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It was dark outside the glow of the fire roaring before me, the light quickly lost as I looked across the circle of hunters gathered for warmth and relaxation at the end of a long and so far fruitless journey. The veterans were used to it, my packmates across many hunts sprawled in front of the fire, idly finishing off their evening meal as they talked in low voices and only the two newcomers were looking worried.

I could tell from the set of their ears and the jerky movements of their tails as they sat apart from the blooded hunters, heads close as they no doubt lamented over the lack of creatures in the region. We were on the home trip of our journey and if we did not find something worth hunting soon they would not get the chance to become men. Having to spend another season on the farm or the ships back at the village would shame them, and rightly so. Our village was one for the strong, some fishing and farming but with most of the food and trade coming from hunting the mighty beasts that populated the land.

The talk died down as the fires burned lower, eyes glowing in the reflected light as my pack turned to me. As leader it was I who decided where we hunted, I who made the choices that would decide between our return to the village in glory with heads held high or in shame with our tails stilled between our legs. The veterans were not troubled, they knew the ebb and flow of the land and that sometimes a hunt would fail without reason. I saw the recognition of choices well made in their gaze and the expectant grins on their muzzles. I knew that this was a dangerous time for our two young hunters, they were on edge and too eager for the hunt, and all the time without battle was making them rash and impatient to get their first kill and join our pack officially.

I decided they needed to know they were not alone, I thought back as I stood to address the pack, recalling how I had felt when I was the one fidgeting closest to the fire, when I was the one who could not sleep as I went over and over how my first true battle would go in my mind.

"Some of you may feel our hunt this season has been fruitless, the land angry and withholding its bounty from us as we travel witless. Many of you know this is not the case, you who have tracked and killed beside me across all the areas of the land. They know that patience is the true mark of the hunter, that for every kill there are hours in preparation, time spent following the traces and marks of our prey, slowly moving closer before being pitted against the beasts that are the strength of the land."

I could see some of the older ones relax, they knew the story I was about to tell, some of the oldest had been there when it happened, stood in battle as I did on the morning of my trial, the prey just visible to my sharp eyes, Or so I then thought, looking back I was nearly blind to the land.

"Tonight I will tell you of my trial, the day when I became a man and part of the pack I now lead. This is to show you that even though I stand as leader, I was once young like some of you, reckless to learn the ways of the hunt, to become powerful, to earn my place in the village and show that I too was worthy. Here is the tale of my first hunt.."

The two new ones were entranced, eyes fixed on me as they shuffled closer to hear. My string of good fortune on the hunt has led to somewhat of a reputation in the villages and it was clear they were expecting a tale of epic combat, me somehow being able to hunt a creature way beyond the ability of any novice to the land. With luck they would see and would learn something from my story.

"My trial took place on the plains before our village, little tracking needed as we fended off the Jaggi that then invaded our hunting grounds, Many of you have only seen them deep in the woods and shores of the great coast, but when our village was young we repulsed the creatures almost daily, fighting with blade and claw to secure our right to live from this land."

"I was to join in our final attack, I and one other for the trial. We were to hold in the fields behind the Jaggi's nest, cutting off the escape for any fleeing young as our leader, Nyai, led the pack into the front. Theirs would be the battle against the fierce King Jaggi guarding the eggs, our place was only to clear up any that were missed, and this chafed at my pride"

"Ari was my trial mate, and he felt much the same as I. Together_,_ waiting impatiently at the edge of the hunting ground, well hidden in the grasses as we strained to hear the sound of battle. He was taking idle swings at the grass with his blade, shield strapped across his back. While it grated that he could give away our position I could scarcely complain, my own tail thrashing as I hefted the plain longsword granted to me for the trial. I could not wait to unsheathe it, to stride forward from the grass and perfectly slice at some oblivious pray. I had been waiting for this moment through all of my training, practising since I was almost a cub to be a mighty hunter and follow our families long line of success."

"I remember we both jumped at the sudden roars from the nest, a seemingly endless cacophony of shrill screams from panicky young prey mixed with the deep throated warning call of the nests guardians. Soon it was joined by quick footfalls as the pack moved in to attack, the sound of weapons hitting flesh rising. We both winced at a sudden cut off scream that had clearly been from a member of the pack, ears pinning back as we were reminded of the dangers that even the most accomplished face each time they stand before one of the Monsters."

