Amukelo: The Burdened Path

Amukelo backed away from the group of goblins as silently as he could. His eyes flicked between the goblins on the plain and the ground beneath him, ensuring he didn't step on any branches or loose rocks that could betray his presence. 

When he was far enough that the goblins were no longer in sight, he paused behind a tree, leaning heavily against it as he let out a slow, measured exhale. His heart was still hammering in his chest, but he knew the danger wasn't entirely gone. He turned back the way he had come, glancing down the slope and noting the location of the goblins. They were clustered near the base of the mountain, not venturing higher for now.

Amukelo muttered to himself, "They seem to be more active at the bottom of the mountain. If I'm careful, if I don't attract too much attention… I should be fine." 

Turning away from the direction of the goblins, Amukelo began the long trek back up the mountain. His legs ached from the earlier chase, but he pushed through the discomfort. The forest around him was quieter now, the sun inching lower in the sky.

After some time, as Amukelo moved through the denser parts of the forest, he spotted movement ahead. A mountain hog, was rooting around near a patch of shrubs. Amukelo crouched low, studying its movements. Unlike the hare, the hog was slower, its bulk making it less skittish. It was a better target for him, and he couldn't afford to fail again.

Amukelo tightened his grip on his dagger as he slowly approached it. When he was within striking distance, he drew his sword, knowing he might need both. With a swift motion, he hurled one of the blades. It struck the hog's flank, causing the animal to squeal in pain and attempt to bolt. But Amukelo was already moving, chasing after it with his sword in hand.

The injured hog didn't get far before Amukelo caught up to it. He lunged forward, driving his sword into its neck and bringing it down. The animal let out a final, guttural cry before going still. Amukelo pulled his weapons free, wiping the blood on the hog's coarse fur before sheathing them. 

"This will do," he said quietly, more to himself than anything. His stomach growled and he wasted no time in grabbing the hog by its hind legs and beginning the arduous task of dragging it back up the mountain.

The climb back to his cave was grueling. The hog was heavy, and the uneven terrain made the journey even more taxing. But as the sun began to dip lower in the sky, he finally reached his makeshift home. He dropped the hog just outside the cave entrance, bending over with his hands on his knees as he gulped down air. 

After regaining some strength, Amukelo set to work. He gathered dry wood and kindling from the nearby forest, carefully selecting pieces that wouldn't produce too much smoke. Returning to the cave, he arranged the wood in a small pile near the back, where the walls would help contain the warmth. Using his dagger and a piece of flint, he struck sparks onto the kindling until a small flame took hold. He fed the fire slowly, coaxing it to life.

With the fire burning steadily, Amukelo turned his attention to the hog. The process of skinning it was messy and exhausting, stripping the hide and setting it aside to dry. He cut the meat into manageable pieces, skewering several chunks on sharpened sticks and arranging them over the fire. The scent of roasting meat soon filled the cave.

As the meat cooked, Amukelo stepped outside to check on the time. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the landscape. From his vantage point, he could see the forest stretching out below, the tops of other mountains bathed in warm light, and a glimmering lake in the distance. The beauty of the scene took his breath away, and for a moment, he forgot about the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

"Mom…" he whispered, his voice tinged with both longing and awe. "I wish you could see this. It's… it's beautiful." He stood there for a while, watching as the sun dipped lower and the sky shifted to hues of orange and pink. The struggles and monsters he had faced seemed distant now, replaced by a sense of peace that he hadn't felt in a long time.

When the meat was finally done, Amukelo returned to the cave. He ate slowly, savoring each bite as the warmth of the food spread through his body. The dim light of the fire danced on the cave walls. Amukelo's gaze drifted to the wooden wall he had built earlier. It wasn't perfect, but it made the cave feel secure, almost like a home.

For the first time since leaving his village, Amukelo felt a sense of comfort. The cave wasn't the safest place, and there was only one way out if something went wrong, but for now, it was enough. 

He leaned back against the rock wall, the fire crackling softly beside him. "Maybe…" he murmured, his eyes growing heavy. "Maybe I can make this work." With that thought, Amukelo drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The next morning Amukelo stood before the unfinished doorway. He stretched, his muscles still sore from the past few days, but he felt a quiet sense of accomplishment. His crude wall had held up overnight, giving him the first semblance of safety he'd felt in weeks. Now, it was time to finish the job.

