The Primaeval Hunt

Alpha stood before Furum head held high, higher than any other, for he held the name, Alpha Leader of the Horde. A name that can only be earned by one dragon in a horde. Mind to mind he spoke. Furum you will lead the younglings on their primaeval hunt at suns end.

Annoyed Furum asked. Why must I be the one, Alpha?

You are Furum Killer of the Blind for your prey does not know you approach. You are the very best hunter among us. Non other can claim such a high honor. And non-other should dare hope to claim your responsibilities. Just as you should not dare to try to escape them.

Should the younglings claim their first life? Furum asked.

Bestow upon them the name they have earned such as you earned on your primeval hunt. And such as we all did.

Very well, I will name them should they earn it but what are their given names and how may I find them?

Azure of the deep blue scales and Pine of the forest green scales. They already know to look for Furum of the red scales.

Very well. Furum said turning.

He looked for the two younglings among the horde. He found them among others of a younger age. Mind to mind he spoke to both. Azure? Pine? They looked up and did not respond. If the two of you are who I seek I am to take you on your primaeval hunt. Furum watched as they chased each other’s tales in excitement.

Azure was the first to speak. What is your name?

Furum snorted and smoke rose from his nostrils. My name is Furum Killer of the Blind. But for your primaeval hunt you may call me Harbinger.

Harbinger? Pine asked cocking his head to the side.

Furum snapped his jaws in annoyance. Yes, Harbinger is who I am to you on this night it is what I am to you this night. As I am the one to teach you to hunt as I am the one to bestow your earned names should you earn them. After your names are earned, you may refer to me a Furum but not before. Now follow, Furum commanded.

Yes, Harbinger. The two dragons said in unison.

Furum set off into the sky having to greatly slow his pace so the two younglings can keep apace. He let and updraft carry him high into the sky and angled southeast away from the hollow, away from the horde. He did not fly high, but he flew far. Far away from the horde and far from any known elf havens. Far over the trees of a seemingly endless forest. The night had already enveloped the world before either of the younglings spoke again.

Harbinger? Azure spoke softly.

What is it youngling? Furum asked without looking at the young dragon.

Why have we gone so far? Is there no deer for us to hunt near our nest?

A deer for a fledgling such as yourself would be very impressive and nigh impossible. Primaeval hunts are for younglings such as you to get your first kill on your own. A deer is quick, intelligent, and much larger than you.

Then, Pine interjected, what shall we hunt, Harbinger?

It matters not whether it be squirrel, bird, or rabbit. You may even try to hunt a deer if you so wish. I caution against that choice for if you fail your hunt tonight you will not earn your name. Furum said.

But why have we travelled this far? Pine asked.

A great horde of dragons such as ours puts fear into most living things, as it should, but in that fear they leave. Furum explained. Another reason is that we must not encounter a settlement of elves. For elves are one of the few creatures who are brave enough and foolish enough to pit themselves against dragons.

Elves? Azure asked.

Yes, elves. Furum answered. No encounter between elves and dragons ends without bloodshed, whether it be that of the dragons or that of the elves. They have pointed sticks that piece our scales that they cast at us with great speed. And they have magic.

Magic? Azure asked.

Furum heard the unease in his thoughts. Yes, magic. They can speak like dragons but with their tongues instead of their minds. These words can have the power to break the world and its rules. Hunts can take you very far from where you start without you knowing. I want there to be no danger in encountering elves when the two of you are in the midst of your hunt.

They flew in silence for several more minutes when Furum spotted a small clearing the forest. This should do nicely. Let us land and you may start to hunt.

The two younger dragons did not respond but they descended quickly full of excitement. Furum had to wait momentarily for them to make room for him to land. Once he did, they ran around like weasels with too much energy.

Be calm. Furum commanded. At his word they stopped and looked up. You cannot kill when you act like frightened mice.

They looked abashed but Pine still asked. What must we do to begin?

You already have. Furum said mildly amused. Did I not say before dragons instill fear in nearly every living creature? They are trying to escape. Your prey is getting away. Hunt! Kill! Before they have gone too far.

