Tenulan was left to his thoughts as Orin drifted to sleep. He took another look at the other applicants before turning to Orin. I see you have begun to exit your shell. With a small smile, Tenulan closed his eyes. It is good for you to make connections with others, Orin. Perhaps we will have a strong band of applicants to face the Hunter Exam with together. Many hands make light work, after all.
He frowned. But something about that Killua boy bothers me. There is a certain darkness that I saw in him. His past is not as pure as it seems. Of course, for such a boy to reach this place by himself, Killua must be an extraordinary individual. He also appeared genuine in his time with Orin, however brief it was.
Orin. You may not yet realize it, but Killua is hiding his past from you, as I have. The time will come when he does reveal it. I only hope that you respect him as you did for me.
Tenulan shifted against the wall. The temperature of Zaban City above, as well as Dolle Harbor and even Sherde was much too high for his liking. Fortunately for him, the tunnel he was waiting in was much cooler than those places. Even still, he found himself longing for the frigid air of his homeland. It must nearly be the deepest part of winter now. Ah, how I miss the true cold. Cold that burns the longs. Cold that drives the world to a standstill.
Tenulan's homeland was already cold and dry throughout the year, but the winters were often particularly brutal. This extreme weather was often the cause of mass die offs of livestock as grazing areas could become inaccessible due to a variety of factors. The frequency of these events resulted in his people naming the disasters dzud*.
Even so, despite the inhospitable climate, Tenulan was most comfortable there. After all, it was all he had known for most of his life. The first weeks following his exile, when he wandered aimlessly outside of his homeland, were the hardest for him, as he had not yet grown accustomed to the comparatively hot weather. The clothes he had been wearing were designed to insulate him incredibly well, which harmed Tenulan more than it helped outside of his homeland. Thus, one of the earliest things he acquired was a new set of clothes. Those once-new clothes were the ones that he now wore, save for the boots he had been gifted.
Those days were an ordeal for Tenulan beyond the temperature, too. At that time, the only language he could understand and speak was that of his homeland, and it took some time before he grasped Basic, the language of what seemed to be the rest of the world. Even still, he sometimes struggled to find the proper word, and he still at times felt uncomfortable speaking the language, wishing he could simply speak his native tongue.
And yet, by some miracle, Tenulan survived. His wandering spanned countries and continents, leading him to the humble port town of Sherde by chance. Had he not been told of the Hunter Exam, he would have continued wandering without a clear destination, without a purpose. I truly have been lucky to reach this place. The odds were one in ten thousand for a normal person, but my own odds were lower. I had not even heard of the Hunter Exam until it was nearly too late. And if Orin had run down a different street, I may never have boarded a boat at all. I owe it to the boy to pass, and to help him also do so.
A thought suddenly entered Tenulan's head. It was one he came across before over the past few days, but he hadn't seriously considered it until now. Perhaps, if I pass the Hunter Exam, I would be able to return to my homeland.
It was a long shot for sure. The terms of exile amongst his people were absolute: Exiled individuals had to leave the homeland and could never return. With one exception. The one responsible for the exiling could rescind the decision. Of course, Tenulan had never heard of such a thing happening. He only knew that it technically could happen. Not to mention, there was no way for his people to know that he passed the Hunter Exam without him returning to them in the first place.
A risk. But is it one I should take? Tenulan weighed the options. He had no true goal since being exiled, so he wasn't sure what else he would do if he passed. But there was something that he was told that resurfaced in his mind. Something the usurper told him as he was exiled.
"They were not strong. Neither are you. You disgrace your people with weakness. For that, you are exiled. Only the strong have the right to rule."
The voice rang in his head, the image of his home in flames flashing in his eyes. The "they" of course was referring to his parents. I was also weak then. But if he could prove his strength? He would no longer be a disgrace. And there was one thing about the usurper that Tenulan knew. The usurper was once someone close to him, after all. To that person, strength was the most important thing.
If Tenulan could prove, without a doubt, that he was strong, he knew that his exile would be rescinded.
/\/\/\
Orin drifted back to the waking world, shaking his head. For a moment, he worried that he had somehow missed the Hunter Exam, but the other applicants were still waiting around him. Some had moved to different places, sure, but the few hundred applicants stood in the same area of the tunnel as before. Tenulan had crossed his legs, crossing his arms over his chest, and was staring off into space. His bag lay between him and Orin.