Amukelo set out immediately, his first task being to gather smaller branches to construct the door. The hog he had hunted the previous day provided enough food to last him, which allowed him to focus entirely on the task at hand. He began his descent down the mountain, scanning the surrounding forest floor for any fallen branches that would suit his needs. However, the smaller sticks he sought were scarce.

With a resigned sigh, Amukelo unsheathed his dagger and approached a cluster of trees. He carefully selected a few smaller, thinner branches from each tree, making sure not to take too many from one spot. "Don't want this to look unnatural," he murmured to himself. The memory of the goblins he had spotted the day before was fresh in his mind, and he didn't want to leave any evidence that might draw their attention to his refuge.

The process was tedious but went faster than expected. By the time he returned to the cave, the sun was still high in the sky. He laid out the materials he had gathered and began the work of constructing the door.

Amukelo had a clear plan in mind. He would design the door to swing inward, ensuring he could barricade it from the inside at night. First, he arranged the thicker branches into a sturdy frame, tying them together with strips of leather he had cut from the hog's hide. Then, he began weaving the smaller branches horizontally through the frame, creating a lattice that was surprisingly strong. Finally, as the afternoon light began to soften, the door was complete.

Amukelo stepped back to admire his work. The door, though crude, looked sturdy enough to withstand the elements—and perhaps even an attack. "Looks solid," he muttered to himself, nodding in approval. To test its durability, he charged at it, slamming his shoulder into the structure. The door held firm, creaking slightly but showing no signs of breaking. Satisfied, he secured it in place using stones and additional leather ties to form makeshift hinges.

He wiped his brow, looking out at the sun still hanging high in the sky. "Still early," he said aloud. "Might as well use the time to explore the area. Better to know what threats are out there before they know about me."

Amukelo descended the mountain cautiously, his steps measured and deliberate. He kept to the shadows where the forest was thickest, avoiding open spaces that might leave him exposed. 

For a while, the forest seemed peaceful, the only sounds being the rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird. But Amukelo knew better than to let his guard down. As he moved deeper into the woods, he paused frequently to listen, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

It was during one such pause that he heard a faint rustling sound, just ahead. His heart skipped a beat, but he crouched low, steadying his breathing. Slowly, he crept toward the source of the noise, each step as quiet as he could make it. When he reached a thick bush, he parted the leaves with his hand and peered through.

A single goblin emerged from the underbrush, its makeshift club resting casually over its shoulder. Amukelo tensed, his mind racing. The goblin hadn't seen him yet, but its presence confirmed his fears: the goblins were moving higher up the mountain.

"Tsk…" Amukelo muttered under his breath. "So they do come up here."

For a moment, he considered retreating, but his curiosity got the better of him. Goblins were weak monsters, typically only dangerous in large groups. This one was alone, and Amukelo felt a surge of confidence as he tightened his grip on his sword. If he wanted to gauge the threat these creatures posed, now was the time.

Amukelo stepped out of his hiding spot, his sword drawn. The goblin froze for a moment, its yellow eyes widening in surprise before it let out a guttural roar and rushed at him, brandishing its makeshift club.

The attack was clumsy, and Amukelo easily sidestepped the swing, his blade coming up in a fluid motion to parry the strike. The goblin stumbled, caught off balance by its missed attack. Seizing the opportunity, Amukelo shoved the creature with his shoulder, sending it sprawling to the ground.

Before it could recover, Amukelo brought his sword down in a decisive strike, the blade slicing cleanly through the goblin's neck. Its body twitched once, then went still. Amukelo exhaled, his confidence bolstered by how easily he had dispatched the creature. "Weaker than I thought," he murmured, wiping his blade clean on the goblin's ragged clothing.

But his relief was short-lived.

Another rustling sound reached his ears, this time louder and coming from multiple directions. Amukelo's eyes darted to the surrounding bushes, and his stomach dropped as several more goblins emerged from the undergrowth, their faces contorted in anger as they saw their fallen comrade. There were at least six of them, maybe more, and their guttural growls filled the air.

"Damn it…" Amukelo cursed under his breath. He crouched low, retreating back into the shadows. The goblins began spreading out, searching the area with their crude weapons raised. Amukelo held his breath, moving as silently as he could. The tension was suffocating, every step feeling like it might give him away.

When he was far enough that the goblins were no longer in sight, he allowed himself a quiet sigh of relief. "Tsk… so they really do go higher up." The realization filled him with unease. If the goblins were spreading further up the mountain, his sanctuary might not remain safe for long.

With that sobering thought, Amukelo began his cautious ascent back to his cave.