Chapter 3:The Pride

“ By the winds I’m glad I caught you, Dragoon” A man comes running up to the cabin. Clearly a ranger, he is covered in Light leather. His boots are made for running. They are immaculately clean, something you notice when you are in the middle of a forest. A bow is strapped on his back and a short machete on his hip. He is breathing heavy and sweating. “I ran all night to get here before you left for the Pride.”

“So what is so important that the ‘Shadow Hunters’ need my expertise Ivan.” Ivan takes a moment to catch his breath and then speaks. “We have been finding infected creatures all through out the forest.” Dragoon’s face stays perfectly calm but Ivan’s is covered with desperation.

“ You do mean the ….” Dragoon looks over at Robert for a moment and then turns back to the man. “Disease.”

Robert takes this as a sign he can join in on the conversation. “Is this bad?” He feels stupid before the words leave his mouth. But it is out there and he still wants more information so he looks back and forth at them waiting for an answer.

Dragoon nods to Ivan and Ivan nods back. Ivan looks at young Rehcra and says. “By the Fire this is bad. If we don’t get this under control it could engulf the hole forest as quick as lightning.”

Dragoon smiles. “ Your over reacting. I know it is a dangerous disease but I wouldn’t compare it with lightning. What type have you been finding? Type two or three?”

“Well, just type one but …” Ivan is saved from saying anymore.” “ As I thought. All we need to do is keep track of how bad it gets and try and find the sick creature responsible.”

“ But what about the other day. You said there was an extra cage.”

Dragoon looks at Robert. “ We are running late so I am going to need you to go get our game ready for the trip. I’ll finish up here and be right over.”

‘He must be a little crazy. The other day? Grandpa has been up here with me all winter.’ Young Robert Rehcra knows that rangers often lose track of time in the forest but a hole season seems a little silly. ‘And what did a cage have to do with anything.’

Robert walks over to the shed where they have the Buck and Stumper hung up. He takes down the stumper and covers it in a ground up herb that is in a small brown bag. The herb will help keep away insects. He then wraps it up in a light brown cloth and places it on a wood frame. After he ties it down and then ties the frame to his back pack he starts on the dear.

He looks over his shoulder and sees Dragoon walking over. “I’m almost done.” Dragoon quickly walks over and finishes tying up the dear. “We’re running late so we need to be off as soon as possible.”

“Who was that Ivan anyway.”

“Oh, he was just another apprentice of mine, from years ago. He’s trying to join the ‘Shadow Hunters‘. Right now he’s sort of our runner boy.”

“Our?”

“ Well yes, I am sort of the head of them. In charge if you will.”

“ Shadow Hunters?”

“ Yes well, We hunt down undesirable magical creatures or as we call them shads. It’s a hobby. Now enough questions lets go.”

They both put on their packs. “Blue devils this is heavy. If you think I am going to be able to hall this all day your crazy.”

“ Why do you think I’ve been training you so hard, for my amusement?” Robert yawns out a sigh and they are off.

After walking for 30 minutes, Rehcra is even gladder he had missed the green horned buck. The stumper is feeling even heavier and his legs ach with a throbbing pain. He knows the pain is just going to get worse throughout the day.

Yet, Dragoon seems to have a hop in his step. Apparently he is completely unaffected by the large deer he is carrying over his shoulder.

"Lets pick up the pace a bit." Says Dragoon with an air of eagerness.

It is the third time they have increased their traveling speed. At first they had been going at a very slow walk which suited Robert just fine because he was in no way awake yet. But before he realized it they had started walking at more of a normal speed. which turned into a fast walk and he was forced to try and keep up.

Now they are at a full Jog. Robert holds his hands on his shoulder straps as they go along the path. He finds it hard to keep balance with his stumper tied down on his backpack. With every step it sways side to side but it doesn’t seem to be loosening up any.

They stay to a path that runs along the Vermill Bottoms and seem to be making good time . The sun is steadily rising and the day is starting to warm up.

“Sure be nice to have Potamos right about now.” Dragoon looks over at him and says “That it would, but this forest is no place fore a horse.” Robert has his hands on his shoulder straps and does not look over at his grandpa. “Yah, I know. Its just he’s….”

