Chapter 6: Hard Lessons
Jarek wanted to object. He wanted to argue but knew it wouldn't do any good. Once Myler's mind was set it couldn't be deterred. His father had given him his task. He'd gotten off on a rocky start and had made the first mistake by not remaining patient. Now Jarek had a chance at redemption. He had to find the grazer.
Unfortunately, with the Kroot in the area, it meant the grazer had most likely veered back down into the valley to avoid becoming a meal. Its prints supported this assumption. Jarek also knew they could make up ground by taking an old hunter's trail that led back down. It was rarely used at that time of year but still serviceable. He shared this idea with Myler who agreed.
As they approached the trail, they passed other signs that the Kroot had been in the area. Footprints several days old, a long-abandoned camp, and heaps of snow-covered spore all indicated the savages had long since moved on. Myler seemed to agree with his deduction as well, so they pressed on.
The hunter's trail was one of many established by the clan as a means to circumvent difficult terrain. While most of it consisted of actual footpaths, it incorporated man-made handholds and ledges to help scale cliffs, and zip lines for traversing ravines and canyons. Jarek had seen and traveled on many such trails. Often the heights left him feeling a bit...giddy. He wasn't afraid of falling, but he was afraid of dying. It was only natural.
The trail looped up a bit before descending back down, only leveling out when they came to a frozen stream. A stilted wooden bridge spanned it. Though it was covered in snow it appeared serviceable.
They were just beginning to cross it when Jarek felt the boards beneath his feet beginning to shift. At first, he thought the elements were finally taking their toll and that the bridge was about to collapse. He started to run when he felt a heavy hand grab his baldric.
"Back away boy!" Myler yelled. Jarek gasped in surprise when he felt his feet leave the floor as he was hauled backward. It was a good thing too. Right, where he had been about to step the boards snapped and exploded outwards amidst a guttural roar that certainly wasn't made by the wind.
"Trespasser!" echoed a loud booming voice. A massive scaled hand reached up and grabbed the broken edge of the bridge and levered up the rest of the voice's owner.
It was a Kroot, but not like the three that had attacked them earlier. This one was twice their height and massive in terms of bulk. Like its smaller kin, it wore the skins of prey and the bones of its trophies. A Krootoc; the larger angrier cousin to the Kroot.
"I'll feast on your guts!" It yelled so loud Jarek had to cover his ears. It raised both mighty fists above its head. Myler drew his pistol, but before he could aim the Krootoc brought his arms down on the bridge. Already unstable from its entrance, the bridge shattered and fell out from under their feet. They both fell yelling in alarm as they hit the ice and slid several meters downstream.
Jarek struggled to his feet just in time to see the bulk of the Krootoc lumbering towards him. It took slow deliberate steps, its clawed feet unsure about the slippery surface. Jarek gave ground trying to keep as much distance between him and his opponent.
"Here is your chance," he heard Myler call and looked around just in time to see his father toss him his carbine. Though shocked he still managed to catch the weapon. Gripping the barrel and stock he looked back at his father who had drawn his beskad and kal. He must have lost his pistol in the collapse. "Show me you are ready!" he ordered taking up a fighting stance.
"Oya My'Buir!" he replied shouldering the weapon and turning toward the beast who had managed to take up one of the bridge's supports as a weapon. Myler lunged forward and slashed with his weapons causing the beast to roar in pain.
"Watch out!" Jarek warned and Myler leaped back just as the Krootoc kicked out. Jarek took the opportunity to fire three shots. One connected with its shoulder while the other two struck the wooden beam it hoisted. It swung the improvised weapon causing both to duck.
"Stay back and space out your shots!" Myler yelled and advanced on the Krootoc, "I will draw it to me!" The older Mandalorian charged in again hacking and slashing at the beast's legs under covering fire from Jarek. Enraged the Krootoc lashed out causing Myler to retreat several steps before charging in again. They repeated this coordinated attack several times but despite Myler's blades dripping with blood and the Krootoc's hide dotted with blast marks and slashes, the beast kept fighting. Every time it counter-attacked Myler was forced to leap or duck aside and Jarek had to adjust his aim. If they didn't hurry, Myler would tire and his weapon's energy cell would be depleted.
