Drake-lings

The four Behemoth hunters enter the small room, it's poorly decorated with only a cheap looking desk, an even cheaper looking filing cabinet and a small bookcase, not really what one would expect from the mayor's office.

Arc comes forward since he joined the group a few years ago, he has been the one dealing with clients, at least those you aren't nobles. People often consider that only a lunatic would choose to become a hunter and Arc found that using a brash and sassy attitude to fit the image made it easier to obtain good terms.

Arc walk toward the small man with a scornful look on his face while the others take a sit. Afraid, the mayor cannot stop himself from gulp before addressing the tall lean man.

- Thank you for coming, it's already been two weeks since we sent for help, we were getting really desperate. (mayor)

- Don't sweat it, we weren't far that's all. Now, why don't you tell us what it is about instead? (Arc)

- Drake-lings, they... (mayor)

- Are you messing with me, you called use there for some bloody drake-lings? That's militia's job, have them deal with it! (Arc)

- There are hundreds of them! They're everywhere! (mayor)

- Then that's army's job, what do you think we are, pest exterminators?! (Arc)

- Wait a minute Arc, why don't you calm down an instant and think for a change. (Dalene)

- WHAT?! Sorry, what do you mean? (Arc)

- Why are there so many? (Dalene)

- Don't know, over breeding, famine, forest fire, whatever, who cares? (Arc)

Chris and Dalene shake their head while Belina let a long sigh.

- There are simply too many of them. The packs should be killing each other by now or trying to overrun this place. There are only two things that can incite a pack to prudence, fire, and behemoths. (Dalene)

- Now, a forest fire is not exactly discrete, at least not one capable of driving this many packs away, do you remember seeing a giant plume of fire lately? (Chris)

- Oh, right, that's... Hey, did you send scouts? (Arc)

- Impossible, I can't give an order like that with all those drake-lings. (Mayor)

- Damn, that's what full armor are for! (Arc)

- Well, assuming there really is a behemoth, the drake-ling won't trouble you for long. (Belina)

- [snickering]Talk about meager consolation. Alright, I am willing to take the job, but you pay us for time spent, even if nothing comes up. Okay? (Arc)

- Absolutely, but only if you hunt the drake-lings near the fields. (Mayor)

- Seem reasonable, what do you say guys? (Arc)

- I don't like how we are going blind into this. I am against the idea, for all we know we could have a whole family of behemoth knocking at the door tomorrow. (Belina)

- I agree with Bel on this, but we can't go losing another frontier village. Seen the price of food lately? (Dalene)

- The walls are serviceable, I saw some decent ballistas and catapult. Seems defensible, I am sure that if whatever it is was to come tomorrow we could still repulse it. (Chris)

- Three out of four! You're in the luck, the Quickhatches are willing to take the job. (Arc)

Belina grumble

- We will need some helpers to set our equipment, and I will need someone to show me where the pits and traps are. (Belina)

- There are a few apprentice craftsmen and some youth from the militia who can help. But everyone's else too afraid to go anywhere near the forest. (Mayor)

- Either they help or we go, simple as that. (Belina)

- I will talk to them. (Mayor)

- Tell them we will protect them, as long they don't screw up and run away at first sight of a drake-ling's tail they should be safe. (Belina)

Belina is the group engineer and the oldest member, her no-nonsense attitude coupled with her sharp gaze often cause those around her to act all meek and bothered, like kids facing their teacher. The one receiving the end of her ire is currently directed at two militia-men who are giving them a tour of the facilities.

-What do you mean there's no pit? It's a damn frontier town, how can there be not pits?! (Belina)

- We were clearing the forest and expanding the field when a family of Petodon attacked, we did not have time to dig new pits, then the resident hunter got promoted for their kills and left. We didn't know where to put the new pits and... (Militia-man)

- You did not know?! Anywhere is better than nowhere morons! (Belina)

- I am starting to think it wasn't such a good idea, what about you Dalene? (Chris)

- It is like setting a new village, we did that in the past. (Dalene)

- [Mockingly]Yeah, with the help of the army and dozen of hunter teams. Really, what could go wrong? (Belina)

Dalene think for a moment then say:

- It does not change the situation much, the city is defensible and... Well, we cannot let it fall, too many frontiers villages and cities have been lost recently. Why? Because neither the army nor hunters want to take a damn risk! My position doesn't change, I want us to stay. What about you Bel? (Dalene)

- I think we are all going to die, but whatever still beats starving to death. (Belina)

Chris look at each of them in turn, then kick Arc's leg making him fall.

