Sonic Tribal: Ch. 2

Chapter 2 First Hunt

It was another beautiful warm day in the Jungle, and Sonic was heading up to the palace because he heard that Sally wanted to talk to him.  He soon approached the largest and oddest structure in the village.  It was made of the same stone as the other buildings, but this thing was above ground and had stone and marble columns all over.  Several members of the tribe where even afraid of this building for that its age is far beyond the tribe.

Sonic saw Sally sitting at a step wall for a pool.  This pool was being feed by a water fall coming from the palace.  When he sat with her, she said, "I heard you where going to take Tails out on his first hunt today.  And when where you going to tell me this?"

Sonic made a big grin as he rubbed the back of his head, "Aw come on Sall.  I knew you would stop me.  You never let that kid have any fun.  You hardly even let him leave the village walls.  How is he supposed to know the ways of the jungle if he can't go out?"

Sally just glared at Sonic, "You don't think I know that you sneak him out at times?  Or that he is able to jump from the tree branches to get out?  It's not that I want to keep him in, but it's dangerous out there!  How can I trust you if you never do the responsible thing and talk to me before you go!?  I am the Chef!!  I am in charge of all the lives of this village, and you will tell me before you take Tails out!  Understand Sonic?"

While Sonic was scratching the inside of his ear, "Yeah yeah, so can we go now?"

"Yes… but be careful!  Don't leave Tails for one second, and be back here before the sun reaches its highest point."

***

In the workshop, Tails was working on his bow.  He was carving out some parts of the bows arms and putting some kind of thick liquid through the strings.  A big Walrus was there too.  He was at another desk working on something.  The Walrus was known as Boomer, mostly because he is big and most can hear him coming.  He is also one of the tribes oldest members, but has never revealed is age.

"Done!" exclaimed Tails as he smiled contently.  While he was feeling his craftsmanship, he looked to the Walrus and asked, "Boomer, could you hang that piece of wood up over there?"

Boomer looked at the end of the desk and saw an imperfect plank of wood that had rope tied to one end of it.  He picked it up and went to the far side of the workshop.  He tied the end of the rope to a support rafter.  Then he backed off.

Tails warmed up his hands by rubbing them together.  He got his bow up and fast aslightning; he grabbed an arrow and took a shot.  The arrow hit the rope and cut it.  As the plank started to fall Tails drove 3 more arrows into the piece of wood, nailing it to the wall behind it.

"GOSH!!" exclaimed Boomer. "Your as fast with the bow as Sonic is on his feet.  And so accurate!!  Your so much better with a bow than…  than our… last archer."  Then Boomer went back to work on the wooden round disk that he was working on.

After Tails got his arrows back he went up to Boomer and said, "No one ever told me what happened to the last archer.  Could you please tell me?  I think I should know."

Boomer was still working with his project, but he eventually said, "Okay…  I suppose you are old enough to know.  But promise me that you will not talk about it to anyone especially Sally."

Tails made a fist with his right hand and beat his chest twice with it, and wile keeping the fist on his chest he said, "I promise."

"Okay. For right now I won't give you his name, because I don't think you can handle it.  He was a fine boy, but one night…  Shadow; the leader of the cannibal tribe, came to find his next victim.  He killed our archer and took him.  For several days we where without an archer.  Eventually the Master Emerald granted us a new one and you emerged from it.  Of course you know Sonic took responsibility for you.  But so did Sally because she thought Sonic was not… erm… ready."

"Oh…" Tails was not exactly sure what to feel right now, knowing he was born to replace another.  But he knew that's how the Master Emerald works.  When one person dies, it replaces them.  But he was not sure why.  Sally has not taught him everything yet.  She still claims he is too young to understand.  Then Tails looked at what Boomer was working on and he asked, "So Boomer… what is that thing you are making?"

Boomer held it up and said, "Oh it's just another one of my crazy inventions.  I call it a shield.  You carry this, and you can block attacks with it.  It can protect you from Wild Cubs, and incoming spears.  Not sure about your arrows with your deadly aim though."

"That is the craziest thing I ever heard!" said the voice of Sonic from the door.

"Hi Sonic!" greeted Tails with much enthusiasm.  "So are you going to show me more of your awesome hunting skills!?

Sonic shook his head, "Nope.  Today you're going to do the hunting.  I think you're ready."  Tails smiled most excitedly.  They both went out of the workshop and made there way out into the jungle.  As they where walking threw the thick undergrowth of the jungle, Sonic said, "Now we just need to find something that would be easy for you to hunt.  Maybe fish or CkroCkro's"

Tails was happily walking next to Sonic, "I'm already an expert fisher.  You said so you're self when I caught 17 of them during one session."

"Oh right.  Yeah what amazed me the most was that you where catching them with your hands and they where big ones too.  Well, maybe we will find a small boar for you to get."

