A Wandering Ronin

Determination

"Sehar, what weapons do you carry?" Ran asked as they were on their way to the dark forest.

"I brought a knife and a bow," replied Sehar.

“Are you good at using both?”

"I've never used a knife. But my arrows are quite proficient because I often hunt with my father.”

It didn't take long for them to arrive. Before entering Sehar had some doubts. Sweat began to flow from his forehead to his neck. And then he swallowed hard because in front of him, there were big, tall trees and a path into a dark and dangerous forest.

"Are you in doubt?" Ran glanced at Sehar.

Sehar did not answer. He even wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"If you are in doubt, you better go home and let me go alone into this forest," Ran immediately stepped out.

"W...wait," Sehar followed Ran from behind.

The deeper you go in, the darker it gets. Sehar continued to follow Ran from behind. He drew his knife and held it with both hands just in case. Meanwhile Ran just kept quiet while watching Sehar secretly.

“Sehar, have you fought before?” Ran started a conversation as the two of them walked deeper and deeper into the dark forest.

"Not yet. Except fighting a small wild boar," replied Sehar, his hands still tightly holding the knife.

"Then?"

"I managed to kill him with one arrow shot."

"You ate it?"

"Our villagers don't eat pork."

“My villagers too.”

"Why do you ask that?"

"Because soon we will be fighting an animal that we don't know what it looks like."

After walking for an hour, Ran stopped. He looked left, right, front, back, up and down. This is where he heard the growl yesterday. And here too, it turns out that there are lots of big and tall trees.

"Can you climb trees?" Ran asked as his head kept looking up.

"That's my skill."

Ran then lowered Sehar's hand which was holding a knife. Sehar understood what Ran meant by telling him to put the knife back in the sheath. Not long after, suddenly heard a growl from the direction of two o'clock. Where is the tall bush. Sehar reflexively used his bow, took one arrow and then aimed, pulled, and released the arrow towards the growl.

The arrows shot straight through the bushes. But there was no sound. Not even the screams of an animal in pain could be heard.

"Your reflexes are quite good," said Ran.

"Thank You. I'm really scared,” Sehar wiped the sweat off his forehead again.

“You see, I have a strategy. But I need to confirm one more thing.”

"What's that?"

"You have your knife. And stay close to me."

"OK."

Sehar drew his knife and he got closer behind Ran. Meanwhile Ran just kept quiet while holding a cap from his woven bamboo. A few minutes later the growl sounded again. It came from within that tall thicket. Ran then imitated a hissing sound. Immediately, the growl grew louder. Even Sehar felt like his ears were going to burst because he was scared to death by the growl.

Ran's eyes instantly turned sharp. Then quickly, a large creature like a silver-haired wolf, shot towards Ran and Sehar. But Ran is no less fast. He immediately drew his katana. The creature's claws and Ran's katana clashed and the friction between the two was very loud. But the creature jumped back and went back into the bushes.

"W...what was that?" Sehar's eyes bulged and his hands trembled after he saw the huge creature. Even if only briefly.

"That thing is bigger than I thought," Ran said with a calm look.

Suddenly Sehar sat up in fear. He then held his head with both hands. He started crying because he was so scared.

"I want to go home," groaned Sehar while crying.

Ran is a little disappointed with Sehar. He already believed in this child. Because Sehar has the same taste as him. That is revenge.

"Where is your revenge," said Ran, turning his back on Sehar.

"What do you mean?" Sehar is confused.

"Don't you want to avenge your mother's death?"

"Yes. But the opponent was a giant beast. I can not."

"No matter how strong your opponent is, if your willpower and grudge are at their peak, you will dare to fight him even if you will lose."

"What's the use of determination when you're going to lose?"

“Your determination is not measured by the results. But how strong are you in carrying out that determination.”

A day and then silent.

"Just remember what that thing did to your mother."

Once again, Sehar was silent. His brain suddenly replayed his memories with his beloved mother. Until he died being attacked by animals that are now close in his vicinity. This is an opportunity to avenge what the animal did to its mother.

"Okay," Sehar tried to get up.

Ran then smiled faintly at Sehar's determination.