- Hear that Arc, I am not going in the forest to die, if anything happens, I am running back here and leaving you behind. Understood?! (Chris)

Being the youngest and having only been in the group for three years Arc is often put through some small abuse like this to remind him that in this job, there are no second chances.

- Alright, alright... You didn't have to kick me you know? (Arc)

The forest is dark, hot and humid with ancient enormous trees and lianas falling from the incredibly thick bough and limbs. Although the tree density is low, the ground is littered with dead leaves, vines and all sorts of plants. Arc and Chris are both wearing a full set of metal reinforced leather armor, covering them from head to toe, a necessary precaution when dealing with a new environment where anything can toxic or poisonous.

- I've got an idea, can't we just burn the bloody forest and be done with it? They said the intended on expanding their fields after all. (Arc)

- Burn this humid forest with five meters wide trees? Not a bad idea, I am sure it will work like a charm if you stay behind blow on the fire. (Chris)

- You think so too? (Arc)

- Shut up, do you hear that? (Chris)

- Drake-lings? And something else... Want to get closer? (Arc)

- I don't, but I will. (Arc)

Both hunters walk slowly, careful to make as little noise as possible while readying their bows. As they get clearer, the sound become clearer and easier to identify.

Chris whisper:

- Bears? (Chris)

- Ya, I think so too... But, what a voice. (Arc)

Arc point his finger to the sky and Belina nod in acquiescence. both of them climb up the nearest trees with any ease hard to imagine for someone wearing full armor, reinforced leather or otherwise. From their higher position, they move from branch to branch watching their surrounding until they find what they were looking for.

Down on the ground, thirty or so meters away, two gigantic dark bears are facing dozens of drake-lings, protecting two smaller bears already red in blood. While each of their attacks spells the end for one or more drake-lings, it also exposes them to the bites of their brethren, who attack from all side. There is little doubt that it is a desperate battle, one they have no chance of winning, it is literally their last stand.

Arc make signs, signaling Belina he wants to go, but Belina disagrees, there is nothing to gain by intervening now, better to wait until one side crush the other and deal with the other. Seeing her refusal, Arc draws nearer and whisper to her:

- Come on, we have to do something. (Arc)

- We will, as soon as they are finished I will throw a burning gel flask on the corpses. (Chris)

- What about the cubs? You are going to let them die, just like that? (Arc)

Chris looks Arc in the eye, unable to understand his point.

- Obviously, we wait till the drake-lings win then deprive them of their prize, standard tactic. (Chris)

- But, they belong to this place, they are part of its ecology. (Arc)

- First, I don't care. Second, don't repeat Dalene words when you don't understand them. Third, you wanted to burn down the damn place! (Chris)

- Ah... (Arc)

But things do not go as Belina predicted, more Drake-lings come to join the fray attracted by the smell of blood and their brethren cries, fighting each other and the Bears. For the four animals, it seems like the end is near, but it the fight attracted something else, something enormous, a bear so enormous it towers over the two adults just like they dwarf their young. With a quick movement unimaginable for its size, it crushes many of the attackers.

Seeing the newcomer as the greatest threat, the small invaders immediately stop their quarrels to target the giant, jumping on it from all side, bitting it with their small pointy teeth... Too small to inflict any real damage on the newcomer, but with this many of them, things might still work out in their favor.

That is until the other bears arrive and the drake-lings run in the wood, weary and defeated. Seeing the scene Arc show a smile and say:

- Isn't it good that the forest is doing our job for us? (Arc)

- I don't see what is nice about having an army of giant social bears. This job is more trouble than it is worth, between the lizards and those things trapping the forest is going to be hell. (Chris)

- Damn, I forgot about that. (Arc)

- Yeah, I know, color me surprised. (Chris)