Hunter's Choice

by C E Keene

  "We should be nearing the end," Zindar said, picking up pace.

  The path they walked slowly sloped upward, pillars lining segments of metallic panels every few feet. Each step they took was lit up by those crystals, and it felt more like walking through the halls of a hospital ward than traveling the dark underground of a cave.

  "You've used these tunnels before," Arheis observed.

  "Once or twice, when I was very young."

  The Pruvari led them with confidence, and soon Arheis could see patches of natural light filtering in from up ahead. The wind seeped in, too, creating a small draft that brought cool air into an already frigid environment.

  "How close is the—"

  Before he could finish his question, the markings inscribed on one of the panels began to glow with a bright, forbidding light. He was barely able to register what was happening before Zindar tackled him to the ground, just in time to avoid the current of energy that shot from one wall to the other.

  13

  Everything happened in an instant.

  The beam that shot from the wall emitted such a sharp blast of heat that Arheis thought he felt the hairs on his head singing as he tried to press lower to the ground. An electrical hum filled the tunnel, and when he ventured a glance at something that wasn't the metal floor, he saw what he could only describe as a wall made of pure energy.

  "What the hell…"

  The words barely left his mouth before they were answered. In a sense.

  "Why have you come here?"

  That voice wasn't one he recognized, and it wasn't coming from his group, all of whom stood frozen behind him and Zindar. The Pruvari crawled backward along the ground, slowly pushing himself to his feet, and so Arheis began to do the same.

  "We have someone who needs medical attention," Zindar said, his voice sounding… off.

  Something was missing from it, but there was too much happening for Arheis to place what it was.

  When he was finally able to get to his feet, he immediately checked on his companions. Everyone had gone wide-eyed, just staring ahead, and Arheis turned to see what they were seeing.

  Red beams that looked more like lasers than anything else criss-crossed the passage, ending in the wall of red light he'd seen earlier. Beyond that, he could make out the shapes of three figures. Humanoid, definitely, but they each had ears and tails.

  Pruvari.

  "Are you armed?" a voice from beyond the wall asked.

  "We are," Zindar replied.

  "Put your weapons down, and we will lower the energy field."

  Higrem made a sound in the back of his throat. "We don't know you, and we sure as hell aren't going to—"

  "Gods' sake, just do it," Mira hissed. "They obviously could have killed us if they wanted to."

  She was right. As a group, they were all but defenseless against this kind of tech. The only Ace up their sleeve was the fact that Zindar knew about it, but that wasn’t any help now.

  "We'll put our weapons down," Arheis promised, pulling his spear from his back and carefully setting it and his shield on the ground beside him.

  Everyone else did the same. Everyone except Higrem, who just glowered at the energy field.

  "Drop your sword," Arheis told him in a low voice.

  "If I die because of this…"

  Arheis stared at the larger man. Eventually, Higrem lowered his greatsword, leaning it against the wall.

  "Everyone's disarmed." After a moment, Zindar added, "we still have our hunting knives, but—"

  A sound rang out through the tunnel, like a bolt of energy being fired from a gun. But the barrier disappeared, the three Pruvari beyond it apparently not caring about the knives.

  And why would they? They were all armed with weapons that seemed to have no place in Estalia. One of them wore a glove of sorts that opened up at one end like a cannon. Another held a shining metal gun, the long barrel pointed at their party. The last—and largest—wore a pair of gloves that manifested energy from just above the fingers, the beams forming into claws.

  Apparently they'd brought a bunch of knives to a military sci-fi convention.

  "This is the one who's wounded?"

  The Pruvari with the claws—the light from them casting a glow on his bronze-colored fur—stepped toward Treyous. He flexed his fingers and the claws disappeared, the energy drawing back into the gauntlets.

  "Yes. We were attacked at sea by a Exsetus—"

  "We will take him," he said, completely cutting Zindar off. He motioned to the Pruvari behind him, who both lowered their weapons.

