“Will you, Vikien? Despite this heat?”

​

“I will, Limiel. If there’s game within the forest, my pack will find it - even with this heatwave upon us.”

​

Limiel Desna nodded as she wiped the sweat from her brows, “Good hunting, then. May your children learn what Enia has to offer, Vikien.”

 

“Thank you, Limiel.” I bowed to Limiel, and she bowed back, “My pack will find our prey and bring it home.”

 

My pack and I waved to Limiel goodbye, and she waved back. It was a hot, sweltering noon today, yet my pack and I were barely fazed by the heat that the season, Sumnen, had brought upon the village of L’omi and Omil Forest that lay beyond it.

 

I am Vikien Fioam of the Fioam-Fioa Pack, and I have used this journal to document my pack’s life in the village of L’omi. I handcrafted this journal together to help an old friend with a favor I was happy to accept. Writing down my thoughts, hunts, quests, and the status of the village within my journal helps me organize my thoughts - more now, with the blistering heat and sightings of a storm near the town I was tasked with tracking days ago. Today, Limiel Desna of the Desno-Desna Pack has sent my pack to hunt whatever game is out and about on this hot day - bringing back only four or more hunted prey, enough to feed both families. Even if we used fruits and vegetables to eat, we still used meat in our food - nutritious to help our youngest hunters grow strong.

 

In the Fioam-Fioa pack, my wife, Euqolius Fioa, was the oldest - a bit older than me. We were equally experienced in tracking and hunting down any prey - having hunted together since we wedded. Having accepted a simple quest, we took our two sons for training: Viuol and Eliuoqus Fioam. My sons have not yet hunted since we moved to L’omi, and today will be the first hunt they take part in. I had trained them on how to use hunting weapons before we moved to the village, and tomorrow, I plan on teaching my sons how to track and hunt prey on their own. For now, Viuol and Eliuoqus will watch and learn how to hunt - utilizing the training my wife and I had taught through the years.

 

As we followed the path into the Omil Forest and out from the village of L’omi, I took note of our equipment. Simple and light clothing was what we all wore, and we were all equipped with short spears used for small prey and long spears for bigger game - except for Viu, who had his training short bow with him. A small jug of water was wrapped across everyone’s waist - having been filled with cool water by Limiel and her pack before we left. I sighed and used my long, sharp ears as a makeshift fan to cool myself down.

 

“It’s sweltering hot, Vikien. Are you certain our prey is out and about on this hot day?” Euqolius asked as she sighed and used her ears as fans as well.

 

“Yes, Euqol. They are sure to be desperate for water at this time.”

 

Even if we were used to the heat, this torrid heatwave was a little more oppressive than the natural heatwaves back at my original home. Having lived in Treemacanta for five Enia years, my pack moved to Homevocan to visit my old friend, Relevim Vimrel. I decided to stay in the beautiful village of L’omi and assist the Vocanians in dealing with the naturally rare heat wave.

 

As a Macantanian, my pack had experienced heat waves occasionally. So I was more than happy to help the Vocanians deal with the hot, blistering weather of the season of Sumnen.

 

As I led my family deep into the forest, a soothing, calm wind played with my long, dark brown hair, and I picked up a familiar scent. Far away - for now. I glanced at my wife and two sons - seeing them all point in the direction of this scent.

 

“Remember,” I whispered to my two sons, “Stay quiet when you hunt. You never know if it's prey grazing or a predator looking for its next meal.”

 

They nodded - not saying a word as I crouched down upon the healthy green grass. Using my durable knuckles, I listened intently for the sound of prey. I only heard the trees around us creaking slowly - noting the direction in which their trunks were warped. My people call these trees Gale Trunks - trees whose trunks bend circularly to whichever direction the wind blows.

 

With the calm wind blowing towards my pack, I sniffed at the air quietly as I heard Euqol, Viu, and Eliuo slowly crouch down on the grass. I began to prowl within the forest's undergrowth - following the scent as my family stayed close behind. As the scent grew closer and closer, I noted the wondrous smell: an anxious, salty scent mixed with the fragrance of copper. It makes my stomach growl and my mouth salivate - this scent is an attractor to all things that feast on prey. I open my mouth to take in the full scent, and soon, my ears perk up to the distinct sound of chirping and clicking.

 

Through the undergrowth, I saw our prey: Lon Jums.

 

Little, juicy animals that jump far as they hop from tree to tree to escape predators in the blink of an eye. With long ears and slim, fluffy tails, these faunas provide excellent training for first-time hunters and plenty of meat to feed. Four of these Lon Jums were big and juicy - perfect enough for two or more families to provide. Folding my ears back and lying on my stomach, I slowly and quietly reach for my short spear within the holster wrapped around my shoulder. In the corner of my eye, I saw Euqolius and Viuol slowly take out their spears - as Eliuoqus carefully took out his short bow and an arrow.

 

As the clicking grows louder, I ready myself as I see through the grass the hopping Lon Jums eating leaves from wild flora - far yet close enough to strike. Slowly, I raise my spear - not too high for the Lon Jums to see it - and give out a deep click from my mouth, forcing the Lon Jums to raise their fattened yet durable bodies.