He wanted Potamos cause he was tired of walking and carrying the stumper but the thought of him had reminded him of how much he was missing his friend or so called pet. “You miss him. He is an extremely valuable horse after all. Must be like losing your right arm.” Robert is surprised by his grandpa’s comment. People often tell him how much money Potamos is worth because of his physical ability and being a pure breed ‘Rapid Foot‘. But for him to say it meant he doesn’t understand at all. “I ‘v never seen a more loyal or loving pet. Your lucky to have such a friend Plucky.” Robert smiles and shacks his head. “Yah I am.” He says. He is glad Dragoon understood.

“ Hold up. “ Dragoon says. Robert slows down as he comes up beside Dragoon who has been a good five feet in front. “We will rest. Then head that way.” Dragoon holds out his hand and points away from the river and into the forest.

Robert takes off his pack and grabs his water container. After taking several swigs he fills it up at the river and sits down. As he looks around at his surroundings he notices how much greener it is here compared to around the cabin. It is clearly spring here. Bright green leafs are covering most of the trees. Birds are chirping from every direction and the river flows higher and faster than normal. It flows with purpose, as if it has some where it needs to be.

Before young Rehcra is able to get completely comfortable Dragoon is up and ushering him on. They start off slow again but quickly pick up pace. The forest is too packed to go as fast as they where earlier but they travel at as fast a walk as possible.

They are there. Looking down into a valley, Robert sees hide covered tents every where. The hide is an incredibly vivid white color. The tents are set up in circles with the biggest in the very center. People are going about their daily life every where.

To say people might be a little misleading. They are ‘Pagans‘. or as Robert thinks of them, the cat people. Some of them look quite normal except for there tails. They have rounder faces than normal and puffy hair that looks like fur on there heads. Their ears are larger than humans and their hands are also slightly bigger. The pagans are dressed in quite normal attire. Mostly just pants and shirts although some of the women ware dresses. That is what the normal ones look like but..

Some of them really look like cats. They are covered in fur and have large lion manes. Unlike the others, their tails are furry. Two of the more cat looking ones approach Dragoon and young Rehcra.

“Greetings Fellow ‘Pagan‘. What brings you home.” Robert swings around and looks behind them to see who the Pagan is trying to talk to. There is nobody behind them. Robert remains confused until Dragoon speaks. “The Festival of course.“

The two lion looking men stare at each other for a moment and then the one with a solid coat of light brown fur speaks. “And I’m betting conversation with the elders and the rangers of the ‘Pride‘.”

The other one chuckles lightly. His fur is a patch work of multiple colors. Each color seems to be the exact color of animals you can find in the forest. It is at this point that young Rehcra notices that the fur is in actuality a costume.

“You Know me to well Kraill.” Dragoon smiles speaking to the one in a single light brown outfit of fur. “Ah but can you tell who this is.” Dragoon bends in staring at the other pagan. “ Ah….. Humm..”

The Pagan chuckles again but this time much louder. “ Young Kraill, you’ve got your warriors mane already?. Well, You must be proud of your son.”

Kraill puffs up and now stands almost a head taller than Dragoon. He smiles and says. “Well I did lose his vote, but I think I’ll survive. And who might your visitor be?”

“This is my son’s child, Robert.” Kraill looks at Robert and speaks coldly. “Ah .. Plucky. Your Grandpa speaks mighty high of you. Undoubtedly another ‘Shire Reeve’ student.”

“On the contrary, he’s training to be a ranger.” The younger Kraill lets out another chuckle. “Good cause we don’t much care for the Guardians around here.” Robert is surprised. “But, Dragoon was a Guardian.” The older Kraill then says “Well, no pagan is perfect.” They all laugh and start to head towards the tents.

The Pride is made for nomads. Robert wonders how Dragoon knows where to find them because it looks as if they move quite frequently. They walk past several tents and occasionally receive “Hello”s, “Hi there”s, or “Welcome home”s. The pagans seem nice but for the most part busy.

“Why are they calling you a ‘Pagan‘?”

Dragoon responds with. ”’Pagan’ only means a villager.” Kraill slaps Dragoon on the back. “We’ve considered Dragoon one of us for a long time now, Plucky.”

