"So, you're saying that you traveled from a faraway place just to take part in the competition. You didn't know the way, so you decided to follow the river downstream. You didn't pack anything to eat, so you ate wild blueberries. Then, you encountered a plant-bull and barely survived it, and after that, you started playing with the plant-monkeys. Is that everything?" The wolf-man's voice was laced with a mix of disbelief and amusement, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Sumit.
They sat in a small clearing, surrounded by towering trees whose thick canopy filtered the sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, carrying with it the earthy scent of the woods and the faint chirping of distant birds. The air was cool, but Sumit felt a bead of sweat trickle down his neck, more from anxiety than exertion.
Sumit nodded, keeping his expression neutral despite the unease gnawing at his insides. It was best not to mention the cat-man or reveal too much. He had no idea how Jack might react to such information, and his instincts told him to keep certain details to himself. Trust was a luxury he couldn't afford just yet.
The wolf-man's sudden laughter broke the tension, the sound deep and resonant, echoing through the clearing. "I don't know if you're this dumb or just incredibly unlucky!" he roared, his eyes crinkling with genuine amusement. He slapped his thigh, causing the leather of his trousers to creak under the force.
Sumit felt his face flush with embarrassment. His hands, now clammy, tightened around the half-eaten apple Jack had given him. He lowered his head, trying to focus on the fruit's sweet taste rather than the mortifying situation. The apple's crisp flesh crunched between his teeth, but it did little to soothe his wounded pride.
Eventually, Jack's laughter subsided, though a few chuckles still escaped as he caught his breath. "Ah, forgive me," he said, his voice still tinged with amusement. "I didn't mean to make fun of you... well, not too much." He grinned, showing off his sharp canines, which gleamed like ivory in the dim light. "Name's Jack, of the Wolf Tribe."
Sumit looked up, meeting Jack's golden eyes. They were sharp and predatory, yet there was a certain warmth in them, a sincerity that made Sumit feel a bit more at ease. Still, he remained cautious.
"Consider this an apology for laughing at you: a bit of advice," Jack continued, leaning back against a tree. The bark crackled under his weight, and a few leaves drifted down from the branches above.
Sumit listened intently as Jack began to speak, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "First off," he said, "those blue berries you ate? They're poisonous. They'll give you a nasty stomach ache at best, and something worse if you're not lucky. You'd be fortunate to get away with just a few cramps."
Sumit's eyes widened slightly. He had felt fine after eating the berries, but now that Jack mentioned it, there had been a slight discomfort in his stomach that he had attributed to hunger. The thought of being poisoned made his heart skip a beat.
"And those plant-monsters?" Jack continued, waving a hand dismissively. "They're generally not aggressive. Plant-bulls, plant-monkeys, plant-rabbits—they won't attack unless provoked. They're more defensive than anything."
Sumit frowned, confusion knitting his brows. "Then why did it attack me?"
Jack shrugged, his broad shoulders rolling in a nonchalant gesture. "There are always exceptions in nature," he said. "Maybe it didn't like your non-fur body? You do look a bit... strange, you know. Oh, that reminds me—are all the people from your tribe without fur, tail, and fangs? I've never heard of a human tribe before."
Sumit flinched, his heart pounding in his chest. He hadn't expected such a direct question. "We... live far from here," he stammered, eager to divert the conversation. "Can you tell me more about the competition?"
Jack's curiosity was evident, but he let the topic slide, much to Sumit's relief. "Oh right, the competition," Jack said, nodding. "To enter, you need to submit a fee of two silver coins, fill out the entrance form, get your aura tested, take part in the selection round, and—"
Sumit interrupted, his mind catching on the unfamiliar term. "What do you mean... get my aura tested?"
"Oh, that." Jack waved a hand as if brushing away a fly. "It's a new rule. After the last competition's casualties, they decided to lessen the risks. Now, participants need to be at least lower-level aura users to compete."
Sumit's confusion deepened, anxiety twisting in his gut. "What is aura? I don't think I have this aura thing."
Jack's laughter returned, though this time it was softer, more amused than mocking. "You might know it by a different name, but trust me, you have it. I can sense at least middle-level aura coming from you."