 

Before they would use their ears and run, I threw my spear at one Lon Jum with all my strength as Eliu and Euqol threw their spears quickly at two other Lon Jums. They squeaked when the spears hit their chests, piercing straight through their ribcages and tiny hearts as light blue blood poured out from their torsos - staining the grass as their blood slithered from their lifeless bodies. The smell of sheared copper made me lick my mouth in hungry glee, and I wagged my tail in excitement at this bountiful hunt displayed before me and my family.

 

I surveyed the dead Lon Jums - three down and one alive. The last Lon Jum chirped in fear and began to skip away as I heard the quiet creaking of the nock. I turned my head and saw Viu aiming at the fleeing Lon Jum. Lon Jums had a small window of opportunity to hop from tree to tree, so Viu did not hesitate and waited for the perfect shot.

 

Thwip!

 

A squeak of defeat and the Lon Jum fell upon the grass - arrow struck onto the still chest of the fauna. A smile curled across my face, and I began to collect the four Lon Jums - tying their limp legs together with rope, tightening it, and cutting off the section of rope with my sharp hunting knife. I removed the spears and the single arrow from the bodies - giving them back to their owners.

 

“Another fine hunt, Vik,” Euqol approached and rubbed up against my snout with hers - as I kissed her soft snout, “Good job, Viu and Eliuo. You two did wonderful today.”

 

“Thanks, mama!” My sons said in unison, and a calm smile ran across my face.

 

“Indeed, Euqol. I thank this fine Sumnen day for the bounty it has given us.”

 

“Dad, look!” Viu harshly whispered as he pointed, and I quickly turned to the direction he was pointing at.

 

I saw an all-too-familiar danger.

 

“Quick!” I whispered, and my family quickly hid in the farthest tree - crouching and reading ourselves with our weapons.

 

I peeked from the tree and saw a prowling Face Skull - a large, muscular omnivore with small, rounded ears, shaggy dark-blue fur, large, sharp claws, and a dangerous temper. It has facial flaps that reveal a muscular skull beneath - showing its fierce, sharp teeth and wild, bloodshot eyes. Due to its medium size, I knew it was a juvenile Face Skull - always scavenging other predators' meals and trying desperately to steal their meals, especially with the blistering heat. I watched it sniff at the light blue blood of the Lon Jums we hunted - huffing and growling as it licked desperately at the ground for sustenance. I hid behind the tree and readied my spear - knowing that a young Face Skull’s weakness is its overreliance on its aggression and large body. Juvenile Face Skulls are usually aggressive, the adults are less aggressive but will attack if pressed into a corner, and the elderly…

 

Either you fight for your life or become easy prey. My ears twitch at the Face Skull’s rumbling growl - sensing an imminent attack, I hold my spear tightly and ready myself. Euqolius, Viuol, and Eliuoqus ready their weapons as I wait for the bloodthirsty roar and blind charge of the Face Skull. Instead, I heard a whimper and saw the Face Skull running away - spooked by something larger or from us.

 

“Papa, why is it running away? Is it afraid of our scent?” Eliu spoke for the first time since leaving the village to hunt with the pack, and I only shook my head in response. A lovods scent is soothing to smell - a docile scent of the ocean and forest combined into one; a Face Skull couldn't be afraid of our scent as it took with aggression for trespassing upon its territory. Sensing electricity bouncing erratically, I climbed up the Gale Trunk and looked at the sky.

 

I gasp. What blotted the sky - the clear sky - was a Time Storm. A dangerous, unpredictable sky anomaly, a Time Storm is what we believe to be the largest creature outside of our world, Enia-Ahaka. If it feeds, we do not know, and if it hunts, what exactly does it hunt outside of our world? Ever since Mithven, the first lovod who went through a Time Storm and lived, we have had many questions about what a Time Storm is and its place in the ecosystem that breeds no life nor air. Not even Mithven knows of the Time Storm’s true intentions.

 

I shake my head and drop down unto the dirt below - wagging my long, erect tail quickly at the pack. They nodded, and we all ran - far away from the Time Storm. The dangers of Time Storms are clear for me, my pack, my village, and Enia itself. We never get close to a Time Storm, as it will suck you up and, through time and space, drop you into where ever it takes you - whether it’d be Gaira-Tellar or some other planet we have yet to discover.

 

Always run and never look at the storm, lest the Time Storm hypnotizes you and sends you away. It’s not that we’re fearful of Time Storms, but just like a dangerous predator we are not ready to face yet, we stay clear from the storm - for it hunts for prey we have yet seen.

 

Following the path back to the village, I stop and hear the distance thunder of the Time Storm - far away as not to be caught under its grasp. Euqol and my sons stop and listen - hearing its distant rumbles and crashes of thunder.

 

“Vik? Should we return home as soon as possible?” Euqol, with her ears lowered and her bulbous-tipped tail surrounded by our children, asks as I still carry the four dead Lon Jums in my right hand.

 

“Yes. We must find The Keepers and tell them of the storm.”

 

As we quickly returned to L’omi, I knew our hunt would attract a bigger game.