When the First Elder said she wanted Vayu to help, it wasn't just him she meant as the annual competition's date was coming close, only the Hunter Squad alone couldn't handle the workload that came with the annual competition. After all, there were only around thirty members in the squad, but every year nearly a hundred competitors took part — around thirty to forty new commers, while the rest were returning from the previous year hoping to get a better result this year. To manage that many contestants, hunter squad members, half-hunters, training instructors and even the elders were called in to assist. Each hunter squad member was assigned three helpers, during the days of the competition, the numbers would thin out as some helpers were sent to carry back the defeated competitors or transport supplies and meat down the mountain.
But that wasn't all they did.
A month before the competition began, the beasts that would serve as points for the competitors were captured and kept under watch. Since the cages were made of thick wood to prevent the creatures from breaking free, they still needed to be guarded constantly and they were given the duty of feeding them daily, ensuring the locks held, and the animals had to be kept hidden from the villagers so no fear or any chaos spread among the villagers. That's why so many people were needed. Almost entire village worked together during this period, the hunters, their attendants and even normal people. It was the busiest month of the year for the villagers and no one rested until the first day of the competition started.
"Vayu" the First Elder called out. "Most of my attendants are busy unloading the goods and transporting the animals. I want you to go and call everyone on this list. Make sure they all gather here in the backyard by tomorrow morning, Don't miss a single house"
She handed him a folded piece of parchment.
"Yes, Elder" Vayu replied, taking the list with both hands and went out of the office to do his task.
The village wasn't very large, so by the time the sun had begun to set, he had already finished visiting every home. As he walked back, a familiar voice called out to him.
"Vayu!"
He turned and saw his father waving at him from a distance. Smiling, Vayu waved back, slowing his pace until his father caught upto him.
"How's your training going?" his father asked as they started walking home side by side.
"It's going well," Vayu replied.
"So, are you learning to use spear's now?"
"The spear? Why?" Vayu asked, puzzled.
"Well, the First Elder is known for her mastery with her spear's" his father said. "I thought she might be teaching you her techniques."
Vayu chuckled softly. "Oh, she hasn't taught me anything yet."
"What?" his father stopped for a moment, surprised.
Vayu then told him everything, that how the elder had asked him to defeat her attendants, before she taught him anything and how he had defeated the last attendant earlier today.
"Then why were you near the infirmary, if you were fighting" His father asked, then Vayu told him, how the elder had asked him to deliver messages for tomorrow's preparations to all the people needed.
His father listened quietly, nodding slowly as he processed it all.
"Well" he finally said, placing his hand on Vayu's shoulder, "be respectful towards her and train hard"
"I will " Vayu said with a smile.
By the time they reached home, the food was already set on the dinner table. That night, they shared a hearty meal together.
The next morning, when Vayu reached the first elders office, most of the villagers whom he informed yesterday was already there. They either stood in small groups, chatting among themselves or sat down around her office. As soon as they noticed him coming, they quickly quieted down. One by one, they rose and assembled neatly in front of the office gate , awaiting for the further instruction from Vayu. For a moment, Vayu just stood there, a little surprised himself. He wasn't used to this kind of attention. But seeing them look at him with respect and authority he oddly felt happy inside, this was the first time he had a taste of authority and, it felt... good. He straightened his back, walking towards the office gate, he slowly unlocked the gate, and led them all toward the backyard. He then asked a attendant to inform the first elder that everyone had assembled in the backyard. Soon, the First Elder arrived and without any further delay she took out a scroll from her pouch and began reading names from a list, forming small groups as she went. Each group was assigned a task — unloading supplies, setting up cages, cleaning, or scanning the arena for the coming competition.
When she reached Vayu's name, she looked up briefly.
"Vayu" she said " if no one from hunter squad is available, you'll be in charge of guarding the animals, although the cages are sturdy, but constant supervision is necessary. You'll also ensure they're fed properly. Shifts will be arranged for morning day and night — choose whichever suits you"
"I'll take the night shift" Vayu replied without hesitation.
The Elder nodded approvingly. "Very well, Report before sunset."
Once dismissed, the others dispersed to their duties. Vayu headed home to prepare for the night ahead. When he finally reached home, Vayu packed a few fruits into a small bag, filled his water pouch and put them near the front gate, after setting them up he checked his knives, securing them around his waist. The first elder have given him authority so he wanted everything had to be in place.
Their camp was set up inside Somashila, where the annual competition took place. The villagers had already been warned not to enter the area, as it was sealed off in the name of preparations of annual competition. The air grew colder as Vayu climbed upwards from the base of the mountain. Not far from the entrance, faint orange lights flickered between the trees. The camp came into view — rows of wooden cages lined inside the area, each containing different beasts from the forest. Some growled low while some paced in their cages restlessly, Vayu looked at them with curious eyes but was startled by a loud voice "Everyone, assemble!" Vayu turned to see the leader of the Hunter Squad was standing outside the tent, which was in the center of the camp. Around thirty people quickly gathered in front of him. People were divided in three groups each consisting of thirty people for, morning, afternoon and night and counting the Hunter Squad and the additional members, there were about one hundred and twenty people in total. The leader's voice was firm "As you've been told, you'll work in three shifts — morning, afternoon, and night. Each will last eight hours. Feed the animals, keep the cages secure, and never drop your guard" he gave instruction short and crisp and everyone nodded with no doubt in their mind. The group split up according to their duties. Vayu was assigned to feed the wolves along with two others. The three of them carried the pre-filled boxes of meat to the far side of the camp, where four cages stood. Inside one of them were four wolves all reddish brown, their ears perked up alert. Their eyes reflected the torchlight, glowing faintly in the dark.
Vayu set his box down, took out a blade, and began cutting the meat into large chunks. The others followed suit. They tossed the pieces inside one by one. But the wolves didn't move. They just stared quiet and cautious. Then the largest of them, rose to its feet. It sniffed the air twice, then padded forward slowly. Its nose hovered over the meat, its eyes flicking between the humans and the food. Finally, it took one bite and stepped back after some time, as he stepped back the other three wolves moved in, tearing into the meat gobbling it quickly. Once they finished, the big wolf stepped forward again and began to eat what was left.
Vayu watched in quiet fascination. There was a strange intelligence in their behavior, after watching for some more time Vayu went towards other cages to see what else they had caught for this year.