Page 45 of Blood Fist
“Wow, he didn’t give me that warning when he was teaching me.”
Ridan scowled. “That’s because you looked funnier sprawled in the dirt. C’mon Foreigner, we don’t have all day.”
Nervously, Brune buried his fingers in Boulder’s coarse man and jumped when Ridan told him to. The omega was strong; he knew that, but to feel how he effortlessly gave him a leg up onto Boulder’s back impressed him.
He landed a little heavier than poor Boulder deserved, knees digging into his ribs to keep himself balanced. The big horse shifted his feet under him, ears twisted back, but otherwise not moving. Once he was settled, he reached forward to give him a pat in thanks.
Beside him, Ridan vaulted onto Peppercorn’s back. He balanced easily; his posture relaxed like he’d been born astride a horse. For all Brune knew, he might have been.
“The river is low,” Jonen said as he flicked an errant curl from his eyes. “We should be fine.”
Boulder had a steady gait, following Peppercorn without any direction from him. Brune held the reins loosely in his fisted hands. He was more than happy to let Boulder make all the decisions. His concentration was on trying to stay light on the horse's back and not tip over his shoulders.
“Relax,” Ridan barked at him, pulling his cloak tighter around his shoulders.
The rain was lighter now, more like a mist in the air. Most of the clan was still asleep or hiding away from the damp. It was the first time the weather hadn’t been bright since Brune had arrived, and he missed the sun. In Kaledonea, the winters were long but dry. The massive walls blocked out most of the wind, leaving the summers scorching but the winters mild.
As they left the last of the tents behind, Brune’sexcitement grew. He hadn’t left the clan yet, relying on Niklas’s hunting stories to supply his imagination of the surrounding land. Jonen and Corric rode ahead, the alpha desperately trying to make conversation. Corric was talking to him now, albeit stiffly. Still, Jonen latched onto it, seemingly grateful to have his attention back.
Ridan tsked, rolling his eyes at the obvious display. The knuckles of one hand rested in Peppercorn’s short mane, the other on his thigh. His hips moved easily, matching her movements naturally. His sword dangled off his hip, and a bow hung on his back, arrows in a quiver on his belt.
“What’s a Snap Jaw?” Brune asked, remembering what Jonen said the day before.
Ridan glanced over at him before pointing ahead, past the trees. “Big, ugly things. Outside of mating season they’re pretty scarce, preferring to stay in the mud,” he began, wrinkling his nose as if he was recalling something unpleasant. “They lumber around close to the ground, so it makes them seem dumb, but they’re smarter than they look, and quick, too. Jaws strong as steel. Once they’ve got you, they’ll drag you to the bottom and bury you in mud, then take their time picking your bones clean.”
Brune’s jaw dropped. “And you hunt them?”
“Not exactly,” Ridan said as he shifted his cloak to show Brune the bracer on his right arm. Leather of some kind. It was shiny and bumpy in a way he’d never seen before. “Their hides are like armor. It takes a lot to penetrate. But if you do? It makes the finest leather. Won’t wear out, and it’ll block most blades.” He tapped the bracer with his knuckles. “Their eggs are not so protected. They’re delicious. A single egg can keep a warrior going for a full day and night.”
“If you can get past the adults,” Brune guessed.
Ridan grinned that savage smile of his. “Exactly.”
They rode on through the woods, where Ridan caught him bathing and into heavy scrubland. Animals darted away from the horses, Brune eagerly pointing them out and demanding to know what they were. Ridan told him about deer, snakes, lizards, and even Gulon—dog like creatures with a hide that was light and waterproof. They were difficult to catch. He showed him tracks and game trails. Jonen and Corric chimed in, which invariably ended up with Ridan arguing with them.
It was easy to tell when they got closer to the swamps. The air grew humid and thick, warmer too. Even the trees were different, hanging low with moss clinging to their trucks. When the ground turned soft, they dismounted, Ridan telling him it was too dangerous for the horses to go on. He patted Boulder in thanks, promising to find him some kind of treat while they were gone.
They ducked under the low hanging branches, stepping carefully as the mud squelched around their boots. It was difficult to walk with the raised roots. It was as if the tops of the trees were reaching for the ground just as their roots were reaching for the sky, and they were caught in the middle. Thanks to the gray weather, it was dark in the swamp, and it took his eyes a moment to adjust.
Ridan snagged the back of his shirt, dragging him close. “One important thing,” he whispered, looking around. “To keep Snap Jaws from attacking, you have to hiss at them.”
Brune blinked. “Hiss?”
He nodded solemnly. “They hiss before they attack. If you hiss, they think a bigger Snap Jaw is ready to attack and they’ll run away.”
He glanced over at Jonen and Corric. They both nodded, arms crossed. Shaking his head, he moved forward, bending his knees so he was lower. Ridan said they stayed close to the ground, didn’t he? Crouching, he began hissing as he walked. Each step had him crunching through detritus, branches tugging at his hair.
A bush rustled beside him, and he hissed at it, baring his teeth.
Only to be met with raucous laughter.
He looked over his shoulder to see Ridan doubled over, hands on his knees, whole body shaking as he laughed. Corric had a hand pressed to his lips, trying to contain his laughter. Even sweet natured Jonen was biting his lip to keep it in.
“You actually hissed!” Ridan howled breathlessly. “You looked so dumb all bent over and…” he couldn’t finish his mocking.
Standing up straight, Brune’s cheeks reddened. He felt his embarrassment mounting when he realized…
Ridan had pranked him.