The opportunity came when in its eagerness to inflict harm the beast overextended its reach exposing its chest. Jarek aimed at one of the many open slashes and fired. The shot pierced the wound causing the beast to scream in pain. It staggered and clutched at its bleeding wounds as if noticing them for the first time. Myler took advantage of its dazed state and hurled his kal at its head. The steel blade spun end over end casting long arches of blood into the air. The point struck and sank into the beast's right eye, pulping it. The Krootoc howled in pain.
"Buir?" Jarek questioned keeping his eyes on the wounded creature.
"It is time," Myler shouted sheathing his beskad, "I will bring it down and you will kill it!" With a loud battle cry that shifted Jarek's very soul, Myler ran straight at the Krootoc. Noticing the approaching Mandalorian the beast swung its makeshift club, but it overestimated its reach. The weapon passed within inches of the warrior's visor before sailing passed. Taking advantage of the gap in the Krootoc's defenses, Myler leaped up and over its arm slamming his armored knee into its jaw. The Krootoc's head snapped back and Jarek saw teeth and blood spew out. Myler reached out grabbing a fistful of it quills as well as the handle of the knife still lodged in its eye socket. Utilizing his body weight and with the assistance of gravity, Myler used the creature's pain and size against it, bringing it crashing down to the ice. Keeping his feet Myler twisted the blade and yanked at the quills forcing the Krootoc to scream but remain laying on its chest.
"Take the shot!" Myler ordered. Jarek leveled his weapon and targeted its vulnerable head. The Krootoc narrowed its one remaining good eye at Jarek.
"Wait!" it begged, causing Jarek to hesitate as he saw a glimmer of something akin to fear in its eye.
"Do it!" ordered Myler snapping Jarek back to the present, but by then the Krootoc had regained some of its balance. It slammed a fist into the ice causing the already fragile surface to crack and give way. Just as he squeezed the trigger, the beast jerked sideways pulling Myler forward...and into Jarek's line of sight.
"Father!" Jarek cried out in fear.
The bolt struck the back of his left shoulder plate and glanced off. Myler stumbled but recovered. "Get off the Ice!" he yelled as the once frozen stream began to give way beneath them. Jarek obliged retreating to the safety of the shore. Myler tore his kal free and slashed it across the massive jugular vein in the Krootoc's throat. As the blood gushed out Myler leaped, tripping over the loose chunks of ice. He stumbled a couple of times but managed to get to the shore where Jarek waited, they both looked back in time to see the Krootoc clutching at it ruined throat while making halfhearted attempts to stay afloat. It soon sank beneath the surface. It along with the bloody blemish it created were washed downstream.
Only when the sight of it was gone did they both breathe sighs of relief. Coming down from his second life or death fight of the day, Myler was winded and taking several deep breaths. Jarek looked at the spot where the shot that was meant for the Krootoc, had hit his father instead. On the backside of his left shoulder plate was a large black carbon burn. The hardened beskar iron gleamed through the scorch mark and the Krootoc's green blood. The armor plate had done its job well. Though it hadn't caused any serious injury Jarek knew it could have been far worse.
"I am so sorry," he began but was forestalled by a raised hand from Myler.
His father took a couple more deep breathes before pointing back down the trail they would've taken. "Your grazer is getting away."
Jarek sighed and nodded. "Yes, buir." He turned and hurried on, Myler close behind. In his own way that was how Myler moved past a disagreement, by focusing on the task at hand. Despite having just fought a protracted battle against a Krootoc and three Kroot the older Mandalorian didn't slow down. How he kept the pace was a testament to his skill endurance and focus.
The path took them through a large camp occupied by a rough-looking lean-too. Bits of a carcass, debris, and other bits of flotsam lay scattered about in what Jarek could only assume was the Krootoc's den. It was right off the trail and had they not happened across it the Krootoc might've ambushed a whole hunting party. It wasn't lost on him that unbeknownst to the clan a couple of Outcast had just saved many lives. The way Myler nodded at the den, the thought wasn't lost on him either.
