Oakhaven, North's Residence.
At this moment North, was at his front yard of his cottage. He could be seen holding a broom, sweeping up the chaff from his front yard.
As he was sweeping his front yard, thoughts were seemingly swirling up in his mind. He had the slingshot now, a real weapon, though some may argue it to be a toy.
Sure, in the wrong hands, they might consider it a toy but in his hands after the training he'd undergone he reckons he could do some real damage. Afterall a weapon's only as good as its master.
Apart from thinking about the slingshot, he was only concerned about his lack of combat knowledge. Doesn't hurt to be prepared. He'd only picked the slingshot due to his prior lack of understanding when it comes to combat, and he obviously couldn't rely on his half-assed Karate skills.
So, he figured that he could no he must find a way to gain some combat lessons. It should be understood that the slingshot is akin to a pepper spray, with time as he finds and enriches new ways to keep himself safe, he might just get rid of the slingshot.
Anyways the future is uncertain, and anything could happen at any time.
He kicked up dust a little bit causing him to have a bout of cough.
"Good grief." He said in the middle of his coughing bout.
While he was in the middle of his chores, he noticed a group of people in gear entering the town through its front entrance. North was surprised at first but he quickly regained his bearings.
"It's normal that they would return this time of year, they've been gone a while though." He muttered under his breath.
The group in question, studded into the town, they looked worn out, pale and serious. The group leader, a tall gruff man full of muscles was holding a large burlap sack and he was oddly wearing a wolf pelt skin.
By his side, North could only assume was his second in command, a lanky short young man with dirty blonde hair and an ugly face. The two lead the near three hundred army of hunters into town.
Their steps heavy and commanding of presence. North stared on at the group with awe and inspiration.
Look at them, they look experienced enough…perhaps…maybe….I could join them….The thought crossed his mind like a rabbit on a race.
He had just been pondering on how he was going to get combat experience, really learn how to fight when the hunters stepped in.
He had the crazy Idea of joining them or applying to be a hunter. He has the weapon afterall and he has killed pesky birds with it successfully, drawing his first blood in this world. Technically in all rights intended he can be considered a hunter already.
When he looked at the group, North observed that most were equipped with bows, the bane of his existence at this moment.
Hold up, now that I'm looking at them a bit closer, not all of the seem to have bows as weapons…through his keen intellect, as so he believes, he observed that most hunters had bows, yes but some few of them had different weapons.
North ascertained that it was probably because the hunter group had their own hierarchies and divisions. Most probably the ones with the bows were the heavy hitters in the group, the muscles.
In fact, the one North presumed to be the group leader held the spear instead. So, from this it could be observed that he need not worry about his lack of experience with using the bow.
North was excited, so excited that he almost intercepted the group by going there and prostrating and begging to become one of them.
That's what he did.
"Please take me in." North completely took them by surprise as he kneeled in front of them.
The hunters had their eyes wide open. Afterall this wasn't the kind of welcome they were expecting. A kid suddenly showing up and telling them to take him in, that would take anyone by surprise.
"My my you little punk!"
"What does the half-pint think he's doing."
"Run along home to your mummy kid."
'Ah crap, I screwed up again...'
North realized that maybe he shouldn't have rushed up to them so suddenly without any warning, they reacted so he badly that he just wanted the earth to open up and swallow him.
"Half-pint." The tall gruff and muscular leader spoke up after he silenced the group behind him. His were sharp and cold.
"Yes?" North didn't take the half-pint thing to heart considering that the average height in the group seemed to be above six foot four. It was so unbelievable, and north couldn't help but question the kind of genetics their parents had or did they get the height through training perhaps?
"Stand up!" The leader a man of few words ordered North to stand up.
North stood up, he understood that it was times like these that one had to show a fearless expression.
Once he stood up, Borislav, the head hunter, went around north inspecting his body. At times scrutinizing him and shaking his head. The whole process was uncomfortable to North he had the urge to retaliate and kick the head hunter's shin.
"Hm, weak body, no prospects, no talent. The hunter team has no need for you, go home."
Borislav said as he pushed North out of the way heading straight to the mayor's office to give a report on their escapades.
The others merely gave a slight laugh at North. The kid wanted the heavens in one go forgetting that there was a stairway that one had to climb.
"You make for a nice entertainment kid." Suddenly North heard someone speaking to him by his side. It was the Lanky man who is the head hunter's second in command. He was ugly and the only short guy in the group averaging at around North's height which was five foot eight.
North merely glanced at the guy, wondering what his problem was. Did he also come to gloat? The image of the hunters in his eyes had already been shattered. They looked nothing like the noble heroes the town's folk spoke about.
"Is that so." North answered back as he rolled his eyes.
"You punk show some respect to this senior,"
This guy is supposed to be the second in command, how is that even possible…North analyzed the guy again, questions of disbelief swirling in his mind.
Thud!
"Ouch! What did you do that for?"
North fell down holding his stomach in pain. The lanky, ugly second in command had punched his stomach all of a sudden.
"You were thinking something rude, I could tell from your expressions, hehe." The second in command with a slight grin plastered on his face.
North's eyes lit up, 'He could tell all that just from my expression…scary, he definitely should not be underestimated.'
North was not stupid, just from that simple confrontation he understood why the lanky guy was second in command. He clearly was the brains of the operation and Borislav the brawns.
His tone shifted to a more respective dialect. He adjusted his stance and cupped his fist as a show of respect as he said.
"Pardon for me for my rudeness senior, I failed to recognize the immensity of the heavens when it stood right before me. Senior, please tell me what you want."
"Good, good that's more like it. Kids nowadays need a good slugging to recognize their shortcomings Hehe. As for what I want, well kid you really surprised me by what you did just now. Borislav is never a patient guy and he could have hurt you, you know. Good thing he was tired from the hunt.
Now kid, you obviously seem genuine in your desire to join the hunt, I can see that, these old eyes of mine have never failed me. I will give you a chance, let me let you in on something.
During the hunt we lost a couple of our guys to this nasty little bugger and now we need new replacements, in fact that's why Borislav is going to report to the mayor about this.
Once everything is settled, we will be holding a gathering of sorts more like a selection. We will pick young budding aspiring new hunters…" The second in command's voice trailed as North interrupted.
"Excuse me senior but it seems that Borislav has already made his decision about me not being worthy, I don't see how he will change his mind during the selection."
North voiced his concerns.
"Are you always this impatient, huh? Do you want my help or not?"
The second in command asked his voice laced with annoyance. North quickly fidgeted as he thought.
'This senior…he gets angry easily….' With a wry smile on his face, he tacitly apologized, he really needed to learn the art of combat and fast.
"Do not repeat that again understand?"
"Noted, good senior."
"Hmph, where was I…ah yes…as I was saying during the selection we will pick new budding aspiring hunters, all you have to do is attend the selection providing a unique skill only you have perfected and…. chances are I'll select you." He said as he gave North a wink.
Perhaps it was because he saw a bit of himself in North, but that proposal seemed to have lightened Norths mood.
North cupped his fists, as he gave a low bow.
"Many Thanks to senior, I will definitely not disappoint..."
Before North could continue the second in command interrupted, "Good, now I must get going, whether you are selected or not depends entirely on your abilities. Cheerio."
He waved his hand as he passed by North but not before North called out to him again asking for his name
"Egor, you can call me Egor."
Egor huh, I'll remember that…North thought as he watched Egor's back.