"Pfooook! Hoo-poooook!"
Amidst ragged breaths, the Mooloomooks charged forward. Their long fur, which had been hanging toward the ground, now whipped wildly in the wind, and the heavily laden cart pierced through the forest path like an arrow loosed from a bow. Ordinarily, these Mooloomooks would amble along at a leisurely pace, but now they barreled ahead with eyes wide and blazing, as if possessed by a feral frenzy. Flanking them, the horses carrying Gravel, Iris, and Nia sliced through the woods at a speed no less ferocious.
"Uwaaa!! Nia! It seems that Vrant fruit turned out to be far better feed for these beasts than we thought?!"
Dallen cried out from the cart that jolted him up and down, flapping his two wings. His feathers were already disheveled in places from the dust and wind, and his expression had devolved into one of half-dazed bewilderment.
"I only gave a teeny bit! Really, just a teeny bit!"
Nia, mounted on a horse beside the cart, waved both arms in protest with an indignant look. Even amid the chaos, Nia seemed to relish the thrill of cleaving through the wind on the galloping steed.
Keuraber clung desperately to the swaying contents inside the cart, grimacing as he fought to steady himself.
"Th-this... is this how fast they're supposed to go? Damn, I've never seen Mooloomooks go berserk like this before!"
"The Vrant fruit... isn't its effect a bit too potent?! Or maybe they're just excited to be heading back to Damu after so long?"
Mau shouted while gripping the reins. But the Mooloomooks surged onward as if wings had sprouted from their flanks, their hooves barely seeming to touch the earth.
"Nia! From now on, absolutely do not feed Vrant fruit to the Mooloomooks or the horses!"
Dallen wailed through the clamor of the cart's rattling wheels.
"But this way, we'll get to Damu way faster!"
Nia called back, eyes sparkling.
Gravel rode ahead, his long cloak billowing as he scouted the forest path before them.
"At this pace... we'll reach Damu before sunset today."
He murmured quietly to himself, then reined in his horse to fall back alongside the cart.
At that moment, Keuraber poked his head out from inside the cart.
"Hey, are these Mooloomooks really okay? The wind's slapping my face too hard!"
"Hahaha! Looks like we'll make it to Damu way ahead of schedule?!"
Mau burst into laughter.
"Nia, you didn't... slip them extra fruit on the sly, did you? Can the effects of Brant fruit really last this long?"
Dallen shot a suspicious glance.
"No! Really, I only gave a teeny bit!"
Nia protested with a earnest expression, but Dallen could only let out a deep sigh at the sight.
Gravel, still mounted, allowed a faint smile to curve his lips. Amid the thundering rush of the Mooloomooks and the uproar of his companions, he gazed steadily ahead along the distant road, as he always did.
*****
The eastern gate of Damu.
The colossal gate, fashioned from massive stones and towering trees, might at first glance resemble the forsaken ruins of some ancient site, abandoned for ages without a soul passing through. Yet upon closer inspection, the branches of the trees growing along its high walls were neatly trimmed, and the walls and pillars of the gate itself were aligned with the natural direction of the trees' growth.
Built without greatly impeding the trees' upward reach, the gate harmonized with the living forest in a way that made it easier—far more so than any edifice of cold stone alone—to envision the lives of the Dawi and Muwa, dwelling in seamless accord with the woods.
Beside the gate's doors stood Dawi soldiers in imposing full plate armor, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
The Dawi were anthro bearing the traits of bears: thick, lush fur; brawny arms; and robust, heavy builds that lent them an aura of intimidation simply by standing there.
Among them, one Dawi in particular drew the eye. His black fur absorbed the light like a void, and his enormous frame dwarfed the other soldiers by a wide margin. The armor encasing his body was forged of heavy, unyielding steel, overlaid in places with dark leather that subdued the cold gleam of the metal.
The Dawi's armor, rugged in its design, bore the scars of countless battles etched into its surface, and a long scar ran along his arm. It resembled a gash from some massive claw, left uncovered by armor or cloth, proudly displayed. To the black-furred Dawi, this scar—born of defending comrades and proving one's valor—was the pride of a true warrior.
Strapped to his back was an axe of overwhelming proportions, befitting his colossal stature. The axe head alone was as broad as a human man's torso, its honed blade catching the light with a subtle, silvery sheen. The haft was thick and rough-hewn, ample enough to fill his massive grip, wrapped at the handle with aged leather thongs for a secure one-handed swing.
His features were equally daunting. Broader and taller than his kin, with shoulders like ramparts, he was hailed by his subordinates as a living fortress. The muscles rippling through his black fur amplified the aura of a seasoned fighter. Even his deep, rumbling breaths carried a menacing weight. His broad nose and thick muzzle evoked not agility but raw, unyielding power, and the prominent scar crossing his left arm bore witness to the ferocity of battles past. The weighty plate armor and the colossal axe in his grasp marked him not as an ordinary soldier, but as the commander of the gate's guard.
The black-furred Dawi calmly spun his axe in his hand before taking slow, deliberate steps forward. His eyes fixed on the distant forest path unfurling before him.
"It's unusually quiet today, Captain Barkh."
One soldier remarked, yawning so widely that creases formed across the bridge of his nose, addressing the black-furred Dawi.
"But complacency is the enemy. The forest paths are always rife with the unforeseen—best to stay sharp."
