23 Hunting Skills (1)

Landing on his ass, Zephyr huffed as he scrambled to his feet, facing the forest again as he patted his trousers down. Tez and Maz were already walking ahead, the earth rumbling around them at their approach. Zephyr looked behind him, waiting for Garzon.

"What are you doing? Too scared to return chicken shit?" Maz called over his shoulder with a booming laugh. 

Zephyr didn't comment and rushed ahead, wondering why Garzon wasn't coming, but neither was Fig. He'd ask Maz, but the minotaur would shrug it off or not answer at all. Zephyr followed the Draegorths, ignoring the haunting sounds of the forest again. This wasn't a place he wanted to return to, but like the first time he entered, the Slnktail's mind was set. 

If he wasn't left to die or killed by some strange creature in the forest, he could use it to learn more advantageous skills. The Slinktail was sure there were many others he hadn't encountered and might possibly be stronger than the Draegorths. 

Zephyr trailed behind Maz, who parted from Tez halfway. Unlike when he was with Garzon, Zephyr wasn't required to carry his weapons; the minotaur's blade was far too large. Instead, all Maz did was return to the traps and retrieve their captured prey, handing them to Zephyr to carry. In contrast to the first time the Slinktail entered the forest, the large animals didn't seem as heavy. All his training was starting to pay off, even if it was for something so basic. 

"Zephie," Maz beckoned him closer to a trap in the ground, waving his overly large hand. 

Zephyr groaned at the nickname the Draegorth started calling him and stepped closer, watching as Maz showed him how to retrieve the animal without hurting himself. Then, he proceeded to show him how to create it. "Fig normally does these for us," Maz explained, showing Zephyr his hands. 

The traps were a little fiddly for someone of Maz's build. Zephyr hid his smirk. This was exactly the sort of stuff he needed to know in order to survive on his own. "Where is she?"

"Does it matter?" Maz smacked the back of his head, causing black dots to dance across the edges of Zephyr's vision. It wasn't meant to hurt but the big fucker didn't know his own strength. "Pay attention, or you'll lose a finger. I personally don't give a shit about your limbs, but if Fig's preoccupied, I need someone else to do these. It will be much quicker if you do it."

As the hours ticked by, the pair continued with the mundane task, and Zephyr noticed another one of those hovering skull creatures from before. What did that she-elf call it? A wisp? 

The wisp had followed them for some time as they ventured through the forest. It didn't do anything besides making Zephyr jump occasionally until he grew used to the frightening creature. Zephyr returned to the task at hand, ignoring the wisp that kept getting closer and the feeling that someone was watching them. 

With Maz beside him, Zephyr wasn't as bothered. He had protection if he needed it. Unless the minotaur left him like Garzon did last time. 

As the day drew to a close—or so he thought it was the end in such a gloomy place—without any notable incidents, the demons departed from the forest and returned to camp. Garzon and Fig weren't at camp but the Slinktails were and they had their own tasks to do. Zephyr was about to head off and do his own thing, steal and the sort, but Maz's hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"Not today. Chill. I'm surprised you still have energy left. Must be all that food you scarf down and steal. You're filling out." Maz slumped down before the fires and began carving a blade into a chock of wood. 

Zephyr was forced to sit beside him while Dain and Arikig slaved away, although it wasn't really forced. The Slinktail simply wasn't accustomed to it. In his past life, relaxation was a luxury he couldn't afford, and even if he could, he didn't have friends he could hang out with.

In this life, Zephyr was determined not to squander a single moment that could contribute to bettering himself and shorten the time it takes to become a Draegorth, where he might finally be left alone. 

That evening was the first he went to bed at a decent time and was woken up at first light, the minotaur Draegorth dragging his ass out of bed for another day in the forest.

Once again, it was only the three of them before Tez wandered off doing whatever it was that Manatee creature did. This time, Zephyr was sent by himself to check and set traps until Maz called him over and he started showing him how to use a bow. The bow was far too big for him, but the Draegorth showed him the correct positioning. 

"Get yaself a bow," he grunted before releasing his arrow, missing the black deer that leapt away. "I can't use the damn thing properly. Prefer sturdier weapons."

"Why are you doing this?" Zephyr questioned suspiciously. 

"So I don't have to do it," Maz grunted simply with a shrug. "You wanted to come with us in here, might as well make yourself more useful."

Zephyr nodded, accepting his answer. That day, they finished earlier than normal, not needing to be in the forest as long, and the Draegorths had an appointment. An appointment? 

When he asked about it, Maz told him to stop being nosy or lose what little nose he had. The trio of Draegorths left together, which gave Zephyr, Dain, and Fig the perfect time to meet at their meeting spot. Zephyr was first to leave, going first to pilfer a few places so as not to return empty handed.

That evening, the Draegorths still hadn't returned, and Zephyr wanted to learn a little more about that dark energy and the world he lived in. He left the camp again, leaving the Slinktails to relax, though he felt their stares. From what he gathered from his own experience and Zephyrion's, anytime the Draegorths were gone was the perfect time to relax and recover as long as the basic tasks had been fulfilled.

Keeping his hood over his features, Zephyr walked into a tavern. "One ale," he ordered, assuming it was the only option available. The barman didn't bother trying to discern who was under the hood. The tavern Zephyr chose was catered to a rough crowd— lowlifes, thieves, possibly murderers, guild and gang members. It was predominantly populated by humans.

Anyone who preferred anonymity wasn't required to reveal themselves, rendering it an ideal spot for a Slinktail like himself to eavesdrop on the latest news. Even after his little run-in with the guards the other night, it was still dangerous, so he had to tread carefully. Zephyr might be able to hold his own now, but there were more humans in this tavern than he could handle.

Still, he needed to know if anyone would be sent from the empire to investigate the recent incidents with the Slinktails and if he could experiment with that dark energy.