The dawn was a pale gray as Kael stirred from his restless state. The fire had long since burned out, leaving behind a heap of cold ash. His body ached, both from the tension of the night and the adrenaline crash that followed his first kill.
Hunger clawed at his stomach, sharper than before. The dried rations in his pack offered some relief, but Kael knew they wouldn't last long. If he didn't figure out how to find food in the wild, starvation would claim him before any beast could.
Kael wandered the forest, his spear in hand, scanning the ground for tracks. His father's lessons echoed in his mind: Look for broken branches, disturbed soil, signs of movement. The wild always leaves clues.
After hours of searching, Kael came across a set of hoof-like tracks. The prints were deep and fresh, suggesting a large creature. He followed them cautiously, his eyes darting between the ground and the dense underbrush ahead.
The trail led him to a clearing where a strange creature grazed. It resembled a deer but was larger, its body covered in sleek, fur-like scales. Antlers adorned its head, branching out like the roots of an ancient tree. Kael crouched low, his heart racing. The creature hadn't noticed him yet, but it wouldn't stay oblivious for long.
Kael steadied his breathing, recalling the techniques he'd practiced back at the Eclipse Citadel. He moved slowly, silent as a shadow, until he was within striking distance. Just as he prepared to thrust his spear, the creature's head snapped up. Its eyes locked onto him, bright and intelligent.
Kael froze. The creature let out a sharp, guttural sound before bolting.
"Damn it!" Kael cursed, springing to his feet and giving chase.
The creature was fast, weaving effortlessly through the trees. Kael pushed himself harder, his legs burning as he tried to close the distance. His spear felt heavy in his hand, but he refused to let the creature escape. Hunger and desperation drove him forward.
The chase led Kael to the edge of a ravine. The creature leapt across with ease, landing gracefully on the other side. Kael skidded to a halt, teetering on the edge as loose soil crumbled beneath his feet. He stared at the gap, his mind racing.
He had no choice.
With a deep breath, Kael ran and leapt. For a moment, he was weightless, the world a blur around him. He landed hard, rolling to absorb the impact. Pain shot through his shoulder, but he ignored it, scrambling to his feet.
The creature had stopped a short distance away, its sides heaving as it caught its breath. It turned to face Kael, its antlers lowered in a defensive posture. Kael raised his spear, his grip steady despite his exhaustion.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, and lunged.
The battle was swift but brutal. The creature fought fiercely, using its antlers and powerful legs to keep Kael at bay. He dodged and struck where he could, each movement precise and deliberate. Finally, he saw an opening and drove his spear into the creature's side.
It let out a pained cry before collapsing. Kael knelt beside it, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The creature's blood stained his hands and clothes, but he felt no triumph.
This was survival, nothing more.
Kael worked quickly, carving what meat he could carry and leaving the rest for scavengers. As he made his way back to camp, the weight of the kill settled on him. The wild was unforgiving, and Kael was beginning to understand its harsh lessons.
That night, as he cooked the meat over a small fire, he felt a strange sense of connection to the forest. It wasn't just a place of danger—it was a place of balance.
And if Kael wanted to survive, he would have to become a part of it.