The next day, the tribe prepared to hunt once more, but Kael had other plans. He approached Garth in the early morning light, ready to present his idea.
"I've been thinking about the humans," Kael said, his tone calm but firm. "They're not far from us, and they'll be back. I say we ambush them before they can regroup."
Garth looked skeptical. "We're hunters, not tacticians, Kael. You want to lead us into battle again?"
Kael shook his head. "Not a battle. An ambush. We strike fast, take their weapons, and leave before they know what hit them. We don't have the numbers to fight them head-on, but we're faster than they are."
Garth considered this. "And what makes you so sure it will work?"
Kael hesitated for a moment before responding. "I've... fought battles before. In my old tribe, we used these tactics against larger forces. It works, but only if we move quickly and decisively."
Garth narrowed his eyes but nodded. "Very well. We will ambush them."
---
The ambush went as planned. Kael led a small group of centaurs—fewer than twenty—in a swift raid on a human patrol near the river. Using the terrain to their advantage, they struck without warning, overwhelming the humans in a flurry of hooves and arrows. Kael's new ability allowed him to direct the battle from a mental vantage point, sensing where each centaur was and adjusting their positions on the fly.
Within minutes, the humans were routed, leaving behind a valuable cache of weapons—iron swords, shields, and a handful of crude metal armor.
But the price was not small. Three centaurs lay dead, and several others were wounded. Kael felt the weight of their deaths keenly, even though the battle was a success.
When they returned to camp with their spoils, the tribe was filled with excitement over their new weapons, but Kael noticed the looks of doubt and fear in some of the centaurs' eyes. War was not their way, and casualties weighed heavily on them.
That night, Kael stayed quiet, thinking about the tribe's future. The centaurs needed more than just weapons—they needed direction, leadership. And if he was to lead them, he would need to confront Thorn soon. But before that, he had to earn the tribe's complete trust.