Azure seemed to swing his head around and his thoughts reflected worry. How?

Furum huffed smoke out of his nostrils. You are dragons! You can see in the darkest night! You can smell a mole buried deep in his hole, even if it takes you three days to get to him! You can leap with such speed no prey can hope to react in time! You are dragons! Find your prey.

Furum watched the two younglings disappear into the forest while sniffing the air. He leapt into the air circling the area so he could keep an eye on the two young dragons. To Furum Pine seemed to be the one who started to track one creature first. He could see the object of Pine’s hunt. A wayward rat, fascinating. Furum observed. He watched pine smell the ground and eventually latch onto the trunk of a tree and climb. The rat seeing this as well skittered away. Furum watched Pine see the rat and begin to chase him leaping from branch to branch.

Unfortunately, he also watched the rat disappear into a hole in the trunk of a tree where Pine could not capture him.

Now what is Azure about? Furum wondered as he sought the young dragon. He spotted him by a small stream. He was hiding in the branches of a tree concealed to those on the ground moving his head all along the stream bed. Clever, very clever.

The stars slowly turned in the sky and neither youngling had completed their hunt. Pine continued to chase rats and Azure continued to wait by the stream moving ever so often mostly to calmer deeper areas of the water. These two are running out of time. The sun shall not wait for their hunt to be done.

A flash of movement caught Furum’s eye, and he spotted Azure dive out of the tree and land on a fox. It was clear the Azure had breathed fire to injure the fox. Furum watched the young dragon wrestle with the fox for several moments trying to bite its neck. Eventually Azure succeeded and jerked his head snapping the fox’s neck.

Good Azure. Furum praised him from above mind to mind.

Harbinger did I find success? Azure asked.

Yes, but Pine has not yet. Eat your fill and wait for my call.

Yes, Harbinger.

Furum looked for Pine again and found him chasing another rat through the branches of the trees. This one escaped him as well, as had all the others. You must change tact if you are to hope to catch the vermin. Furum thought as Pine huffed out smoke in frustration. He watched as Pine chased another three rats and fail. On the fourth he seemed to understand he must try a different approach. Furum watched as Pine spotted another rat but this time instead of chasing it through the tree branches, he crept to the ground and stalked the rat for a short time. He kept out of sight of the mouse.

Furum watched with approval as Pine stalked this rat for a while. The rat eventually began to eat seeds and Furum watch Pine seize his opportunity. The small dragon leapt to the branch the rat was on fluttering his wings. He caught the rat by surprise, and it started to run. But it did not get far before Pine was able to bite the rat ending its life.

Good, Furum spoke to Pine mind to mind. You have succeeded in your hunt.

Then he spoke mind to mind to both youngling dragons. Both of you have found success this night. Azure, you go to the north and Pine head southeast. You both will find a clearing meet me there.

Yes, Harbinger. Azure said.

Pine was slower to respond. Yes Harbinger.

Furum flew to the clearing and waited. It was not long before the two young dragons arrived. Both blood about the mouths. Furum spoke with pride. You two both completed your hunt tonight. And each of you have earned you name. Azure, you showed patience and clever thinking. Waiting by a stream where prey was to drink. As well as injuring and confusing a fast fox so that you may pounce and kill it with greater ease. Pine your persistence and adaptability chasing rat after rat even though they kept escaping you. You learned what was not working and figured out what would.

Azure, Pine, as is my right as Harbinger for your primeval hunt I shall now bestow upon you your earned names. Azure you have earned the name: Azure Patiently at Rest. As you wait patiently for your prey to come to you. Pine you have earned the name: Pine Persistence shall Triumph. As you should great dedication to get your prey as well as learned as you strived.

A noise broke the pattern of the usual noises of the forest.

What is that? Azure asked.

Be quiet. Furum commanded. Then he listened. The noise was high pitched, and a mix of whimpers, loud wails with intermitted sounds of deep inhalations of breath. Follow me as quietly as you are able.

