After all this demonstration of affection, she told us she had to go to Gorzgdulg's hut to report and follow the other step of the ceremony.
" I'll come back after everything is finished." And then she left.
I redirected my attention toward our current big problem. How will we be able to stock this big boar ? I turned to the orphans to see if they had any ideas.
"Well, we can put the meat in barrels. However, we only have two of them", said Yurim.
"Besides, for long terms storage, even though we orcs aren't afraid of most sicknesses, nothing will prevent bugs and rats from taking their share. And I don't want to find bugs in my food," completed Ushha with a mildly disgusted face.
That's when I remembered one of my history classes. In ancient times, humans used salt-filled barrels to conserve their food.
"It's a pity we don't have salt," I murmured.
"What's salt ?"
" Salt is a little white crystal, and when mixed with water, it became a part of it. It's what we call salt water or, more commonly, the sea."
At first, I was amazed by the answer. Then I became dumbfounded when I found it was Trosh who gave it.
" Where did you learn that," asked his brother, as shocked as me.
"During our research mission, an old man told me a story of his past glorious days when I remarked a slight shiver each time he said sea. I asked him because I wanted to scare him and didn't know what the sea was. He told me it was salted water. But I knew he wasn't afraid of water otherwise, he would have shivered. And so I asked him what was salted, and he told me what I just told you."
"Then ?"
"Then what ?" he asked, his mood darkening a bit.
" What happened afterward ?" inquired Vorl innocently.
"Nothing happened"
If looks could kill, his little brother would be no more by now.
A big smile made its way on Burningsmile as he realized something.
"You don't want to tell us because it was humiliating, don't you ?"
Trosh's face immediately distorted in a grimace. That is one point I really appreciate in him. Anyone can know what he is thinking simply by looking at his face.
"I... I don't hide anything."
" Brother, if it's something important, you should tell."
The problem with Trosh is that once he wanted to hide something, it would be easier to climb a mountain with a boulder of 250 Kg on your back than get an answer from him.
I said earlier no one could scare him. Well, it's not entirely correct. There is one exception to the rule. Yurim. I glanced at her, but she was already clenching her fist against each other and grinning like a mad woman.
After getting cleanly beaten, Torsh confessed everything.
" That bastard didn't stop laughing when he learned that I salted his water to scare him."
"Bwahah!"
We all had suffered from his bad jokes, Yurim particularly, so I couldn't hold myself and laugh badly.
"I knew you would mock me", he said, sulking.
"Did you believe you would create a sea if you poured a little salt in water ?"
"Yes"
I chuckled.
"Well, that old man didn't tell you everything. The sea is a vast expanse of water that stretches to the horizon. It's so deep you can't peer in its depth. And I can assure you, you don't want to know what's lurking there".
I left a bit of suspense before continuing.
"Now that everyone has calmed down, can you tell me where did you find it ?"
" On the west side of the village behind the hill. That's where he told me it was."
"He even told you where it was. Didn't you think that something was wrong ?" asked Ushha.
"Ah ! ", Trosh realized his mistake.
Since all our problems were solved, the only thing left to do was start working.
"Alright, guys, while I will see with Torsh where this place is and how much salt there is. I need three of you to exchange meat for some barrels and bring them to the hill. While the other cut the meet."
"Why do we need salt," asked Shufa.
'Oh, yeah, I totally forgot to tell them its use'
" The salt will be used to conserve the meat better. It will also allow the meat to be tastier."
...
The whole process of moving and stocking the meat in egghead took four days. We worked harder than ever. We all were looking at 21 barrels before us. Not everything was here. The boar weighed at least 4 tons. There were 40 others staked behind egghead. We were quite sore after moving all the barrels of a hundred kilos, so we decided to take a day off to rest.
Vaela hadn't returned. However, as we were eating the delicious boar, she arrived with a new sparkle in her eyes.
"Hi, everyone. How are you ?"
"Vae !"
Vaela made her entrance with a beaming and confident smile on her face. She was very different from the last time. Her fang seemed a bit taller, and her eyes were still blue but as I looked deep into them, I felt like a chicken who was on its last day. Her long dark hair became even darker. She was releasing a new powerful aura, its outer part was gentle and controlled, but as you venture deeper into it, you would be ripped apart by hundreds of blades. She is nearly as tall as her mother, short of only ten centimeters. A blue tattoo soon attracted my attention. It was placed on her left shoulder, unlike Saura, which was on the right. The tattoo itself was pretty simple, and the symbols that made it were long and well-defined. It represents a wolf howling at the moon with its eyes closed.