Sumit blinked in surprise, his mouth slightly agape. "I don't think I have aura... and how can you sense it?"
Before Jack could answer, a deafening roar shook the clearing, sending birds fluttering out of the trees in a panicked flurry. Both Sumit and Jack snapped their heads towards the source of the noise, where a massive wooden tiger emerged from the shadows. Its body was an intricate lattice of roots and branches, woven together into a terrifying semblance of a great cat. Its eyes glowed with an eerie amber light, and its teeth, made of sharpened wooden spikes, gnashed together menacingly.
Jack's eyes narrowed, a predatory grin spreading across his face. "Perfect timing," he muttered, more to himself than to Sumit. "I'll show you what aura is."
The tiger's growl rumbled like an approaching storm, and without warning, it lunged at Jack, its powerful legs propelling it forward with frightening speed. The ground trembled under its weight, and Sumit could feel the vibrations through his boots.
Jack didn't move at first. Instead, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. As he exhaled, a faint, shimmering light began to radiate from his body, surrounding him in a soft, ethereal glow. The air around him seemed to hum with energy, and even the ground beneath his feet felt more solid, more connected to him. This was his aura—an extension of his will, his spirit, manifesting as a tangible force.
The wooden tiger leaped at Jack, claws outstretched, aiming to tear him apart. But Jack was faster. His eyes snapped open, now glowing with the same light as his aura, and he sidestepped the beast's initial attack with a fluid grace that seemed almost supernatural. The tiger's claws slashed through the air where Jack had been standing, but he was already moving, his aura enhancing his speed and agility.
With a swift motion, Jack extended his claws—wicked, gleaming talons that glinted in the fading light—and slashed at the tiger's flank. His aura-infused claws cut through the wooden hide like a hot knife through butter, splinters flying as the tiger let out a pained roar.
But the beast was far from finished. It twisted with unnatural agility, its tail—a thick, knotted whip of roots—swinging towards Jack. The tail struck with the force of a battering ram, catching Jack in the side and sending him crashing into a nearby tree. The impact was so hard that the bark cracked, and leaves rained down like confetti.
Sumit's breath caught in his throat as he watched Jack struggle to his feet, a grimace of pain flashing across his face. But the wolf-man's aura flared brighter, the energy surging through his body, numbing the pain and reinforcing his resolve. His eyes burned with a fierce determination, the thrill of the hunt igniting something primal within him.
The tiger charged again, undeterred by its wounds. It leaped, claws outstretched, aiming to pin Jack to the ground. But Jack was ready. He ducked under the attack, moving with the fluid grace of a predator, and struck out at the tiger's legs. His aura-infused claws dug deep into the wooden limbs, severing tendons and snapping roots. The aura acted as an extension of his physical strength, amplifying the damage and ensuring that every strike counted.
The tiger stumbled, its movements becoming more sluggish as the damage took its toll. It let out a roar, more of frustration than pain, and lashed out wildly. But Jack was relentless. He dodged the clumsy swipes and circled around the beast, looking for an opening.
Finally, he saw it. With a feral growl, Jack leaped onto the tiger's back, his aura flaring like a blazing fire. His claws extended to their full length, now glowing with the intensity of his aura. The muscles in his arms bulged as he brought his claws down in a powerful arc, slicing clean through the tiger's neck. The wooden head toppled to the ground
with a heavy thud, and the rest of the tiger's body followed suit, collapsing into a lifeless heap of splintered wood and broken branches.
The clearing fell silent, the only sound the labored breathing of Jack as he straightened up, wiping the sweat from his brow. His aura slowly dimmed, fading back into an invisible force as the tension of the battle ebbed away. He looked down at the defeated tiger with a mix of satisfaction and weariness, then turned to face Sumit, who was staring wide-eyed, mouth slightly agape. "That, my friend, is aura in action."
Sumit stared in awe, his mind racing as he realized just how little he knew about this world and the dangers it held. The path ahead was far more treacherous than he had imagined, but at least now, he had a glimpse of the power he would need to survive.