《The Huntress and the Demon》Chapter 9: Nightly talk

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The night was pitch black, only the embers of their campfire provided the three some light.

Surrounded by that absolute darkness, not knowing what was lurking, Arick was having trouble keeping his calm, so instead he decided to distract himself.

"Where did the huntress go off to this time?" he asked.

"Jyl? She probably found herself a place to sleep near the outside of the camp", responded Aiden, "She dislikes having her vision obscured by the fire."

"It seems I acquired quite the peculiar subordinate", Arick chuckled.

Her skills were undeniable. However, he was unsure whether she would be able to fit in once they returned to Black Mountain. From what he'd seen, the way of life of his city compared to their village was just so incredibly different.

"That reminds me. What did you mean when you said 'he will have to deal with her from now on'?"

Aiden grinned mischievously.

"Exactly what it sounds like. Jyl is very independent, and at times ridiculously stubborn. You must have noticed by now, she always tends to do her own thing. It takes some getting used to."

"She is generally well liked around the village," Evelyn added, it was only the second time Arick had heard her speak, "but some people tend to have issues with her personality."

"Similarly, there are also certain people she absolutely can't stand", he chuckled, "Though, you should be able to get along with her just fine."

"Why do you think so?"

"Trust me, you would have noticed. Plus, otherwise she would have never agreed to make this deal with you."

"You know her well."

"We've often hunted together. You need to be able to entrust your back to each other in those types of situations."

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His voice was filled with confidence, as if it was a matter of fact. What kind of experiences had they gone through? Arick could only guess. Though, from what he could tell after spending a day in the Great Forest, this was not an easy place to live. A snake that made an experienced warrior like Cecile pale, they considered easy prey. It wasn't even considered a dangerous encounter, though it was still the edge of the Forest.

"In a way, her beast name is perfect for her", he continued.

"The grey wolf?" Arick asked.

"A very dangerous beast." Aiden nodded. "Killing one on her first hunt earned her a lot of admiration.

Most wolf species hunt in packs, but grey wolves are lone hunters. They use stealth to sneak up on their prey before launching a devastating attack on vital spots. Their senses are very sharp, it's pretty much impossible to approach one unnoticed, and they are also intelligent, able to avoid traps and find holes in tactics."

"And you're saying the huntress is similar to one of those?"

Evelyn was the one who responded. "The elders sometimes say one of the strange things of our village is how the hunters take on qualities of the beasts they hunt."

Her words caused Aiden to laugh.

"I'm pretty sure I know who those words came from."

It was quite the interesting statement, Arick thought. "Are they true?" he asked, eager to find out more.

"Perhaps", said Aiden, "For some more than others. A prime example would be Solon, who prefers the same habitat as the tree viper. Or Rina's speed, which she trained specifically to be able to hunt a thunderfox. Alcaeus resembles direwolves in his preference for groups..."

Evelyn snorted.

"And Evelyn here is just as tenacious as a horned lion, though a lot less social. In the end, you could definitely say that our beast names tell more about the hunter, but not everything."

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"In a way, that reminds me of what Garm preaches about: you can't judge someone while only knowing one aspect... Anyway, what I was wondering about. Why do you and your brother have the same beast name? Is it a coincidence or is it normal among family members?"

"I suppose it is a valid question. In our case, it has to do with family. You see, there are different ways to hunt certain types of beasts that are often passed down from parents to children. So in some families the parents will choose a beast that makes the best challenge to test the child's skills."

"And for you that beast is a direwolf?"

"Yes. Direwolves move in packs, so the challenge is to seclude one from the others. That is of course not the only way a beast name is decided. In Jyl's case, she hunted the most dangerous beast she could find that corresponded with her specific skillset. For Evelyn, the choice was made for her. A pride of horned lions attacked the village in the year she was supposed to have her first hunt.

Anyway, the hunting methods passed down are as varied as the beasts in the Forest, so each family tends to have their own traditions.

Though, you'll see that for yourself when we get to the village."

Aiden grinned knowingly.

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