Wonder how long I was asleep for. Wonder how much longer until the Hunter Exam starts. The elevator doors at the beginning of the tunnel slid open with a soft "ding" of the bell. Orin could hear the occupants of the elevator quickly stop what sounded like an argument.
Out walked three applicants. Farthest from Orin was a blond-haired person wearing a blue and red tabard over a white full-body suit of some sort. They also carried a gray satchel across their chest. Are they a boy or a girl? Can't really tell from here.
The closest applicant to the boy had a much different appearance: the man was incredibly tall, maybe a few inches taller than Tenulan, but incredibly skinny comparatively. He had short, black spiky hair and a small pair of sunglasses with round lenses. Interestingly, the man was wearing a full suit and tie while holding a briefcase over the back of his shoulder. That guy looks like he should be at a meeting right now. What's he doing here?
Last, but certainly not least, was the applicant in the middle. A boy. Like Orin. And Killua. This boy was all green: green jacket, green shorts, and green boots. His hair, long and spiky, was even a dark green, and Orin could see the other boy's large hazel eyes (not green, Orin noted), even from that distance. The new applicant also carried a small backpack with a long, silver rod fixed to it. Another kid my age? Orin slowly stood up. Wonder if I should introduce myself…? Tenulan raised an eyebrow as the boy made his way into the crowd, but did not follow.
The tall one muttered something, and the blond replied in a similar tone, their eyes scanning the other applicants. The boy then stepped forward, calling out, "Excuse me," but the crowd simply turned away. Orin got just close enough to get a clear line of sight as the strange green humanoid from before handed tags to the new applicants, 403 for the tall man, 404 for the blond one, and 405 for the boy. Orin checked his tag as watched the trio. 392… Huh. Guess this number is for the order we got here?
Not one second passed after the green creature walked away before Orin heard a familiar voice call to the three new applicants. The boy groaned to himself. Tonpa? Come on. He watched as the portly man approached the other three. Well, I can't really interrupt after how I talked to Tonpa. Orin hid in the crowd, just within earshot of the man. I mean, maybe he isn't the Rookie Crusher. He probably is, but what if I just came off as an asshole?
Tonpa ran through his spiel that Orin already heard, but the boy caught the names of the three applicants: Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio. Based on his voice, Orin guessed that Gon was the name of the boy but didn't have a clue as to which of the other two was Kurapika and which was Leorio. Orin tried to stay out of sight as Gon asked, "Hey, Mr. Tonpa, can I ask you something? Has anyone else taken the exam a lot of times like you?"
Tonpa replied, "None of them are as seasoned as I am." You could say that, Orin smirked. Tonpa continued, "But speaking of that, look over there."
Orin tried to find where the man was pointing, seeing a large, rotund man seated amongst the applicants. His light hair was slicked back into a ponytail, showing off the shaved sides of his head. He was eating something. "Number 255. Todo, the wrestler. Not only is he powerful, but he's also got a sharp mind." Tonpa swung his hand across the crowd of applicants to another that Orin couldn't spot. "Over there is number 103, Bourbon, the snake charmer. He tends to hold grudges, so you'd better not mess with him."
Orin tried to keep up as Tonpa pointed out more applicants to Gon, but the brown-haired boy couldn't find most of them through the crowd, leaving him with only whatever Tonpa had said about them. There was number 191, an old martial artist named Bodoro. He was apparently incredibly skilled, and most could never beat him in a spar. Next was a trio of brothers named Amori, Imori, and Umori. Orin snickered at their repetitive names. The three brothers' teamwork allowed them to perform well in previous Hunter Exams. There was also number 384, Geretta, the huntsman, who apparently used a blowgun and a club. "Of course, there are more, but those are the regulars," Tonpa concluded.
After the man finished, Orin heard the sound of an applicant bumping into another behind him. He paid it no mind at first, but the boy quickly turned around when he heard a man scream. The other applicants around gave the man a wide berth, so Orin had a clear view of the man, who was dressed like some kind of medieval soldier, shoulder pauldrons and all. Of course, his most notable feature was his arms, which slowly disintegrated into what looked like flower petals. Huh? How does that even happen?
The only other person in the clearing was a tall man dressed like a clown, who calmly said to the gathered crowd, "Ah, how magical." The clown had a white suit of sorts with the four suits of cards printed across his chest and back, with what looked like pink coils underneath. His face was sharp, with a star and teardrop under his eyes. His red hair was gelled and pulled back. "His arms turned into petals, just like that."
The clown spread his arms out. "And I didn't even touch him." His yellow eyes looked down with scorn on the other man, who fell to the ground in pain. "You ought to be more careful. Or at least apologize when you bump into someone."
