Following the Trail (7)

Within a few days of starting to pursue the herd of wild cattle, I found three hunters hiding near a watering hole.

They were hunters, but none of them carried a bow.

Instead, one carried a stone axe, while another carried a wooden spear with a sharpened tip.

The last one was empty-handed.

They hardly looked like hunters to me, but that was probably more than enough for them.

The reason was that the three hunters all wore black beast pelts and masks.

Those were the characteristics of the Fang Tribe among the beastfolk described in Win's letter.

As the Fang Tribe was said to be skilled at fighting even among the beastfolk, perhaps its members could bring down a wild bull with their bare hands.

They had not noticed me yet, and if I approached them head-on, the wild cattle they were targeting would notice me too, ruining their hunt.

On the other hand, if I concealed my presence and approached, I would startle them, and they might even mistake me for an enemy...