  "I'd rather stay with him, if it's all the same to you," Bren said, the words forced past her clenched jaw.

  "That's fine," the leader responded as the other two Pruvari moved to take Treyous, supporting him on each side.

  They were gentle with the captain. So much so that Arheis couldn't complain about how brusque they were being. But there was definitely something strange going on.

  Zindar had been a member of this community, once upon a time. Yet aside from a single glance once the barrier was down, none of the other Pruvari were even looking at him. In fact, it seemed like they were going out of their way to avoid it.

  "Did the Exsetus make this wound?" one of the Pruvari—a female—asked.

  "Yes," Mira answered. "He was speared by one of its limbs. I stopped the bleeding and packed the wound before binding it, but he started to run a fever not an hour past."

  She nodded. "We can remove any tissue that's infected and purge the sickness from his body."

  Arheis wasn't sure how he felt about that. It sounded like the kind of new age scam "medicine" his mom always railed about. But at this point he wasn't sure they had a choice, and so when the Pruvari carried Treyous toward the mouth of the cave--something he could finally see--Arheis followed.

  Cool air blew in from outside, funneled down the passageway. It was another reminder that he needed to use the coins Higrem had found to buy a coat or something, but for now he was just grateful for the fresh scent wafting into the musty cave.

  The others followed along, passing through an arch that formed the mouth of the tunnel after the Pruvari did. They finally emerged topside, a set of metal stairs leading them above ground and depositing them just outside what he assumed must be De’shal, its walls stretching high above them, interrupted only by a gate that was sealed tight.

  Only one part of the settlement was visible from where they stood: a massive sculpture made of a thin metal that honestly looked like something close to aluminum sheets all woven together. It was formed into the shape of an Eritco, with crystals socketed for the multi-colored scales that ran along its spinal ridge. He'd almost gotten used to the sight of more modern structures in what should have been a very low-tech setting, but even from beyond the walls, that sculpture was impressive enough to remind Arheis that this was not the norm for Estalia.

  Asking the leader how the Pruvari had advanced so far beyond the other races seemed like a rude question, so he kept it to himself. He'd ask Zindar later, if he had an urge to put his foot in his mouth.

  The bronze-furred Pruvari approached two gates that were inscribed with more characters Arheis couldn't read. He put his hand to one and it glowed blue in obvious recognition. The sound of metal shifting filled the immediate area, then the gates opened outward, revealing a glimpse of the city beyond.

  It was… like nothing Arheis had seen in a fantasy game, honestly. Most of the structures were metal, but even the ones made of wood or stone were fashioned in a way that spoke of a more modern design. The roofs sloped in sharp, sleek designs, the structures stacked atop one another into tall towers. He half expected to see an electronic billboard in the middle of it all. Maybe a few hundred cars zipping through the streets.

  All he saw were Pruvari, though. Not many of them, but they came in all different shapes, sizes, and fur colors. Looking at the small number, he realized it wasn't that the community was big, it was just more impressively bu
ilt than the villages he'd come across. Despite being half the size of Lacerda—at the most—it just looked… grander, in every way.

  "You are all welcome in our home," the leader said with an air of friendliness Arheis hadn't heard from him yet, "so long as the Savage Claw remains outside of our walls."

  In an instant, the friendliness was gone, replaced by something ice cold. Golden eyes were fixed on Zindar, and Arheis immediately bristled at the fact that such a “nickname” was being used to describe his friend.

  "That's insane," Arheis said on reflex. “He’s one of your people.”

  "No." He dropped the thin facade of friendliness completely now. "What's insane is the fact that this traitor still wears his bracer, despite desecrating everything it stands for."

  Zindar didn't say anything to this. He looked away, meeting no one's gaze, looking smaller than he had any right to look. That, more than anything else, sparked the ember that had been burning in Arheis since the Pruvari first appeared.

