The first light of dawn spilled over Ravenshire, painting the village in muted gold. Dew clung to the grass, and the air was thick with anticipation. Villagers gathered at the edge of the forest, anxious whispers carrying on the breeze. Their stomachs growled, and hope flickered in their eyes—hope that the trio of hunters would provide relief.
Hunnt, Corwin, and Pyro stood at the boundary of the treeline, surveying the dense forest ahead. Hunnt's gauntleted hands flexed slightly, eyes scanning for movement. "We need to provide meat for the village—and gather materials for armor," he said, voice calm but firm. "We'll start with a herbivorous monster. It won't be too dangerous, but the hides, bones, and sinews will be useful."
Corwin hefted his hammer, a confident grin on his face. "Understood. Quick, efficient, and safe. Got it."
Pyro's tail flicked as he adjusted his small Sword and Shield, golden eyes gleaming. [Time to hunt, Master.]
---
They moved silently through the forest, leaves crunching softly underfoot. Hunnt's sharp eyes caught every disturbed branch, broken twig, and footprint. Corwin followed carefully, scanning the surroundings for threats, while Pyro darted ahead, ears twitching for any unusual sound.
After hours of cautious tracking, the trio spotted movement—a large, deer-like herbivore with thick, earthy-colored hide grazing among the trees. Its massive eyes widened as it sensed them, but it had not yet recognized danger.
"Steady," Hunnt whispered, crouching low. [One wrong move, and it bolts. We need precision.] "Corwin, flank it from the right. Pyro, distract if it notices us. I'll go for a controlled strike to immobilize it."
Corwin nodded, positioning himself carefully. Pyro darted to the side, tail twitching, ready to create the smallest diversion if necessary. Hunnt raised his gauntleted hand, focusing on the angle and force of the strike.
The hunt began with careful coordination. Pyro's agile movements drew the monster's attention just long enough for Corwin to swing his hammer accurately. Hunnt's gauntlet connected with the creature's flank, applying controlled force that staggered it without harm. Sparks of sand and dirt kicked up around the impact, but the monster remained conscious, breathing heavily but uninjured.
[Perfect… no waste, all usable.] Hunnt thought, heart pounding in quiet satisfaction.
---
Back at the village, the villagers watched from a safe distance, whispers of awe and relief spreading quickly. Hunnt and Corwin worked together to carefully harvest the resources. Hunnt's hands moved deftly, skinning the hide in clean, deliberate strokes, setting aside thick patches for armor reinforcement. Bones were meticulously cleaned and stored for crafting future weapons, while sinews were bundled for bindings.
Corwin distributed meat to the villagers, and Pyro supervised, flicking his tail proudly as children's faces lit up. Hunnt glanced at the pile of collected materials, nodding in satisfaction. [This is enough for the first round of armor and weapon upgrades… and my gauntlet experiment.]
An elder approached, voice trembling slightly. "Hunnt… Corwin… we didn't think we'd see meat again so soon. Thank you."
Hunnt smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from his eyes. "We'll do more than just feed the village. We'll make sure they're ready for anything. But first, we prepare the equipment. Hides, bones, sinews… they become armor and weapons. Everything counts."
Corwin clapped Hunnt on the shoulder, admiration evident despite the dirt and sweat on his face. "Looks like all that blacksmithing work is paying off. Stronger weapons, stronger armor… thanks to you."
Pyro purred, brushing against Hunnt's leg. [We're ready, Master.]
---
As the villagers retreated to their homes, full and hopeful once again, Hunnt surveyed the forest edge, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. [This is just the beginning. The wandering monster is still out there. We need more materials… more preparation.]
The sunlight shifted, casting long shadows across the grass. Hunnt's mind raced with designs for reinforced armor plates, layered weapons, and experimental gauntlets. He imagined integrating the newly gathered bones and sinews, testing flexibility and durability while ensuring mobility. Corwin and Pyro glanced at him curiously, sensing the spark of innovation already lighting up his mind.
"Tomorrow, we track a different monster," Hunnt said, voice low but determined. "We'll get more hides, bones, maybe scales… and we'll be ready for the real challenge. Patience and preparation will win this fight."
Pyro flicked his ears, golden eyes alert. [Leave it to me, Master.]
Corwin smirked, hefting his hammer once more. "Lead the way. We're with you."
Hunnt allowed a small smile to tug at his lips. [Together, we can handle this. The village will be safe. And we'll craft the weapons and armor to prove it.]
The forest waited, silent and watchful. The hunt had begun, and so had the preparation for survival.
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