At Barkh's words, the soldier nodded and straightened his posture.
Just then, a sound approached from afar—something hurtling toward them at breakneck speed.
"...What is that?"
Another soldier squinted, his voice laced with surprise and a hint of unease. Several had already seized their shields, while others instinctively gripped their weapons, bracing for whatever threat barreled closer.
"I've never seen a wagon charging like a madman before. Some kind of accident?"
A dust cloud billowed from the end of the forest path, and within it, something immense hurtled forward at an unbelievable velocity.
"A supply wagon? No... can it even go that fast?"
Barkh narrowed his eyes and tightened his hold on the axe's haft.
"Get out of the way!! Move, everyone!!"
In that instant, a voice cried out, slicing through the wind.
"Sorry!! We can't control it!"
It was Mau, shouting desperately from the wagon. The Mooloomooks pulling it rampaged onward without any sign of slowing.
"Whoaaa!! Captain Barkh, shouldn't we stop that thing?!"
"Haa..."
Barkh exhaled a long sigh and advanced slowly. Each step sent a heavy thud reverberating through the ground.
"Stand back. Don't get hurt."
His voice held no tremor. As his massive form planted itself before the gate, the wagon drawn by the Mooloomooks bore down on him with unrelenting fury.
With a dull thunk, Barkh slammed the long haft of his axe against the ground.
"Take it."
The subordinate who caught the massive weapon staggered under its weight, barely regaining balance. Barkh brushed off his hands lightly and strode forward. His enormous palm extended skyward. Beneath the shadow draping his brow, his eyes gleamed as they locked onto the oncoming wagon.
"Huh? That's Barkh bro? What the heck is he doing here?"
From the jolting, shaking wagon, Mau's eyes bulged wide. The Mooloomooks' harsh pants, the wagon's wheel screeches, and the clatter of crates inside filled the air around them.
"Hm? Mau?! Hahaha! Come on in! Where'd you say you were headed this time?"
Barkh stroked his chin with one hand, chuckling leisurely. The lead Mooloomook's head loomed ever closer, yet he showed no inclination to step aside.
"This isn't the time for that, Barkh bro—dodge! It's dangerous! Super dangerous~!"
Mau yanked at the reins with all his might, but the wagon was beyond control. The Mooloomooks pressed on, eyes bulging, fixated solely on the path ahead.
"But it's good to see you! So, how'd the trading go? Yeah! You were off to Rathu, right? Now I remember!"
"Bro, you're asking that right now?! Uh! Yeah, Rathu—fine, just dodge already~!"
Mau grimaced. Barkh continued in his unflappable tone.
"You've grown a bit taller, huh?"
"I'm not growing anymore, Barkh bro!"
"Hahaha! Is that so?"
Barkh ran a meaty hand through his hair and bellowed a hearty laugh. Then, planting his feet firmly against the earth, he lowered his stance, bracing for the impending clash with the Mooloomooks.
"Bro! Quit messing around and just dodge, seriously!"
"Aw, a few Mooloomooks? Piece of cake! Your big bro, the gate captain, will handle it! The Dawi of the Baheekhari don't back down!"
Barkh's shoulder muscles bunched and flexed with taut anticipation. The wind-whipped charge brought the Mooloomooks within arm's reach.
In a flash, one of the lead Mooloomooks lunged straight at Barkh. He thrust out a hand, seizing its horn and pouring his strength into the hold. The beast's head halted abruptly, as if slamming into an immovable wall, unable to advance another inch.
"Grrmph... these bastards... got some fight in 'em!"
Barkh muttered low, then clamped his other hand on the horn of a second Mooloomook charging from the side, halting its momentum cold. The creature's forelegs clawed at the dirt in a bid to surge forward, but it couldn't break free of his grasp. The wheels skidded across the ground, and the wagon ground to a shuddering stop.
"Told ya—pushing me that far ain't easy! Right, Mau?"
"..."
For a fleeting moment, Mau recalled his mother's old quip—that the Dawi of Baheekhari were all brawn and no brains—but mercifully, the thought echoed only in his mind, unspoken.
The Mooloomooks, spent and unresisting, bowed their heads in his unyielding grip. Barkh shook out his hands and stepped back, erupting into laughter.
"Krahaha! Dallen! Long time no see!"
At Barkh's booming voice, Dallen blinked in confusion, lifting his head with a dazed expression. His large eyes wobbled as they fixed on Barkh.
"Ah... it's been a while, Barkh."
Dallen managed to part his beak, murmuring in bewilderment. Leaning against the wagon's railing, he stared at Barkh, his face a whirl of bafflement and astonishment. Unsure what to say, he fumbled through a greeting, to which Barkh nodded with a warm, affable grin.
"Hahaha! Yeah, how was Rathu?"
Barkh stepped up and ruffled Dallen's head fondly. Dallen remained utterly perplexed, still grappling with the reality of a single Dawi halting a rampaging Mooloomook charge.
"Oh, right! And about those horses... er, the wagon..."
Barkh snapped his fingers as if struck by a sudden thought.
"Driving a Mooloomook wagon that fast through the forest paths? That's a violation of forest code, article seven~."
"Eh...?"
"..."
He muttered it with a straight face, then promptly dissolved into mischievous laughter. Mau stared at him in utter disbelief, sighing heavily.