Furum started to move in the direction of the noise slowly, carefully, and quietly. Not so much as a leaf moved that Furum didn’t want to move. He followed the noise southeast the two hatchlings following closely behind. Seemingly crashing through the forest compared to Furum’s movements.

You two stay here. Furum commanded.

What of the noise? Pine asked.

I will find the source. You two are still young and bumbling about the forest making too much noise. Stay here and should there be danger fly high and fly fast.

Without another word Furum continued to follow the noise. He knew the young dragons were not pleased but he also knew they would listen. The noise gradually began to turn to more whimpers than wails. Furum tracked the noise and unfamiliar smell for a long time as the stars slowly rotated.

He paused deep in the trees on the edge of a clearing where he spotted the source of the noise. Furum scanned everything he could while sniffing the air trying to catch the scent of anything wrong. For before him the middle of the clearing was an elf.

The elf was smaller than most Furum had seen. It did not have very many coverings save for a small piece around its waist. The small patch of fur on top of its head was brown like the bark of a tree.

Mind to mind he reached out and spoke to Azure and Pine. He could barely speak to them as their distance was great, but he was able to reach them. Take flight now and wait in the air.

Why Killer of the Blind? Pine asked, concern in his voice.

The noise is coming from an elf. Where there is one elf there are many. Now fly and fly high so that you are out of sight to any on the ground.

Furum watched the elf stand on its short legs and walk around the clearing. It was aimless and kept falling. Why is this elf alone? Furum wandered to himself. He smelled nothing of other elves save for a very faint scent that is hours hold. It is young.

The elf fell after trying to lift a fallen stick and started to wail again. Furum watched and smelled ready to flee or fight. But no other larger elves arrived. And this one didn’t appear to have any sharpened sticks, nor has it broken the world with magic yet. Furum watched for a long time frozen in place.

Something in Furum shifted. He emerged from the forest and slowly approached the elf. The elf noticed and tried to run wailing like an injured fox. It fell again and let loose an even louder wail.

Mind to mind Furum spoke to the elf. Be calm. The elf stiffened and stared at Furum. He could see the fear in the elf’s eyes. I’ll not harm you.

“Dragon,” was all the elf said in response.

Yes, I am a dragon.

“Dragon’s hurt elves.”

Only if elves hurt dragons. Where are the other elves? The elf didn’t respond but Furum was close enough now to see the water leaking from its eyes became stronger than before. Why are you alone?

“Alone?”

Why are you alone? Furum repeated.

The elf looked down and the water began to hit the ground. “They left me.”

Are they returning?

“No,” was the only response and the elf began to wail again.

Furum watched the elf for a long time. The elf stopped wailing after a while and sat down shaking. Why are you shaking?

“Cold,” was the elf’s response.

Where are your coverings?

“Co-coverings?”

The coverings your kind favors. They’re soft and have a great many colors.

“Clothes?”

If that is in fact what you call them, yes where are your clothes?

“Gone.”

Why?

The elf did not answer but it breathed deeper in choked bursts. Furum did not ask again but walked over to the branch the elf was trying to move earlier and breathed out lighting it on fire. The shift in the light annoyed Furum he could not see his surroundings outside the light as well anymore. But The elf quickly moved closer to the flames to warm itself. In the light Furum could better make out the dirt and small wounds that covered the elf.

What do they call you? Have you earned a name yet?

The elf looked with what Furum could only describe as confusion. He was too used to seeing fear and anger on the faces of elves, but this was confusion. “My name is Lutum?” The elf still seemed confused.

I am Furum killer of the blind. Furum could see the fear in Lutum’s eyes return. Are you male or female?

“Male,’’ Lutum looked away from Furum.

You do not yet know how to break the world yet, do you? You cannot use magic. Lutum shook his head. Furum considered the elf’s words for a moment before asking, Are you in need of food? Lutum looked up and Furum could see the hunger in his eyes push away the fear. And Lutum nodded his diminutive head vigorously.

Furum reached out to Pine and Azure mind to mind. This elf is alone and of no harm work together and find prey. Do not eat but bring it to me.

But Furum, Azure began to speak.

More will be answered once you bring a kill. Furum cut him off. Be quick.

