The moon hung high over the clearing, bathing the battlefield in a cold silver glow. All around, the carcasses of the Taurox lay where they had fallen, and beside them, a neatly sorted mountain of loot. Horns were piled in one corner, hides rolled and stacked carefully beside them. Bones and meat lay separated, organs wrapped tightly in leaves to slow decay. It was a scene of both triumph and quiet reality—victory, yes, but also weight. Far too much weight.
Yoshiya exhaled slowly, hands on his hips. "Even if we made ten trips… this is impossible."
Omina crouched beside the pile of horns, running a hand over one of the smooth, curved spikes. "Horns first. They're light and valuable. Hides second. Bones… maybe later. Meat's going to spoil if we don't deal with it soon."
She was practical, almost clinical. The high from the battle was gone, replaced by survival instinct. They were alone, deep in the forest, with night closing in.
Yoshiya lit a small fire with a few mana sparks, careful not to burn too much wood. The orange glow flickered against the pale hides and sharp horns, making their shadows stretch long and sharp. "We'll have to prioritize. Horns and hides, maybe some organs for Mira. The rest…" He shook his head. "We don't have the manpower for this."
Omina's stomach growled loudly, cutting through the tension. She scowled. "Fine. Food first. Thinking later."
She walked over to one of the carcasses and carved off a thick, clean slab of Taurox meat. Using her gathered herbs and a bundle of leafy greens she'd impulsively picked earlier, she began preparing a makeshift meal. Yoshiya watched with raised eyebrows as she crushed leaves, sprinkled dried stems, and rubbed them into the meat.
"Are you… actually using those weeds you picked along the road?" he asked.
Omina shot him a smug look. "Weeds? These are flavor enhancers. Watch and learn."
She skewered the meat on a Taurox bone, propped it over the flames, and began to roast it slowly. The aroma spread almost instantly—rich, savory, with a hint of wild mint and spice. Yoshiya found himself swallowing unconsciously.
"Not bad," he admitted. "For someone who usually thinks cooking means stabbing monsters."
"Hey," she replied, flipping the meat expertly. "I pick things up fast. Besides, what kind of warrior can't feed herself?"
While the meat roasted, they began hanging strips of the remaining meat over crude racks built from broken branches and bones. Smoke rose into the night sky as the drying process began. It wasn't elegant, but it would keep some of the meat from spoiling by morning.
As they sat by the fire, tearing into the roasted Taurox, their earlier worries returned in quieter tones.
"So," Omina said between bites, "how many horns can you carry before your spine snaps?"
Yoshiya glared. "Very funny. If I carry even half of this, I'll look like some cursed mule."
She snorted. "Imagine it. 'Yoshiya the Beast of Burden.' Has a nice ring."
He rolled his eyes, but they both laughed, the sound light against the darkness. The fire crackled. The wind whispered through the trees. It would've been almost peaceful… if not for the faint rustling in the woods.
Both froze. The sound grew louder—branches snapping, leaves shifting. Yoshiya's hand moved instinctively, barrier spell humming at his fingertips. Omina rose, sword sliding silently from its sheath.
From the treeline emerged a massive bear, its fur dark and coarse, eyes gleaming amber in the firelight. It moved slowly, sniffing the air, gaze locked firmly on the roasting meat.
Omina blinked. "Uh…"
Yoshiya's barrier flared slightly. "Don't. Move."
But Omina did the opposite. She grabbed a chunk of roasted meat and held it out, arm steady. "Hey, big guy," she said softly. "You want this?"
Yoshiya hissed, "Are you insane?"
The bear took a single, deliberate step forward. Then another. It sniffed, snorted, and in one swift motion, snatched the meat from her hand. For a tense heartbeat, Yoshiya thought it would attack. Instead, it sat down a few paces away and began to eat noisily, like it owned the place.
"…I can't believe that worked," Yoshiya muttered.
Omina grinned. "Animals love me."
"I think it just loves meat."
Before either could say more, a new sound cut through the night—a voice, breathless and sharp. "Aiya! Bear! There you are, lah!"
A figure stumbled out of the forest—a young woman, small and slight, wearing travel-worn clothes and a short cloak. She leaned against a tree, panting heavily. Her accent was distinct, lilting at the end of every sentence.
"Ahhh, finally found you, leh… I thought I lost you for good, aiya," she said, approaching the bear with relief.
Yoshiya lowered his barrier slightly but remained cautious. Omina relaxed her grip on her sword. The woman noticed them, straightened up, and offered a quick, friendly bow.
"Sorry-sorry for scaring you, ah. My name Char Kway Tiam, but can call me Char Kway, lah. This big fellow is my partner. We got lost in the forest—aiya, so embarrassing."
Her bear barely acknowledged her, too busy devouring the meat. Omina burst out laughing. "Your partner has good taste."
Yoshiya, though still wary, nodded politely. "I'm Yoshiya. This is Omina. We were just… camping. After a hunt."
Char Kway's eyes widened when she noticed the massive sorted loot pile. "Wah… you two take down all those Taurox, leh? Even Alpha, ah? Impressive, impressive."
She crouched near the fire, watching as Yoshiya added more meat to roast and Omina crushed herbs into a new mix. "Smells good, aiya. Can I join?"
"Of course," Omina said without hesitation. "We have more than enough."
The three of them ate together, the bear happily consuming a shocking amount of meat. Omina didn't mind—there was no way they could carry it all anyway.
As they talked, Char Kway's eyes returned to the loot pile. "You two… planning to bring all that back on foot, lah?"
Yoshiya sighed heavily. "That's the problem. We can't. There's too much."
Char Kway tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… you help me feed my bear, you give me warm fire, good food. I can help, leh. Two ways: one, I use my bear to help you carry. Two, I teach you basic taming, lah. One of you can tame your own beast."
Omina's eyes lit up instantly. "I want to learn."
Yoshiya blinked. "That was fast."
Char Kway grinned, clearly amused. "Good-good. Taming not easy, but you look strong and stubborn—good qualities, lah. So tell me… what kind of beast you want? Boar, wolf, bear, taurox, turtle?"
Omina looked thoughtful for once. Yoshiya too. It wasn't just a question of preference—it was strategy. Speed, strength, temperament… it would change how they moved, how they fought, how they transported their spoils.
The fire crackled as the three sat in thoughtful silence. The bear yawned loudly and flopped down beside Char Kway. Overhead, the moon climbed higher, pale light shining over the horns, hides, and meat like a silent promise.
For the first time that night, Yoshiya didn't look at the loot with dread—but with possibility.