With Thorne's guidance, Hiro and Lina set out on their mission to find the scattered tamers. Their journey took them deeper into the wilderness, far from the safety of any village or town, where the land was untamed and wild creatures roamed freely. This was where the tamers had gone to hide from the gods, into the places where few dared to go.
Thorne, who had spent decades in hiding, knew the terrain well. He led them through dense forests and across treacherous rivers, always careful to avoid the eyes of any would-be spies of the gods. The old tamer was cautious, but his knowledge was invaluable.
"We're close," Thorne said one evening as they made camp near the base of a mountain range. "There's a small enclave of tamers who've lived in these parts for years. They don't trust outsiders, but they'll listen to me."
Hiro nodded, staring into the flickering flames of the campfire. His wolf and bear lay nearby, their eyes reflecting the firelight, ever watchful. Lina sat across from him, her hawk perched on her shoulder while her stag grazed nearby.
"What if they don't want to join us?" Lina asked, her voice quiet but steady.
"They'll have no choice," Hiro replied. "If they don't fight, they'll be hunted down. The gods won't stop. They never do."
Thorne nodded in agreement. "Hiro's right. The tamers have been living in fear for too long. But fear won't protect them forever. We need to show them that we can stand against the gods."
Lina's gaze hardened with resolve. She had grown more confident in the weeks since they left Graybrook, and Hiro could see the strength in her eyes. She was becoming a true tamer, and soon, she would be a force to be reckoned with.
As the stars appeared overhead, Hiro felt a sense of calm settle over him. The journey was dangerous, but it was necessary. The gods had ruled uncontested for too long, but the time of reckoning was coming. And Hiro would make sure that when it arrived, the tamers would be ready.
---
The next morning, they continued their ascent into the mountains, where the air grew thin and the trees became sparse. Thorne led the way, his falcon scouting ahead to ensure the path was clear. After several hours of climbing, they came to a narrow pass that opened into a hidden valley.
"There," Thorne said, pointing ahead. "That's where the enclave is."
Hiro followed his gaze and saw a small, secluded village nestled between the cliffs. It was almost invisible from the outside, hidden by the natural landscape. Only someone who knew the terrain as well as Thorne could have found it.
As they approached the village, Hiro noticed that the people there were different from those in the villages he had seen before. They moved with quiet precision, their eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, as if expecting an attack at any moment. And there were beasts, dozens of them, moving among the people, from wolves and large birds to wildcats and bears.
"Tamers," Lina whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the sight.
Hiro nodded. This was what they had come for, an enclave of tamers who had kept their power hidden from the gods for years. But now, that secrecy would have to end.
As they entered the village, a group of tamers approached, led by a tall woman with long dark hair and a serious expression. Her companion, a sleek black panther, padded silently beside her, its eyes never leaving Hiro and his group.
"What business do you have here, Thorne?" the woman asked, her voice low and commanding.
"We're here to offer you something," Thorne replied, stepping forward. "A chance to stop hiding."
The woman's eyes narrowed, and she glanced at Hiro, her gaze lingering on his wolf and bear. "And who is this?" she asked, her tone skeptical.
"This is Hiro," Thorne said. "He's a tamer, like us. But he's different. He's fought the gods' servants and lived to tell the tale."
The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "We've heard many stories, Thorne. But we've survived this long by staying out of the gods' way. Why should we trust a boy we've never met?"
Hiro stepped forward, his gaze steady as he met the woman's eyes. "Because the gods are coming for us, whether we hide or not," he said. "I know what they're capable of. They've already sent assassins after me. But I'm not going to run."
The woman crossed her arms, her expression still guarded. "And what do you propose we do? Fight the gods head-on? That's suicide."
Hiro shook his head. "Not if we're prepared. I've discovered something, something the ancient tamers knew. There's a power within the beasts, a power we haven't even begun to tap into. The gods fear that power. That's why they're hunting us."
The woman remained silent for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. Finally, she sighed. "You talk big, boy. But words won't convince us. Show us what you can do."
Hiro nodded. He had expected this. "Fine."
He turned to his wolf and bear, both of them standing alert at his side. He reached out with his mind, deepening the connection he had already formed with them. He could feel the power thrumming beneath the surface, waiting to be unlocked. It was the same power he had used to defeat the servant of the gods.
With a deep breath, Hiro closed his eyes and focused. The bond between him and his beasts surged to life, the energy pulsing through them as they responded to his will. The wolf's eyes glowed with a fierce light, and the bear's muscles rippled with newfound strength.
The tamers around them gasped in awe as Hiro's beasts grew stronger before their eyes, their forms shimmering with the ethereal power Hiro had awakened. Even the woman's panther took a step back, sensing the raw strength that now radiated from Hiro's creatures.
The woman's eyes widened, her skepticism melting away. "How… how did you do that?"
"I unlocked the power that's always been there," Hiro said, his voice calm but firm. "This is what the gods fear. This is what we can become."
The woman hesitated, her gaze flicking between Hiro and his beasts. Finally, she nodded slowly, her expression one of cautious respect. "We'll listen."