Chapter 52: The Hunter’s Invitation
With the powerful Bear God buff still surging through their veins, Kellar and Mila easily dragged the body of the terror bird all the way back to the village. Powered by the blessing, their bodies barely felt the strain of hauling the giant beast across the snow.
As they crossed the settlement entrance, the crowd gathered once again, awestruck. This time, however, even Krag—the respected and veteran leader of the hunting party—couldn’t help but stop and stare, feeling a surge of genuine surprise.
Damn, this brat is actually good, Krag thought to himself, evaluating the kill with expert eyes.
The average villager might not recognize the creature, but how could he not know it? It was a terror bird, an unrelenting and highly dangerous beast. Krag frowned in private, deeply puzzled. Where the hell did this come from? These things shouldn’t be anywhere near our settlement... Looks like I’ll have to scout the area with the boys.
Waiting for Kellar to drop the bird’s carcass near the center of the village, Krag stepped through the crowd and walked over to him.
"That was a good hunt," said Krag, looking straight at Kellar. "I don’t know how you managed it, but these beasts have caused many casualties among our brothers in the past. You did well."
Krag paused briefly, eyeing the red-haired youth with a mix of respect and seriousness.
"I want you to come with us tomorrow," said Krag. "We’re heading out to hunt. It’ll be the final hunt of the winter to bring back food for everyone, and I think you’ve earned your place. Normally, we don’t bring newly awakened ones along for their own safety, but I think you deserve it. Tomorrow, before the horn sounds, be at the bear totem. That’s where we set off."
Without waiting for a response, Krag turned on his heel and walked away with firm strides, making it clear that his invitation wasn’t a suggestion, but an order earned through blood and respect.
As soon as the hunting leader created some distance, the crowd surged forward, surrounding Kellar and Mila. The hushed whispers of awe quickly transformed into cheers and open praise for the young hunter.
"Look at the size of those legs! We’ll have plenty of meat and warm clothes for the rest of the winter!" shouted one of the tribesmen, slapping Kellar enthusiastically on the back.
"To think that just yesterday he was just a skinny kid... The Bear God has truly set his eyes on him!" exclaimed an older woman, looking at the colossal kill with devotion.
"You’re a true warrior, Kellar! Taking down a terror bird is no child’s play!" added another hunter, nodding with respect.
Beside him, Mila puffed out her chest with immense pride, soaking in every word directed at her man.
However, in a shadowed corner between the tents at the back of the yard, Tor stood watching the scene. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned stark white, and his bloodshot eyes glared at Kellar with pure, unadulterated hatred.
"Damned little brat..." Tor muttered under his breath, his voice trembling with suppressed rage. "He’s taking everything... My credit, my achievements, the respect of the tribe... All of that should be mine!"
A nearby hunter, hearing him mumble, approached Tor without noticing the venom dripping from his words.
"Damn, Tor, looks like the new guy is already catching up to your pace," the man commented with a casual laugh. "At this rate, during tomorrow’s big hunt, he’s gonna teach all of you a thing or two."
Tor slowly turned his head, locking a glare so murderous on the man that the smile vanished from the hunter’s face instantly, causing him to take a step back.
"Teach me?" Tor spat in a sinister, envy-laced whisper. "Let him enjoy his minutes of glory. Tomorrow out there in the deep snow, we’ll see what that bastard is really made of when the real monsters attack..."
Tor wasn’t just furious about the recognition Kellar was receiving; he also saw how his own plans for the following morning had taken an unexpected turn.
For tomorrow’s big hunt, the tribe was going to split into two groups. Tor had already been invited to join the second team. Although his grandfather was no longer an active hunter, his uncle still was, and he was actively vying for the position of leader of the main hunting party. His uncle planned to bring Tor along on this expedition so he could start learning the ropes, build experience, and pave his way for the future.
Tor’s family had complete confidence that the young man was destined to become the clan’s future leader. That was why, despite Kellar shining far too brightly over the past few days, they relied on hard hunting experience to forge Tor well above anyone else.
However, what they never expected was for Krag to step right into their path. By personally inviting Kellar to the main hunting group, the veteran leader had abruptly disrupted Tor’s family’s plans, placing the newcomer onto an even higher stage of prestige.
"We’ll see who comes back with the better kill tomorrow, bastard," Tor whispered, grit his teeth as he turned on his heel and melted into the shadows between the tents.
A robust man with a stern gaze approached Tor from behind, heavy hand resting on his shoulder. It was his uncle, who had been quietly watching the scene unfold.
"Let’s go," said Tor’s uncle in a firm, low voice. "We’ll prove who the real hunter is with actions, not words."
Tor nodded, clenching his jaw, as both of them walked away with heavy steps toward their tents.
Meanwhile, in the center of the village, Kellar raised his hands to quiet the cheering crowd.
"Thank you, everyone!" shouted Kellar with a genuine smile. "In a little bit, we’ll start handing out the food. You can start coming over to get some. This bird isn’t very fleshy, but I’ll give out as much as I can."
Hearing his words, the villagers erupted into shouts of joy and celebration. Cheers broke out even louder as people began lining up to get their share.
In the distance, Tor heard the celebrations echoing behind him, feeling the rage and resentment burn even hotter in his chest.