They walk all the way down to the big tent in the center. An old pagan walks out of the large tent and smiles at Dragoon. The pagan has his mane on but shirt and pants on instead of the rest of his fur outfit. Where as the mane makes the others look mean, powerful, and scary, it just make him look comical and quirky.

“Ah Good tasee ya old man. What brings you home to the ‘Pride‘? Besides the Spring festival.”

“ Just a talk with my fellow elders…. And rangers.”

“Oh, I wonder what about?”

“ Oh, this and that. I have brought a guest here. He’ll….. Be needing to be else where why we discuss such boring things. Young ‘Rehcra’ here is still…well young.”

“We Both brought Gifts. Here Kraill Would you be so kind. And I do believe Robert will be needing a new pair of shoes.”

“Ah, you shouldn’t have Dragoon. They are both fine gifts they are gladly excepted. And Kraill take young Robert Rehcra here with you . After you put up the gifts show him around so as he can find a suitable pair of shoes.”

“ Plucky, don’t wander around to much on your own. Be back here before dark. I shall be out soon there after.”

Dragoon Walks into the tent with the quirky pagan elder. Kraill puts his hand on his son’s shoulder and says. “I guess I’ll go gather up the rangers.” He walks off leaving the young men standing next to the stumper and deer, which are still tied to the backpacks.

Kraill junior stretches out and yawns. After stretching he bends over and picks up Rehcra’s pack and flings it over his shoulder. He then picks up Dragoon’s pack with the deer and struggles trying to figure out how to carry both of them at the same time. So he sits the deer back down and just stares at it.

Robert thinks for a moment “Oh , well thanks but no thanks. I think I will let you take the deer. Your bigger than me anyways. I‘ll take the stumper.”

Young Kraill chuckles like always and says “ Sure thing lad.”

They walk about fifty feet over to a tent with a couple tables out front and small dead animals hanging on posts. “Village butcher.” Kraill says “He real mostly just makes sure the meat we eat isn’t bad or anything. Most of us just cut up our game our self. Although he also takes care of all the festival meals. He might be busy.” Kraill Shouts at the tent “Bloody Butcher, get out here.”

An old ‘Pagan’ in a white robe comes rushing out the tent madder than a shaken bee’s nest. “Curse it Kraill. If I’ve told ya once I’ve told ya hundred times don’t ya call me a bloody butcher, Floyd or Food inspector that’s it.”

“Alright Floyd, no need to go 3rd stage on me. I’s just having a little fun with ya for my friend here. Robert Rehcra, he’s Dragoon’s new apprentice.”

“What.” Floyd’s mood quickly cools and so he seems to be a little de railed. “Do you see any blood on these here clothes.”

Rehcra knows it is coming before Kraill says anything. “Well, actually.” Floyd looks down at his white robe and sees a small red stain on his stomach area. “Ye….” Floyd cuts him off. “Oh, shut up.” As expected, Kraill burst out into a loud chuckle. Robert manages to hold it in, but barely.

They both place the packs on a table and untie the kills. Floyd comments on the stumper.

“ That’s a lot of stumper ya got there.”

“Yeah , I haven’t ever seen a larger one.” In truth young Robert Rehcra had never seen a stumper before this one decided his foot would make a nice sandwich. Floyd just looks at him for a while and then turns to Kraill.

“A Ranger you say? Well He’s got a ways to go but its better than having another Guardian meddler on our hands.”

After about ten minutes of chit chat with Floyd the ‘Food Inspector‘, Kraill leads Rehcra to the town shopping area. It isn’t much to speak of. A few tents with items sitting on blankets on the ground. Mostly just people standing around talking to each other.

“Well I’ve got a few things I need to get done before tonight. I take it you’ll be alright here on your own.”

“ I’ll be fine. Thanks Kraill.”

“See ya later.”

“See ya”

Rehcra slowly walks around looking at the different items displayed in front of the tents. He sees several knifes. He often finds himself mesmerized by talented blacksmith work. It is a side effect from the time he spent with his dad in the foundry or home workshop.

But the knifes are poorly made, at least from Robert’s point of view, and Robert has not been so affected by his dad that he wants to stare at the pots and pans (He does think they are well made though.). So, Robert moves on looking for shoes or any signs of clothing.

“ Um… Miss. Do you have any shoes for sell?”