“I will explain my strategy. You climb up the tree. Find the right angle to aim the arrow," said Ran.

Shar nodded. He immediately climbed onto one of the trees holding on to the branches. When he climbed ten meters high, Sehar got onto the biggest branch and prepared with his bow.

"So what should I do?" asked Sehar as he stood strong and his hands ready with the bow.

“I will signal when the time comes for you to aim.”

“What part should I aim for?”

"Foot. You can right?"

Sehar nodded then replied, "I'll try."

Ran then imitated the hissing sound again. It wasn't long before the growl sounded again. Sehar immediately prepared with his bow. Ran was silent. When the growl became clearer, the creature quickly sped up again and Ran was no less quick to draw his katana and clash with the creature's claws.

This time, the creature did not enter the bush again. But he turned around and looked at Ran with a terrible look. His body is over two meters tall. Like a wolf. His fur is silver, his eyes are fiery red, in his mouth, red smoke is emitted. Its fangs were long like that of a lion's, and its claws, thick and sharp like a knife.

"It's huge," said Sehar in his heart.

The creature then shot at Ran with its right claw. But Ran jumped up and swung his katana horizontally which hit the creature's fangs. Instantly the creature bounced back and hit a large tree.

Ran then raised his hand indicating that Sehar should aim. Sehar swiftly aimed at the creature's feet. The arrow shot but unfortunately missed.

"Unlucky!" shouted Shar.

"Let's try again," said Ran.

The creature got up and shook its head. Then the creature looked at Sehar and ran past Ran and quickly climbed up the tree. Sehar knows he will be attacked by the creature. Sehar even screamed in fear. But suddenly Ran suddenly appeared in front of Sehar and when the creature attacked with its left claw, Ran immediately blocked it with his katana.

“Sehar, jump!” Ran said.

"But this is too high," Sehar hesitated.

"Just jump."

Sehar shouts then he jumps. About one meter before hitting the ground, Ran suddenly shot and caught Sehar then ran to hide behind the bushes.

“How can you change places so quickly?” asked Sehar when they were hiding.

"I learned to control the flow of internal energy," replied Ran.

"Then what's our next plan?"

Ran started to think. It seems even if Sehar is on the tree, the creature will be able to attack.

"Let's make it like this. You're hiding behind these bushes. If I signal, you shoot with arrows. After shooting, you find another place to aim. Anyway after shooting, you look for different places but still in the bushes.

"Okay," Sehar nodded.

After Sehar hides, Ran comes out of the bushes. He then threw a hat made of woven bamboo onto the ground. The creature saw Ran and growled. His body trembled and then ran to attack with his right claw. Ran unsheathed his katana and held back. But he immediately jumped and slashed the creature's fangs to bounce.

After Ran landed on the ground, he raised a hand. Sehar immediately took aim and arrows shot. This time the shot didn't go off. The arrow pierced the creature's right hind leg which made the creature growl in pain.

"Good!" said Ran, holding up a thumbs up.

"Yes!" Sehar clenched his right hand.

Sehar then walked secretly to a different place.

The creature is now limping. But he can still run and attack Ran with his left claw. But once again Ran held back. He then turned to the right while slashing his katana. But the creature held back with its right claw. Ran then jumped back. The creature also jumped up and attacked with its right claw. Ran dodged to the right then ran quickly behind the creature. He stuffed his katana into its scabbard then grabbed the creature's tail and slammed it down.

Sehar immediately took aim when Ran raised his right hand. The arrow shot and hit the left hind leg. Sehar immediately looked for another place to aim.

The creature stood up but could not because both of its hind legs were now pierced by arrows. But suddenly, the arrow shot out on its own and the wounds on the creature's two hind legs suddenly healed.

"What the hell?" said Ran.

"How could that be?" Sehar his eyes bulged.

Now the creature growled and howled very loudly. Its silver feathers bear fruit turning pitch black. His body shrank and turned into a werewolf who was the same height as Ran.

"What kind of creature is he?" Ran asked in his heart.

The werewolf stared intently at Ran. It seemed, he had changed to his true form. And Ran felt that the werewolf was much stronger.

"Alright, let's start the real fight," Ran said as he readied his katana.

To be continued...