Vaela noticed our attention was on it.
"Curious ?"
"Yes !" we all said.
She sights.
" Unfortunately, I can't tell you much, but I can tell you this."
"Tattoos are the foundation of any clan or tribe. Not only are they our story and show our appurtenance to the clan but they also hold great powers. You will learn more during the ceremony."
Sigh
'We always have to wait to grow to do things. It's really annoying to be a kid again.' But I still have hope of discovering more, and I didn't forget Saura telling me I might get answers from a certain Baruba. Let's do that later.
" So, how was your trial ?" asked Uzu, who couldn't wait to hear about the adventures Vaela had in the forest.
" Alright, I will tell you about the great tale of Vaela, brave young fiery wolf."
'She really loves to tell stories.'
"After the speech of our chief, we were taken to the forest. The Gorzgdulg told us the rules, what we should do, and one or two pieces of advice. Then the orcs took us into the woods. We walked for two days till we arrived at our destination. Rarely any beast attacked us on the way, and when they did, they were easily dealt with. Gorzgdulg ordered us to separate and climb the mountain. The village was on the other side of it. So we started to climb it. At first, I was accompanied by one of Gorzgdulg's warriors. But at some point, before I knew it, he disappeared. I was left alone in an unfamiliar environment.
The first thing I did was craft a spear with wood and stones around me. I was now able to defend myself, even if barely. I didn't rush back. It's one of the best ways to get you killed. Thus I started to head carefully toward the village. On the way, I luckily stumble on berries and other fruits. The best thing I encountered in the first few hours was a small puddle. But what was important was that there where a lot of mud around it. I covered myself with it so that the animals wouldn't sense me.
The first four days went relatively well. I avoided the beast territories I could and hid whenever I could hear a powerful beast not very far from me. Unfortunately, as I climbed higher, there were fewer trees to take cover and not many caves. On the fifth day, it rained, and I didn't find any cover in time. The rain washed me, and the mud left with it. Not even ten minutes later, I fought with my first beast, a big ear fox. About one and a half meters, it jumps on me from the back. I sense it at the last moment, so I hurry to roll to the side. It succeeded in slicing my back with its claw.
I didn't lose any time and took advantage of the surprised state he was in because I dodged its attack to pierce its heart with my spear. But before I could kill it, its claw scratched my face making me bleed slightly. After the fight, I was quite tired, so I climbed a tree to take a nap. However, I made a grave mistake I took the beast corps with me. I was sleeping when I suddenly awoke chokingly. A great mountain snake was wrapped around me, trying to kill me. It was a certain death, but it has made a mistake as well. The snake had already gobbled the big hear fox and become slower due to using his energy for digestion. A mountain snake poison is hard to make, so they only use it on strong prey, but I was sleeping. I tried to free myself, only for the sleepy snake to squeeze me harder. The head of the snake wasn't too far from my head, but I still couldn't reach it. So I used a technic my mother taught me hand and dislodge both of my shoulders. In pain, I succeed in extending my neck enough to bite it just behind its head. My fang tore through its flesh, but it didn't die."
Vaela paused. Everyone in the room was hanging on to her lips.
"What happened then ?" asked one of the younger orphans.
"Then we each tried to choke each other first. I knew I could pass out from one second to the other, but I still held on. Finally, after five seconds, the snake died. I won, even if barely. Remember this, guys, always look out for any danger. Only rest when you are sure you're not in any danger. I had a snake barbecue afterward. Thanks to the rain, I easily found mud. I returned back four days later and fought two more times on the way back."
" that was incredible !"
"Wow, you are so cool, Vaela !"
Vaela proudly smiled and proceeded to tell us what she had to do.
"Now, all the new adults will train with the different hunter teams. We'll learn the basics of fighting and familiarize our time with the system and our powers. So you won't be able to see me in the next two months."
"When do you start ?" Zala asked.
"At the end of the week, in two days."
Vaela stayed late today and played with the little kids before returning home.