They didn't hunt in groups of two, no they all moved like a school of carnivorous fish, that were starved for weeks, finally smelling blood. It reminded Jaren of the one animal he hated the most. Piranhas.
He studied the Pygocentrus piraya in biology, saw the savage beasts in the movies. Learned that if they were hungry enough they would even eat eachother, that whatever they ate would be eaten till the bones.
At least piranhas mostly ate what was already dead. But what did the second clan do? They would swarm whatever poor creature was was in the area, each taking turns of bitting a piece from the still alive animal.
The first time Jaren saw it happen he felt nauseous, disgusted, and sadly enough afraid. When he looked at whatever the second clan made into dinner, he would feel, the now food it's pain and fear.
He would watch Jaka eat, like a driver watched a car crash in a different lane. Not being able to look away from the horror. Jaka never moved out of the way to let another goblin take a piece, no he would stay on table.
He relished in the blood of his prey, scrambled with its guts, showering in its organs, leaving his mouth bloody long after he was done eating. He had a distinct iron smell to him.
They even would hurt each other, brutally injuring who they thought was to weak. Ganging up on the weaker one. That is how the armless goblin, Arm, got caught by the Koufax. He was abandoned. It was a true miracle that none of them was killed by their own.
Yes, Jaren was a harsh leader himself. Yes, he caused the death of two goblins. But he found the two situations different. If he wanted to kill one of his followers, he would face them, one v one. He didn't kill the weak and attempted to strengthen them. And at least he showed his followers love from time to to time.
But that didn't really matter, as they kept it to their own side. They did, that was until they moved their nasty habits onto rest of the group.
When the hunters came back with food, the second clan would immediately be on top of them, eating most of the food. Jaren tolerated this, only because Bleux was there to control them. He scolded them, and strangely they listened.
Making them behave with a kind and strict speech.
When Eli went to hunt, the two bosses also went outside the camp to do the same. Simply because they were bored, and Jaren had to have an outlet for his stress.
That was ruined when Jaka also decides to join. Eli and Bleux were talking, so Jaren had to put up with the other boss alone.
While they were walking Jaren always walked behind Jaka, slowing down if he did. Keeping his eyes pierced on him. He did not even notice them splitting from the group.
Jaka and Jaren saw a rustle in the bushes down a hill, it was a Kip. A chicken like creature, with dark feathers and sharp nails, that was slow enough to be chased and still be caught.
'That there my food, you get other food.' Jaka said. He did it often, were he would demand something and expect it to happen. Jaren was sick and tired of it.
Jaka spurted down the hill when he saw in the side of his eyes Jaren rush past him, his fingers clawed and aimed at the Kip. 'Stop, stop.' he screamed but to no avail.
When Jaren was close enough he converted his sprint to a jump and in an instant was flying over the kip.
At his side he felt a heavy person push him back to the dirt. Jaka was on top of him, his Jagged teeth grinding.
'I said my food!' Jaka repeated, he looked at long gone the kip and faced back to Jaren. 'It is not your food, it's anyone's food. The one who gets the food owns the food.' Jaren responded.
'No!'
'yes!'
'yououou!' Jaka called out. He raised his hand and slashed jaren his face, three claw marks splitting his face. 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐭 jaren thought. Jaren punched Jaka and with his momentum pushed Jaka to the ground.
Jaka now guarding Jaren his endless assault grabbed Jaren his fist, and then the other. *BAM* a headbutt would shake Jaren his field off vision. He dizzy he got pushed of of Jaka and got kicked in the abdomen.
Jaren grabbed dirt and threw it in the Jaka's eyes, and with his enemies eyes blinded, rose from the ground with an clean uppercut.
He jumped back on Jaka and tried to get him in some kind of jijitsu lock. He was not a pro at that. The two boys scrambled on the ground.
Bleux who was looking for them saw the boys in the distance. He rushed and teared.
'What are you doing!?' he asked. Jaren explained all, expecting Bleux to be on his side. 'Why are you both fighting over a Kip?' the question surprised Jaren. He was sure that they both would be killing Jaka now.
'You can't be fighting eachother, were all a team here.' Bleux continued. Eli was watching over the scolding, focusing deeply on jaren.
She recognized the intense fear he had for Jaka. One he tried to hide, but the way she experienced it she could see it everywhere now. She had no idea she was going to be a vital part of what was going to happen in the future.
They continued hunting, but the tension between the two did not decline.
Bleux sensed this, so later that night he approached Jaren, who he was sure would understand him.
'Why don't you like Jaka?' he asked. Jaren looked at him with a face that seemed to ask: 'is that a real question or are you kidding?' As if he could read that expression he replied 'No I'm serious, why don't you like him.'
Jaren his questioning faded away 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐢 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 he asked himself. Then he remembered 'I don't trust him, he gives of an evil aura. Have you seen the way they eat?'
Jaren visually shivered. 'Yeah it's kind of brutal the way they treat their food, but food is food nothing else, treat it how you like.' Bleux replied.
Jaren did not expect Bleux to say something like that, but it was to be expected. Jaren also wanted to tell Bleux that Jaka reminded him of his old bully, but he wanted to keep his previous life in the past.
'Wel he also acts like my boss sometimes.'
'Oh really now,' Bleux said that not emoting at all. 'Yes.' Jaren said it but it was as if he was just trying to make something up.
'Listen, I know you don't like him or trust him. But can you trust me, I think it's the right choice if we keep him around. Especially if we want to kill that beast.'
'sure.' It was a promise even though they don't talk about that.
While they talked about the topic Bleux also asked when the would kill it. 'The day after tomorrow, deep in the night. From Pipin his reports it only sleeps three hours a day. When it's sleeping we start the assault. Do as much damage as we can.'
Jaren said he would announce everyone tomorrow. And also their part in his plan.
On the other side of the camp around their own campfire, the other squad leaders lied. Now that they were like teammates they all became closer and discussed all their new responsibilities. Gooba started talking to Pipin the most.
And Eli to Boksen. 'Are you sure you saw what you saw Eli?'
'Yeah, I'm sure, I have never seen boss jaren so afraid ever. And he tried so desperately to hide it. Ever since Jaka came he never let his gaze of him. He is afraid of jaka. It's kind of cute.'
A pointy smirk shined on boksen his face.
'I never thought the boss would be afraid. Thank you for telling me Eli.'