“What.. Oh ‘ we mostly just trade with what wes got on the blankets. What you see is what you get.” She goes back to talking to two other pagan women.”

“ Thank you anyways.” He says this at practically a whisper because he knows she isn’t really listening and thinks she doesn’t care. Because he feels out of place it doesn’t bother him in the least to be ignored . He starts walking over to the next tent.

Robert looks down at all of the random items displayed on the blanket. In this moment all of his excitement fades away and he is left tired and in no mood to shop. Soreness begins to resurface all over his body. His tired eyes flicker to a near close as he begins to space out. Robert’s head bobs as nearly falls asleep.

“Hi. My name is Nikey” A ‘Pagan’ girl walks over to where he stands.

“Oh, Hi I’m Robert.” He is surprised that she has started talking to him because everyone else seems to be ignoring him.

She is wearing pants and a shirt, that both look wore out. Nikey seems to be about 15 or 16 years old. Robert is not sure which. She is shorter than him by about 2 inches and she seems to be very fit. Her body is not bulging with muscles but it is thick with them. Yet, she still seems to be thin and maintains a rather graceful figure.

“So your looking for a pair of shoes are you?”

Robert yawns as he says “Yeah, my left one is tore to shreds.”

“I can see that, wow, looks like a nasty bite. Is your foot alright?”

Robert looks down at his shoe. “Stumper. A large one. But, yeah my foot is fine. A little sore but all my toes seem to be there.”

Nikey looks up at Robert and seems to focus in on his vest. “You sure do work fast ranger. Already got a nice vest out of it.”

Robert looks down as if he had forgotten what he was wearing. “Oh no, I didn’t make this. I’ve had this vest for a while. I um.. Gave the stumper that bit me to the ‘Pride’ as my gift.”

She looks a little surprised and asks “Your not a ranger, then who are you?”

“Well I’m training to be a ranger under Dragoon. He’s my Grandpa. My full name is Robert Rehcra. How can you tell I‘m not a ranger yet?”

Nikey places her hand on her chin for a moment, like she is thinking. “ umm……Plucky!” She jerks back and tenses up. But she looks around for a few second and starts to relax. After which, she steps forward and smiles while putting her hand out for a hand shack. “ Nice to meat you Plucky.”

“ Names Robert. But how dose everyone seem to know what Dragoon calls me.” They shake hands.

“ Oh sorry Robert. I just assumed it was your name now. You know how your family works. “ She pauses. “Dragoon tells stories around the campfire when he’s here. The ‘Pride’ has herd all about your family directly from Dragoon. I have heard your story countless times.”

“ My story? It’s not like there is much to tell about my family, especially me.”

“What are you talking about you’re a Rehcra. There is always the story of how you get your names. Dragoon’s is probably my favorite. But Plucky is good too. Plus everyone in your family goes to Shire Reeve Training Academy and a lot ya become Guardians.”

Robert doesn’t know how to respond. He practically never talks about his family or what they do, with well, any of them or anyone. He knows they are sort of famous but… ‘Dragoon must have been telling exaggerated stories.’

“Dragoon, I guess likes telling stories.”

Nikey gasps out a half laugh and for some reason young Rehcra becomes comfortable at that moment. He is no longer talking to a strange ‘Pagan’ girl but a new friend.

“Ain’t that true. But you wouldn’t know it by how we have to press him sometimes. He still won’t tell us about Iron Fire’s, I mean your dads death. He says stories like that take time to prepare but you know I think…..well he’s just not quite over his son’s death. Sorry if I … I didn’t mean to bring it up I just…… Sometimes. Ya know.”

Robert wonders if his stone face appearance had not been so rock solid. ‘Could she tell I still didn’t want to talk about it.’

“Nikey , its alright. It’s a little“…..’tack less’…“Strange that you brought it up but its strange when people avoid it too.”

Nikey looks around at the tents for a moment. “ Well we don’t have a cobbler here but if you find a pair I can do enough to make them fit.”

They walk around together looking and quickly find a pair of boots and moccasins. He tries them both on. The moccasins are slightly to big and way to thin for what he iss use to.. The boots are to tight but he hopes Nikey will be able to do something with them.

