Chapter 32 - Getting Closer! (1/2)

As Ark pondered, his stomach suddenly started to loudly grumble. Ark hadn't eaten in a couple of days to be completely honest. But there was just so much stuff going on that he couldn't find the time to think about food. As this loud rumble suddenly broke the silence, Thufrat burst out into laughter. Ark was a bit embarrassed, but he still stood up, and he was about to leave when he suddenly turned around and shot a glance at the dwarf.

”You're going to hunt right? Is it okay if I join you?”

As Thafrut said this, his stomach rumbled as well. Like it was making some sort of statement by doing so. Ark smiled a little as he nodded his head at the dwarf, it would be kind of awkward to just leave him here after all. As Thafrut saw this, he got up to leave as well. He didn't really feel like staying all alone inside of a tree with nothing better to do.

As they went about their hunting, the atmosphere was a little awkward at first, but they slowly grew more comfortable around each other. Thufrat didn't really know if he was supposed to speak or not, but since they were hunting, he decided against it, what if he scared away the prey after all? As they were on the hunt, Ark suddenly caught a whiff of blood. As soon as he felt it, he suddenly stopped for a second, and exaggerated a sniff, to show the dwarf that he had caught a scent.

”You find something?”

Ark just nodded his head as he started following the scent. Thafrut followed quietly behind him, as he controlled his breathing. Ark just did it naturally at this point, and he didn't activate his stealth skill, it did consume Mana after all, and he didn't really believe it to be necessary since it didn't matter if he used it right now. Because if Thafrut was found out, he would naturally be found out as well.

As they went on along their path, the scent got stronger, and they soon ended up alongside the same stream that was flowing outside of the tree. Drinking from the stream was a huge silver-grey boar. The boar had obviously been in a fierce battle, as it had a lot of bloody scars crisscrossing over its entire body. There was an arrow stuck in its left eye, and it didn't seem to be far from death's door.

As Ark saw this, he instantly shot out from the underbrush and went in for a killing strike, as he charged out, he activated his stealth skill and managed to stay undetected as he slit the boar's throat in one swift motion. Since there was nothing for him to do, Thufrat just went along with him and gave him a pat on the head as to commend him for his good work. Ark was weirded out by this, he wasn't some normal animal, but it did feel pretty good, and he didn't really care too much, so he just let it slide.

As they were about to haul the spoils back to the tree. They suddenly heard a lot of footsteps, unfortunately, they didn't get the opportunity to get out of there before the footsteps arrived.

A group of five hunters emerged from behind some trees, obviously on the lookout for something. As they spotted Ark and Thufrat standing by the stream, they grew vigilant, but as they saw the dead boar, they instead turned angry. They had been chasing this boar for hours after all and fought a fierce battle in order to kill it. Only to find it in the hands of some random dwarf and his mount.

”Hey, you!”

One of the experienced hunters stepped forward to talk.

”Me?”

Thufrat was a bit surprised by this series of events, but he could guess what was about to come.

”Who else?”

[No need to be so rude] Thafrut thought to himself as he answered a bit snappily this time.