Spirit Taming

Seeing the caravan leave them in the dust was an interesting experience. They were barely away from the gate but felt that they were completely alone. The sounds of the hordes and wheels were already faded. The gate nearby didn’t let much sound pass through.

"The outskirts are most fields before hitting the forest. If we stay in the fields we should be able to catch a few of the smaller horned rabbits around here and there." Clark planned it out in his head. He knew that they would be able to play it safer than heading out in to the forest itself where they could get lost in the trees.

"I won’t be going anywhere near that forest. It’s asking for trouble." Maria was not at all confident that they would be able to survive the forest. It was dangerous even for experienced travelers.

"Let’s just move in to the grass with the walls at our backs. That way we can watch the fields for any movement." The hunting strategy was basic for bow and arrow hunters. Maria liked the logic because it was something she knew already.

"Then we need to find tall grass to sit in. also, we need to be downwind." She was already showing Clark what she knew. It was mostly new information to him even though he had read about some of it.

The survival tactics someone used while in the wilds were the key to survival. Unfortunately, they had not reached the point in their classes where they would need to train it to a higher degree. Their last outing to the wilds should have trained it but due to the situation, it didn’t happen like that.

"Here should be good. The wind is headed our way, you will potentially smell them before you see them. Some beasts have a sweaty or dirt smell. Especially ones that eat grasses." Maria had learned this from the bow instructors she had when she was much younger. This was all before her family had completely given up on her and thrown her out of their home.

"I can see what you mean. The way the wind blows makes the grass all flow in a singular pattern. The places where there are rocks breaking the grass makes the grass sway differently." Clark was picking up on the differences quickly. He felt that a lot of things he had read were making more sense. He could grasp a lot of his hunting knowledge this way.

"There." Maria pointed out a patch of grass that seemed to be swaying in the opposite direction. It was also not staying in the same spot. "That’s where we are going to hunt first. I will use my bow. It’s better to have support when you are being reckless."

The comment hit Clark a little hard since he thought Maira would have accepted that they were being as safe as possible. But he realized that even the outskirts where there were many patrols by the city guard, were dangerous. "Sounds good. I will sneak up and try to ambush it."

The idea was simple, but as Clark moved through the grass with his spear at the ready, he found it was hard to remain crouched below the grass while being silent. If he stood up he would give away his position. But if he pushed himself faster he would do the same. He had to maintain a slow crawl.

’It is recommended that the host maintains tactics as they are using now. It is advantageous to the current acclimation of edens end taming space within the user’s body. Experiencing many different battle tactics can only expand...’

The system stopped as Clark tuned it out. He already knew that battle was having an effect of helping him acclimate to the new unique taming space he had. Now was not the time to worry about it. He had to maintain a razor sharp focus on the sounds of chewing he was approaching.

Just through the yellowed grasses, Clark saw the brown furred horned rabbit. The bone white horn had fresh blood on it and another horned rabbit was already dead nearby. The two had clearly fought over territory. It was a free horned rabbit body to take.

The moment that Clark was preparing to use the falling moon pierce, the horned rabbit turned an ear toward him and growled. The next moment, Clark saw it lower its body and turn. If his instincts hadn’t taken hold of his body, Clark would have been seriously injured or dead.

The speed that the horned rabbit boasted was more than Clark expected. He knew this was not a full grown horned rabbit by the smaller size, but it had power. The horned rabbit narrowly missed Clark while he changed tactics to the crescent moon slash.

The brown fur split open easily exposing the ribs of the horned rabbit. The squeal of pain was matched by a second squeal and a thunk sound. The arrow that had buried itself in the horned rabbit’s skull was able to penetrate right through to its brain. Maria jogged over and started pulling the arrow out.

"Clark, we need to work fast to store them away. They will attract other predators." Clark was quick to do so. He was surprised by the horned rabbit but more surprised by Maria. She had a much harder look on her face. A much more serious atmosphere around her. He was very impressed.

"I think there is already one here. Look, two more right there heading this way." Clark had looked up to find two horned rabbits leaping toward them. He didn’t hesitate to use the rising moon upward slash. This time he had a lot more focus on his movements. He wasn’t underestimating them at all.

The first horned rabbit impaled itself on Calrk’s spear. The slash had become pierce in a way. The second horned rabbit tried to stab Clark but was met by a dagger sliding at its back leg. Maria had not let it get away with ignoring her.

Due to the damage it had taken, Clark had the time to use the falling moon pierce and take down the horned rabbit with his other spear. As much as he hated using the basic spear in the open, there was no one around. He also had it in his spatial ring for a reason. If he could not quickly take it out to fight, then what was the point? He would just die there.

"This is...fun." Maria was panting. She felt a lot of adrenaline at the moment while they had fought. It was much more exhilarating than the coliseum. She could feel the difference between actually beating an opponent that would kill her and move on than an opponent that was forced to hold back. She knew this was wrong, killing something shouldn’t be the end all be all, but she felt she was going to get stronger.

"I think you might have a little battle maniac in you. When you meet the Mane family again, you will get along with Clara a lot better." Clark felt it was amusing that a potential enemy would become a powerful driving force behind his revenge. A supporter that he would grow stronger with to bring true justice.