The leader's two words, "Found you," were not spoken loudly, but in the silence of the forest, they were as sharp as a blade, severing every fragile hope of concealment Aidan had left. He felt the blood freeze in his veins. The fern bush no longer seemed like a protective screen, but a flimsy cage, exposing them to the gaze of the wolves.
Just as Aidan was about to move instinctively, a calloused hand, as firm as steel, clamped down on his shoulder, holding him in place. It was Kaelen. Aidan glanced at him and saw a terrifying calm on the older man's face. Panic was gone, replaced by the cold acceptance of a man who had stared death in the eyes too many times. His eyes gave a silent command: "Stay still. Follow my lead."
The members of the Three-Headed Wolf team fanned out, forming a loose but seamless encirclement around the rock ledge. The large crossbow was raised, its gleaming metal bolt aimed directly at the bush, ready to fire at any moment. They didn't shout, didn't rush. Their silence and discipline were more terrifying than any threat.
Kaelen took a deep breath, then slowly, he stood up from behind the fern bush. He held his hands out to his sides, palms open, a universal gesture of harmlessness. He didn't look at the crossbow, but directly into the leader's eyes, an equal confrontation between two predators.
"There's no need to make things complicated," Kaelen began, his voice low and steady, without a trace of a tremor. "We are just freelance hunters passing through."
Seeing Kaelen reveal himself, Aidan also stood up shakily, trying to mimic his attitude, but his youth and fear were impossible to hide. He felt like a fawn before a pack of hungry wolves.
The leader, whom Aidan guessed was named Borin based on how the others looked at him, gave a slight smirk. "Freelance hunters? An old man and a boy? You're pretty good. Taking down a full-grown Stonehide is no joke." He stepped closer, the battle-axe on his back looking like a deadly shadow. "I am Borin of the Cerberus Clan. And you are standing in our hunting grounds."
The Cerberus Clan. The Three-Headed Wolf. The name carried a clear weight. Aidan could feel the pride and discipline in their pulses, a tight-knit bond that lone wanderers could never possess.
"Your territory is vast indeed," Kaelen replied calmly, with a hint of subtle irony. "We were not aware. We were only following the prey's trail."
While Kaelen was speaking, Aidan did as his instinct told him. He focused his Spark, not on the forest, but on the five humans before him. He tried to "read" them. Borin's pulse was strong, steady, and full of confidence, but it lacked blind hostility. It was the curiosity, the assessment of a leader. The crossbowman, however, was different. His pulse was as taut as a bowstring, a mixture of anxiety and aggression. He was looking for an excuse.
"Old man," Aidan whispered, quietly enough for only Kaelen to hear, "the leader... he's sizing us up. The crossbowman... he's dangerous. He wants to act."
Kaelen gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. He had received the information.
"Whether you knew or not doesn't matter," Borin said, circling the rock ledge, his sharp eyes sweeping over Kaelen and Aidan, then stopping on Aidan's broken spear. "The Law of the Labyrinth is simple. The strong make the rules. In this land, Cerberus is the law. All major hunts in our territory are subject to the 'Hunt Tax'."
"The Hunt Tax?" Kaelen raised an eyebrow. "I have traveled many lands and have never heard of such a law." It was a lie, a test. Kaelen was probing Borin's reaction.
"Then consider yourself enlightened today," another member of the group, younger and with a fresh scar on his face, spoke up. "Hand over the prey and get out of here, and maybe Leader Borin will spare your lives."
"Shut it, Finn," Borin growled without turning around. Finn immediately fell silent. Borin's eyes remained fixed on Kaelen. "I don't like liars. A veteran hunter like you couldn't possibly be unaware of the Clans and their laws. But I also don't like waste. Killing two hunters capable of taking down a Stonehide is a waste."
He stopped right in front of Kaelen. The difference in their statures was immense, but Kaelen didn't back down an inch. "So I'll give you a choice. You tried to hide a portion of the spoils. I want to see it. Your honesty will decide whether you leave here empty-handed, or if you don't leave here at all."
The threat was unconcealed. Kaelen knew the cards were on the table. He glanced at Aidan, then let out a dramatic sigh.
"Very well. Kid, show them."
Aidan, understanding, led them to the hidden boar leg. When the members of the Cerberus clan saw the giant slab of meat, professionally butchered, a murmur of admiration went through them. Even Borin had to nod.
"A single thrust, right to the throat. And your butchering cuts are clean too, old man. You two have skills." Borin looked at Kaelen, then at Aidan. "This kid. He was the one who made that thrust, wasn't he? I see hesitation in you, but in him, there is the recklessness of youth."
Kaelen neither confirmed nor denied it. "We are a team."
Borin laughed, a deep, resonant laugh. "A team. Good." He turned to his men. "Falk, Gor, handle the carcass. Take everything. We're having a feast tonight."
Two members of the group immediately complied, beginning the work of butchering the rest of the Stonehide Boar with professional efficiency.
Borin turned back to Kaelen and Aidan. "The Cerberus Clan respects skill. So, I won't let you leave empty-handed." He pointed to the boar leg they had hidden. "That one is yours. Consider it a favor. A welcome from us to our new neighbors."
He paused, the smile vanishing, replaced by a serious expression. "But remember this. The next time you hunt in our territory, the Hunt Tax will not be so generous. And if you try to hide it, I won't be as talkative as I am today."
It was a promise, and a warning.
When Borin's men were nearly finished, the leader prepared to leave. But before turning, he stopped and looked to the east, a rare thoughtful expression on his face.
"A piece of free advice for you," he said, his voice low. "Don't go too deep to the east. The Whispering Labyrinth is changing. 'The Echoes' are becoming more frequent."
"The Echoes?" Kaelen asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.
Borin just shook his head. "If you're unlucky enough, you'll find out what they are." He glanced at Aidan one last time, a strange look in his eyes. "Your kid is quiet. But his eyes are sharp. In this world, that is sometimes more valuable than a strong arm."
With that, he and his team departed, disappearing into the forest as quickly as they had appeared, leaving behind a heavy silence and the nearly fully butchered carcass of the Stonehide Boar.
Aidan and Kaelen stood there, beside their only remaining spoil of war. They had survived the encounter, even managed to keep a portion of the food. But there was no feeling of victory. Aidan's world had just been expanded, suddenly and terrifyingly. There weren't just monsters. There were Clans, laws, territories, and far more complex threats.
Kaelen lightly patted the giant boar leg. "Come on, we have work to do. We need to get out of here before other uninvited guests arrive."
Together, they heaved the heavy slab of meat onto their shoulders and began the journey back to their shelter. The forest was the same, but to Aidan, it was completely different. Every shadow now could conceal not just a monster, but a patrol from the Cerberus Clan, or something even worse.
"You understand now, don't you, kid?" Kaelen suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. "The monsters with claws and fangs are predictable. It's the ones who can talk that you truly have to fear."
His words were like a prophecy, etched deep into Aidan's mind. That day's lesson wasn't just about how to hunt a Stonehide Boar. It was about how to survive in a world where humans could be the prey, the hunter, and sometimes, the most terrifying monster of all.