Chapter 39: Hunting The New Threat (part5)

As Tygari and Barok approach the village, the faint orange glow of torchlight filters through the trees. Figures gather near the entrance, murmurs rippling through the crowd as they catch sight of the two warriors dragging the creature's massive form behind them. The villagers fall silent, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and dread.

"It's... huge," whispers a young Vorran, barely able to look away from the beast's twisted, armored body. "What kind of creature is that?"

A seasoned elder steps forward, his eyes narrowing as he studies the creature's gleaming exoskeleton. "That's no beast I've ever seen in our forests," he murmurs, a hint of worry in his tone. "It looks like an insect, but… it's big. Nothing we know has armor like this."

Amara steps forward, her gaze fierce yet calm, addressing the crowd. "This creature is new to us," she says. "It's not from these woods. But we will learn its weaknesses, as we always have."

One of the village hunters, a wiry young man with a scar across his cheek, speaks up, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "If there's one, there could be more. Are we prepared for that?"

The crowd falls silent, a heavy tension settling over them. Tygari places a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder. "We fought it, and we won. If there are more, we'll be ready. We'll protect our home."

Amara nods, scanning the villagers. "We'll post additional guards tonight. We'll watch the forest, learn from this creature. But we will not let fear control us."

The villagers seem to steady themselves, drawing confidence from Amara and Tygari. They nod in agreement, some clutching their weapons tighter, others whispering words of reassurance to their neighbors.

Just then, a child's voice breaks the silence. "Will we be safe?"

Amara smiles, crouching down to meet the child's gaze. "Yes, little one. We'll be safe. And together, we're strong enough to face whatever comes."

As the crowd begins to disperse, a large, muscular Vorran strides forward, his presence immediately drawing attention. His arms are thick with muscle, and he carries a hammer slung across his back. He greets Amara and Tygari with a warm, respectful nod.

"Chief Amara, Chief Tygari," he says, his voice deep and resonant.

Amara smiles and claps him on the shoulder. "Chief Tygari, this is Harek. He's the one responsible for crafting all the equipments in my village."

Tygari eyes Harek with interest, his gaze shifting to the blacksmith's hands, calloused and scarred from years of forging. "A pleasure, Harek," he says, offering a firm nod. "You do fine work. I can tell just by looking at your tools."

Harek's eyes sparkle as he turns to the ant guard's body, reaching out to tap a knuckle against its exoskeleton. The heavy, metallic sound echoes through the quieting village square, and his mouth curves into a grin. "What a creature," he mutters, half to himself. "This armor… it's tougher than the metals I've worked with."

He crouches down, running his hands along the ant guard's armor with a craftsman's appreciation. "Imagine the kind of armor we could make with this. Strong, durable—practically impenetrable." His voice carries a note of excitement, and he glances up at Tygari and Amara. "Where did you find it?"

Tygari chuckles, leaning on his hammer. "Finding it wasn't the hard part—killing it was. Barok and I had to hammer at it for ages before we found its weak spots."

Harek nods, deep in thought, his fingers tracing the intricate patterns of the exoskeleton. "If we could break down this armor, figure out how it's structured, we could make something truly extraordinary. Imagine shields that could block any attack, or even lighter armor that still holds up in battle."

"Sounds promising," Tygari says, intrigued. "What do you say, Harek? I've got a blacksmith back in my village who's skilled with reinforced metals. If we combine your expertise with his, we might just crack the secret of this thing's armor."

Harek's eyes light up, a gleam of excitement overtaking his calm demeanor. "I'd be honored to work with your blacksmith. It's not often we get to experiment with something entirely new. This creature could change everything about how we defend ourselves."

Amara, listening to their exchange, crosses her arms, a satisfied smile on her face. "If anyone can make this work, it's the two of you," she says. "Our villages will be safer, stronger."

Tygari, catching his breath, gives Amara a weary smile. "Amara, you should tell Lorka about this too. He'll want to know."

Amara nods thoughtfully. "I will. Lorka's insight will be invaluable, especially since he's known to study strange creatures." Her gaze shifts to Tygari, noticing the exhaustion settling into his eyes. "You've pushed yourself hard, Tygari. You and Barok both. Tanking that thing's attacks wasn't a small feat."

Tygari shrugs, though the strain is clear in his posture. "We had no choice," he says, his voice low. "If we hadn't, Jynra wouldn't have made it out."

Barok, standing beside him, chuckles lightly, patting Tygari on the shoulder. "Besides, I think you enjoyed the challenge, old friend."

Tygari lets out a tired laugh. "Maybe a bit. But a few less bruises next time wouldn't hurt."

At that, Harek's booming voice interrupts, filled with newfound energy. "Well, if Lorka joins in, I'll have to prepare my forge to take on whatever ideas he brings to the table."