“That’s-”

  “Shssss.” Civ shushed Luk’s mouth for speaking more.

  He whispered. “Do not move yet.”

  They glued themselves in their position like a statue. Trying to avoid making a sound.

  Looking at these mohawk boars, they were leisurely sleeping lying down in the grass. Moving their tails up and down to fend off insects.

  ‘How did it happen?’ Civ was baffled that these boars are still there. Safi was sure that there were no boars earlier.

  Instead of thinking deeply about it right now. They need to leave the vicinity as quietly as possible.

  Civ whispered. “Let's walk slowly. One step at a time.”

  The group stealthily walks like a ’90s cartoon. Their knees lift above their chest, and they step in a calculating manner. Every step, stop for a moment, looking back at the area where the boar is.

  After 10 or more steps, the illusion was revealed. Because as they step further. The location where the boars were lying down is hidden by the trees and tall grass in that area.

  A cold air runs down their spine.

  They realized that they were lucky that the boars were sleeping earlier. Or else they will be attacked from the back without them knowing.

  The stealth walking continued until they were 10 meters away. However, one of the boars was already awake. Walked into the path they were walking and spotted them.

  When they looked back, the boar noticed them.

  RRRRREEEEEEEE

  “Run!” Civ screamed.

  Luk and Safi ran as fast as they could. But Safi is unable to keep up with Luk’s speed.

  Civ expected this scenario since the last recruitment evaluation.

  He slowed down and picked Safi up like a log. He carried her over his shoulder, facing her to the back.

  “Safi let me know if they are near,” Civ shouted.

  “Yes!” Safi answered, catching her breath.

  “Luk! We need to slow down a bit. Let's drag this boar back to the camp.” Civ instructed Luk.

  Understanding the idea Civ is thinking. He did not answer, but he slowed down. Matching Civ’s pace.

  The run continued. Safi was quite nervous as she saw the rabid boars chasing them. They looked at Safi like captured prey, waiting to be eaten. These boars ran faster. Tailing them around 2 meters away.

  “Civ! They are getting faster!” Safi altered Civ.

  “Got it! Luk ran faster!” Civ relayed to Luk.

  They ran faster. However, the boars are still able to catch them within a short distance.

  Safi alerted Civ again.

  ‘What? Are they hungry that much?’ Civ wants to look behind to see these boars. But they need to focus on running.

  The boars did not stop chasing. A couple of minutes later, they were able to get a glimpse of the wall. But Luk starts slowing down due to fatigue.

  “Luk. Just a little bit. We are near the wall now!” Civ encouraged Luk.

  Hearing Civ, Luk’s thoughtless running awakened him. Even though his side abdomen starts hurting, he clenched his teeth for another step, and step, and step.

  The aching starts blurring his vision.

  “Luk!Luk!” A Hazy sound calling his name. It feels like everything is slowed down.

  That’s when he realized that the Chosen One is the one calling his name. He bit his lip and ran for his life. Then he saw the ladder and quickly climbed up it and jumped. He rolled and lay down.

  HEUUH

  HEUUH

  hEuhh

  Luk fainted on the ground.

  Their tribesmen lifted Luk and brought him to the Shaman.

  On the other hand. Civ has Safi climb first.

  The boars were still adamant about following them.

  He prepared his spear.

  The three mohawk boars were running now side by side.

  “HOLD!” Civ shouted.

  They wait as the boars get near the piled leaves. Then -

  HUK

  HUK

  The two boars were impaled in the barricades, and the last boar was running straight to Civ. It follows the path Civ took. But when it gets passed on the half of the barricades.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “NOW!” Civ and the rest threw their spears at the boar. All of them are confirmed hits.

  With the momentum, the boar ran a couple of steps. Then slides to the feet of Civ.

  All three boars were killed.

  Civ's knees soften and splat to the ground.

  HEUUH

  HEUUH

  HEUUH

  All of the ache started to feel when he relaxed.

  “Whew! We need more endurance.” Civ talked to himself. They ran for almost 30 minutes non-stop and at their top speed. Without proper training, most people with get this kind of side effect running that long.

  ‘I need more training.’ Civ rested his forearm above his knees as he leaned toward the ladder.

  The Arsh and Horm climbed down the ladder and dealt a final blow to the boars. Kivrah and Pil helped Civ get up. Then they assisted him in walking around the wall and went inside the camp.

  Civ requested to rest in the middle of the camp. Pil and Kivrah followed and let him sit on one of the spaces in the campfire.

  Vel hurriedly brought the jar and handed it to Civ. He gulped 5 mouthfuls of water.

  He wiped his mouth, feeling recovered. “Where are Safi and Luk?” Civ asked.

  “I’m here.” Safi raised her hand. He saw her sitting on the left side of the campfire.

  “Luk was carried to the Shaman. But the Shaman said he is fine. Just a bit from his lips.” Safi continued.

  Civ felt relieved.

  ‘That guy. Tsk’ Civ shook his head.

  ‘I can carry them both, but that guy really ran until he arrived at the camp.’. Even though it was reckless, Civ still gave Luk respect. He did not rely on Civ and made it safely.

  Civ was able to rest, and his body is relaxed now. He looked at his Father.

  A worried look was replaced by a faint smile from his Father.

  “Tell me Son, what happened?” Kivrah slowly asked Civ.

  Civ took a deep breath and started narrating the full sequence of what happened.

