7 Preparations for Battle 2 (2/2)
”It's nothing.”Answered Titus with a smile. ”I just felt like I was back to my childhood. I used to catch bugs with my net and throw them at the girls to scare them.”
”Haha, like father like daughter!” Carl enjoyed Titus' surprised expression. ”You don't know? From what I heard Petunia is doing the same to the boys now. My neighbor's came back crying the other day. He said a girl was mean to him.”
”Thatgirl...”
”Ah! There boss!”
The scouts looked up and there was the nest. It was a few meters large and was dangling under a large branch.
Large red bugs, at least 20 cm long regularly left and entered the nest.
[Perfect.] Titus had thought long and hard and chose the Red Hornets as his target. Chris's request was to get a fast acting poison that could be easily harvested and last a few hours when applied on weapons. The effect did not need to be deadly, but it had to be crippling even to Kunalls.
Plenty of creatures had more dangerous poison, the spiders in the web covered redtrees were a good exemple. But getting their poison in good quantities in such a short time was just too dangerous. The Red Hornest poison would not kill but it's other effects andthe fact that it was much less dangerous to harvest made up for it.
”Alright prepare the cages.”. Ordered Titus. ”Remember: Do not provoke the nest! Aim for those flying around! We have an antidote, but remember their sting hurts like hell!”
”Aye, boss!”
The hunt was easy. All they had to do was follow the ones that left the nest and capture them with the nets whenever they stopped. It took a few hours before Titus was satisfied.
He was about to call off the hunt when he heard a small shout followed by a pained cry. ”AH! GYAAA!”
”Damn it! What happened?” Asked Titus.
”Someone got stung boss! He is bleeding pretty bad!” Answered a scout.
”Quick give him the antidote.” Said Titus as he ran to the injured. The effects of the poison were displayed magnificently. The wound kept bleeding and the injured could not even tend to himself as the poison had a mild paralysis effect.
”You idiot, what did you do?” Asked Titus.
”S-something surprised me... T-there.” He pointed with a trembling hand to a nearby bush. ”I let a noise out and the hornet stung me in a flash...”
”Calm down or your blood will flow faster. Don't worry the antidote will neutralize the poison very fast.
Titus reassured him and went to check the source of the trouble.
[Hm? Is that... ?]
Carl showed up behind Titus. ”Oh? Poor bastard. Should we be bring him back with us boss?”
***** *****
Later that day. Chris was back in his quarters deep in thoughts while looking at his map.
[Hm. I guess this region, out of all those the scouts recommended, would be the best for our first city.] He was looking at an area south west of Five Cave Village. ['Molten Valley' huh. I'm a little worried since the valley is closer to the Kunall scout camp. But there is a mountain chain between the two places, so it should be fine. It's not on their scouting path either.]
[Let's see. Wood and stone, check. There are forests and plenty of mountains around. Water, check. There is a river north of the area.Food sources, check. The scouts said there is plenty of game to hunt in the area.]Chris made a mental checklist of all their needs. [Hopefully there are ores nearby... ]
[Now all we need to do is decide where to settle in the valley.]
A loud shout startled Chris. ”Lord! Quest accomplished!”
Chris grumbled as he left the cave to meet Titus.
”Geez, you scared me. Hm?”
What awaited him in front of the cave was a proud Titus standing next to a female scout leading a donkey.
”What's that?” Asked Chris.
”It's a donkey, my lord. We captured it during the hunt.” Answered Titus with a straight face.
[That's what he selected for the poison? There is no way donkeys have poison in this world... Right?] But Chris was suddenly reminded of the half rabbit half pig, Ra-pig.
”Oh, it's one of those weird animal is it? Like half donkey, half snake. A 'Don-ke'?” Chris examined the donkey. ”You are letting him roam free so it's not dangerous right? Where do we get the poison from?”
He tugged on the tails, tapped its belly, checked its teeth.
”L-lord... Please wai-” Warned Titus but it was too late.
”GYAAAA!” The donkey headbutted Chris who was getting a little too familiar.
”L-lord! Are you alright?” Panicked Titus.
”W-what's with that Don-ke?” Chris held his forehead a tear in his eyes.
”Sire, it's just a normal donkey we found hurt near our hunting spot, he was stung by hornets and was suffering from the effects of their poison. We have very few horses, so we gave him some antidote and brought him back with us. But... He is a little... quirky.” Titus had a weird smile as he watched the donkey go back to the female scout to request a good rubbing. ”It seems... He only lets females touch him.”
”Oh really. How nice. What a fancy donkey” Said Chris as he picked up a branch. ”He only wants free rubs from beautiful ladies, what refined tastes he has. I don't even get that treatment. I'm not jealous at all, but maybe I should educate him a little bit.”
”L-lord... It's just an animal.”
”An animal? Look at its perverted eyes!” Shouted Chris as he pointed to the donkey's satisfied face.”It's clearly evil!”
Chris tapped the branch on his hand with a menacing smile. ”Don't worry. I'll use the blunt side.”
...
...
[Of a stick?] Thought everyone witnessing the scene.