"It's that guy again…" Tonpa's voice wavered. Orin turned around to watch the man.
"Again?" Gon repeated.
The blond one ventured, "Did he participate in last year's exam?"
Tonpa's eyes were intense. "Number 44, Hisoka, the magician. He should've passed the exam last year, but he was disqualified after he nearly beat an examiner to death."
"Is it really fair for a guy like that to take part in the Hunter Exam?" the tall one asked, barely keeping himself together.
Tonpa was quick to reply. "Of course it is. The examiners change each year. They then decide the challenges of the Hunter Exam. Meaning, if he met the criteria set by the examiners for a given year, even the Devil himself could pass. That's what the Hunter Exam is all about."
"In short, stay away from him. He's nothing but bad news." Tonpa noted. Then, the man began to dig in his satchel. Oh no. Not this again… "Hey, how about we celebrate our friendship with some drinks!"
Orin weighed his options as Tonpa distributed three cans of the (probably) tampered juice to the trio of Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio (though as to who was who, Orin still couldn't tell). On the one hand, Orin had a hunch that Tonpa was trying to sabotage first year applicants. Therefore, Orin would be justified in intervening to prevent the worst outcome.
Gon and the tall applicant both readily opened their cans, while the blond seemed more hesitant. Their gray eyes watched the other two warily. On the other hand of course, Orin still could be wrong about sabotage. If I butted in then, I'd be seen as the bad guy. And that'd be a real bad first impression to that Gon, as well as the other two.
The boy in green and the man in the suit raised the cans to their lips. Shit, this could be bad. Should I do something? If something happens to those guys, I'll have to live knowing I just stood by doing nothing…
Gon took a sip, only to immediately spit it out. Huh? "Mr. Tonpa, I think this juice is expired." The boy tried to smile, but failed. "It tastes kinda funny."
This caused the tall applicant to spray juice from his mouth. "Seriously? That was close!" He rubbed a sleeve against his mouth. Orin let himself smile a little as he watched. Al~right then. Two things I learned. One, I was right not to trust Tonpa. Two, Gon is a little dense.
Tonpa fell to his knees, hands clapped together as the blond applicant poured their juice to the ground. The man begged, "My humblest apologies! I hadn't realized that the juice was expired!"
"It's alright," Gon replied. "There's no need to apologize." Well, there is, but not for that. Gon continued, "But are you alright? Did you get a stomachache?"
"No, I'm fine." Tonpa replied, looking up at the boy.
"I've tried all sorts of plants and herbs in the mountains, so I could tell just by a sip."
"R-really? Wow, that's amazing!" Tonpa was trying to hide his nervousness. "I'm sorry about that, but I've got to go now. See you later!" The man made his hasty exit, wading into the crowd.
"Man, he's got a loud voice," The tall applicant mumbled. Orin let out a breath he had been holding for a while. They're lucky that Gon could tell something was up. If only he wasn't so trusting of Tonpa, though. The pieces are all there… Now that Tonpa had left, though, Orin finally had a chance to introduce himself. He exited the crowd, approaching the three applicants. Here goes…
"Hey," Orin said with a wave as he got close. The three turned to him. Gon's eyes lit up upon seeing another person close to his age (or at the very least close to his height). The tall man raised an eyebrow, while the blond applicant narrowed their eyes for a moment before returning to a neutral expression. Orin swallowed. "Uh, are you guys also first timers?"
"Yep!" Gon happily replied. "Hey, how old are you?"
"I'm twelve," Orin replied with a small laugh. Second time today.
"Wow, me too! I'm Gon," the boy in green said with a wide grin.
"I'm Orin," the boy in red replied. "And are these two your friends?"
The other two applicants stared at Orin for a moment, as if to size him up. Maybe I should've waited a bit before introducing myself. The taller applicant shrugged to the blond one. "I'm Leorio," the tall one said with a small nod. So that means the blond one's—
"Kurapika," the third applicant said, closing their eyes with a sigh. "You were listening to us talk to Tonpa, right?"
Orin's eyes widened. "Uh, well, you see…" Oh no. Oh no. "I, uh, I'm sorry."
"What for?" Gon tilted his head. Gon, I have only just met you, and somehow you have already been more oblivious than Tenulan. That's saying something.
"Well, I…" Orin looked away from the other applicants. "I knew the juice wasn't good. I could've said something…"
"So why didn't you?" Leorio half-yelled.
