Chapter 10: The Skull Tribe.
We meander through the forest until we're traveling roughly east, by my guess. I'm still not very good with these things. We stop more frequently now, and take watch very seriously.
Quan has no desire to encounter the giant tribe that calls this range home. I personally would like to see one though. From a distance, preferably a very long distance.
From my perch atop a sturdy tree, the mountains look grand, and completely put my scale of reference to shame. Still, the tallest one was still several hundred feet shorter than Ash in his titanic form. Which is mind blowing actually.
On the fourth day, we encounter our first sacred beast; a pack of jackals. They were eight of them, running down another prey. It could've been a type of stag, but I'm not sure. I'm not so good a ranger, yet.
"This is an excellent opportunity. Heron, do you know what those are?" Quan was smiling, it was as eerie as the first time I saw it. Pointing towards the hunting pack of beasts.
"Some kind of canines, at a guess I'd say between a jackal or a coyote. Considering the lean build they both share, but these look more like a fox. So, I think they're jackals. I've been reading up."
"Indeed you have. Anyway, you and Kassia are going to hunt them, I count eight total. I am going to scout out our path and make sure no nasty surprises are in store... I better return to see eight dead jackals. Oh and a bit of advice. Sacred beasts evolve differently from venerators, so do be careful. Later kids, have fun." He pulls down his cowl, and slinks into the shadows of a boulder. He was gone in seconds.
I survey the land. Before me was an expanse of rock and dirt, on my right was the forest we've been traveling in. And to my left, the mountains and rock formations stretch into the horizon. The jackals have finally run down their pray and are cheerily tearing out chunks of it's flesh. Yipping and barking at one another as they go about their feeding ritual.
I look to Kassia, she shrugs. Unbothered.
Normally, Kassia would jump into a fight without thinking things through. I expected her to do that now. She doesn't. Rather she seems to be waiting for me to make a move.
Not wanting to rush into it, I suggest we wait and observe. She nods. Her tomahawks strapped to the small of her back.
The beasts were bigger than I imagined, but smaller than what my study suggests. Each weighing at least 45 kg, with a span of 114 cm. Not counting the tail length.
They had dark brown fur, almost the same shade as the dirt they trod upon. They looked like regular animals, but I wasn't fooled. I knew these were beasts on the path to ascension, they must have some techniques or failing that, perks they can use to defend themselves.
We sneak into a shadowed crevice in a huge tree, I did not stop to consider what manner of creature calls this home. Hidden as we are, I try to gauge the level of our targets and formulate a plan of attack.
It took less than six minutes to come to a conclusion. I would fire a few rounds of arrows into the feasting pack, while Kassia charges from side; blindsiding them while they're confused. Then I would join the fray and hit them as hard as possible. I'm pretty decent with a short spear now.
It was a simple plan, it was a good plan. It would have been the death of us.
For in that moment before I pulled out my bow, a trio of giants fell upon the pack of jackals. It wasn't even a fight, the beasts were slaughtered in seconds.
I got a good look at the bone giants, for the first time I understand why Quan wanted no part in engaging them.
The giants looked human for the most part. Bipedal, but so out of proportion.
Each one stood at 12 feet tall, the tallest one was almost 13 feet. Their bodies were covered in bony protrusions-like armor, that seem to grow from their flesh. The more mature they get, the more protection the bone armor offers. Wicked looking spikes jutting out at the joints of their knees, elbows, and shoulders. On their face was a purple paint job, that looked eerily like the skull of a human being. Their nose were flat with two slits for breathing, teeth looked like jagged broken rocks.
Their skin was pale and splotchy.
Where did they come from? I couldn't sense anything.
Besides me, Kassia tenses. Eyes locked on the natural disasters masquerading as a people. I was worried for a second, that she'd try to engage them.
As if she could read my thoughts, she gives me a baleful look, like I'm an idiot. She doesn't move. Doesn't make a sound. We watch the giants go about their business in silence. Hoping they don't notice us.
The leader, carries a club made from a small tree, I could still see the bark and some stubborn branches attached to it. He was barking out orders, the language was gutteral and unfamiliar --- Quan has been teaching me the tongue of his people.
It became obvious these titans were actively hunting something.
We slink deeper into our hidey hole. It smelled of musk. Hoping whatever predator lives here doesn't return anytime soon.
Drawing attention to our wooden refuge is the last thing we need.
They fan out, sniffing the air and calling to one another. One of them --- the least armored --- was heading in our direction, led by his nose.
If we're discovered our only option would be to run, fighting was completely a non option. The question was, where to?
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My awakening wasn't grand this time. One minute I was unconscious, the next wide awake. And what a surprise I find upon my rousing.
Both cores already at full capacity.
At this rate he'd break into the bronze stage in short order, and then our journey can begin in ernest. Oh the plans I have, we will become the force that rocks the very foundation of all creations. The shadow realms, the underverse, the divine continents...
All will tremble with trepidation.
I turn my attention to the space around me, the barrier separating my soul from his soul realm has thinned --- assimilating my essence seamlessly. Just a little more push and we'd be inseparable. I smile in anticipation.
Some would say it is unwise to bind myself so thoroughly with a lowly iron ranker, but I think the potential benefits far outweigh the risks.
Besides, I am called undying for a reason.
Time to work on 'our cores'.
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We spend the next five minutes in absolute silence, barely breathing for fear of attracting attention. But all good things must come to an end, I am grateful for that.
The trio of giants move into the distance, still searching. We stay put, giving it an extra minute or two. The situation calls for it.
We peel ourselves from the rancid hole we've been hiding in for the better part of fifteen minutes. Climbing down the tree was cakewalk for us, the challenge would be to find Quan while staying undetected by the giants. And other beasts. Tough!
"We need to leave, fast like. I mean like we need to be gone, yesterday." Quan manifests out of the shadow of a thick tree.
"What's going on?"
"I stumbled upon a pair by accident. Tried to silence them before they raised the alarm. I got one, the other escaped. Now the whole skull tribe is out hunting, baying for blood."
"Skull tribe? Wait, you can understand their language?" I ask while we make our way back into the deep confines of the old forest. Watching every shadow and listening for the rattling sounds of bones that signals their arrival.
"You got a good look at them, yes? What'd they look like to you?"
"I thought that was paint..."
"It's not. They have faces made of emaciated purple skulls. Move faster, they're coming."
Just then the sound of a horn blasts through the air, others ring out in answer till it sounded like we're surrounded. Fuck!
We needed no more incentive, we ran like our lives depended on it. In all seriousness, it probably does.