The Beast runs Free

part 5

A gentle giant or a sleeping beast, a guardian bothered from intruders or some curious companion. Whatever it was, the presence was marked, the spine would get chills and the hearts would start dropping upon gazing towards that magnificent and stoic animal.

"It's not hard to recognise the fruits cultivated from your work, Adam." Said Caleb's uncle in some rather unbothered state, as if such a specimen was nothing short of expectation, coming from a breeder like the old man.

"This is what you look forward to, Son. That is the type of guardian you hope to add to your arsenal of the beast counter-attack force." Added Adam, with a proud expression of what he possessed.

It was probably a young cub, what had fallen prey to the traps and later finished off by the kangals or by the gun. Since no fully matured beast could be broken by a mere domestic animal, by a dog!
Then why was it that Caleb, was left doubting his beliefs. That an animal like that, could take on, even the King of the Highlands.
No matter how Caleb played that scenario in his head, the outcome would be, victory belonging to the beast. So why did our champion felt beaten, overcome, defeated.

Like as if he was betraying what he stood for, more or less. But was it a betrayal, or was he being seized upon by the other side, slowly. Friend or foe?
Trying to limit the rage of the beast like a bully, or in for a much more noble cause, that of protection. What was the deal, what would be the consequences. What was the purpose of such a guardian!
A firework of feelings was being lit inside Caleb's conscience. Who's side was he on? Who's side should he be on... which side offered what?

How could a shift happen this rapidly. The scent overcoming the air was nothing else but... betrayal. Enforced and not naturally achieved, never thought upon as a possibility before.
Somehow, he didn't even want to observe the situation anymore. Somehow, even without him realising it, the boy needed some time.
Time to gather his thoughts, time to gather his feelings.

"It's peak season for working the fields, irrigating and cultivating. And now this... I was wondering why hasn't anyone informed the authorities yet," was Adam's expression while facing towards Caleb's uncle.

"And do what, it's not the first time wild beasts prey upon our livestock... "

"I know," interrupted Adam briefly, "but not at this magnitude. I mean how much more Son, the hunters can only do so much!"

"Hehe... where did your optimistic spirit wander about. You was the one telling me to keep my head up, it was only the first day, that's what you told me." Laughed it off Caleb's uncle after giving Adam a pat on his back.

"And I stand by my word," confirmed the old man while firmly shaking the hand of Caleb's uncle. "What I meant is that, there are more appropriate authorities and that is their job. Doing farm labour and overall village duties, that's ours. We don't have time to be wasting in some wolf hunt... few are those in your age that remain, all migrated down to the cities below. We grow older by the year, less in numbers and nature is taking over... "

"Loving nature is one of the traits, we as a people possess, the highlanders" cut in Caleb's uncle. "Didn't the elderly always hate the pollution below? It's a beautiful merge that our villages have with the forest... "

"The forest is there, for man to maintain." Continued the old man. "In my time we were surrounded by the forest aswell, but you could still walk on the path to the northern hills.
Today the fields near the reservoir are turning into swamps. The bushes are growing in the middle of the way. No one left to dig them out. Trees overcrowding, not even letting each other breathe. You do understand, don't you?"

"Ofcourse I do, Adam." Acknowledged Caleb's uncle while looking down.

"That's why I said, we have alot of issues that need to be fixed, issues that we know how to handle. But as far as the beast hunt goes, when was the last time we had such renowned hunters? My dogs... they are good for the last stage, when the beast has confronted the flock... "