Arin's eyes widened. "What do you mean they didn't make it?" Her voice trembled slightly.
The short-haired warrior interjected, gaze forward. "The ritual... It's not just painful. It's dangerous. The process of awakening one's aura can be too much for some to handle. Their bodies and minds can't withstand the strain, and they..." She trailed off.
"So, those who don't awaken... they die?" Arin whispered.
The warrior nodded solemnly. "It's a risk we all take when we participate in the ritual. We know the consequences, but we also know the importance of having aura warriors. It's a risk that some are willing to take." She paused, eyes drifting to the other warriors nearby. "The four of us here, we all awakened in the ritual before Chief Lys. It was a day I'll never forget. Out of the fifteen that participated, only four of us survived."
Kai shook his head grimly. "The elders insist that this is the only way, that it's a sacred tradition passed down from our ancestors. They say that those who don't survive the ritual... that it was simply their destiny, that their spirits were too weak to handle the strain." He sighed heavily. "You know, that last ritual was when I was only a kid. It's been over 10 years now. Who knows when the next one will happen?"
The warrior beside him nodded. "The uncertainty is almost worse than knowing, in a way. We all live with this shadow hanging over us, never sure when Shaman Elda will decide it's time again. Some folks try to prepare themselves, spending years training their bodies and minds. Others just try to forget about it and live their lives. But deep down, we all know it's coming someday."
The warriors escorted Arin and Kai directly to Chief Lys's dwelling. Arin realized this was the first time she had seen Chief Lys up close. The chief was an imposing figure, her silver hair pulled back in intricate braids and her eyes sharp and piercing.
Chief Lys commanded respect and awe from every member of the tribe. She stood tall and proud, her body weathered by years of hunting and survival in the harsh forest. Her face was a map of wrinkles, each line telling a story of hardship and triumph. Her piercing gray eyes seemed to hold the wisdom of the ages and the ferocity of a predator.
Lys's striking silver hair was pulled back in intricate braids that spoke of her status as chief. She wore a cloak made from the pelt of a great beast she had slain in her youth, the fur still glossy and intimidating. A necklace of teeth and claws hung around her neck, trophies from her most impressive kills. From what Arin had heard, only Chief Lys had attained the rank of Intermediate Aura Warrior.
She listened gravely as they recounted their encounter, her gaze making Arin feel as though she could see right through her.
"You two took an enormous risk," Chief Lys said when they had finished, her voice stern but not unkind. "The forest is dangerous enough within the barrier's protection. Beyond it..." She shook her head, a shadow passing over her face. "You're fortunate to have survived."
"Chief Lys, it's my fault. I should have known better than to go so far. Arin's still new, she didn't know the danger."
The chief's expression softened slightly. "Your honesty does you credit, Kai. But you're both old enough to understand the risks. However, I understand the foraging has been difficult lately, hasn't it?"
Kai and Arin exchanged a glance, surprised that the chief had guessed their motivations so easily. They nodded hesitantly.
Chief Lys handed a knife to each of them. "These knives are for hunting and gathering. They're tools, not toys, and certainly not weapons to be used against each other or anyone else in the tribe."
She placed a hand on each of their shoulders, looking them in the eye. "You're not children anymore. Use them wisely."
She turned to the warriors who had brought them back. "Thank you for your swift action and bravery. I will discuss this matter further with Shaman Elda. In the meantime, ensure that the patrols are vigilant and that any unusual activity is reported immediately."
Arin and Kai left Chief Lys's dwelling, their minds racing with the new information they had received. They knew they could finally hunt the aura beast inside the barrier. Without the ability to use their aura, they would be at a significant disadvantage.
"We'll need to be clever about it. These beasts are strong and probably quite intelligent. We can't rely on brute force."
Arin began to outline her ideas, her hands moving animatedly. "We could start with pit traps - deep holes camouflaged with branches and leaves. Or snares made from the strongest vines we can find, reinforced with our aura if possible."
"Traps? How do you know how to make them?"
Arin smiled, feeling a hint of pride. "I've spent a lot of time studying them. I've learned a thing or two about how to catch food."
Settling down on a fallen log, Arin began to explain the process of creating a simple snare trap. "First, we'll need some flexible vines and sturdy branches. The key is to create a loop that will tighten when the animal steps into it."
Kai listened intently, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Okay, but how do we make sure the beast steps into the trap?"
"Good question. We'll need to place it strategically. Animals often follow specific paths through the forest. If we can identify one of these trails, we'll have a better chance of success."
"Leave it to me."
Kai took the lead, his keen eyes scanning the forest floor near the shelter. Arin watched, impressed, as he pointed out subtle clues she might have missed - trampled vegetation, scratch marks on trees, even the occasional tuft of fur caught on a branch.
"Look here," Kai said, crouching down to examine a patch of disturbed earth. "See how the leaves are pressed down in this pattern? Something's been through here recently."
A narrow game trail wound between two large boulders, creating a natural bottleneck. "This is perfect," Arin said, kneeling down to examine the ground.
"Now, we'll set up our snare here. The loop needs to be just the right size - too big, and the animal might slip through; too small, and it might not trigger at all."
They gathered vines and began weaving them together, creating a strong but flexible cord. Kai's fingers were surprisingly deft, and Arin found herself impressed by how quickly he picked up the technique.
