The Bee Dungeon

Tyhgak walked with Metsaitti and the others into the Sacred Den for yet another hunting trip. Tyhgak, however, was strangely silent. The others were giving him looks but he didn’t notice, lost in his thoughts as he was. He had much to think about lately.

When Tyhgak first saw the Sacred Den…he couldn’t say he was impressed. The older generations had told him all sorts of stories about Sacred Dens. Some were labyrinths of death meant to push their challengers to the limit. Others were the bastions of mighty armies, led by imperious warlords who demanded submission.

This one opened with a field of flowers.

Sure, a pit trap could be dangerous but it was a far cry from the magical bombs and invisible blades he had heard stories of. And the bees? There were a lot of them and they were big for bees, but they were just bees. They didn’t come close to the monsters Metsaitti and Chief Rohsuak had taken down. Most of the hunters had taken down something worse during their journeys through the Underway.

And the Sacred Den Master? He was a sickly young runt, barely older than Tyghak if at all. He was even smaller than Noiggakuq, and most of the fur had fallen off of his body, if it had even grown in the first place! Now Tyghak knew that the strength of a person did not indicate their value, but he also wasn’t going to feel threatened by someone like that. And if even Tyghak could take him, then he wouldn’t last five seconds against Metsaitti, much less the chief, the Blazing Berserker herself.

So, he didn’t understand why the chief and Metsaitti were bending over backwards to be all submissive to the Sacred Den Master. He had heard of the daring raids they had led on the tigerfolk and the lizardmen and assumed that it was his time to follow in their footsteps. And this Sacred Den…well it seemed like land for the taking!

…ok, Tyhgak wouldn’t go that far. Sacred Dens were connected to the gods and attacking one was a huge taboo. But still, Tyhgak thought they should at least be negotiating more confidently when they held the clear advantage. Like the mana flowers! Those things were super valuable! He knew after Juosiutik and the Chief had tore him a new one when he knocked over a pot with one inside it back in the day! He figured they’d be pretty happy if he brought one back!

But no, he had to stay away because of a couple of bees. They had plenty of flowers all over, what was the harm of taking one?

At least, that is what he once thought. Then he saw the bees in actual combat.

Despite standing under the sun in a bright field in the middle of the day, Tyghak felt a chill settle on his fur, and had to fight back a shiver. The shade in front of him was tiny, barely coming up his ankles, and yet still his body wished to recoil away from it.

He still remembered his first trip to the Sacred Den, and his first time fighting a shade. His body had been trembling, he barely kept a hold on his spear. His thrusts were hesitant and poorly aimed, barely scraping into the shades. If Metsaitti hadn’t been there, the shade would have been free to pounce right on him. But he couldn’t have helped it. The Hunger was more than just another monster. It was, well, a hunger. When he looked at a shade, when he felt the Hunger nearby, he knew, deep down inside, that he was prey. That the Hunger would not merely rip apart his flesh, but that it would consume him on a deeper level. It would take all that was inside of him, all that made him who he was, and devour it, to be replaced by more of the Hunger itself. He looked into even the tiniest shade and saw the death and destruction of all that he was.

And then he watched the bees rip those shades apart, plunging directly into its body without any hesitation. And he watched the Sacred Den Master escort them through the fields. He walked with no hesitation, no fear of the shades appearing around them. He casually pointed out the shades to his bees as they appeared. He acted and spoke with the confidence of one who knew he was not at risk, fully trusting that his bees, his soldiers, would eliminate the shades at his command.

Tyhgak understood, then. The Sacred Den Master was far more powerful than he appeared, and underneath his timid and frightened demeanor lurked courage and confidence. The kind of courage and confidence that could only have come from facing true danger and emerging victorious. The kind of courage and confidence Tyhgak hoped he would have, but wasn’t yet sure that he would. He turned pale when he thought of what might have happened if they had raided the Sacred Den like he once thought of, or even if the Sacred Den Master had been more inclined to violence. Chief Rohsuak and Metsaitti could probably have survived…but the rest of them wouldn’t have.

Stolen story; please report.

