I WILL FIND YOU.

Chapter 97: Bear

Minda and Kai pressed on through the thick, dense forest, their eyes keenly searching for prey. They would be passing through the Deadlands soon, and they needed to stock up in as much food as possible. It wasn't just them;  everyone had been sent out to hunt.

Minda and Kai had gone hunting on multiple occasions. In the past, Minda would confidently wield his crossbow to take down any animals that crossed their path. However, ever since the ambush, he refused to touch the crossbow. Kai understood and took charge of hunting down the animals while Minda learned to control the horse.

At first, he was clumsy and they were nearly thrown from the horse a few times. Kai didn't give up in teaching him and after a week of training Minda had become a lot more adapt at controlling the horse through the dense forest.

"Honey, did you see that? I think there's something over there." Minda whispered with a big grin. Kai looked in the direction Minda was pointing in and had to admit something was close. He snapped his fingers and suddenly a streak of silver ran past their horse in the direction Minda was pointing in.

Rustle*

Suddenly from the bush not far away Huan chased out a small rabbit. Kai took aim and with a single arrow he incapacitated the small fat prey. Huan then caught the wounded rabbit and proudly carried it over. Kai and Huan's impressive teamwork was the result of their training.

Kai dismounted the horse and placed the still living rabbit in the basket with all the other wounded rabbits and birds they managed to catch. Looking inside, they had caught an impressive amount but Kai wasn't satisfied. They would need much larger prey to feed everyone.

"Honey, it's still early. Let's keep looking around." Minda suggested.

"Huan, search." Kai commanded. The snow leopard that had grown as big as a small dog perked its fluffy ears up before darting off into the forest. While he was gone searching for prey Kai pulled himself back up on the horse and gave Minda a tight hug.

A few moments later Huan popped his furry little head out of the bushes signalling he had found something. Minda then pulled on the reigns and they followed behind the surprisingly fast snow leopard through the forest.

"MinMin, go right." Kai said. He had found the traces of their next prey and could lead them along the trail himself without relying on Huan. Minda did as he was asked and they headed right.

"MinMin, go slow." Kai instructed next. They were close, now.

"What is it?"

"See those marks on the tree. Those are made by a bear." Kai whispered. Minda's eyes went wide. He had eaten bear once thanks to Uncle Ran, but he had never seen one. All he knew was that they were fierce dangerous beasts like tigers only bigger.

"Is this safe? What if it attacks us or Huan, he's still so small." Minda said looking down at the little snow leopard.

"Don't worry. Huan knows when to run away." Kai said as he grabbed the reigns and urged the horse forward.

Minda's hands nervously trembled as they followed the trail. He was frightened but didn't pull the reigns back to turn around. He trusted Kai and had to admit he was a little excited about seeing a bear.

"MinMin, when we see the bear I need you to hold tight. We'll need to move quick and the horse may act erratically."

"I'll try." Minda whispered.

Kai prepared his regular bow and arrow. The crossbow was powerful but he would need several shots to take down something as large as a bear. While he prepared Minda slowly brought them deeper into the forest.