Here's another chapter for the saga to continue, be sure read and review if you can.
Chapter 33 Does a bear shit in the woods?
It's mid January now and if this place has anything in common with my home, then it would be the weather. I mean at home it's mostly temperate during the months from October to December, while January thru March is frigid as heck. I'm pretty sure all the way to march it would be cold and bitter. The only difference here is that it snows.
Man back at my home whenever it snowed, it was consider an act of god. I think it snowed maybe once in my seventeen years at my house. As usual I have to provide myself with my own winter clothing. I for one am not a fan of wool; however it does keep your ass warm and dry.
Even though me and Kat would often train indoors, we would very often train outside especially when it comes to light training. Kat would often wear a cloak on her back side that would cover her body, but at the same time she would also wear a long sleeve wool shirt to cover her arms up. Mostly because her armor doesn't cover her arms exposed from the elbow to the mid bicep area.
Even thought I take my training very seriously with her, it doesn't mean that I don't like to have fun with her every now and then. So usually when I get done eating lunch or dinner, I would take off before her and prep a few soft snowballs and lie in wait usually hidden behind a tree and ambush her when she least expects it. Most of the time she would be a good sport about it and in return try to land a couple shots in herself.
In next coming weeks I wasn't really expecting much of anything than the usual stuff. Yet I noticed that Kat, Caitlin, and Priestess Verona where packing up a few rucksacks in the common room. So I was getting a bit curious myself as to see what they were doing, as I decided to walk to them to ask what's up.
"So what are you ladies up to today?" Caitlin and Priestess Verona looked up first and smiled at me, while Kat just continue to work on packing up the rucksack in her possession. "Why hello Nate how are you today", Ms. Verona ask in a content way.
"I'm doing just fine, yet what are you lovely ladies up to with packing those sacks?" Of course Caitlin and Priestess Verona both blushed some red to their faces when I complimented them as lovely." Well if you must know Nate, we packing for a trip," Caitlin said.
"Oh I get it, it's a ladies night out sort of thing right?" "You might say that Nate", priestess Verona quipped." And from the looks of it I see five rucksacks so I bet it's going to be one hell of a night out for you ladies."" Well I won't keep you from your duties so I guess I'll be seeing you around.
"Where do you think you are going Nate," Kat asked plainly? "Well I was just going to leave you to your task at hand why do you ask?" "Oh it's just I thought you knew what this was about." Now I'm really confused. "I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about Kat." Kat mutters to herself, yet it was loud enough for me to hear. "That's right Lord Grayson hasn't told him yet."
"Lord Grayson hasn't told me what Kat?"" Well Nate it's not my place or anyone else's for me to tell you, so I better take you to his office for him to explain." Kate then motions to me to come with her as I reluctantly agreed to.
About half way to his office I started to get a little nervous and blurted out, "look Kat I haven't done anything wrong have I?" She stopped and faced me with a face of reassurance." As far as I know Nate you haven't done anything wrong, so there is nothing for you to fear then." Kat then put an arm around my neck and shoulder to encourage me to keep walking with her. Me on the other hand I was starting to shake a bit nervously all around my body.
I guess Kat noticed it as well since she was using her fingers and hand to rub the back of my neck and back. I stop to look at her asking her, "What are doing Kat?" "Well Caitlin did tell me that this is a good method to use to get you to calm down, because you're shaking right now."" Is it working Nate?"" Well a little I suppose." Kat just smiled to me and continue until I was no longer shaking in nervousness.
We finally reach to Lord Grayson's office as I was about to knock on his door till Kat beat me to the punch. Lord Grayson welcomed us in as I stood there in his office. Kat on the other hand decided to bring a chair to sit next to me. Lord Grayson took his seat and motioned to me to do the same.
"Well Nate how are you today?"" I'm fine sir."" Well Katherine has told me of your great progress that you made in training."" She feels that you are ready for the next level in your training, what do you think Nate?" I kind of shrugged to him in an unsure way as I responded to him. "Well I guess that sounds about right sir, but I don't know what you mean by the next level."
