2 Skystead Hamle (1/2)

”Skystead Hamlet.”

As soon as Aaron laid his eyes on the wooden plank that was placed at the top of a large gate, this name appeared in his head.

It had come in his way when he had been in the process of reaching that spot where that incredibly aromatic smell was coming from, so he had paused to see what it was.

Huh? Weren't those just strange scratches? Why did this name come into his mind as soon as he ran his eyes over them?

Stopping on the spot, he scratched the mop of hair on his head while wondering how this had happened.

”Woof! Wooooof!”

”Ow!”

Feeling a sharp prick in his foot, Aaron looked down to see the impatient eyes of his closest and only companion, Woof.

In the frigid blue of the husky's eyes, there was impatience and irritation at its friend who always got sidetracked in this way whenever he saw something interesting.

8 years ago, it had found him in a large pile of poo. It had hesitated whether to go forward and answer his cries for help, as from the smell, it had understood that that poo belonged to one of the most dangerous predators in the forest: the Hundred-Spikes Bear. As it was capable of shooting the spikes on its back and hands with surprising speed, no beast that wasn't confident in its defense ever dared to go into its territory.

Yet, those cries reminded the husky of its children that had been killed by a Flame-Tongued Viper just days ago.

So, it had dug out that ball, from which this weak, 2-legged being had emerged.

That being had started to spout sounds which it didn't understand, but it could tell that he was malnourished, and close to death.

Thus, using its mouth to catch hold of the white-colored garment he was wearing, it hoisted him on its back.

The moment his hand touched the husky's body, it had felt his thoughts: yes, he was very, very, hungry.

The two rode away, covered in feces, and what followed was years of surviving together in the dangerous forest where a single moment of relaxation might lead to death.

Finally, the husky had gotten wind of this smell, which had led them to a clearing with odd structures.

This travel had gone on for a day, so the husky was starving.

Yet, this damn guy whom it always had to save was delaying them here?!

”All right, fine! Let's go!”

Focusing on the smell again, Aaron said this, which made Woof nod and go ahead.

It was scouting for danger.

In its eyes, he had seen that his hair needed washing again.

His face was covered in grime, and his clothes were caked with dirt and mud, just like his hair. They were torn in many places, but they still surprisingly clung to his skin and protected him from the elements despite the years of abuse they had been through.

He was almost 6 feet tall, or, by the measure he used in the forest, he was almost as tall as a mature 4-Armed Gorilla.

Slinking forward in a slouched position so that he could spring to either side in case there was a threat, Aaron followed Woof and approached the gate.

However, a few moments later, both he and the husky could only stop and stare at the figure which they could now see standing on top of a wooden structure.

He was…another 2-legged creature, just like Aaron.

Skin with no fur or scales for protection, muscles that definitely had no strength, and a body with no special features which would give it an edge for attack or defense.

All in all, it was a creature unfit to live in this age.

At least, that was Woof's opinion, so it was pretty shocking to see another member of Aaron's species.

Turning around, it saw that Aaron was just as shocked as it was.