a tiger's than like a horse's.
The sound was actually deafening now. Its path was clear, so the beast didn't seem to want to stop any time soon.
However, it suddenly smelled something, and threw its face upwards, staring intently at the trees. Then it began to speed up even more, turning slightly towards the tree they were hiding.
It seemed they wouldn't be able to hide.
In other words, the plan was going perfectly.
Capcsium snapped her fingers with a devilish smile, and the ground before the galopade exploded with flames on a length of at least ten meters. It tried to stop, but that only made it spend more time in the inferno.
Completely aflame, the beast got out from the side and dropped to the ground. It rolled and rolled, mad with pain and bloodlust, knowing by instinct to extinguish the flames.
It seemed this creature's high body temperature gave it a measure of fire resistance. Although hurt, that would not be enough to kill it.
That's why Urtica was ready with a purple-glowing bow and arrow, aiming at the now somewhat still victim.
The arrow flew, lodging itself in the creature's enormous side. The purple light quickly evaporated, but the galopade was already paralysed, gasping for air. The veins that were severed by the arrow were colored in a dangerous looking black. Seconds later, it was dead.
The hunters dropped from their trees.
Baoba instantly turned to Venus "Don't even start. We were just lucky it was alone. And we'd also have been in trouble if it just sped through the flames and rammed our tree. This thing's bones are no joke, he damn near could have uprooted it if it tried."
Venus raised her hands as a show of innocence. "I didn't even say anything !"
After a slight pause, though, she added : "But you have to admit we've yet to have a single actual fight."
While extinguishing the flames, he shot her a scathing look.
'I swear she's jinxing us on purpose...'
And then he stopped himself before even thinking the next thought.
Capcsium carefully walked to the steaming corpse. "So, are you harvesting this one too ?"
Baoba had just finished drenching every flammable surface nearby. Wiping his hands on his pants, he replied : "No, I already hunted this one. Remember, during the practice expedition ? We ran into a bunch, Noak even got injured."
She shuddered. "No need to remind me, the trauma still follows me in my sleep. We were so much weaker back then."
Venus, too, was looking at it pensively. "When you think about it, it's weird that it's so easy now." Jokingly, she added : "Maybe we went a bit overkill with the training."
'You have to be kidding me... Why is she like this ?'
"You stop talking right now before you jinx us to death."
Pando had already begun moving again. With a bittersweet smile, she said : "Don't worry, Venus, you'll get your fight in a bit. This area is densely populated. We'll probably have to take on a whole colony tonight."
Baoba never really believed in praying. Back then, when he asked for help, people would tell him that they really couldn't for this or that reason, but that they would pray for him. The idea was supposed to be that the Tree will hear, and create an opportunity just like She created the elves and the land.
But he waited and waited, and it was all the same. No magic saviour, no job offer, no food to eat, no water to drink, nowhere to sleep.
It was the same every day. The only reason he survived was because of a rat he managed to kill when he first arrived. The other animals had proved too resourceful for a child to hunt.
In the end, it really only got better once he gave up on civilization he went in the wilderness. After all, he did receive one blessing that made him particularly effective in this environment.
So he really didn't think that the Tree had helped him. He believed She created everything, but couldnt' decide how things went anymore. In fact, he was vehemently opposed to this notion, because that would imply She had chosen this life for him.
But he was now on a sacred expedition, and running out of variables he could act on. That's why he sincerely called out in his head :
'Please, Please make this encounter easy as well.'
***
'Well, that settles it. She really can't help us anymore.'
Night had fallen, and their chosen shelter was occupied. By about 15 hidons, no less.
Monsters had this strange habit of looking closely related to normal animals, like hounds and dogs or napes and gorillas, and were often named similarly, for clarity's sake.
In this case, the hidon's normal cousin were hyenas. As such, they were similar, but, as usual, much worse.
For example, their uncanny sense of smell that would alert them in one minute, tops.
Or their strange ability to somehow coordinate with members of their group to establish teamwork.
Or, you know, their 20 centimetres razor-sharp claws. Nothing too crazy.
He almost hoped Venus got injured in there.
He habitually calmed himself, letting out a deep breath.
' I'll taunt her later. Right now, survive.'
The shelter was an empty space between the roots of a giant tree. It held back a large wall of dirt on its own, so there was only one entrance, and a narrow one at that. Perfect for defense.
Very bad for the assailant.
Plus the flames had to be kept to a minimum this time, or they would risk burning down their shelter for the night.
'There isn't too many strategies we can use right now...'
After another moment of deliberation, he concluded : "Surprise attack it is. We need to move fast, formation 7!"
Without the need for other words, they engaged.