"Well that is simple Nate; we start to test your combat skills and training out in the world." I sat there letting that sink in for a few minutes, which felt like an eternality to me. "What do you want me to pick a fight with someone?"" Of course not Nate, we just want to see where your skill is at when it comes to certain situations."
"And a perfect situation has arrived to my attention for you to show case your skills."" I'm really not quite following your sir."" I'll make this as plain as possible Nate for you to understand."" I'm sending you out on a mission Nate."
"A mission, by myself?"" No of course not Nate, Lady Katherine, Caitlin, Verona, and Brother Tryston will be accompanying you on this task."" So what's the mission?"
"Ah yes the mission, well your task is to go to the Eastvale Logging camp on the Far East side of the Elwynn forest to eradicate the wild life in the area."" You want me to hunt down and kill a bunch of defenseless woodland animals?"
"No Nate you are most likely going to eradicate large fearsome grey wolves and forest bears that are harassing the local populace, basically keeping their population in check."" While recovering wood shipments in the forest."
"Well ok when do I have to be there then?"" Ah let's see its one hour before midday meal, so after that you will leave here and be in the EastVale logging camp by nightfall, how does that sound?"" Sounds like a plan boss." I was getting up about to leave when Lord Grayson added a few bits of info to me.
"One more thing Nate, I know you feel a bit doubtful about the task at hand, but just put faith into yourself and your training."" And please do mind your elders as in Lady Katherine, Priestess Verona, and Brother Tryston."" I will Lord Grayson."
A few hours later I was dismounting my horse midnight along with the others as we made our way across a bridge to hand our horses over to the local horse trainer to house our steeds from out of this cold bitter weather.
I took a quick gander of this place; to say the least it was kind of barren it only had a couple of permanent buildings. Caitlin motion to me to come with her to rather large bonfire near one of the buildings so we can warm ourselves up, while Kat, Verona, and Tryston met up with the Chief Logging guy to let them know that we have arrived.
As I looked out towards the snowy covered forest and ground, it kind of reminded me of one of those Hallmark Christmas cards, only this was the real deal. I then looked at a rather freezing Caitlin doing her best to keep herself warm by the semi large fire. All of us were deck out in our own armor, with the exception of Priestess Verona who was just in her wool like dress.
Before Kat, Verona, and Tryston could join us, I decided to play a bit with Caitlin. I decided to get her mind off of the cold by placing a small kiss on her cheek when she was not paying attention. Boy did that caught her off guard as she flinched and jumped up. She laughed at me while blushing, while at the same time she landed one of her kisses on me as I took it in the same affect.
I was about to take her down in a playful manor, until I saw Kat, Verona and Tryston coming to our direction. All of us were sitting by the fire trying to warm ourselves up as Kat continue to add more wood to the fire. It was very silent for a good while, to the point where it felt kind of awkward.
So as an icebreaker no pun intended I started out first. "Uh so when do we start?" No one answered me, so I asked again. Yet there was still no answer. So I decided to get Kats attention by making a small snowball and hurled it towards her direction hitting her chest.
Let's just say she wasn't too happy about what I did, as she was about to charge in my direction." Whoa, whoa Kat calm down I was just asking when do we start."" Well why didn't you ask?"" Are you kidding me here, I asked out loud like twice."" Oh I'm sorry Nate, it's just we tend to get into deep thought when we are in the cold like this sitting near a large fire."" If you must know we get started tomorrow."
"Ok well I'm tired of freezing my ass off, so where's the nearest inn so I can get some dinner?" They all looked at me like I was crazy. "Uh you don't seem to understand Nate; we are in the middle of the wilderness here" Brother Tryston exclaimed." There are no Inns in this area."
"But not to worry for I will prepare dinner for us all," priestess Verona said." Lady Caitlin will you assist me?" Caitlin just smiled and nodded as they were both off to prepare dinner for the rest of us. As they left into one of the permanent buildings, I started off. "Would love to help, but you know me I suck at cooking what about you Tryston."