The pack were enthralled by the story, even those that had heard it a few times before leaning forward around the fire to catch my words. It was not often I talked of the time before I was the leader, happy to let my position speak for my deeds and listen to the stories told by my pack. The two on the trial had moved around to sit closer, looking younger than ever as the firelight sparkled in their eyes and cast deep shadows across their faces, ears perked to hear every detail. I wondered how long it had been since it was their parents telling them a story at night, safe in the confines of the village wall.

" The high pitched chitter of the young grew louder as we saw movement through the haze, heat and dust leaving just dark shadows moving from the rocky rear of the nest and heading in our direction. I gripped the hilt of my sword in a sweaty paw, the basic pieces of armour granted me from the village stocks suddenly seeming to cover almost none of my body and feeling flimsy against me. I heard Ari curse softly as he unhooked his shield, his shaking paw missing the rough leather loop and leaving it lopsided. He knelt to correct his error and thus I was the first to see the prey emerge from the dust."

"Of course I had seen Jaggi before, it that time they used to scream and gather at the edge of the village, quickly learning the range of our bowguns in the first days of our coming. When I was standing atop the wall staring at them in the distance they didn't seem to be anything I should be scared of. They were scrawny, thin bodies looking light and weak under leathery skin, hopping around impotently on the horizon. Now as they emerged from the dust and headed closer I noticed what my childish eyes had missed, sharp talons grasping at the dirt as they ran, long clawed arms held close at their sides and wicked looking jaws snapping to and fro as they watched for more of the pack."

"My legs trembled as two more burst from the haze to join the frontrunner, one being another jaggi but the other a larger male jaggia, thick crushing tail swaying behind it as the larger form bought up the rear. My confidence had left me and I was filled with fear, crouching low with my tail still. I was terrified that I would stay that way as the prey escaped past us, that Ari and I would return as cowards. A glance showed that he had also frozen, his sword gripped too tightly as he muttered and tried to goad himself into action."

"Suddenly the first beast was upon us, hooting as it approached our hiding spot and dived into the grass. It burst through in front of Ari, my mate so startled he jumped back and landed on his haunches before the monster. As it screamed and dove towards him I found myself in motion, the thought of coming home without my pack mate even worse than being branded a coward, even worse than not coming home at all. The long blade seemed to sing as it cleared the scabbard tied across my back, my grip sure and steady as the blade flashed in the air."

I grinned as I saw the awe filled looks from the young ones, they had looked crestfallen as I described my feelings before the start of combat but now they were hooked again, ready to hear how I had felled the beast, no doubt expecting it to be from this single masterful blow.

"Looking back now I know what my young senses missed. The singing sound was the sloppy drawing of my blade, the sharp metal cutting at the top of the scabbard...a mark that would shame me. My grip was sure, so sure that my stance was rigid, my control flawed. My blade flashed in the air and only in the air as the wild cut sliced between Ari and the beast, the blade crashing into the dirt and shaking from my paws at the impact. I stood bewildered, suddenly defenceless before the furious creature."

"I thought that my trial was ended before it even begun, my one clumsy error causing my return to the land, but it seemed each of us was driven to protect our pack mates. With a snarl Ari was at my side, his own training coming to the fore as he placed himself to guard me, shield snapping out to smash at the beast. I quickly recovered my blade, cursing and leaping back into the battle as the second jaggi lumbered into the grass."

The fire was burning low by now, the pack too busy listening to add more wood, in the darkness I could see the gleam of steady eyes, every muzzle still turned to me as the silence lengthened. I waited for the words to sink in, wanting the young ones to know that everyone was nervous before a hunt and that everyone was able to overcome it, either for themselves or for the rest of their pack.

"In our impatience for the battle we had not taken the time to decide on a plan of attack, neither of us being confident enough to take charge and direct the fight. We split off to match ourselves against the smaller pray, each of us working alone instead of quickly attacking a single target as we were taught. I caught Ari's move from the corner of my eye, trying to take in my surrounding as I had been instructed, overwhelmed at how quickly everything seemed to be moving. It seemed Ari had struck well, his sword thrusting forward and catching the monster on the breast, the beast screaming as it cringed back."

"My own attack was not so skilful, blade sweeping around in an arc and leaving little more than a scratch on the beasts flank, leaving it hissing as it checked it's pace. The jaggi tried to creep around my flank and force me to turn from the approaching male, my gaze flicking between the two as I backed away towards Ari, who was still slashing at his preys snout. As I slowly came up at his back he snarled and leapt, sword held high as he stabbed downward, his aim true as he split the thin skull and left his prey stretched in the dust, twitching as it returned to the land."

