Chapter 8: The First Hunt
The morning sun had barely crested the hills when Thorne shook Elric awake.
"Get up, pup. Time for your first real hunt."
Elric groaned, blinking sleep from his eyes. Bran was already wagging his tail at the foot of the bed, excited for the day. Gora, as usual, was chewing on the leg of a wooden stool.
"Is this because I bonded with animals?" Elric yawned, dragging himself out of bed.
"Partly," Thorne said. "But mostly because you're getting soft."
Elric pouted. "I'm eight."
Thorne snorted. "You're a Shepherd, or will be. The world won't wait for you to catch up."
That word again. Shepherd. It echoed inside Elric's head every time someone said it. He didn't fully understand what it meant yet, but every day, the pieces seemed to align more clearly. His bond with Bran and Gora. The strange whispers. The crow's feather under his pillow.
His family hadn't said much—only that it was a rare gift, granted by the gods, and marked by the ability to bond with beasts in ways others couldn't. Deeply. Permanently.
And today… he'd learn to hunt.
---
The forest behind the village was quiet—too quiet. Birds chirped distantly, but closer to the ground, there was only the crunch of leaves beneath their boots. Bran padded silently alongside Elric, ears flicking with every sound.
Thorne led them deeper, carrying an old wooden spear with strange markings on the shaft. Elric's own weapon was a carved shortbow, far too big for him, but manageable with both hands.
"Keep low," Thorne whispered.
Elric crouched, heart thumping.
They moved through the underbrush until Thorne raised a fist. Bran froze. Elric followed suit.
Ahead, in a clearing ringed by broken stones and moss, a small creature sniffed the air. It looked like a fox but had shadowy tendrils wrapping around its paws. Its fur was silver-gray, with two black horns curving behind its ears.
[System Message: Beast Detected]
Species: Shade-Touched Fennec
Rank: Beast Rank 1 – Tier 5
Status: Injured. Scared. Potential bond detected.
Elric stared. "It's hurt."
Thorne nodded. "A scout. Or an exile. The shadows mean it's touched by a rift—but it hasn't turned yet. We can save it."
Elric's voice trembled. "You want me to kill it?"
Thorne looked down. "I want you to choose. If you want to protect the village, the first thing you must learn… is when to spare and when to strike."
Elric stepped forward, bow shaking in his hands.
The fox looked up, locking eyes with him. There was no hatred—just fear. Elric felt it… not just saw it. He heard it inside.
"Please… don't."
His hand dropped. "No. I won't."
Bran moved beside him, standing guard. The fox didn't flinch.
Thorne watched silently.
Elric kneeled slowly. "You're hurt. Let me help."
The fox inched closer. Bran stayed still. Elric extended his hand.
[Bond Request Detected]
Attempting Beast Bond...
Success!
You have bonded with Shade-Fox: 'Nyx'
Abilities Gained: Shadow Step (limited), Keen Senses, Bonded Link
Progress toward Class Awakening: 11%
Elric gasped as he felt something click inside his chest. A thread formed between his heart and the fox's. A warm pulse traveled back and forth.
Nyx—the name just appeared in his head—licked his palm.
Thorne stepped into the clearing. "That… was fast."
"He talked to me."
Thorne raised an eyebrow. "You heard him?"
Elric nodded. "It wasn't words. It was just… knowing."
Thorne's eyes gleamed. "You're further along than I thought."
---
As they returned to the village, Elric couldn't stop staring at Nyx. The fox padded beside Bran and Gora, completing a strange little trio. His "pack" now had three.
That night, Thorne called a quiet meeting with Mira and the rest of the family.
"It's begun," he told them. "He's already bonded with three animals. And he hears them."
Mira frowned. "That early?"
Thorne leaned forward. "The Shepherd Class is responding to something. It's not just awakening—it's hurrying."
Across the village, in the deepest shadows, a pair of insectoid eyes watched from the trees.
The Hive Queen had sent her first scout. And it had seen enough.
---
End of Chapte