They were still a distance from the end of the hunter's path and still sensing unease Jarek decided to break the silence. "...I can't believe we fought a Krootoc."
"And you froze," Myler replied dryly.
Once more Jarek's face burned with shame. "I know," he said before adding quickly, "but it was staring right at me, then it moved-"
"Your prey seldom sits still and awaits death," Myler stated firmly indicating the matter to be closed.
"Yes, Buir," Jarek replied and went back to navigating the last stretch of the path. It wasn't long before they rediscovered the grazer's trail and they were back on the hunt again. As fate would have it the tracks were only minutes old. Moments later Jarek saw other telltale signs that their prey was near.
Lowering himself to a crouch he snuck up to the top of a boulder that provided a clear vantage. Near the top, he swept his gaze about a small clearing. Amidst the patches of long grass and fallen trees, and with no small amount of relief, he spotted their quarry.
"Father, look," he said in a low tone and Myler moved up beside him. The grazer stood calm, nibbling at the tall chutes of grass. Earlier the Grazer had moved too fast for him to get a good look, now he could see it clearly. It had a rack of six points with thick shoulders and well-defined haunches. It would dress out to over two hundred pounds of meat easily.
At a look from Myler, Jarek shouldered his weapon. "Wait for my mark," Myler said and Jarek aimed. "Udesii." Jarek controlled his breathing taking slow deep breathes. "Do not think of it like an animal. It is simply a target." Jarek took another breath and centered his sites directly at the area just behind the Grazers forelimb. "Clear your mind." Jarek's focus was razor-sharp, and he took one more deep breath. "Exhale," he released the air holding it halfway and his sites steadied, "and... fire."
Jarek squeezed the trigger. The shot streaked out and struck the Grazer before the bark of the muzzle even registered. The grazer leaped up, kicking violently before sprinting off into the forest.
"I got it," he said unbelievably and looked up at Myler in confirmation.
"Kandosii." his father confirmed with an approving nod.
They descended from their perch and ran down to where the grazer had been standing. Sure enough, they found great blotches of blood. A clear trail of amber liquid led into the trees. With the amount of blood loss, it suffered it wasn't surprising they found the animal only a few dozen yards away. It lay on its side, flanks heaving for air, making pitiful bugling sounds that tugged at Jarek's heart.
It was in pain and despite the ever-expanding pool of blood beneath it, the beast still clung desperately to life.
"It is suffering," Myler said kneeling next to the dying creature. "Your knife," he stated and pointed at the Grazer's throat. "Finish what you started," he said fixing his son with a hard stare.
Gulping, Jarek drew his blade. Placing it against the grazer's throat. When they locked eyes, he paused. The grazer held his gaze. It seemed to plead with him to make the pain go away. Jarek placed a consoling hand on its shoulder. The mantra that occupied his dreams came unbeckoned. It seemed appropriate.
There is no emotion...there is only Peace
There is no Ignorance...there is only Knowledge
There is no Passion...there is only Serenity
There is no Chaos...there is only Harmony
There is no Death...
He pressed and drew the blade across the grazer's throat. It cut deep severing the arteries drenching his hand in warm sticky blood. The grazer stiffened briefly before relaxing. Its eye rolled up and lids closed. After one final drawn-out breath, its body went still.
...there is only the Force.
Jarek took a breath, feeling more drained than he thought he would have. It wasn't the first time he'd seen animals die, but by his hand...it felt much more personal. He felt gratitude for the sustenance the grazer's meat would provide as well as grief that it had to die for no other reason than to provide them with food. Despite that, he was filled with boundless elation. He had done it. He had completed his first hunt.
Myler placed a hand on his shoulder and Jarek looked up at him. His father had removed his buc'ey. Though he was smiling proudly at him, he also seemed to have a look of reluctance about him. "This your first kill, ad'ika," he placed a hand on his shoulder and stared at him with steady unblinking eyes, "Do not forget this feeling?"
Jarek didn't have to ask what he meant. Myler was referring to the feeling of accomplishment and pride. It was also the feeling of sadness and guilt at taking the life of another living being. All life was precious and that taking must serve a purpose.
"I won't buir," Jarek replied, "I won't."