Proofreader: Kagenesti

Chapter 11 - Bitter taste

Asperd Isle - winter, Herbalist's Hut, Riin’s POV.

You have killed a [Timber Wolf]! You have gained 50 experience points!

You have killed a [Young Timber Wolf]! You have gained 50 experience points!

You have killed a [Timber Wolf]! You have gained 50 experience points!

You have killed a [Timber Wolf]! You have gained 50 experience points!

You have killed a [Timber Wolf]! You have gained 50 experience points!

You have killed a [Young Timber Wolf]! You have gained 50 experience points!

You have killed a [Timber Wolf]! You have gained 50 experience points!

For two weeks, for two fucking weeks I have been tracking the wolves down one by one and killing them yet I feel no joy over my kills for I have yet to find the [Dire Timber Wolf] that was the one leading the pack, at least according to mothers short tale of the whole encounter.

Nothing goes on in my head other than tracking them down and ending them all, any method will do, any weapon, any trap. The means does not matter anymore as long as I get every single one of those darn mutts, If I find their den, I will burn it to the ground and watch them suffer.

I know from mother that twelve wolves were participating in the attack on them and only the use of mothers foul scented herbs saved them from being eaten. Only my small body is holding me back, I need to become stronger faster, I'm too weak as it is now.

For the past months, mother have been caring for father, who has since the attack on them been in a very bad shape, his right arm is torn apart, leaving it barely functional and of no use at all for hunting or bow crafting. His chest had been clawed open. He has been with high fever even with mothers herbs helping out the healing process and fighting the fever. He has for the past night been mumbling incoherently into the night.

Mother is in no better shape, while she looked better than father when they first came back to the house, her back is torn open from claws and a big bite imprint is on her shoulder, I had to help her bandage up her whole back and cleaning the wounds. Still in that state she tends to father on his sick bed not getting any real rest, watching over him day and night.

Raval’s POV

A year he has been all grumpy staring out into the woods whenever either Elisa or I went to go outside. Now we are sitting by the shed looking into the forest, his eyes doesn't move from the treeline, watchful as they have been for the past year. I sigh, really the boy is wasting his time, enough is enough.

“Boy”

His eyes move quickly to me and then return to watch the forest. Well, at least I got his attention.

“You are wasting your time, boy.”

The corner of his eye make a small twist and his hands are now curled into fists.

“You can stop looking for them, they have left for the north again. The only thing that brought them this far down south was the heavy snow. So you can stop now, boy. Even your mother knows of your nightly outings, she worries, you know, blaming herself for letting you see us like that.”

His head twisted towards me so quickly it's surprising that it doesn't hurt him, a scowl is covering his face. His mouths open to say something, but we are interrupted by Elisa’s calling from the kitchen with the promise of dinner. We both get up, before heading inside I grab his shoulder, he tenses up under my hand.

“Oh, and before I forget, boy. No more wolf hunting in the night, you're too young to be running around in the forest at night.”

His body tenses as I speak.

“How long?”

His voice is tense as he lets the words pass his lips as if he fears what will happen now, it breaks me inside that he fears that we will hurt him. We have no idea why or how he feels that we will hurt him. Elisa is broken over it.

“Hmm, for your mother, she has only known for a few days. As for me, I think a two weeks time.”

“I see”

His voice sounds off, but I can't place it.

I think he needs to use that heads of his on something else then hating on the wolves for being wolves. He might want to learn [Bowery] from me…. Hmm.

“Boy, how about you learn [Bowyer]?”

He stops in his tracks, blocking the front door.

“Yes, father. I would like that very much!”

He looks at me with an excited look in his eyes and his voice sounds so childlike. He gives me a bright smile.

“Well then, I know what we will be during from tomorrow on.”

“Yes!”

Riin’s POV

I’ve been forced to take a break with hunting down those dammed wolves, was it not for my mother and fathers eyes on me when night falls I would had followed them to the north even if it meant leaving them alone, “revenge must always be paid in full” as the saying goes, well my dear ‘old’ fathers did at least.

Father offered to teach me [Bowyer], I know they just want to take my mind of the hunt, not that they will succeed but I will play along for now, be the sweet child… for now, but I will never forget what the wolfs of the north have done, revenge shall be mine.

So my seventh year in this life, I have become an apprentice of a bow maker or a [Bowery] as the craft is called. My old master used to say that knowing how to handle a weapon is good, knowing how to both craft and handle is better, I took those words to hearth since I whole agree with them.

So here begin my lessons of becoming a [Bowyer]!