"I have to agree with you on that one Nate I too am not well in preparing in the culinary arts." We both looked at Kat, who was just as admitted to the idea of cooking as we were.
Thirty minutes later while the sun was now starting to set Caitlin and priestess Verona came back with a cauldron and a few bowls. She set it up so that it would heat itself above the fire, while Caitlin passed out the bowls and spoons to everyone.
"So what the soup of the day?" Caitlin said, "oh just a simple beef stew that's all."" Sounds delish." Of course Kat decide to sit next to me, as I looked to her nodding my head. "What was wrong with your old seat Kat?"" Nate you should know by now what this means when I sit next you."
Of course it left an opening with Tryston's seat for you know who to sit next to him. In a few minutes soup was served with a side of white bread. Of course we all did our best to pray to the light since we where near the fire before we ate.
Eating in silence next to a fire in the middle of the night, it's kind of creepy. Every now and then Kat would look at my direction to make sure I was eating. I would look at her back with a funny face. When she wasn't expecting it I decided to lean into her saying, "hold me my hero." She nudged a large elbow to get me off of her. I was just laughing as well as Caitlin.
Well it was getting late, so I asked out loud. "So who is sleeping with whom tonight?" Everyone just looked at me with surprises on their faces. "What it's a simple question?"" Oh it's the way I worded it, ok I see a bit of the confusion here."
"What I meant to say was who is bunking with whom tonight?" They still had their faces of the same look. "Well I'm bunking with Caitlin, what say you Caitlin?" Caitlin was just laughing saying," you're so funny Nate, yet I think your sleeping in Tryston's Tent tonight."
"Eh it was worth a shot." So Nate and Tryston started to head out to our tent. I just kept my armor and my warm clothes on as I slept into the night.
The very next day me and Caitlin where listing very carefully to Kat and Tryston. They were explaining the ways to kill the Grey forest wolves. If by mace try to aim for their heads to crush their skulls, if by sword aim for their shoulders to stab them into the heart.
Always watch each other's backs when confronting the beast. I asked about the bears in the woods. Kat and Tryston reassured us that since it was winter that the bears would most likely be in hibernation and that we would most likely not see any of them.
Kat gave each of us a horn to use if we were to find a shipment of wood that was missing somewhere here in the forest. And just like that we were off in our own directions. I partner with Caitlin not only to keep her safe as I knew she would do the very same for me. Brother Tryston and Kat partner up to go off their way. Priestess Verona decided to watch camp and prep an aid station if any one of us got hurt.
It didn't take long for me and Caitlin to run into some wolves, so as a precaution we decided to take them out one at a time with both of us attacking one wolf. To tell the truth they were pretty ferocious with their sharp teeth and claws. We both used our swords and shields, as we would alternate in one of us distracting it while the other went in for the kill shot.
For next two hours we killed about twenty wolves in total. We met up with Kat and Tryston. Kat asking, "Did you two find the wood shipment yet? "We both nodded no. "Well we can't complete our mission until we find it so keep searching and keep each other safe."
We were off yet again as me and Caitlin continue deep into the forest. It was a rather nice forest to say the least with very large trees with lots of opening spaces in between them; we slay another ten wolves along the way. Then it came clear that there were no more wolves in this area.
So I propose to Caitlin that we should split up to find the lost shipment of wood. Caitlin didn't like the idea since we were told to stay together. Yet she relented to idea that in ten minutes I would go off to one direction and come back while she did the same.
I split off to one direction, as soon as the time was up I decided to look over this small hill to if anything was nearby before I headed back.
Meanwhile Caitlin was starting to turn back, till she ran into Brother Tryston and Katherine. Katherine was first to ask where was Nate." I'm sorry Katherine, I know you told us not to separate but Nate insisted that we try it for ten minutes." Katherine then sighed out loud," why can't he ever listen to me for a change?"" Well lets go meet up where you two where suppose to randevu."