With the cord finished, they moved on to constructing the trigger mechanism. This was the trickiest part - it needed to be sensitive enough to spring when an animal stepped on it, but not so delicate that it would be set off by a falling leaf or a gust of wind.
Arin showed Kai how to create a simple trigger using a notched stick and a small platform of twigs. "When the animal steps on the platform, it'll push down on this stick. That releases the tension on the cord, and - snap! The loop tightens around its leg."
With the trigger set, they carefully arranged leaves and twigs to camouflage their handiwork. Stepping back, Arin surveyed the trap with a critical eye. It blended seamlessly with the surrounding forest floor - perfect.
"Now what?"
"Now, we wait," Arin replied, settling into a comfortable spot nearby.
The forest around them came alive with the sounds of early evening. Leaves rustled gently in the breeze, birds called out as they settled for the night, and small creatures scurried through the underbrush, creating a soothing backdrop to their vigil.
After a few moments of companionable silence, Kai cleared his throat. "You know, for someone who's supposed to be 'new' to all this, you seem quite knowledgeable."
Arin laughed. "Well, I may be new to your village, but I'm not new to survival. Being an outsider means you have to learn things quickly."
Kai nodded, then added softly, "And you're not that bad."
"What do you mean?"
Kai sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't trust you at first. You appeared out of nowhere with Chief Lys, and I thought you were just another mouth to feed. I was used to being the older kid in the shelter, having to help everyone."
He paused, his gaze fixed on the forest floor. "It's not easy, feeling responsible for all the younger ones, always having to be strong and have all the answers. When you showed up, I thought it would just make everything harder."
Arin listened intently, beginning to understand the weight Kai had been carrying.
"But you're different," Kai continued, his voice growing stronger. "You know useful things and you're willing to teach and help. It's... nice not to have to shoulder everything alone for once."
He looked up at Arin, a genuine smile on his face. "So yeah, I'm kind of glad you're here."
Warmth spread through Arin's chest. "Thank you, Kai. That means a lot. I'm glad I'm here too. We make a pretty good team, don't we?"
"Yeah, we do. Just don't let it go to your head, okay? I still have a reputation to maintain."
Arin chuckled. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
After a moment, Arin added softly, "This is nice. Working together, joking around. It makes everything feel a little less overwhelming."
Kai's expression softened. "Yeah, it is. I don't get to do this often. Just be myself, you know?"
Arin nodded, understanding the vulnerability in his admission. "Well, for what it's worth, I like this version of you."
Kai's smile was genuine and warm. "Thanks, Arin. I think I like this version of me too."
As they settled back to wait for their trap, Arin felt a sense of belonging she couldn't quite remember experiencing before. Despite the challenges ahead, she was grateful for this moment and for the unexpected friend she had found in Kai.
The guarded, serious boy she'd met earlier was giving way to someone warm, funny, and unexpectedly charming. She found herself hoping that this side of Kai wasn't just a fleeting moment, but a glimpse of the person he could be when he felt safe and accepted.
"Ssh," she whispered, placing a hand on Kai's arm. "Listen."
They both held their breath, straining their ears. There it was again - a soft scrabbling noise, coming from the direction of their first trap.
Slowly, carefully, they crept towards the sound. Arin caught a glimpse of movement - something small and quick, darting between patches of underbrush.
And then she saw it clearly - a Luminous Hare, its fur glowing softly in the dim light of dusk. It was beautiful, its coat shimmering with an inner radiance that seemed almost magical.
The hare paused, its nose twitching as it scented the air. It took another hop forward, drawn by the bait they had set near the trap.
Arin held her breath, her heart pounding. This was the moment of truth - would their trap work?
Suddenly, there was a sharp snap and a flash of movement. The hare let out a startled squeal as the snare tightened around its hind leg, lifting it partially off the ground.
"It worked," Kai said softly, relief in his voice.
Arin was already moving, the knife Chief Lys had given her in her hand. The hare was thrashing wildly, its glowing fur pulsing with its panic.
With a swift, sure movement, Arin ended the hare's struggles.
She turned to Kai, who was watching her. "That was impressive. You handled that well."
Arin looked down at the hare, its once-luminous fur now dull in death. "Now, we prepare our catch. We should use every part we can - the meat for food, the fur for clothing.."
He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I'm starting to see that. You've got skills and knowledge. I think... I think Chief Lys made the right choice in letting you stay."
They worked in comfortable silence for a while, the repetitive tasks of preparing their catch allowing Arin's mind to wander.
"Do you think we could use traps like this against the Thunder Wolf?"
Arin considered the question carefully. "Not directly. The Wolf is too big and too powerful to be caught by simple snares. But..." An idea began to form in her mind. "We might be able to use similar principles on a larger scale. If we could create a pit trap, for instance, or some kind of net..."
Kai nodded, his interest piqued. "That's an interesting thought. We could dig a big hole and cover it with branches, similar to how we set up the snare."
Arin found herself nodding in agreement. "Exactly. It would take a lot more work, and we'd need to be very careful, but it's definitely worth considering."
Kai shouldered his pack, then turned to Arin with a small smile. "Ready to head back and show everyone what we've accomplished?"
"Ready. Let's go home."