Furum spoke mind to mind to Lutum again.

Furum did not speak to the elf nor to the youngling dragons and instead studied the elf. In turn Lutum stared wide eyed at him. The elf could not hold his gaze though and went about looking into the fire. As Furum watched, a question began to grasp at his mind. A question he pondered for a long while until the two young dragons landed some distance away with a bloody fox that Pine dropped in the dirt.

Mind to mind Azure asked. Why did you want us to bring you prey? What of the elf?

Azure and Pine were crouched and eyeing the elf warily. Lutum was doing the same inching backward closer to Furum. This time his fear was so great Furum could faintly smell the bitter scent.

"Dragons..." Lutum said quietly.

Furum spoke mind to mind to all of them. Lutum these two dragons came here with me to earn their names. Azure Patiently at Rest. Azure took a step forward and sniffed the air. And Pine Persistence shall Triumph. Pine raised his head up to better look at Lutum.

“Azure Pine,” Lutum whispered to himself. He was still inching closer to Furum.

This elf is called Lutum. He cannot yet break the world with magic and does not have weapons. He is of no danger. Furum explained. Bring the fox over to me.

Pine and Azure warily stared at Lutum, but Pine slowly picked the fox up in his teeth and brought it over, Azure slowly following. The closer they got the faster Lutum moved. Pine tossed the fox near Lutum. He jumped and ran to the side of Furum and hid. Furum looked down and Lutum seemed surprised he did what he did and slowly backed away looking up in fear.

Lutum, as I have not harmed you nor will they. This fox is prey they captured so that you can eat. Furum told the elf.

“Food?” Lutum asked.

Yes, now eat. Furum watched as Lutum slowly walked over to the fox and picked one of its hind legs up.

“It’s meat and it’s cold.” Lutum said looking back at him. Furum stared at Lutum who averted his gaze again. He thought back to everything he knew about elves.

Azure interrupted his thoughts. Why does he not just start to eat?

Furum answered slowly still thinking. Elves are different than dragons and wolves. Their teeth are not sharp. An odd behavior of elves I know is that when they do not hunt. They do spend time in trees. Furum paused and considered this. Perhaps they only eat things that grow in the trees and on plants such as the animals do.

What does it matter if the prey is cold? Pine asked inching closer to Lutum who started to back away again, slower than before but still clearly scared.

Again, Furum thought about what he knew of elves. Once he and several others encountered a nest of elves, they had many fires and some of their sticks were leaning over the fire with the food of animals having been stabbed through them. Perhaps an elf’s food must be hot. Furum asked Lutum. Must your food be hot?

He nodded. “It gets cooked.” He looked again at the fox. “We don’t eat meat.”

Furum thought again the same question tugging at his mind with an unforeseen challenge. Stand aside. He commanded. Lutum complied and with a short burst of flame Furum made the fox hot. You may have not eaten meat before but know you must.

Lutum kept looking between the Fox and him before he walked over and picked up same leg. He dropped it quickly and began to wail again. “Hot!” Was all the only explanation.

Annoyed Furum said, yes, it is cooked now.

“Hot!” Was the only word again.

How do elves become so dangerous? Azure asked sniffing the fox. If they do not eat meat and cannot eat when they have finished their hunt.

Furum did not have an answer, but a question occurred to him. Lutum what is your age?

Lutum stopped the wailing again but there was still an occasional whimper. “Three.”

You have only seen three season cycles. You are quite young. You Azure and you Pine have not even seen one full season cycle if I am not mistaken. Furum said.

Why is he so small then? Pine asked.

He is an elf, they grow different. Furum said. Before any more questions could be asked Furum told all three of them. We are staying here tonight. It is late and all young beings must sleep. I will keep watch. Pine and azure began to object but Furum cut them off. You may have earned you names this night, but I am yet still your elder. Lutum, the elf looked up at him, you must sleep. I will be here to keep the fire, so you are not cold. We do not know how to hunt for the prey that is born of plants that elves eat. In the light of day, we can help you, but you must tell us what you hunt. Lutum nodded and curled up next to the fire. Pine and Azure wrapped their tails around themselves some distance away and closed their eyes.