  "You know what, fuck all of this." He stepped back, standing beside his friend. "If he can't come with us, then I'm not setting foot inside those gates."

  "Arheis…" Zindar's voice was slightly pleading, but his eyes held a note of pleased surprise.

  "Suit yourself," the leader said, turning to head inside, the other two Pruvari following close with Treyous in tow.

  Higrem looked between Arheis and the settlement, shaking his head. "Nope. Sorry. I want an actual meal and a bed to sleep in tonight."

  Two of the sailors mumbled something similar, following Higrem into the city.

  Mira blew out a long breath and lowered her voice to speak to him. "I don't like this either, but we barely have any supplies, Arheis. We could all use the opportunity to restock."

  "I know," he said, untying his coinpurse and offering it to her. "Which is why you and everybody else should go. We'll be fine out here. Zindar and I can do some hunting, get our own supplies for the road. We'll meet back here in a few days, once Treyous is feeling better."

  She frowned at him, but glanced after Treyous. Arheis' lips tipped up in a knowing smile.

  "Go. You can tell me all about their healing tech when we meet up again."

  Galen and the other sailor didn't have to be told twice, and Arheis realized Bren must have just immediately gone in with Treyous, because she was nowhere to be seen. But Mira stepped closer to him and took his hands in hers. His heart stuttered a bit as he wondered if she might close the distance further, but she just squeezed his hands before letting go.

  "Be careful," she said softly.

  Arheis nodded, and she moved to give Zindar a hug. He hadn't even realized how tense the Pruvari was, but it became obvious as he slowly relaxed, a small smile touching his lips. She whispered something Arheis couldn't hear, and Zindar just nodded in response.

  Then she headed inside with the others, and Arheis looked to his friend, unsure of what to even say.

  "We should find somewhere to make camp while there's still plenty of daylight," Zindar said, jerking his head toward the forested hills Arheis could see in the distance.

  And so they moved away from the Pruvari city, both giving themselves a task to avoid talking about the obvious for just a little while longer.

  14

  They found a place that was deep enough in the forest to be protected should any beasts decide to look for an easy meal, but on a high enough hill that they were afforded a clear line of sight to the city below.

  It was strange seeing it down there. Arheis was able to see into the settlement itself, and while he couldn't make anyone out specifically from this far away, he could see Pruvari moving about. It would've seemed like any other rural, mountainside village, aside from the fact that it had been built with materials no one else in Estalia used for their structures.

  "Can I ask a stupid question?"

  They'd built up a lean-to using sticks and plant fibers along with a couple of pallets with leaves and softer foliage. That had taken almost the whole afternoon, and by the time they'd finished, they were both ravenous.

  Fortunately Zindar spotted a rabbit warren, and they'd been able to bag a couple of the creatures before the rest caught wise and darted underground. The two rabbits they'd killed had been easy to dress compared to carving parts from the beasts Arheis usually hunted, and now he and Zindar were roasting both of them over a campfire.

  "I'm surprised it took you so long," the Pruvari said, carefully turning the stick he'd used to skewer his rabbit. He winced soon after and sent Arheis an apologetic look. "Not a stupid question, just… any question. I'm sure you have lots."

  "I do," he admitted, "but I figured if you wanted me to know the details, you'd tell me." Arheis shrugged, trying to shake off the little sting he still felt that Zindar didn't seem to trust him with that information. "This question is more about the Pruvari in general."

  "Alright," Zindar said warily.

  "This tech you have… how is it so advanced? I'm not trying to be…" Racist? Speciesist? "…ignorant, but it's leagues ahead of what anyone else in Estalia is doing."

  Zindar smiled, his attention still on the fire. It popped and cracked, dancing violently when fat dripped onto the logs.

  "I never realized it was advanced until I saw more of the world," he began. "Now it feels as foreign to me as it probably does to you."

