Final CTD Masterpiece

A Boar's Struggle Part 2

Okkoto lumbered through the deep forest, a group of boars following him. A path had been carved out by their great bodies going through the pass. They journeyed to their main strategic point, a part of the forest that they used as a lookout over the humans. A cliff shrouded in forest that formed a sort of protrusion out of the main body of trees, which they used to overlook the humans, while they couldn't see the boars became their main advantage. They headed there to survey the humans' activities.

They crouched down in the bushes and looked through the thinner spots in the foliage. Okkoto decided to bring his nephew, Sonoda, and an old healer, Kawahara. Kawahara's head gave off a distinctive presence, as it was adorned with a growth of fur. His legs got thin from his lack of exercise and abundance of laziness. Sonoda in fact resembled Okkoto quite a bit, but he just looked younger and more limber. They watched in anticipation as the humans am+bled about below. Sounds of heavy machinery and manual labor echoed up the cliff face to reach the awaiting ears of the boars. "What are they doing down there?" asked Gucci in his rough and steely voice. They peered over the cliff edge a small bit, only to see workers sitting and sharpening their fighting skills. They battled each other in practice. The steel of their weapons clanged against each other's weapons. They yelled as they drilled themselves.

"I think they are probably creating their new weapons for their invasion." said Kawahara in disgust. "Filthy creatures, they live only to destroy." They watched some more until a loud bang issued from a small building on the edge of the forest. The doors flew open and a woman carrying a long, but thin rifle stepped out to some other soldiers. "Just a new gun?" asked Kawahara in skepticism. They watched in silence as she handed it around a semi-circle of soldiers. They issued sounds of muffle awe. She hefted it over her shoulder and spun in a circle randomly and fired at where she pointed. Unluckily for the boars, she pointed at their hideout.

The bullet streaked through the air and shot into the bushes where Okkoto and his company hid. It buried itself in Okkoto's nephew's belly, and he let out a blood-curdling squeal. The blood oozed from the wound as black as tar and the smell of petrol issued from his body. Chunks of half-digested food along with acidic liquid showed that the bullet had penetrated his stomach. The people who fired the bullet laughed, realizing that they must've hit a boar.

"Kawahara, you're a healer! Do something!" ordered Gucci.

Kawahara rushed over to Sonoda's belly and took a look at it. "This was a poisoned bullet. Since he wasn't flexing, it got very deep. I don't know how to deal with this type of thing."

Okkoto swore under his breath while his nephew writhed on the ground. Small red and black worms were beginning to pop up over his fur. Looking at him, he realized how much pain he felt, as his hate for humans manifested as a demon.

"Will his body heal itself?"

"It's a very low chance that it would," said Kawahara. Okkoto sighed, thinking deeply about his options. He made up his mind and said,

"Sorry," he said, and he ran his tusks through the soft underbelly of his nephew. He watched in anguish as the life left from his eyes. He could feel the warmth of tears, as they streamed through his fur. He had disappointed his brother when he had been told to protect his nephew. Though he must feel better now, thought Okkoto.

Hours later, they laid Sonoda in a quiet grove in the deepest region of the forest. Okkoto listened to the soft crunch of his body being laid down onto the earth. At this point, Okkoto realized what power the humans wielded. He realized what he had to do to save his old way of life. Bringing his head towards his people, he began, "Our way of life has remained consistent for a millenia. Now man threatens to strip us of our lifestyle and being. We must face them head on to keep our forests and children safe." He listened to the forest melodies for a quick moment to gather his thoughts, then let out a colossal bellow that shook the forest to its roots. "Join me against humanity!" This was met with squealing and other bellowing. Boars raised and lowered their powerful hind legs in a kind of salute to their leader. The forest echoed with their war cries. Birds chirped in panic, as they flew off the trees in terror.

Okkoto led the charge of his people as they barreled down a pathway. Their rumbling footfalls shook the ground, and their faces were whipped by falling branches. Suddenly, Okkoto felt a warmth on his face. They had reached where the humans had been seen before. Their arrival had been heard by the humans, and they had prepared themselves. Barricades guarded the area, but the brutality of the attack of the boars overwhelmed this obstacle. Okkoto himself stood in the middle of the battle. In the midst of it, he heard screams of man and then squeals of his people. Suddenly, he heard a terrible and yet not too unfamiliar noise. A gunshot. He braced himself for the overwhelming pain of the bullet but none came. He took a whiff of the air and picked up a new smell. A rank and bloody smell came from the mingled smells of gunpowder and gasoline. "N-Nago?" said Okkoto. He felt Nago's warm blood trickle onto his skin, as Nago's heavy body fell onto him. Okkoto stood up, staring with unseeing eyes at his fallen brother.