  Kivrah and the hunting team pondered what had happened. Safi’s reaction was obvious, and guilt was written all over her face.

  ‘Why did I not hear the boars there?’ Safi was about to cry.

  “Safi. Lift your head up.” A commanding voice called her. When she looked, it was Civ.

  Civ saw a teary-eyed Safi, and he smiled. “Do not feel bad about what happened earlier. You did great and were able to walk there safely, thanks to you.”

  Civ was right. Other boars were wandering around the area. They were able to avoid it thanks to her superior hearing.

  Safi wiped her tears. She smiled and nodded.

  “We need to know how we can avoid this next time. I want you to check with Safi how she can hear the animals from a mile away.” Kivrah commanded Civ.

  “As you command Tribe leader.” Civ slightly bowed.

  Arsh raised a question. “About the tunnel. Don’t you think it will be broken?”

  Everyone looked at Civ.

  “For that, we need to wait and see.” Right now, the only thing they need to do is focus on improving the camp. The missing boar might be a scout for that sounder. If they have high intelligence, there will be more boars that will appear sooner.

  Kivrah instructed the hunting group to help the crafting team and firewood team for now. Since scouting and hunting are not needed. The group followed the command and went on their own preferred tasks.

  As for Arsh, she went to Vel to ask him to teach her pottery. Originally, she wanted to learn it from Civ. But looking at the guy, it seems there is another project he is planning to do.

  Horm followed Civ at the campfire near the cave.

  Seeing the holes were made and the wood was cut, he immediately went to work.

  He asked some of their tribesmen to help him and place the four posts. They were able to place it in the whole. Looking at the four posts. Civ scuffed.

  ‘It seems I bite more than I can chew.’ Civ laughed at himself.

  What he imagined earlier was a simple structure that could be done within a day. But looking at what is missing and needed to prepare, they need a day or more to make it. He will also need the help of his tribemen.

  Civ thanks Horm and the rest. The crowd left and helped others. Leaving Civ and some of their tribesmen stoking the fire.

  The night came, and everyone took their time to make a smoker. They patiently smoked the meat.

  When Kivrah arrived at the campfire, he was puzzled. “Civ, why are these logs placed here? What are you planning?”

  Civ wants to answer Kivrah, but he is not confident yet. “Sorry Father, but I can’t tell you yet. I’m still thinking about what to do with these.”

  Kivrah let it slide and sat next to the post. He leaned into it and felt comfort. For now, they can lean on this log. Even Civ is leaning on one of the posts.

  Civ called his Father. “I want to ask you something Father.”

  “Tell me son.” Kivrah was all ears.

  “The Shaman Mashu’s prayers and ritual, can I learn it?” Civ curiously asked.

  Kivrah paused for a second, and he also realized.

  “Yeah, can we learn it?” Kivrah went into deep thinking.

  The tribe leaders of the past did not say anything about it either. But why did they not mention or talk about it? Since he can’t answer this question, he came up with a solution.

  “Tomorrow, let’s ask Shaman Mashu.” Kivrah wants to know this also.

  After that, Civ and Kivrah talked about some of the things needed to adjust with the hunting group. The group needs to be stronger overall. In summary, all of the suggestions were approved. Both Civ and Kivrah’s suggestions.

  Horm just arrived as he helped make the smokers. Then, the conversation wandered about the expedition again. It entertained the crowd until the crowd fell asleep.

  Civ looked at the sky again, memorizing the constellation until he fell asleep also.

  The next day, Civ wakes up early. Today is the first morning of exercise with the group. For this to happen, he wakes up Luk. Arsh was already up. Doing some maintenance on the knives that were used last night.

  “Good morning Arsh.” Civ smiled.

  “Goo- Huh? What do you mean?” Arsh was confused.

  “Sorry, I mean it’s good that we can witness the Sun Goddess waking up.” Civ reverted the question and looked to the east. The sun was starting to paint the sky with its sunlight.

  Arsh brushed it off and did not reply to Civ.

  “Hey Arsh, do that later. Let’s wake up the rest of the hunting group.” Civ asked.

  Arsh did not question it and started waking them up. Including Luk.

  When the group convened at the back of the cave, Horm's face was beaten again. Arsh was berating him early in the morning because of how hard to wake up Horm.

  Civ wants to laugh at Horm, but he keeps it in his mind.

  When Kivrah arrived, everyone stood up straight. Waiting for their tribe leaders' instruction.

  He stood up facing the group. Next to Civ. “Thank you for waking up early today. My Son and I had a talk last night. What we agreed on is to improve all of your weaknesses.”

  “But how do we know what the weaknesses are?” Horm asked.

  Kivrah looked at Civ. Civ nodded and faced the crowd. “I will show you, and you need to follow.”

  Everyone agreed to follow.

  What they did was basic exercises.

  Running, pushups, and situps. They take a 5 to 10-minute break and then move on to the next exercise.

  The cycle of the exercise for the next two hours before sunrise.

  After two hours, everyone felt tired at the start of the morning. Except for Luk. Experiencing the pain and exhaustion yesterday, it was nothing compared to this.

  “This will be our early morning task every morning. If someone will not participate in the exercise, they will not be given dried meat.” Kivrah revealed to them with a sinister smile.

  Everyone groaned in pain. But unfortunately, they cannot escape this morning routine now.

  While the rest were still in pain and sad. Civ appeared, holding some items, and behind him was Vel.

  They are holding some small, long sticks, and the tendons that were dried