As I went up to the top of the small hill I saw about twenty feet away something cover in snow like in a perfect box shape. As I got closer it looked like a large cube. I started to rub off the flaked snow only to realize that it was lumber that was cut perfectly into large planks.
So I wasted no time pulling out my horn that Kat gave me to let out a large toot. When I blew into it, it gave out a sound of one of those horns you hear on tug boats.
From the distance Kat, Caitlin, and Tryston heard what could be a horn, that in fact that Nate might have found the wood shipment. So they hurried along to source of Nate's horn to meet up with him.
Nate continues to blow on the horn. When he felt satisfy that he blew it out loud enough times he then put up his horn. He then heard a snapped branch from behind the large cube of wood that he decided to check it out since it could have been Caitlin that came by.
So he merrily strolled to the source of the noise only to see a rather mid size bear with light brown fur on its body. Nate tried to walk back silently since he didn't want to draw attention to the bear. Yet it was too late since the bear took notice to Nate's scent. As it looked at him it started to growl at him.
This bear wasn't that big at all since its head only reached to Nate's stomach on all fours. Nate took a defensive stance with his shield up and mace held out. With a confident smile on his face he knew he was going to knock this bears block off. So the bear decided to lunge at him with its claws only for Nate to block his advances and take his mace to crush its paws.
The bear let out a screeching noise to the pain it had received that it continued to try and kill Nate. So the bear got up on its back hind legs to stand up to intimidate Nate and take another swipe. Nate of course blocked it again with his shield as he pulled out his sword and thrust it to its exposed heart.
The poor juvenile bear shirked in pain as it fell backwards as Nate went for the killing blow. Nate actually felt very prideful for accomplishing such a feat. He pulled out his horn again to give it another toot; till he heard some footsteps coming from the other side of the large wood shipment.
On first instinct he thought it was Kat coming in to surprise and congratulate him in finding the wood shipment, but boy was he so wrong, so VERY wrong.
His eyes completely widen in shock when he saw what was before him. It was another forest bear, only this one was nearly three times a larger as the previous one. This bear was on all fours, when its height alone with its head reached to Nate's chin.
It had a very fierce growl that was as loud as a growl can be. I drooled out of its mouth tasting Nate's scent showing off its massive sharp teeth. The claws on this thing were like razor sharp spears. This big ass bear started to stand up on its hind legs reaching the height of ten feet maybe even higher. Shit I'm six feet tall myself, but this bear easily towers over me.
I back away slowly since I didn't want to get into a fight with this thing. Shit this bear got mean when it saw what I was doing, as it took a swipe to my face as I quickly moved out of its way. The swipe alone took a large chunk off the cut logs that were stacked next to it.
I took out my horn and quickly started to blow on it profusely, as this bear continue to growl at me advancing slowly when I passed the nearby carcass of the other bear.
Just then this bear stopped and sniffed at the carcass and started to nudge it with its nose and paws. As if it is trying to get the other bear awake. I could hear the bear making squeals to it as if it was crying to its fallen companion.
Then it finally dawned on me as I whispered to myself," Oh shit I just killed its cub and this must be big bad mamma bear." If I tried to run this bear would easily chase me down maw me to death, my only option is to try and fight it off till Kat gets here.
I blew on my horn more times over and over.
Meanwhile in the distance Katherine, Tryston, and Caitlin could hear Nate's horn being sound off multiple times. It really dons on the rest of the party knew that Nate must be in some type of trouble. So with much haste they all started to run as fast as they could drawing out their respective weapons at the ready.
When the bear realizes that its young was dead, it wastes no time wanting to seek out vengeance to anything that was nearby. So it locked its angry and fierce eyes on to Nate.
Nate ready himself with his shield and sword drawn out at the ready. The bear starts to charge at me as I start to back away as it growls and starts to take swipes at me. I did my absolute best to block it moves while I landed in a few good stabs. I know it bleeding but it just keeps getting madder.