The pack cheered as they heard of Ari's first kill. I let them go on, sighing as I thought back to my hunts alongside him, always ready to stand and take a blow upon his shield when a beast pressed the attack, or waiting for that moment in the battle when one side makes a fatal error and allowed him to spring into action with the fatal blow. He had fallen a long time ago, left crushed and lame after a Barroth had erupted from the ground behind him with no time to react. I still visited him in the village, the tawny legs now useless for the hunt but letting him spend his days helping the fishers and farmers with what tasks he could.

"With one beast dead we had but a moment to strike at the other before the male arrived. We shifted around it and pressed the attack, both cutting to stop its advance and leave it on the defensive. As it jumped back and roared for help we made our move, Ari's shield crashing into its side mid leap, leaving it staggering, my own thrust piercing into its side and tearing it open on the return stroke. The kill was not elegant yet I felt elation, the red liquid spilling from the beast marking my passage into manhood if I could only survive the rest of the hunt."

"The thought bought me back to my senses, the lumbering steps of the Jaggia loud as it pounded the hard packed dirt toward us. It burst into view with a terrifying roar, leaving us both staggering in the circle of grass crushed and stained from our battle. It leapt forward, impossibly fast for something so large and snapped to the side, it's thick tail whipping out to strike me full upon the metal chest guard I was issued. I felt crushing pain on impact, my body flying back and tumbling until I lay at the edge of the clearing, coughing as I tried to rise and see the fight through sudden tears. It was more pain that I had ever felt, even after years of knocks and missed blocks in practise. The beast was unbelievably strong!"

"As I struggled to my knees I saw the beast leap again, barrelling over Ari and slamming its leg down upon him. He only just bought his shield up in time to stop the claws tearing into himbut the creature would still crush him into the land itself. I rose shakily, trying to heft my blade as I started to move forward, breath ragged and a hoarse cry on my lips as I knew I would be too late"

Some of the pack looked fearful now. Ari kept to himself these days and the younger hunters would probably not know him by name, so for them it was possible that Ari was going to die, left bleeding in the mud by my words as I failed to save him.

"With a sharp cry the beast suddenly sprang backwards, snapping its teeth in frustration as a new figure entered the battle. He moved like lightning, surging forward to jab at the beasts face with a giant lance, the ornate weapon obviously crafted from the fruit of many hunts. It was Nyai who aided us, the massive leaders eyes bright as he opened long cuts down the beasts snout. He shouted quick orders to us, having us take up positions at the beasts flanks, to dart forward and jab at it, draining its stamina as he seemed to effortlessly block its claws and teeth. Always shouting to dodge or back away just before the beast struck. He seemed to read it like the land itself, eyes taking in every shift of the creatures balance or bunching of its muscles."

"As we pressed it from all sides it did the only thing it could, screaming in rage and leaping forward to scrape at Nyais shield, hoping to knock him over as it had so easily done to us. Nyai braced himself, sturdier than the oldest tree in the village as he shrugged off the attack, slamming back with his bone reinforced shield to leave the beast stunned at the centre of the clearing."

"This time we did not need his orders, all three of us pouncing forward to impale the beast. With the ease of practise the leader shook the body from his lance, eyes already scanning the horizon as he looked for the rest of the pack, taking in the dying moments of the Jaggi pack as the last of the great Kings staggered from a mighty blow of a hammer and fell to the earth, bleeding into the land that sustained it and would now sustain us."

I lapsed into silence as I spoke of the end of the battle, the pack cheering at my past victory and encouraging the cubs...no, men waiting for their trail. I silenced them with a quick gesture, wanting them to all know why I had chosen that battle from all I had fought. "There is a lesson awaiting you in this trial, even for some of you that have proven you know how to hunt from the land."

"Even the best among us must remember our pack, the strong and the wise must teach what they know to the young to ensure they survive and the young must trust in this knowledge and their long training. Keep to your pack and look out for your mates and you too will become mighty, stronger together than you ever could be alone"

The words left them proud, the elders among the party keen to share their knowledge and advice to the newer hunters before it became time to call them to sleep. I knew from the land that we would face more of the Jaggi before the next day was done and I hoped that, with the right guidance, the young ones facing their trial out in the fields would prove worthy to join in our pack and to know what it was to live from the land as a monster hunter...