Early morning. A small group of humanoid creatures walked through the snow-covered forest, each of which was wearing almost the same greenish armor.

“Zarim, I swear on your wife’s ass, if you break the formation even once, you won’t leave the village even a single step. - I heard the cold voice of a hunter walking in the center.

- Haha. Corvus, you're exaggerating too much. - Another man, dressed in almost the same armor, responded. “Give the guy a little frolic, after all, he went hunting with us for the first time.

“Hunting is the most important aspect in the survival of the village and we cannot take it lightly. The sooner and better the younger generation understands this, the closer we will be to prosperity.

With obvious reluctance, the young guy obeyed the leader of the group and took his place in the ranks.

The detachment consisted entirely of representatives of the forest people. These creatures differed very little from people, only small claws on their hands and feet were animalistic in them, and, of course, heightened perception. In terms of evolution, they even surpassed humans to some extent, since their physique was stronger and more adaptable, and their intellect was in no way inferior to a human one. Perhaps the reason for this was the specific living conditions, although it was impossible to know for sure.

There were only six of them in the group, they walked in a wedge, in the center of which was the only one of them who wore a hood, he was also their leader.

Corvus was the head of the hunters in his village, and now they were doing the most common thing - hunting, banal food and skins. Everything would be fine, but he had to constantly be distracted by a new member of the group, in whose veins young blood was still seething and who, by coincidence, was related to him.

After another catching up, the guy seemed to calm down, but for how long, Corvus unfortunately did not know. It was winter, which made the hunting process very difficult. The forest was not the safest place anyway, and even more so at this time of year. Many dangerous animals woke up from hibernation at this time, although at other times of the year there were plenty of reasons to give up their lives here.

But the forest dwellers have been living in these places for a very long time. Dozens, hundreds of generations changed before the forest became a home for them, in which they could feel like in their element.

Perhaps Corvus really was unnecessarily worried. If Zarim had not been ready, he would not have been released into the forest, but the seasoned hunter was always strict, both to the others and to himself, for which he enjoyed considerable respect in the village.

The group is now returning home. Everyone, except for the leader and another hunter, had several animal carcasses on their backs, of various sizes. Although winter was the most dangerous of the seasons, it also made it possible to stay on the hunt longer than usual. The temperature in the forest was very low, which allowed the bodies of animals to remain intact, which means that the need to return to the village after the capture of the next animal was partially eliminated.

Corvus planned to catch something else on the way back, but the current “catch” completely suited him. At some point, he realized that one of the hunters had stopped. Even without turning around, he knew that his hearing had not failed him.

Right now, Zarim was aiming at a small bird that was flying overhead at high speed. There was nothing wrong with that, but noticing what kind of bird it was, Corvus shuddered and, in one movement, shortening the distance, he hit the guy on the back of the head with force. The already strung arrow left the bow, but its trajectory went astray and it flew quite far from the bird.

- You little bastard! roared the angry hunter. “First open your eyes, then shoot!” It's a tildas! And heavenly too! Weren't you taught that this bird is a symbol of great luck!?

“Sorry, Uncle Corvus. I've never heard of them flying in the winter, so I thought my eyes were failing me.

Seeing the sincere regret in his nephew's eyes, the old hunter relented.

"HM. And he's right." Corvus raised his eyes to the sky, but the tildas had already disappeared. - "It's only the middle of winter, why did the tildas fly in so early ... Well, yes, the Goddess is with him."

- From now on, be more careful, besides, do not forget that you are not alone here, if you are not sure about something, ask the elders.

- Yes! The guy nodded seriously. Too loud according to Corvus, but the hunter was not going to scold his nephew for this either. They still came back.

The group continued to move forward. Almost immediately, one of the hunters walking next to him addressed the leader:

“Corvus, the boy is right, I have never seen a tildas in my life in these parts at this time of the year. I think this is a good sign.

- Yes. You are most likely right. - The old hunter boomed, once again looking at the sky, but the birds were gone.