"Because," Orin's voice grew quieter. "I wasn't sure. I met Tonpa earlier, and he gave me a can of juice too, but I didn't drink any. So, I just had a hunch."
"Leorio," Gon said to the taller applicant. "Don't be so mean to him. I guess he was just a little shy."
Leorio sighed. "Can you blame me, though? I was this close to swallowing that juice!"
"Orin? What is the matter?" Orin turned to see Tenulan seemingly appear from thin air behind him. When'd you get here? And how were you so damn quiet?
Kurapika eyed Tenulan warily. "And who're you?"
"Ah, my name is Tenulan. Orin and I have been working together to reach the Hunter Exam," he explained.
"Hi, Tenulan! I'm Gon!" The spiky-haired boy chirped, hand outstretched. Tenulan stared at the hand for a moment before he mirrored the motion, completing the handshake. Tenulan's hand almost completely covered Gon's.
"Gon," Kurapika said through gritted teeth. "Are you sure you trust these two?"
The boy replied by staring at Orin and Tenulan for a few seconds. His hazel eyes seemed to burn straight to Orin's soul. Gon turned to Kurapika with a thumbs up. "Yep. They don't seem like bad people."
Kurapika sighed before introducing himself to Tenulan. "I'm Kurapika."
"And I'm Leorio," the suited applicant said. Now that Tenulan was here, Orin could confirm that Leorio was in fact a few inches taller than Tenulan. On the other hand, Gon looked to have about an inch on Orin. Well, anyways. If Gon trusts us, that's good, right? Even if he seems to give it to just about anybody. Leorio leaned forward. "Hey, since we've got you two here…"
Gon grimaced upon hearing the man. "Not this again…"
Orin was confused for all but a second before the man rested one hand on Orin's shoulder, and the other on Tenulan's. "So, what kind of hunter do you two want to be?"
"What do you mean?" Orin asked. And why did Gon react like that?
"I'm glad you asked. You see, being a Hunter is an incredibly lucrative career." Leorio said with a smirk.
"Again, you're wrong about that!" Kurapika pulled Leorio off the two applicants. "Being a Hunter is the most noble profession one can have!"
"But listen," Leorio turned to Orin and Tenulan. "Every year, out of the top 100 richest individuals in the world, at least 50 are Hunters!"
Orin didn't have time to think before Kurapika shoved the man to the side. "That is because the role of a Hunter is so important. Hunters are responsible for protecting both mankind and the natural order. That's what being a Hunter is really about."
Leorio shoved back. "But with a Hunter License, you can travel almost anywhere! And use public amenities for free!"
Behind the two fighting applicants, Gon sighed. Oh. I see now. This must have been what they argued about on the elevator.
Kurapika put his arm in front of Leorio. "Again, because of the important responsibilities of a Hunter. Hunters preserve artifacts and endangered species, while also capturing wanted criminals, which may include rogue Hunters."
Leorio began to shout, "Fame and money! That's the real point of being a Hunter!"
Kurapika's voice also rose. "Hunters have sound minds and bodies, and the conviction to do what is right. The selfless acts of a Hunter are the source of their glory!"
Money or glory? If you ask me, one thing matters a bit more. Sorry, Kurapika.
The two shouted in unison at Orin and Tenulan. "Well? What kind of Hunter do you want to be?"
Oh.
Gon laughed nervously as he swung around to stand next to the other boy, who replied, "Uh, I think the money part is pretty important."
"See? I told you, goody two-shoes!" Leorio spat in Kurapika's face.
"That is odd." Tenulan furrowed his brow. "I had believed that Hunters are simply the strongest. The money should not be of any importance."
"Right! Money isn't everything, Leorio." Kurapika turned to the taller man. Wow. They're really going at it.
As if realizing the two sides were still tied, Kurapika and Leorio turned to Gon, speaking in unison again. "Gon! Now it's your turn!"
/\/\/\
Tonpa sighed. Despite all his efforts, the rookies in that year's Hunter Exam were all able to avoid his initial attacks thus far. He replayed his meetings with some of them in his head as he spotted them in the crowd.
The first he saw was Hanzo, a tall bald man in black garb, who was chatting with two other applicants. He seemed like an easy mark, talkative and gullible, even going so far as to tell Tonpa that he was a ninja, and he didn't even stop there. Hanzo confessed that he was searching for some scroll that Tonpa couldn't be bothered to remember the name of, but the scroll was supposedly in a restricted country. But, when Tonpa offered a can of juice laced with laxatives, Hanzo declined, saying that ninjas couldn't accept gifts from anyone. The scariest part was that Hanzo's personality did a complete 180, becoming deadly serious.
