The weight of the Evergreen Tribe's collective hope settled upon Elder Borin as he watched the last of Usato's team disappear into the dense foliage of the Evergreen Forest. He held the image of their determined faces in his mind as he turned back to his people, their silent prayers still echoing in the quiet of the woods.
Meanwhile, deeper within the Evergreen Forest, Usato raised a hand, signaling his team to halt. They had journeyed some distance, and he estimated they were now within the territory of the powerful beast they sought. The initial intention to simply scout had evolved in Usato's mind. If a clear opportunity arose, eliminating the threat directly would be the most prudent course of action for the Evergreen Tribe's long-term safety. They stopped, maintaining a distance of at least a kilometer, a precaution against the beast sensing their approach.
Usato turned to Vala, her usual sharp gaze now holding a flicker of confusion. "Vala," he began, his voice a low murmur that barely carried through the still air, "I need you to scout ahead and try to detect the beast's... aggro area."
Vala's brow furrowed, the unfamiliar term causing a ripple of uncertainty across her features. It was a word she had never encountered in her extensive knowledge of the Evergreen Forest and its creatures. Her eyes met Usato's, a silent question hanging between them.
Usato recognized her confusion immediately. He had to constantly remind himself that his vocabulary, shaped by a different world, often didn't align with theirs. "My apologies, Vala," he clarified, his tone patient. "What I mean is, I need you to determine the area where the beast is most likely to become hostile or aggressive if it senses our presence. The range at which it might attack." He watched her face, waiting for the understanding to dawn in her eyes.
Vala listened intently, her head tilted slightly as she processed Usato's unfamiliar word. The concept he was describing, however, was not entirely foreign. As a scout for the Evergreen Tribe, she possessed an innate understanding of animal behavior and the distances at which creatures typically became defensive or aggressive. She just lacked the specific term Usato had used.
Understanding began to dawn in her eyes. "You mean... the range of its threat?" she asked, seeking confirmation, her voice barely a whisper. "The distance at which it will feel threatened and potentially attack?"
Usato nodded at Vala's explanation of the "range of threat," but a thought struck him. A visual confirmation would be invaluable. "Vala," he said softly, "instead of just sensing it, would you be able to approach cautiously and get a visual? Just an ocular inspection from a safe distance, if possible. We need to be certain of what we're facing."
Vala hesitated for a moment. Approaching an unknown beast, especially one with a potentially large "aggro area," was inherently risky. But the Chief's request was clear, and the need for accurate information was paramount. She nodded, her resolve hardening. "I can try, Chief. But I will proceed with extreme caution."
She moved with the practiced stealth of a seasoned scout of the Evergreen Tribe, her steps light and silent on the forest floor. Each rustle of leaves, each snap of a twig underfoot, amplified in her ears, tightening her nerves. A fine sheen of sweat began to bead on her forehead despite the cool shade of the Evergreen Forest. Her senses were on high alert, every fiber of her being focused on the task at hand.
Slowly, painstakingly, she closed the distance. The air grew heavier, carrying a faint, musky scent that was unfamiliar and unsettling within the familiar woods. Her grip tightened on the hilt of her newly acquired short sword, though she knew it would be little comfort against a truly powerful creature.
She moved from tree to tree, using the thick trunks as cover, her movements fluid and deliberate. Her heart pounded a steady rhythm against her ribs, a counterpoint to the hushed silence of the forest. The tension in her muscles grew with each step.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she reached a large cluster of ferns. Peeking cautiously through the fronds, her breath hitched in her throat. There, in a small clearing roughly fifty meters away, stood a creature of immense power and terrifying presence.
Her eyes widened in shock, her earlier nervousness instantly replaced by a primal fear. It was far larger and more menacing than any beast she had encountered in the Evergreen Forest. The massive, bull-like head, the thick, corded muscles, the sheer size of it… it could only be one thing.
An Earthshaker Minotaur.
The sight of the Earthshaker Minotaur sent a jolt of pure adrenaline through Vala. Her carefully controlled breathing hitched, and her silent, deliberate pacing faltered for a fraction of a second. It was enough. The massive head of the minotaur, which had been lowered as it seemed to graze or perhaps root in the earth, snapped up. Its nostrils flared, and its large, dark eyes, filled with a primal intensity, scanned the edge of the clearing.
Vala froze, every muscle in her body tensing. She held her breath, praying she remained unseen amidst the ferns. The minotaur's gaze swept past her hiding spot, lingering for a moment before moving on. But Vala knew. It had sensed something. The air crackled with a heightened tension.
With agonizing slowness, she began to back away, inch by inch, her movements as fluid and silent as she could manage. Her heart hammered against her ribs, threatening to betray her presence. The image of the minotaur's immense size and power was burned into her mind.
Finally, she was a safe distance away, the ferns providing a solid screen between her and the clearing. Only then did she allow herself to move more quickly, her earlier stealth now replaced by a desperate need to put distance between herself and the beast.
Panting slightly, Vala burst back into the area where Usato and the rest of the team were waiting. She quickly composed herself, her training taking over despite the lingering shock of what she had witnessed. "Chief, I'm back," she announced, her voice a little breathless but steady.
Usato turned to her, his expression immediately shifting from patient waiting to one of focused attention. "Vala? What did you see?"
Vala took another deep breath, trying to organize her thoughts. "It's... it's an Earthshaker Minotaur, Chief." The name itself carried a weight of dread. "It was in a clearing about seven hundred meters ahead, just as I sensed. But... it's even larger than the stories say."
She paused, gathering her observations. "Its aggro area... I believe my initial estimate was accurate. It seemed to sense my presence when I got within about fifty meters, even though I was being as careful as possible. It lifted its head and scanned the area, though I don't think it pinpointed my exact location."
Vala continued, recounting the details that had stood out. "It's heavily muscled, with thick fur the color of dark earth. Its horns are massive, wider than my outstretched arms. I didn't see it attack anything, but it was pawing at the ground occasionally, and the earth seemed to tremble slightly each time. It had a heavy, musky scent about it, and its breathing was deep and guttural. It seemed very territorial, Chief. The way it surveyed the clearing, the tension in its posture... it definitely wouldn't take kindly to intruders."