Soon all were asleep and Furum kept watch for danger. Adult elves who have seen many season cycles or large wolves or bears that could prove dangerous to the young dragons and the young elf. All the while as the night stars turned slowly in the sky. Furum pondered the question and all its ramifications.

The night was uneventful and when the sun was high in the sky all three younglings awoke. Lutum seemed happy to still see Furum. After some time Lutum was able to get close to Azure and Pine. Soon the three of them set out in search of food from plants. Still Furum pondered trying to decide. The youngling’s hunt was successful. They returned with several of what Lutum called apples. The young elf ate sitting in the fork of Furum’s front legs.

Why did the other elves leave you? Furum asked.

Lutum did not answer right away but in quiet voice he said, “I cannot run fast.”

You cannot run fast?

“Dwarves were chasing us.”

Furum understood. Long has the hatred between elves and dwarves been known to all. But Furum was not aware dwarves nested anywhere near here. Why were dwarves chasing you?

“We killed some of them. They chased us for a long time.”

The other elves are not coming back. It was not a question.

“There were a lot of dwarves.” Lutum did not wail or whimper, but the water again leaked from his eyes.

The question Furum had been pondering all night finally revealed an answer in that moment. Although he again thought about all that this answer would bring about. But no other course of action seemed right.

Lutum there are no other elves for you to be with. You are young and will not survive on your own. Lutum stood up and walked out to meet Furum gaze. If you agree you may be with me. I know some of the elves’ ways, but I cannot teach you all an elf must know. I cannot tech you how to break the world and I cannot even tech you how to hunt for this plant food. But I can teach you how to survive. I can show the danger of the world. I can guide you like a dragon.

Lutum looked down and Furum could see the water hit the dirt. But he raised his head and nodded his head up and down and said, “yes, thank you.”

Azure and Pine were silent through all this finally voiced their thoughts overriding one another asking questions. Azure won out and asked, what of the horde?

Furum looked at the youngling dragons. Alpha will not accept an elf, and neither will many of the others. I am not longer Furum Killer of the Blind as I have no horde. You two return and tell Alpha what has happened. Tell him I shall not return alone or with Lutum.

Pine and Azure looked at each other and broke the mind to mind. But did not fly away and continued to stay and look at each other. They did not move for a long time. Lutum even called out to them, but they ignored him. Furum waited patiently for them to say something or fly away.

It was Pine who finally spoke again. You are no longer Furum Killer of the Blind, but you have a new horde. You are Furum Alpha Leader of the Horde. We will be your new horde.

Furum was stunned and looked at the two youngling dragons intensely. What of your sire and dam? And yours Azure?

Azure was the one whom answered. We earned our names this past night. We will follow you because you are a good Alpha. We will leave–

Furum cut them off. No, you will not! You two earned your names but are still younglings. Return to the horde and after two season cycles when you have grown of you still desire to have me as your Alpha come and seek me in the south forest. That is where Lutum and I will nest.

Alpha… Pine said.

Furum spoke sternly but kindly. No not Alpha not yet. Return to the Horde tell Alpha what has happened but do not tell him of your desire to leave and do not tell him where we have nested.

The two young dragons did not try and argue but slowly took flight. Lutum called after them. “Where are they going? Are we being chased?”

No, they are leaving. Furum answered.

“For how long?” Lutum asked looking at the young dragons rising high into the sky.

Until they are ready to be with us.

Azure said something just as they began to fly back to Furum’s former nest. Lutum we will see you again. Until then hunt well.

Furum watched as the two young dragons disappeared. He looked down to Lutum. Come it is time for us to leave as well.

“Where?”

Where we can safely live and hunt. A place where you will not be so cold. A place where I know few elves and dragons live. A place to nest.

Lutum nodded his head up and down again and his mouth’s corners went up in something of a snarl but not a fierce looking snarl. Furum gently scooped Lutum into his claws and took flight low and slow over the forest headed south. He could hear Lutum making noises of mirth to which when asked said he was laughing.