Tonpa heard a clicking noise behind him, cringing as another applicant passed. This one was tall and skinny, with needles protruding from his shirt and, more notably, his head. His head shook from side to side as he walked, creating that unnatural sound. Tonpa didn't know who applicant 301 was, but he was far too creepy to even try and talk to.
A different clicking noise brought Tonpa to see a face he had quickly grown to hate. A short, chubby boy with slick black hair was typing away on a laptop computer. Applicant 187, Nicholas, had apparently used the data from previous Hunter Exams to find the exam site, and also had data on every other applicant, including Tonpa's. The little brat had even gone so far as to figure out that Tonpa was the Rookie Crusher. He gritted his teeth before his mouth curled into a sinister grin. He would get his revenge soon enough.
"Mr. Tonpa!" A higher pitched voice called out from behind Tonpa. He turned to see the pale, white-haired boy he had met earlier, applicant number 99. The boy waved as he asked, "Do you have any more of that juice? I got thirsty again since I'm so nervous."
Tonpa was caught off guard, to say the least. He replied, "Oh, sure!" That was odd. The boy should have been under the effects of the laxative by that point. He had drunk a can already, after all. Something wasn't adding up to Tonpa as the boy ran up to the older applicant. Tonpa handed a few cans to the boy, who immediately opened one and chugged it. Tonpa grew slightly worried for the boy. He had ingested enough laxatives to kill a man due to dehydration.
"Are you worried about me?" the boy asked with a confident smile. "I was trained for this, so it's alright." He opened his eyes to look at Tonpa. The boy's blue eyes grew cold. "Poisons don't work on me."
"Poison?" Tonpa repeated as applicant 99, Killua, walked away, hands in his pockets. Somehow, the boy knew Tonpa spiked the juice. And for some reason, the boy drank it anyway!
A bunch of oddballs. And somehow, all managed to escape the wrath of Tonpa. Even that weird pair of applicants: that boy, Orin, who looked to be the same age as number 99 and 405, and that muscular applicant named… What was it, Tempura? No matter. The boy guessed Tonpa's true intentions on a whim while the other seemed like a fish out of water when Tonpa handed him a can of juice. It was as if the man had never even seen a canned drink before in his life.
And how could he forget the newest arrivals: Leorio, Kurapika, and Gon. That boy could taste the laxative despite it being both tasteless and odorless. The beanpole Leorio was this close to falling prey to Tonpa, too. Of course, Kurapika was suspicious from the beginning, though it seemed that Gon and Leorio hadn't quite reached the same conclusion.
All in all, the rookies that year were turning out to be some tough nuts to crack. Tough to crack, indeed. No matter, though. The real fun was just getting started.
/\/\/\
Tenulan watched Leorio and Kurapika continue to argue over what was most important for a Hunter. After Gon managed to skirt around answering their questions regarding the boy's thoughts, the two other applicants simply turned to each other and began hurling insults. I have heard enough of this.
Tenulan exhaled hard as he approached the arguing applicants. He placed a hand on each one's shoulder, turning them to face him. "That is enough from you two, I believe. It does not matter what each of us seek here."
The blond one, Kurapika, closed his eyes. "That's a fair point. We should focus on the Hunter Exam in front of us."
Leorio looked away sheepishly. "Well, when you put it that way…"
"Very good. Now then. I believe your friend Gon believes that Orin and I are trustworthy. Therefore, I propose that the five of us work together to surpass the trials of the Hunter Exam. There is strength in numbers, after all." Tenulan smiled as he let go of Kurapika and Leorio.
"That sounds good!" Gon quickly chimed in. "Let's all work together, guys!"
Leorio added, "Alright. I don't have any objections."
Kurapika hesitated. That one seems more wary than the other two. "I suppose we can cooperate. For now."
Tenulan watched as Orin and Gon grinned at each other. I am glad you noticed these three, Orin. I am sure that they are all capable of passing the Hunter Exam. Their assistance will be a great boon for us.
Suddenly, a sound like an alarm clock rang out through the tunnel, the bell ringing for a few seconds before stopping. Despite being taller than many of the applicants, Tenulan could not see far enough through the crowd to find the source of the noise.
