Book 4 Chapter 2

“This makes the fourth this month huh…” Dun said to the man next to him, staring up the mountain before them. Some ways away dust and flying dirt acted as the only sign of the giant force that was heading their way.

“Yeah Chief…” The other man answered calmly. They stood at one end of a deep mountain canyon, buried deep within the mountains that lined the continent. Steep cliffs and craggy valleys were a common sighting here in their dangerous home, yet this canyon in particular had always had one important purpose.

A thunderous roar came from above and Dun sighed, “It’s time, go ready them…”

His subordinate nodded, turning to the others around them to yell out orders. The men and women gathered on the canyon’s walls, hiding in the caves and holes that dotted its rugged cliffs. There they waited, following the traditions that had been in the tribes for generations.

Dun on the other hand simply stretched, raising his thick arms over his head as he leaned from side to side, rolling his head back and forth as he listened to his bones crack and pop. He shook the exhaustion from his body, moving back towards the end of the canyon. The canyon walls came together just behind him, creating the perfect dead end for the prey they were luring…

Though it was hard to call it prey these days… Usually, they would use this canyon once a year, bringing their targets here after carefully picking and guiding them. Now they were using it just to survive and the old canyon showed scars of their recent struggle…

Dun could hear the yells now, almost hidden by the creature's roar and what he could now make out to be the stomping of hooves. He widened his stance, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath. He held his hands at the ready his muscles tensing as his body stilled.

Suddenly his eyes shot open, “Come!” He roared back at the canyon, echoing over the uproar that was coming towards them. “Come!” His clan answered, yelling from the canyon walls and as they readied their own weapons.

Only a moment later the runners appeared, coming around the canyon’s bend, sprinting with all the strength they had. The first two, a man and a woman, came flying towards Dun. Fear and excitement plain on their faces. The last one though lagged just a bit behind, but when he came around the corner, a frightening visage followed just behind him.

A giant ram, wool matted with dirt and horns that looked like they were made of stone. It was taller than two men and thick enough that it made the large canyon feel cramped. The last man ran for all he could, his arms and legs pumping desperately even as he reached his limits. Yet the beast was too quick…

Giant hooves crushed the poor man underfoot before continuing unabated. As the Beast reached the ambush spot, the runners passed Dun splitting off to their own hiding spots. The Ram, having its targets disappear focused on the one-man remaining, lowering its head as it charged, its hooves throwing rocks and stones up from its powerful strides.

Dun didn’t panic… He crouched, lowering his hands to the ground as he watched the monster bearing down on him. He waited even as it drew closer and closer. With a normal animal, a certain amount of laziness or carelessness could be allowed, but with a Beast... Even the slightest error could lead to the death of hundreds.

Dun knew his timing had to be perfect, it was something he was used to, something he had done dozens of times now. In fact, he felt no fear… This beast was nothing compared to some of the opponents he had encountered in his life so far. His mind thought of the young boy that had hurt him so badly just a few months ago.

He drove the thought from his head focusing on the task at hand., The giant ram bore down on him, now only a dozen yards away. As it launched itself forward, Dun roared back in defiance, “Kill!”

The earth in front of him rose in the blink of an eye, forming into a large spike just before the creature. Even as close as it was it still managed to react, its legs pounding the ground as it tried to force its body away. But Dun had timed it perfectly once again. It caught the Beast in the side as it tried to turn, piercing deeply into its body and forcing it to a stop.

From the canyon’s walls, Dun’s awaiting clansmen let out their own roars. Arrows and spears rained down on the Beast and more pillars of rock rose to tear into its body. Even then the great ram struggled, its body thrashed and fought, trying to break away from the stone spike that held it in place. Dun wouldn’t let it go… He focused his attention on hardening the spike further, keeping it stable as his clansmen continued their attack

The whole confrontation lasted only lasted a minute, but when the Beast finally stopped, its body falling limp, Dun couldn’t help but feel like it had been an hour. He collapsed backward, letting out a breath as he resisted the exhaustion that coursed through him.

His clansmen went about their work moving in to start carving at the massive animal that they had risked their lives to kill. The meat would provide sustenance to make up for the energy they had spent, the bones would go towards replacing the weapons they had lost.

In normal years a great festival would follow, a time for feasting and drinking while celebrating their own strength and intellect. Yet after four such encounters in only the first half of the month and more before that, his clan had no energy for celebrations. They set to their work, moving quickly. A few went to gather the fallen runner, his body taken away to be given to his family.

There was no time for remorse or mourning, none of them knew when the next Beast would come. Dun stood finally, his breath recovered, and set about helping the others with their work. His mind wandered back to the little god once more, and the beast that traveled with him

“Chief…” His second called out, shaking him from his thoughts. “Ralo and Dra won’t be able to run again any time soon, and the others are exhausted as well. If another Beast comes now…”

Dun waved the man to silence, “I know, I can only hope help is coming…”

The man’s eyes widened, “An outsider?” He questioned, “But the other clans won’t…”

“Then he’ll force them to… Dun said with certainty cutting his second off. “The mountains respect strength…” Dun grinned looking up towards the snow-covered peaks that marked the horizon. “If they won’t give him their welcome, he’ll just have to take it…”