บท 42: Catching Pigs
The man gestured toward a roughly made table surrounded by mismatched chairs. "Sit, sit," he said. The group exchanged glances before settling into the seats.
The farmer leaned against the wall, crossing his arms as he started speaking. "So, yesterday… or maybe it was two days ago? I can't remember exactly," he began, scratching his head. "Anyway, I forgot to close the fence after feeding the pigs. Simple enough, right? But when I got back with another bucket of food, well, you wouldn't believe it."
Amukelo's expression betrayed his impatience, his furrowed brow and sidelong glance at Bral practically shouting, Just tell us what to do already. Bral caught the look and stifled a chuckle, nudging Amukelo lightly with his elbow.
The farmer continued, completely unaware. "Those pigs ran like they'd seen a ghost! It was the strangest thing, I tell ya. They scattered everywhere, squealing like the devil himself was chasing them. It's been chaos ever since."
Bao, sitting across from the farmer, rested her chin on her hand, her expression blank. She gave no indication of interest or frustration, though a faint twitch at the corner of her lips suggested she wasn't entirely amused. Pao, beside her, gave a polite smile, trying to maintain a semblance of attentiveness.
"So now," the farmer said, his tone growing more serious, "I've only got four pigs left. Four! And that's not enough for them to breed. I need at least ten if I'm gonna keep this farm running. You understand?"
Bral nodded, his tone businesslike. "Alright, so we'll catch six more. Anything else we need to know?"
The farmer held up a finger. "One more thing. For every pig you catch beyond the ten, I'll pay an extra fifty silver coins as a bonus. Fair deal?"
At the mention of money, Bral's face lit up slightly. "Very fair," he said with a grin. "We'll have it done by today. Don't you worry."
The farmer smiled, relieved. "Good. Thank you. I'll be here when you're done. Just bring them back to the pen out back."
As they stepped outside, Bral stretched his arms wide, letting out a loud sigh. "Oh, man. That guy could talk for hours, couldn't he?"
Amukelo nodded quickly, his face showing his agreement. "I thought he was never going to stop."
Bao, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, let out a short breath. "Yeah, but whatever. Let's just get this over with." She stopped and turned to the group, already taking charge. "We'll divide into two teams to cover more ground. Bral, Pao, and I will go together. Amukelo, you're with Idin. Got it?"
The group nodded, except for Bral, who raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Me alone with two lovely ladies? I must be the luckiest guy in the world."
Bao turned her head sharply, giving him a look that could freeze water. Her lips pressed into a thin line as if she was debating whether or not to snap back. But she hesitated just long enough for Bral to add, "What? I'm just saying it's nice to be appreciated."
Bao's eyes narrowed, though a faint twitch of amusement betrayed her. She shook her head, muttering under her breath, "Shut up, Bral. Don't push your luck."
Before he could respond, she gestured sharply to Idin. "You're coming with us. I'm not letting Bral get any ideas. Amukelo, you're stuck with him."
Amukelo blinked, looking between them with a mixture of confusion and mild panic. "Wait, what about—"
"Don't ask questions," Bao said flatly, already turning on her heel. "Just do your job."
"Wait, wait!" Bral called, holding out his hands in mock surrender. "I was joking, Bao. Come on, don't leave me with the rookie."
She didn't even slow down, raising a hand dismissively as she walked away. "Enjoy yourself," she called over her shoulder, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Amukelo turned to Bral, who let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Don't worry, Amukelo," Bral said, slinging an arm over his shoulder. "She's just moody."
Tyen he called loudly teasing her even more, "And very charming!"
Bao froze for a moment, her shoulders stiffening. Without turning, she began walking faster as her face reddened.
Bral chuckled, patting Amukelo on the back. "Don't let her fool you. Deep down, she's a softie."
Amukelo wasn't so sure, but he nodded anyway, still feeling slightly out of place in the group's dynamic. "So… now what?"
"Now," Bral said, cracking his knuckles, "we catch some pigs. Welcome to adventuring, my friend."
They turned toward the nearby forest and began their search. As they entered the forest, Bral grinned, gesturing toward the open expanse of trees. "Alright, Amukelo. Let's see what you've got. Think you can handle a pig or two?"