That is, until a wall at the end of the tunnel was raised into the ceiling with a loud rumble. Tenulan could now barely make out the head of a single person, who had been standing on the other side of the wall. They looked to be very tall and skinny, their lavender hair framing their face, before it curled slightly at the ends. They also had a thin, curled moustache and, perhaps most notable, was a seeming lack of a mouth. Ah, I must be too far away to see this person's mouth.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting for so long." The person announced. "Registration for the Hunter Exam is now closed."
Their voice echoed across the tunnel. "And so, the Hunter Exam begins now!" murmurs rippled through the applicants. "Allow me to remind you all again that if you are not either lucky or strong enough, participation in the Hunter Exam could lead to serious or even fatal injuries. For those of you who understand this, and take the test regardless, please follow me. For those who wish to give up, please leave using the elevator behind you."
Not one applicant backed out. Every single one was here because they had the tenacity and will to pass the exam. At least, each applicant believed they did. After waiting for a few seconds, the lavender-haired person continued. "Very well. 404 candidates have elected to take the first test."
They pivoted suddenly, stretching one arm straight in front of them, and the other stretching behind them. They then began to walk away from the applicants, taking wide strides from their exaggerated form. After a second passed, the crowd in front of Tenulan and the other four applicants comprising the impromptu team finally began to move themselves, giving room for the group to begin walking after the strange person.
"I guess nobody's pulling out," Leorio noted. They started at a leisurely pace, gradually accelerating to a speedwalk before beginning to jog, then finally run. Leorio muttered, "What's going on now?"
"The ones up front started running," Gon stated the obvious.
Kurapika concluded, "That man is picking up his pace."
The man then called to the crowd following him, "Oh, I forgot to mention. My name is Satotz, and I am the official examiner for the First Phase. I will be leading you all to the venue for the Second Phase."
Someone near the front of the crowd asked, "Second Phase? Then what's the First Phase?"
"The First Phase has already begun. Following me to the Second Phase is your objective. I apologize, but I cannot inform you where or when we will arrive. You'll just have to follow me."
"So, that's it?" Kurapika sounded disappointed.
"What a strange test…" Gon mused.
"He must be testing our patience," Leorio noted. "Just what I was hoping for! We just have to catch up with him wherever he goes!"
"Man, I hope it's not too far," Orin groaned. "I've always hated running."
Tenulan chuckled. "Well, Orin, if you grow tired, do not worry. I shall carry you if need be."
"Please tell me you're joking," the boy cringed.
"I do not joke." Tenulan focused on the crowd in front of him. I am confident that I will manage, wherever we may be led. But I worry for you, Orin. I do not know how far your stamina can take you. But it is no matter. I will assist you in any way I can.
Of the 405 applicants that reached the exam site, one was eliminated before the exam ever began. No other applicants dropped out, so 404 candidates had entered the First Phase. The culling of the Hunter Exam had begun. By its completion, nearly every applicant in the tunnel would no longer be a participant in the Hunter Exam. Satotz had said that without luck or strength, applicants could be injured or worse. Going further, only the applicants with the most of each would have a chance of passing.
The 287th Hunter Exam had begun.
Lessons in [REDACTED] Culture 103
A dzud, or simply zud, is a unique type of natural disaster known to occur in Tenulan's homeland as well as other regions of a similar climate. There are a variety of causes of a zud, but the end result is the same. Grazing land that his people rely on to sustain livestock is destroyed or otherwise becomes inaccessible. In total, there are six types of zud, categorized by their cause:
· Tsagoh (white): high snowfall prevents livestock from reaching the grasses underneath. Perhaps the most common type of zud.
· Khirt (black): lack of snowfall, leading to dehydration for both livestock and people.
· Tened (iron): a short period of warming in winter followed by immediate sub-freezing temperatures creates a nearly impenetrable sheet of ice over grazing land.
· Holkh (cold): extreme temperature drops beyond the normal prevent livestock from grazing, as they must use most of their energy just to keep warm.
· Haashun (combined): any combination of at least two of the above types.
· Tukhun (chained): any of the above types are geographically widespread. Also may include manmade influences, such as overgrazing.
Hi, it's Glaive, the author! Thanks for reading!
Aaaand here's the "part 2" chapter. Had I chosen not to split this and the previous chapter, there would have been 10,992 words, and that's before including any of the footnotes I've wedged at the end of chapters because I can.
With that, I'd like to clarify that you don't have to read the additional notes I've included if you don't want to. Their inclusion is more along the lines of fun facts when they're not translating words from another language. Overall, then, I think, emphasis think you won't be missing any important information.
That's it for now.
"See you next time!" – Dolce Kamiya, Yakuza 0