  He turned his rabbit again, hissing out a curse under his breath as the edge of a leg caught the fire. It was small enough to blow out, but the skin was charred to the point of being inedible.

  "It's because of these," he said finally, lifting the arm that was outfitted with his special bracer. "Legend says that one of the first Pruvari came up with this design in a dream. We were smiths and tinkerers before that, but we'd always just used the same materials as everyone else. Supposedly this dream was enough to give Rahir not only a fully-formed blueprint, but also enough information to refine metals that are usually too delicate to work with."

  Zindar smirked, his gaze casting to Arheis. "I don't know if I believe any of it, but that's the story."

  "And after he made the bracer?"

  "After he made the bracer, he was able to speak with the spirits of the great beasts that roamed the land." Zindar turned his rabbit one more time.

  "I'm still not really sure what that means," Arheis admitted.

  The Pruvari smiled. "Neither am I. I know what it means for me, but not for my ancestors. Despite the information I have because of it."

  "But Rahir didn't have that information, right?"

  Arheis’ rabbit was beginning to char on one side. He pulled it back from the fire, the flames licking greedily upward.

  "He didn't. Everything he learned was stored in the bracer, and it's been that way ever since. If my people need to recall any information that our ancestors knew, all we have to do is consult the spirits."

  "So the information to build this technology…?"

  "It comes from the past," Zindar confirmed. "There's so much that never gets written down by most civilizations. Information’s just lost, and any advancements in technology are lost with it."

  That made sense. Even in the real world, there were countless examples of years, decades, and even centuries completely lost to historical records. Who knew how much further their technology would be by now if they still had access to that information?

  "Well, it's impressive," Arheis said, feeling a bit strange admitting that, considering.

  Their conversation lapsed into silence as they cooked the rabbits through. Once the meat was edible, Arheis used his knife to remove the rabbit from the skewer and began butchering it into separate pieces. They probably could've gotten by with just one rabbit split between them, but he wasn't going to complain about getting a decent meal after everything they'd been through.

  They made small talk over the meal, with Zindar laying out the path before them. He didn't remember much of the mountainous region that lay beyond, but he was pretty sure he could lead them t
o the road, if need be. That would get them to Iskaral.

  There was another break in conversation, and this one felt weightier than the last. Looking down at the Pruvari settlement, Arheis couldn't help but ask, "What happened? Why won't they let you into the city?"

  Zindar sighed, his gaze casting down to the city below. "Pruvari revere their spirits as sources of information and inspiration. They're supposed to be our muses. For a Pruvari to become a Hunter; to use his spirit to kill other beasts… It goes against everything my people believe in."

  Arheis’ brow furrowed. "I don't understand. I can see De’shal’s well protected, but I'm sure the Pruvari have had some trouble with beasts."

  "We have," Zindar said with a small smile, "and when we do, our engineers build new weapons to deal with them remotely."

  "But the three who stopped us in the caves were all armed."

  "I didn't say it wasn't a hypocritical belief," Zindar said with a dry laugh. The sound tapered off, and he frowned, looking defeated. “I made my choice knowing full well what would happen."

  He was quiet for a moment, obviously reflecting on his words. Zindar’s eyes closed, he shook his head, and then he looked at Arheis once more.

  "Actually, no. I guess I didn't. I thought if I was able to make a name for myself, that I'd be welcomed back here someday. It's foolish, but that's why I stuck with the Guild even though Mira hates them."

  "It's not foolish," Arheis said firmly. "You’ve saved people, Zindar. You saved a whole village. If they can't see that, they don't deserve you anyway."

  The Pruvari's smile was tight at first, but it slowly eased into something more relaxed.

  "I know that," he admitted. "It's just hard to be kept out of the place where I grew up."

  Arheis thought of his own life and the many times he'd wanted to go back to his childhood. It wasn't the same, he knew, but maybe that ache was similar to what Zindar felt. Reaching over to his friend, he put a hand on the Pruvari's shoulder and squeezed.