It stood up again as it took a large swipe to me as I blocked it with my shield; the force alone knocked me off my feet and threw me like ten feet back.
I knew I got to get up quick and fast as this bear got on all fours and started to charge at me, yet I knew my goose would be cooked if I even tried. So in a desperate moment I remember a lesson from Kat about week ago when she was teaching me about the Divine shield.
In matter of moments I moved my hands into a motion summoning the Divine Shield to surround my body in a protective sphere. I knew that this would buy me a few seconds to recoup, as I summon minor heals to heal myself up.
Of course when the bear charged at me it must have felt like its head hit straight on to a wall, as it bounced back not realizing what had happen. It too tried to recoup itself. I got up in the sphere as soon as I was ready I started to form a hammer of light in my right hand.
As the bear started to realize that my shield started to fade, it too was readying itself to slay my ass. I concentrated as much as I could, trying to keep my mind clear and thinking of some happy thoughts.
When the hammer of pure white light form into my hand, that's when the shield finally faded out. The bear then started to charge at me again. When I knew the time was right, I grab the hammer of light and threw it to the bear's direction.
When it landed on it, it froze the bear dead in its tracks, I started to pull out my mace to get some light projection started in order to land hard blows to the bears face. I got in at least three good whacks. How do I know it was good? Well when the bear was able to move again some of its razor sharp teeth started to fall out on their own while its mouth bleed profusely.
Yet this bear just wasn't getting it, it still wanted to fight. I know it has to be tired as well since it's losing a lot of its own blood. By this time I was getting tried. I had some potions for mana and healing, but I couldn't get them out in time since this bear was keeping me occupied.
It charged at me again only this time it was on its hind legs again as it took a much harder strike to knock my shield out of my hands. I then pulled out my sword and mace readying myself for my last stand.
As this was going on Kat, Tryston, and Caitlin finally made it to Nate's position on top of the small hill. All of them with absolute horror and fear on their faces as they see Nate fighting off one the largest forest bears they have ever seen. They started to yell to the bear to draws its attention away from Nate as they ran down the hill.
Well this was it, I thought to myself. This bear with all its might tried to kill my ass, as it tried to stab me with its claws. I was able to knock them out of the way. It also tried to collapse all of its weight on to me trying to crush me, while using its bleeding jaw with the last of its sharp teeth to aim for my throat.
I fell down with it as I used my mace to guard my face and throat, while I used my sword to stab the final death blow to its chest. I'm pretty dame sure only one of us was coming out on top of all this.
Kat screamed Nate's name in horror she couldn't relive the same moment that almost cost him his life, as she readied her mighty hammer with light projection ready to knock this bear on top of Nate off.
She used her mighty hammer to knock off the slain bear off of him, as Brother Tryston drew his sword to make sure the bear was in fact dead.
Katherine started to nudge Nate a bit to see if he was still alive, and as soon as that happen Nate's eyes started to open as he was moaning a bit.
"Oh hey Kat, what took you so long?" Kat smiled and gave a small laugh to him. "Are you ok Nate, can you move?" "I think I can, but I'm just so exhausted, from fighting two bears," Nate said very groggily. Kat's eyes widen a bit when Nate said two bears. Yet Tryston did reassure her that there were in fact two dead bears.
"Kat I think I might have used a little bit too much light and mana." Kat just smiled to me as she passed me one large mana potion to me." Here you go Nate drink up ok." Of course both Kat and Caitlin perform some minor heal spells on me to try to get me up. "By the way is this what we are looking for," as I pointed to the pile of wood. "Yes it is Nate good job on finding it", Tryston said.
Tryston went on about the bear situation with everyone. "Just to let you know Nate, I did find a rather large hole in the ground." "I bet this was their den for the winter." "They must have come out when the loggers where distributing their sleep."
I just shook my head to acknowledge Tryston, while I lean on a bit to Caitlin as we walked back to base camp.