Chapter 38: Beginning of War
1 month had passed when Vir's group left the tribe to search for other tribes. The 3 Elders and Alfred were in Chief Viren's tent reporting on the current situation.
"We already made a lot of medicinal herbs," Shaman Catori reported. "I think it is enough in the incoming war.
Chief Viren nodded at Shaman Catori, then shifted his attention to Elder Ahote and Alfred.
"We made a lot of weapons that will last until the war is finished." Elder Ahote assured.
"For me, I created 25 sets of every Augmentation and weapon I can create," Alfred said. "Also, we made at least 50 Runic Traps around the Tribe."
"That is good," Chief Viren said while nodding. "The only thing we need is Vir's report, but I think they are having a hard time completing the task. It is already a moon when they left and yet they are still not here."
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"How long this boring task will last?" Gunnar grumbled to himself. He was leading the Arrows to patrol the surrounding area of the tribe for almost a month. "I have done nothing but patrol the area, nothing is happening here."
Suddenly a loud cry resounded just after Gunnar complained that nothing was happening. Soon enough, one of the Arrows reported.
"Gunnar! One of the Runic Traps is activated." Report of the Arrow. "It might be a scout from Blood Tribe."
"What are you all waiting for, move!" Gunnar ordered. "Do not let a single of them escape or the Blood Tribe will find out our Tribe location."
All the Arrows move to the location where the Runic Traps had been activated. However, when they reached it, the only thing they saw was a few items left behind and a burnt body of a man. There were no people in the surrounding.
"Search the area!" Gunnar shouted. "We must make sure there is no one escape!"
The Arrows scattered trying to find if there were more people together with the burnt corpse. Still, no matter how much they search, they didn't find a single shadow of a human but based on the tracks, multiple people came here.
"We did not find anything." One of the Arrows reported. "The people that come here are very skilled, they must have done this a lot of times."
"Tsk!" Gunnar grimaced, he was annoyed that they didn't even find a single one. "how can we fail a simple task! Go back and report to the Elders that some people snooping around. Tell them… that we didn't manage to capture them."
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Chief Viren was about to end the meeting but before he could one of the Arrows burst inside in hurry.
"Elders! One of the Runic Trap is been activated!" As reported by the Arrow. "We believed the one activated it is the scout of the Blood Tribe. However, we didn't manage to capture a single one of them. The only thing we manage to see is a burnt corpse and a few items"
All the people inside the tent furrowed their eyebrows when they heard this, they were still not prepared for war. If the Blood Tribe find them before Vir could manage to finish the task, they would be in great danger.
"This is worrying," Chief Viren said. "Even if the people find us was not from the Blood Tribe, we must still prepare and assumed the worst possible outcome. Go back and tell Gunnar to expand the periphery of the Arrows Patrol and if he finds something immediately report to us. Also, tell him that he should not engage in any battle as long as Vir is not here, we are still not ready for a war."
The Arrow quickly left to report back to Gunnar. The meeting that was about to end was extended because of the sudden emergency.
"Do any of you have a suggestion?" Chief Viren asked.
"We do not have much choice right now, but to wait patiently." Said Shaman Catori. "However, if the Blood Tribe indeed come here. We must do everything in our power to buy time and wait for Vir, we must not fight them head-on."
"THOSE BASTARDS!" Elder Ahote angrily said. He was furious as he remembered the time the Blood Tribe attack them and kill half of their Tribesmen. "Although I hate to admit it, Shaman Catori is right. We are not ready to fight them right now."
"If we just know the path that they are going to take I can think of a plan," Alfred mumbled to himself. Suddenly, an idea came to his mind. "Wait, do you think the Arrows can bring here the Items that are left behind by those people?"
The 3 Elders focused their attention on Alfred, they knew Alfred's idea was very useful and different, so they wanted to know what he was planning.
"Why do you need their items young Alfred." Chief Viren asked with interest. "Does the item is important to your idea?"
"Yes, it is," Alfred replied. "If we have a belonging of one of the people escape from the Arrows, we can use it to track them."
"How can we track them with just an item?" Shaman Catori also became interested. "Do you have a Rune that can track people using their items?"
"I do not have something like that" Alfred answered while shaking his head. "But there is someone that can do that job for us."
"Who?" The 3 Elders asked at the same time.
"The White Lions," said Alfred. "They can use their sensitive sense of smell to track the people escape by using their belongings. I think it is time for them to contribute to the tribe."
"They can do that?" Elder Ahote exclaimed.
"Now that I think about it." Shaman Catori said while thinking. "Monsters have indeed used their strong sense of smell to hunt for prey, but I never think that we can use that for our advantage. However, young Alfred, I do not understand why you want to track those people. Did you not hear what we say earlier? We do not want to fight them head-on, we will not have a chance of winning."
"Do not worry Shaman Catori I heard all of you," Alfred reassured. "I just want to know where the path they are going to use if they are really planning to attack us. Therefore, we can use guerrilla warfare."
"Guerrilla warfare?" Chief Viren asked.
"Yes, it is a tactic where we use our low number and speed to attack our enemy," Alfred explained.
"Can you elaborate more?" Chief Viren was still confused, that was why he wanted Alfred to explain to them in more detail.
"Ok," Alfred nodded agreeing to explain the Guerrilla Tactics in more detail. "If we know where our enemy is, we can ambush them. If the enemy is suddenly attacked, they will not be able to react to the threat faster. However, after they can counter attack our forces will halt their attack and retreat. Even if they want to chase us their large numbers will be a disadvantage to them. Because they will need a lot more time to organize before they made a decision and before that the Arrows is already far from them."
"I understand your plan," said Shaman Catori. "But how can that a small attack like that affect the enemy? That kind of ambush will only work on a first try, the enemy will be on guard after that."
"It will definitely affect them," Alfred assured. "That is the objective of the first attack, to make them on guard. If they are on guard all the time their stamina will deplete much faster than normal, while our Arrows will rest and regain their stamina to wait for the next attack. After the night comes, when our enemy is resting. The Arrows will move again and repeat what they did in our first attack, what do you think will happen after that?"
"They will be on guard again and will not be able to have a proper sleep." Chief Viren realized what the Guerrilla Tactics aimed. "You want to slowly weaken our enemy by giving them no time to rest?"
"That is right," Alfred nodded. "If we cannot fight them head-on, we just need to weaken them until we can defeat them."
'It's a good thing that there's a time that I get obsessed with military tactics when I am on the earth. I never knew I will be able to use it here." Alfred though.
"That plan of yours is like made for our tribe." Elder Ahote was amused. "The Phantom tribe specialized in fighting using speed, that plan of yours is perfect. Wait… did you make that plan by yourself?"
"No, I did not," Alfred replied while shaking his hand furiously denying Elder Ahote's guess. "I have no experience when it comes to fighting, so I will not be able to make that kind of plan myself. I cannot explain it well, but it just suddenly appears in my mind while thinking of a plan that will help us in this problem."
"I guess you are right."
The Elders were convinced by this plan, they immediately call one of the guards outside and ordered him to inform Gunnar to bring the items they find to back to them. The tribesman didn't ask a question and just followed the order.
After a long time, the guard came back with the item left behind by the scout. It was a bag made from animal skin, a weapon, and a few arrows.
"What do you think Alfred?" Chief Viren asked. "Are the items enough?"
"Yes, it is enough" Alfred confirmed.
"Then we must prepare," Chief Viren's face became serious. "we will commence this plan if the Blood Tribe decided to attack us."