Chapter 3: The Trial of Adversity
The Razorback bore down on Rylan like an unstoppable force of nature. Its tusks gleamed in the dappled sunlight, and each step it took shook the earth beneath his feet. He had no time to think—only to move.
"Run!" Rylan yelled, his legs kicking into motion as he dove to the side.
The Razorback's charge missed by a hair, plowing into the clearing's edge. Bark exploded from a tree as its tusks gouged deep into the trunk. The boar-like beast shook its head and let out a furious bellow that echoed through the forest.
"Not good, not good!" Rylan gasped, stumbling to his feet. The bird, perched on his shoulder moments ago, now hovered mid-air, its wings beating furiously.
What am I supposed to do?! Rylan thought, his heart slamming against his ribs. He had no weapon, no plan, and no clue what his bird could even do. All he knew was the beast wasn't finished.
The Razorback turned its glowing red eyes toward him again. Its breath was heavy and steaming, its massive muscles rippling as it prepared for another charge.
Rylan darted a glance at his bird. "If you've got anything special, now's the time!"
The bird chirped in response, then shot upward, flying high into the branches. Rylan blinked, his stomach twisting.
"You're leaving me?! What am I supposed to—"
The Razorback roared and lunged.
Rylan barely had time to react. He dove into the bushes, thorny brambles tearing at his arms. The beast skidded to a stop, snorting angrily as it sniffed the air, searching for him.
From his hiding spot, Rylan's mind raced. Strength is unlocked through adversity. That's what the book had said. But what did it mean? Was this the "trial" he needed to unlock the bird's potential?
The Razorback snorted again, its red eyes narrowing as it turned toward the bushes. It knows where I am.
I can't keep running forever, Rylan thought, desperation twisting his gut. He looked up, searching for his bird, and froze.
High above, the bird hovered near a thick tree branch, its golden eye focused intently on the Razorback below. The feathers along its wings began to shimmer faintly—gold, like the glow in its eye.
"What…?" Rylan whispered.
The Razorback roared and charged again. This time, there was no escape. The beast crashed through the bushes, barreling straight for Rylan's hiding spot.
At the last moment, something changed.
"Now!" Rylan shouted without knowing why.
The bird screeched—a sharp, piercing sound that sent shivers down Rylan's spine. It dived like a golden arrow, its feathers blazing with a sudden, dazzling light.
The Razorback roared, disoriented, as the light struck its face. It skidded to a halt, shaking its head violently and letting out a furious squeal. The golden light burned brighter, almost blinding, and Rylan watched in awe as the bird circled the beast, its once-dull wings now glimmering like molten metal.
"The first step…"
The words echoed in Rylan's mind as he grabbed a rock nearby. "Keep it distracted!" he shouted to the bird, scrambling to his feet.
The bird chirped in response, its movements growing faster and sharper. It darted and weaved through the air, dodging the Razorback's thrashing tusks while glowing brighter with each pass. The beast, enraged, roared and swiped wildly at its tiny tormentor, but the bird was too fast.
Rylan clenched the rock in his hand. It wasn't much, but it was all he had. If the bird could hold the Razorback's attention, he could…
He didn't finish the thought. His legs moved on their own, and before he realized it, he was charging straight at the distracted beast.
"Now or never!"
Rylan hurled the rock with every ounce of strength he had. The stone struck the Razorback square between its glowing red eyes with a sickening crack. The beast roared, stumbling back as the red glow flickered and dimmed.
"Did that… work?" Rylan gasped, his chest heaving.
The Razorback snorted and swayed, its knees buckling. Finally, with a loud thud, it collapsed to the ground, its eyes dull and its breath ragged.
Rylan dropped to his knees, unable to believe it. "I did it… we did it…"
The bird fluttered down to him, landing softly on his shoulder. Its golden eye met his, shimmering faintly with pride.
"You're… incredible," Rylan whispered, brushing a hand over its still-glowing feathers. "You're not trash at all, are you?"
The bird chirped softly, nudging his cheek.
The Aftermath
The clearing was silent now, save for the distant cries of forest birds and the soft rustling of leaves. The Razorback lay unconscious, its massive form still intimidating even in defeat.
Rylan stood slowly, his legs shaking. He looked at the bird again—no longer the ragged creature it had been this morning. Its dull gray feathers had started to change, faint streaks of gold running through them like veins of sunlight.
This must be its evolution path, Rylan realized. It's starting.
The words from the book came back to him: "Strength is unlocked through adversity."
Rylan smiled faintly. "We're just getting started, aren't we?"
The bird chirped in agreement.
Returning to the Village
By the time Rylan made it back to the village, the sun was sinking low again. He trudged through the streets, scratches covering his arms, mud splattered across his clothes. The villagers who saw him stopped and stared.
"That's Rylan, isn't it? What happened to him?"
"Did he go into the Whispering Woods?"
"Is that… a Razorback scratch on his arm?"
Rylan ignored them. The bird perched proudly on his shoulder, its feathers faintly golden in the evening light. For once, he didn't feel small. He felt like a tamer.
As he approached his house, a familiar voice cut through the murmurs.
"Well, well. Look who decided to come back," Tobin called, his silver wolf at his side. "Did you trip over a root, or did the trash bird finally show you its true colors?"
Rylan stopped. He turned slowly, meeting Tobin's mocking smirk with a calm, steady gaze.
"You'll find out soon enough," Rylan said quietly.
Tobin blinked, caught off guard by the confidence in Rylan's voice. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Rylan smiled faintly, his bird letting out a single sharp chirp. "It means you'd better start training harder, Tobin. Because we're coming for you."
For the first time, Tobin had nothing to say.
End of Chapter 3