Amukelo sighed. "I guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
Bral laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Now you're getting it." They moved deeper into the forest.
After what felt like an eternity, Bral stopped abruptly, raising a hand to signal Amukelo. "There," he whispered, pointing ahead.
Amukelo followed his gaze and spotted a pig rummaging through a patch of roots. It snorted contentedly, oblivious to the two adventurers watching from the bushes.
"Alright," Bral said quietly, crouching low. "Don't scare it. Let's get it from two sides. I'll go around this way." He gestured to the left, then began moving with surprising stealth for someone of his size.
Amukelo nodded, circling to the right. He tried to mimic Bral's quiet movements but found himself stepping on every dry twig and leaf in his path. The pig raised its head momentarily, its ears twitching, but it quickly returned to its foraging.
Once in position, Bral gave a subtle signal from the bushes. With a sudden burst of energy, he jumped out, shouting, "Gotcha!"
The pig squealed in panic and bolted in the opposite direction—straight toward Amukelo. Its little legs churned the dirt as it ran, but just as it tried to pivot and escape, Amukelo lunged forward, wrapping his arms around the pig and holding it tightly.
"Hey, Bral!" Amukelo called triumphantly, grinning. "I got it! See? I told you this was a boring—Ouch!" Before he could finish, the pig twisted its head and bit down on his hand.
Instinctively, Amukelo yelped and let go. The pig wriggled free and bolted.
"Amukelo!" Bral shouted, already on the move. With a quick dash, he closed the gap, lunging forward and grabbing the pig before it could disappear into the underbrush again. This time, Bral pinned it expertly, holding it in a way that kept its snapping jaws away from his hands. He looked over his shoulder, smirking. "What was that you were saying about it being boring?"
Amukelo rubbed his hand, glaring half-heartedly at Bral. "Whatever, man."
Bral chuckled as he adjusted his grip on the pig. "Come on, let's get this one back before it gets any more ideas."
The walk back to the farm was uneventful, the pig occasionally wriggling in Bral's arms but otherwise subdued. When they returned to the farm, the farmer stood leaning against the fence, watching the same four pigs from before lazily rooting around in the mud.
Bral raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't look like they're trying very hard to escape, does it?"
The farmer shrugged, tipping his hat. "Well, they're the smart ones. They know where the food is."
Bral deposited the new pig into the pen, securing the latch before turning to Amukelo. "How's your hand? That pig got you good back there."
Amukelo shook his head, holding up his hand. "It's fine. Didn't even break the skin. I just wasn't expecting it to bite me."
"Good," Bral said with a grin. "Because we've got more to catch. Let's get moving."
They set off again, following the farmer's vague directions about where the other pigs might have wandered. The search this time took longer. The forest seemed endless, and the pigs—despite their size—were frustratingly good at staying hidden.
After almost an hour, Amukelo spotted movement near a small, clear lake. "Over there," he said, pointing.
Sure enough, a pig stood at the water's edge, snuffling contentedly as it drank. Its snorts and the occasional splash of water were the only sounds in the otherwise still clearing.
Bral sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That's... inconvenient. If it falls in, we'll have a real problem." He glanced at Amukelo. "This time, no sudden moves. We'll approach it slow and quiet. Got it?"
Amukelo nodded, crouching low as they began to move closer. The pig didn't seem to notice them, its focus entirely on the water. Each step was careful, deliberate, their boots barely making a sound against the soft ground.
They were just a few paces away when something shifted beside Amukelo. A vine slithered up from the underbrush, wrapping tightly around his leg. He froze, startled. "What the heck is—"
The vine yanked sharply, and Amukelo stumbled. He cut through the plant with a quick swing, but the sudden movement startled the pig. It squealed loudly, its hooves skidding on the wet ground. Before either of them could react, it slipped and tumbled into the lake with a loud splash.
Bral cursed under his breath. "Damn it, Amukelo! Run after it! We don't know where this lake leads!"
Without hesitation, Bral tossed aside his gear and dove into the water, the splash sending ripples across the surface. Amukelo stood frozen for a moment, his heart pounding as he watched the pig flailing in the water and Bral swimming after it. He didn't have time to think—he took off along the shore, hoping to intercept the pig before it reached whatever lay at the end of the lake.
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