Chapter 2: Dangers of Jumping


The boy took a deep breath and then started running towards the edge. Then he jumped.
Into the lake, about 35 yards below.
At first he fell with his limps flailing, as if he did not expect such a deep drop.
Then he caught himself and stretched his arms out in front, pointing to the dark blue of the lake. From the edge his impact sounded like a distant clap. Then real clapping started and cheering was to be heard.


Syrn was next. He did not like the idea of jumping from a roughly 35 yards high cliff into a lake; he wouldn’t like it even if it were 35 feet high. But the alternative was being called a coward for the next year until he was of full age to leave the hunter school and the village. So he took also a deep breath but enlarged his distance from the ledge a little bit before starting to run. And how he ran, it was one of the few things he was really good at. Then he too, jumped. While in mid air he spread his arms and made some spins before he steadied himself and stretched the arms above his head. He pierced the cold surface of the lake. Again the impact sounded like a clap. He dived in deep, almost touching the floor, while down there he picked up a rock and took it with him to the surface. As soon he emerged with his head he heard clapping from the cliff above.’Hm, I seem to NOT have made a fool of myself’, he thought by himself. He raised the half a head sized rock high above and more clapping and cheers sounded towards him. Then he finally paddled to the shore where the first jumper already awaited him and gave him a pat to the shoulder.


Then it was Hayden’s turn. He was the big boss of their generation, big, burly, and strong enough to wrestle most man and not look like an amateur. Oddly enough he likes flutes and their soothing melodies. But it was always unadvisable to laugh at that because his temper was rather short.
He did the same as the two before him and gave himself some distance before he ran, and then he jumped.


Kryyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!   


He was caught in mid-air by the big pink bird wyvern Yian Kut-Ku which carried him off into the forest. He screamed in fear and so did all those who were still on the cliff. They were racing towards the village, Syrn and the other boy who jumped following behind. After several minutes they had reached the village where the boys left it to the girls to explain what happened, the boys went home to gather their equipment together and go for a hunt. The man who saw what was going on raced home too for the same reason. They didn’t need to be told what happened. Wyvern appeared and all the boys feel called to be heroes…..great.

Syrn reached his hut where he lived alone with his Felyne companion Gunpowder. Gunpowder didn’t ask either, he saw Syrn get his Chainmail and Leather armor on and sword strapped to his shoulder and did the same, packing several potions as well. Then they raced out together. A few boys and their fathers were ahead, but Syrn wasn’t concerned to not having to take a swing at the Kut-Ku, as far he was able to remember it was a fairly large fella, almost halfway to double of the normal Kut-Ku. He was somewhere among the first five when he suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong Syrn, nyah”, asked Gunpowder curious.
They were standing on a wild path, and to their left was a faint path snaking through the trees. Syrn followed the small path through the trees.
“What are nyah doing Syrn? Everyone else is following the bigger path, and the hill caves are that way too.”
“Call it intuition, but I feel as if it would be better to follow this way”, replied Syrn to the little Felyne.
“Syrn”!
The call came from behind, and Syrn wheeled about in mid-run, creating a large dust cloud at his feet.
Running after them was his Uncle Darius, his large two-hander on his back and in a full chainmail suit.” Going on a hunt without inviting a Ko’alder, what for a shameful behavior did I let you develop” came the joking snarl.
They started running again, though Darius, having spent more time by the anvil than in the forest hunting, had a little bit of difficulties of keeping up with Syrn.” Sorry but it is a matter of time here, Hayden was caught mid-air, while jumping off the lake cliff, by a Yian Kut-Ku, pink but still rather large”, replied Syrn as apology.
His uncle only nodded in a reply.

They followed the trail another 10 minutes until they reached anything significant. Cave entrance in a Hills side.” Nyah, did your intuition point out this Syrn?”
“I guess so”.
“That’s my boy, he trusts his instincts”, burst out Darius proudly.

In fact he was very proud of Syrn. He was a good smith and an excellent cook and after the death of his son he had gotten lonely so he had adopted Syrn when he arrived after escaping the slaughter at Meldon.’ What a shame that he never met his parents. But I am sure they are watching over him, they just couldn’t else. Thank you two for giving this boy to my care’, thought the smith, a sting of sadness in his mood.

They entered the cave, and though they couldn’t see much they knew that they were at the right place. The squeaking of three hatchlings and the panicked voice of Hayden were the indicators.” Get lost, leave me alone. No don’t do that, get away from there”, cried the boy .Syrn sneaked closer and tied the three up with a rope and stuffed their beaks closed.” Gee, thanks man, but did you have to take that long? Ow, what was that for”, asked Hayden, rubbing his arm where Syrn punched it.

Kryyaaaaahh!!!!!   

“Mommy is back, Hayden, take the chicks and go to the village, THIS is man’s business”, instructed Darius.
Hayden looked like he wanted to reply something, but than noticed that he was just in his swim shorts. He then just picked up the chicks and left the cave.

After the Kut-Ku had called for her chicks it waited to hear a reply cry. It circled the entrance hole in the ceiling several times before deciding to enter and check what happened. With a massive *thump* it landed and looked about. No hatchlings, prey gone too, and two armored two-leggers, holding large, shiny, object in their hands.

Kryah!!!!!