But, fortunately for everyone involved, the Sacred Den Master was not that sort of person. He was a gentle soul, one who did not lord his power over others, and who treated people weaker than him with respect. At first, Tyhgak thought that was just because he seemed frightened of everyone, but he had recently changed his mind.

And that was because the clan now had two champions, and neither of them had been warriors.

It was a surprise that Juosiutik had beaten them to the punch without fighting a single shade, but it wasn’t that surprising in the end. Juosiutik had a drive and a fire that matched the heart of any warrior and let nothing stand in the way of her potion-making…something that Tyhgak had found himself on the receiving end of. If anyone could earn a god’s blessing without fighting, it was her. Still, though, she apparently had the cooperation of the Sacred Den Master, who seemed to take her instruction without complaint despite the obvious difference in their power. And she had, from those interactions, received treasures from him that Tyhgak and the others had so far been unable to earn with their might.

But the real kicker was just yesterday. When they found out that Noiggakuq had been cooperating with the Sacred Den Master in secret…and was the second karnuq to be blessed as a result.

Everyone in the clan knew that Noiggakuq was to be protected. Something that Noiggakuq herself was unhappy about but what could they do? A cave panther wouldn’t care about her wishes and would absolutely take advantage of her smaller size and weaker arms. She was physically the least likely to survive danger.

Others in the clan even spoke of her as a burden. Tyhgak knew she was not, even before she revealed her ability to sniff mana, but he also knew she couldn’t be exposed to danger. He, ah, may have even promised to protect her…though he, um, hadn’t managed to actually convey that to her.

But then, Noiggakuq had suddenly gone and become a champion. She had gone and done something unbelievably dangerous…and the Sacred Den Master had rewarded her for it.

And she had seemed happier than Tyhgak had ever seen her. That…made him think about a lot of things. He may have valued Noiggakuq more than the others…but he had still thought of her as weak. The Sacred Den Master apparently did not…and then she had gone and proven what she was capable of. And now she had the blessing of a god and wouldn’t need anyone else’s protection any longer.

Tyhgak’s silent pondering continued even as they finished their hunt and started to return to the camp. When he arrived, he decided upon something. He made his way to the chief…

Chief Rohsuak lifted an eyebrow.

“A hunt in the Underway?”

Tyhgak nodded his head. Chief Rohsuak crossed her arms.

“What brought this on?”

Tyhgak couldn’t help but fidget under her gaze.

“It’s, um, for the Sacred Den Master.”

Chief Rohsuak frowned.

“The Sacred Den Master? Tyhgak, be honest with me. Are you envious of Noiggakuq’s deeds? Are you growing impatient that you have not been blessed?”

Tyhgak lifted his hands and quickly shook his head.

“Ah, it’s not that.”

Chief Rohsuak’s eyes narrowed on him, making him gulp.

“Then what is it?”

Tyhgak trembled a bit but took a deep breath.

“It’s…an apology.”

Chief Rohsuak tilted her head.

“An apology?”

Tyhgak nodded.

“I, um, was pretty rude to the Sacred Den Master, talking about taking his flowers from his bees and stuff. But…he’s a good man who didn’t deserve that. He’s strong, he’s treated us well, and he even helped Noiggakuq…when we wouldn’t. So, um, I wanted to apologize, and maybe do something for him.”

Chief Rohsuak stared at him for a moment before her face softened.

“I see.”

She hummed and rubbed her chin.

“Noiggakuq found a cave panther and a wolf-mole den too close to the entrance for comfort. I had intended to organize an expedition to scout the Underway and identify the dangers in our surroundings. If Metsaitti approves, I will consider including you in the group.”

Tyhgak started to smile when Chief Rohsuak frowned and glared at him once again.

“Be aware, though, that, even if you are allowed to join, getting something for your own purposes, including to give to the Sacred Den Master, will come third to the expedition and your own survival.”

Tyhgak nodded, still smiling.

“Yes! I promise!”

Chief Rohsuak sighed, but slowly nodded.

“I will speak with Metsaitti then. Be aware that I will defer to his decision on if you are ready, and will not listen to any complaints on it, understood?”

Tyghak nodded again. That was fair, he still couldn’t compare to Metsaitti as a hunter, but they had been hunting in the Sacred Den for a while now. He could only hope he had proved himself in that time…

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