After a few moments They found a small boar that was grazing near some large boulders.  Sonic and Tails snuck in low to the ground, moving on all fours.  They peered out from a bush and Sonic looked at Tails and he made a jester with his head toward the boar.  Then Tails nodded.

The little fox backed up so silently.  He was skilled with moving around for that he can do it with no sound.  Then like the wind, he just jumped up into the trees.  At this point Sonic could not see, smell, or hear Tails.  Sonic was the only person that was not disturbed by this skill, in fact he claims Tails got it from him.

Then in an instant an arrow whizzed from a tree and struck the boar in the head.  It was an instant kill, a most merciful way of doing it as respect for the creature.  Then from a tree on the opposite side where the arrow came from, Tails jumped down.  He went to the small boar which was about his size.

Sonic came out of the bushes and he beat his fist into his chest twice as he said, "Good job Tails!  You remembered everything I taught you.  You made me proud."

"Thank you Sonic!" said Tails, "I did what you said, always keep on a move, to head off the prey if he tries to escape."

Both of them started to check out the boar and get a handle on it so they can take it to the village.  Tails can't wait till they can eat it.  He will be the honored name of the meal, but Tails was just happy that he was finally allowed to go on his first hunt.  But soon Tails's ears started to twitch.  He looked around and said, "Sonic!  The trees!  They are saying that danger is coming.  Something big!"

Sonic was getting a firm grip on the boar's legs as he said, "Well let's hurry and get a move on!"  but by that time it was too late.  A large brown hairy animal just busted out of the thicket.  It had a long snout filled with sharp teeth, and it had an intimidating hump at its shoulders.  This creature was known as a Tera Bear.  It was one of the jungles largest and maddest predators.

Both Sonic and Tails where practically trapped.  The Tera Bear was in front of them and approaching, while a cliff wall was behind them.  Sonic kept his eye on the Bear with his spear at the ready as he said, "Tails, I want you to go run to the village, do not stop, or look back!"

The frightened fox was staring at the Bear as he said, "No Sonic, I won't leave you!"

"Do it Tails!!" exclaimed Sonic, "Get out of here!!"  Tails saw that Sonic was serious at this condition, so he nodded and started to run for the nearest tree.

However the Tera Bear charged right for Tails, because he looked like the most helpless target.  But Sonic threw his spear right into the Bear's neck.  That only stopped it from going after Tails as it was set on going after Sonic now.  Tails was able to make his escape.

The Bear went down at Sonic real hard as it roared, but Sonic was too quick.  He used his speed to jump up and retrieve his spear from the Bear's neck.  He landed on the ground and threw the spear again.  However the Bear just swung around and smacked Sonic with its paws.  Sonic was hurled into the air and hit the ground hard.

Soon the Bear revealed its claws and swiped at Sonic.  The hedgehog kept a move on.  Running in circles around the beast, and eventually getting his spear back, and instantly throwing it again.  The spear made a hit on the beast's back.

This time Sonic almost got snapped by the bears jaws.  When those jaws clamp down, it sounded like thunder to Sonic.  He knew if the Bear snagged him, it would be over.  But he also realized that the spear attacks where nothing more than bee stings to the Tera bear.  But Sonic did not want to kill it, just drive it away.

Sonic was getting to position to where he can get his spear back and try for another attack.  Then out of nowhere an arrow whizzed threw the air and hit the Bear square in the eye.  The Bear screamed in a roar from the loss of his eye.  Sonic swiftly got his spear again and jumped up to one of the boulders and got into a pouncing stance.

The Tera Bear glared at Sonic with its one eye.  Sonic glared right back.  He showed the Bear he was not afraid of it.  Soon the Bear turned around and went away.  Sonic then sat on the rock and tried to catch his breath.  He was glad that he did not have to kill the beast, and everything was fine now.

Tails just dropped from nowhere and came to sat next to Sonic.  Sonic scratched the top of Tails's head, "Thanks Bro.  Let's not tell Sally about this, because she would freak if we did.  Now let's get our prize home."

***

A few hours latter back in the village.  The whole tribe was at the Main Fountain Plaza to eat.  And Sally soon announced, "The honored names of this meal are Sonic, Manic, and Tails.  This also makes today a special day, for that Tails has made his first kill, this small boar.  We play music, we sing, we dance for him to honor his first hunt."

Then in that instant Sonic, Manic, and Sonia started to play Music. Mina danced as she singed to lead the rest.  The Song was an ancient jungle chant and Tails's name was in it.  The whole tribe started to dance in celebration to Tails's first hunt.  Tails danced very happily, he was exited that he got to have this ceremony of honor.  With it, he will be granted a few more freedoms and rights.  The Tribe will start to speak greatly of Tails, for that honor is a big deal to the tribe, and it dictates what a member's reputation is.

More to Come