“ Hay, sir. How much you want for the boots?” A different man than the one Robert shouts at turns and asks

“What cha.. Got?”

Rehcra reaches for his money purse which is tucked in the back or his vest in a hidden pocket. But he stops. “ I …. well if it’s a good price I’ll go get my pack and see.”

“It’ll be fair enough a trade.” He has the man’s full attention now.

Nikey seems to be enjoying the conversation. “We’ll be right back thin.” She says. They walk away from there and Robert tells her “I left it at the butch.. Floyd’s.”.

“You were going to buy those boots straight out weren’t you. Didn’t Dragoon tell you anything about the ‘Pride‘.”

“We’ll not really . He tends to give me more general advise, like never carry more gold than the average person of the area makes in a week. He says something like “It’s better to work your way through it. So you can work your way through other things also.”.

“Yeah that sounds like him. He use to say all kinds of things like that when he was helping me train.”

“Train?”

“ For the Shire Reeve Academy’s qualifying test. I’ll be attending it this up coming term. I’m so excited. It’s only a month away. What’s it like there?”

“What… Oh I’ve never been there.”

They arrive at Floyd’s tent and Robert finds the packs right where he left them although it looks like Floyd must have cleaned them up a bit. ‘No wonder why they have him check the food, He sure is thorough‘ The table also looks to be wiped down.

Nikey goes over to the tent’s opening and says. “ Hi Floyd. The Rehcra boy just came by to get his packs. Have you used any of my kills yet?”

“ Yes, yes. You’ve got ten more credits but it doesn’t mean you’ll be able to go hunting any time soon. The ‘Pride’ still has plenty. The best huntress of the village is just going to have to wait.”

“ Thanks anyways. Bye.”

Robert puts Dragoon’s pack on his back and rummaged through his as they walked back to the shopping area. He is surprised and distracted by what he finds. No clothes. Two sharpening stones. A Long piece of wire. A small jar of inc.

“So are you going to be starting at the Academy this up coming term too.”

No pen or paper. His bow and quiver of course. Seven arrows. A towel.

“ No, I failed the test.

“ Oh so did I at first. They didn’t want to let me in because I’m a ‘Pagan’ and can’t do magic. But Dragoon was persistent. I just re-took it and they let me go and at a reasonable price.” She keeps on talking but Robert isn’t listening.

His water bottle. A thick blanket. One of grandpa’s wooden goblets. A Candle. And a Bar of soap.

“ I heard you can take it up to three times.”

“ I did.”

“ Oh…. Oh crap!”

“What?” Robert remerges back into the conversation and is fully aware of what they have been talking about. ‘I can’t believe I just told her that. And what kind of reaction is that?’ Nikey starts walking behind Robert and bends down, she seems to be trying to make herself as small as possible.

“What in Blue Devils are you doing Nikey”

“Be quiet. There’s a blue devil headed our way now. I don’t want him to see me.”

Robert looks around ,the sun iss about to start setting, and he sees a large fury pagan carrying a spear heading straight for them. His mane is more dominate than normal.

“Is that your dad?”

“No its just a jerk who seems to have taken a fancy to me. Great he saw me.”

The Pagan walks right up to Nikey and stabs his spear into the ground. Too close. He is inches away staring at her. When he speaks it is as deep as an ocean.

“Hello my Nikey. Have you decided to accept my advances yet. I am utterly the catch of the Pride.” he says with unmistakable arrogance.

“ Umm… I ‘m to young for you.” She says as she shifts uncomfortably from side to side.

“ That’s drivel. You are of marriageable age. And I’m no old man at 23.”

“ You know I am going to ‘Shire Reeve Training Academy‘.”

“And you should know I am the most likely person to become chief of the Pride.”

“ Listen.” He places both of his massively oversized hands on her shoulders. “If you will only try. I know I can’t convince you to stay. Hell, that’s why I like you. Its for the good of the village anyways. But. If you give it a shot, I could at least wait for you to return. There are no other suitable women here but I can have the best if it comes to that.”

She is looking from side to side the hole time he is talking. No matter how hard he tries she will not look him in the eyes. Nikey shakes her shoulders and struggles to get away.

“Pyrrhic get your hands off me.”

“Nikey be reasonable.” He grips her tighter and stops her from struggling the best he can.

