38 Chase (1/2)

The initial nights of the Mal'it Clan's test was supposed to be peaceful. The children had already experienced a night hunt when they were together with their fathers or uncles, usually during their tenth year. This night's incident was a first especially for someone from the older group.

”Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!” Lino hissed to the idiot beside him as they were running.

”B-but I thought we could catch that one. I d-didn't know it was still a child.” As usual, Tang'ga was not whispering which garnered them another growl from behind them.

”Quiet!”

During their afternoon hunt, Yabang and Lino left Tang'ga in a grove to safeguard their initial catches. However, the idiot fell asleep and only woke up when the warm body he was using as a pillow was being pulled away.

When he looked up while still wiping away the sleepiness in his eyes, he saw a black scaled figure with its mouth biting his pillow. After staring at the sharp, white teeth gleaming in front of him, Tang'ga slowly moved his gaze up the nostrils with horns on both sides, then to the dark red eyes staring at him. The three horns at the top of its head also came to Tang'ga's vision.

It was a shock to see a thief was actually taking their hunt. He could not recognize this one from the other animals he had heard or seen. But, since Yabang and Lino told him to safeguard their catches, then he decided to keep this one to compensate the others it took. Tang'ga thought it was smart of him since it was more difficult to find the stolen meat.

Shortly after, while Tang'ga was figuratively dusting off his hands for a job well done, his two friends came back.

”Hey, guys, look what I got!” he bragged before they even reached him. The pile beside him was bigger compared to before the two left so it was obvious that Tang'ga managed to add another catch to the pile.

Lino was smiling as he walked ahead of Yabang while carrying a carcass on his shoulder. From the corner of his eye, there were a clustering of black figures which made him stop.

When he turned his stare in that direction, he saw not one, not even two, three or ten black-scaled cow-looking beasts. He caught the stare of one pair of angry eyes then it turned to the place where his friend was waving at. Lino followed that stare and saw blood under a smaller black-scaled cow.

”Sh*t! Idiot, run!”

And the rest led them to where they were now.

”Those cows always move in a herd!” Lino reminded Tang'ga though he knew it was already too late. ”They were also really protective of their young!”

”Stop your babbling, Lino. Let's run to the river. That will slow them down.”

”Uh, but that will slow us down too?”

”Yes, but I remember there were rocks in that part of the river that we could leap to to get to the other side. The current will also hide our 'mist' once we got passed the river.”

”Okay!” Lino said with another glare at their still quiet friend.

On the same side of the river was the cave where Ling and Rin were staying. They felt a slight shake of the ground followed by growls outside the cave.

Of course the two never thought of going out. The noturnal herds could be having a fight for territory.

But as fate would have it, a small cow lost its way from the herd. It entered the dark cave but smelled that there were creatures the same as the one who killed its brother so it roared and dashed to the smell's direction.

After a while, Ling and Rin managed to kill the animal. These beasts were actually weak. When they were alone. Now, the herd smelled that another of their brethren was killed.

A shiver coursed through the veins of Ling and Rin. They shared a look then went outside the cave with their tools. It was good that they didn't hesitate or they will be blocked by the incoming herd.

Once the herd realized that the 'mist' of the group in front of them were slowly fading, they decided to turn part of their attention to the other group.

Meanwhile, Tang'ga had already reached the other side of the river with Lino close behind him. When Lino took a glimpse back to check their chasers, he noticed that his other friend slowed down.

”Yabang, hurry!” Lino hissed.

The other ignored him and remained standing on the stone. A frown marred his face. ”They slowed down.”