“ She said get your hands off her!” Robert moves forward and tries to move one of Pyrrhic’s arms off of Nickey’s shoulder. The arm barely moves but Pyrrhic defiantly notices.

“ You got a problem boy.”

“Well, you still have your hands on her.”

“What are you going to do about it. Little boy.” Pyrrhic removes one of his hands from her shoulder and grips Roberts shirt. Nikey moves like water and flows gently out of Pyrrhic’s other hand. She quickly moves to the side of Robert Rehcra.

“ You might be big but.. There are two of us.” Pyrrhic turnes to directly face him. He towers over Robert. It is a most intimidating site. But… Young Rehcra shows no signs of fear.

“ I’d be careful if I was you Pyrrhic. He’s a Rehcra.” Pyrrhic Turns to look at her for a moment but then, shaking with rage, turns back to Robert.

Pyrrhic lets out an ear exploding amplified Roar. It is full of both anger and power. The roar shakes the ground. Pagans in all directions start watching. Robert still shows no signs of fear.

In fact he is glad he hadn’t started laughing. Robert is still new to the hole cat costume thing. To him it feels to much like a man acting like a lion. A full grown man playing dress up. Had he been more use to it or known more about the Pagans warrior outfits he probably would have been scared. Yet, the situation just becomes funnier instead of more intimidating.

Pyrrhic stares at him for a moment and lets go of his shirt. “Plucky….. We. Don’t. Much care for you medaling Guardian types around here. So, I suggest in the future you stay out of my way.” He turns to Nikey.

“ Just think about it.”

“ He’s not training to be a guardian. He’s training to be a ranger.”

“ The Rehcras are all the same.” Pyrrhic rips his spear out of the ground causing a clod of dirt to fly into the air. He storms off in the direction he had came from.

“Well I see that you didn’t get your name for nothing. But that was right stupid of you.”

“He had his hands all over you.”

“Well thanks and all but in truth, I can take care of my self. If it came to it I could of walloped him one good. But standing up to his challenge.”

“ Challenge?”

They arrived at the tent with the boots and moccasins. The Pagan man is still waiting for them. He looks completely content as he sees them approach.

“So what do you want to trade for these fine boots I’ve got here?”

“Well I haven’t got much but…”Robert bends down and places the sharpening stones, bar of soap, wire and jar of inc on the blanket.

“ Do you want any of that.”

“No. well I could use a sharpening stone and maybe the wire but those boots are worth more en that.”

“Oh,” Robert is clearly not very proficient at this so Nikey decides to help.

“ Those boots don’t look that nice to me. They’re used.” Nikey says it with a false politeness.

“They’re practically new, Nickey.” The Pagan responded with the same amount of fake politeness in his voice.

“I don’t really care what they look like. I just need a pair of shoes.”

“They’re not worth any more than those moccasins.” Nickey is now taking control of the trade.

“ They’re worth at least three times as much as the moccasins.”

“ Well fine then, will you trade for all of his things then?”

“Through in the water bottle and I guess I’ll do it.” He looks back at Robert with a large grin on his face.

“ You promised the boy a fair deal.” Robert is annoyed to hear her call him a boy but says nothing. Nikey looks at Robert and must have noticed. ”Every thing you told the young man is true?”

“It’s a fair deal. Yes… I spoke only the truth.” Both of them look at her with confused faces.

“Robert, you should take the moccasins then. They’re only a third the value.”

“ But the moccasins are to thin.”

“I can add you some padding if you like. Deal?”

“Ok.. but.” Nikey cut him off “Deal.” She bends down and picks up a sharpening stone and the bar of soap. She then hands the man the sharpening stone.

“ I believe that I said the sharpening stone and wire.”

“Oh, yeah but I want the soap and you still owe the Pride credits. I’ve got plenty with Floyd so just go tell him.”

“You know, if I didn’t know any better I would say you had this planned. But I wouldn’t mind paying off my debt.” He Slowly regains his smile and looks up at the clear sky.” It’s about time for the fire you kids better get running along.”

Nikey takes the moccasins and tells Robert they will be ready tomorrow. As they part ways the sun casts the last of the orange sunset across the clear sky. Robert slowly walks back to the center tent.