The mammoth wandered the countryside in search for food and his next point of rest, he had been travelling alone for as long as he wished to remember. For his heard was gone and he was the only one left, the only one left to keep their Memory and it was only his Song left of his family. It had been many seasons that have passed since he lost his family and was introduced to the young one now the young runelord, who in their kindness had allowed him to return to his own feet and continue his endless wandering. Just as The Mother had decreed, he has the freedom to continue to wander. As the lone bull wanders, he spots an area of greenery and decides to approach for his meal and hopefully peaceful rest. The travel here had been plentiful of many beasts who had wish to impede or feast upon him, but none had succeeded. It is not to say his is without injury, the numerous scars and metal leg suggest otherwise.
As he grazes on nature's bounty, he is disturbed by an unholy screech that sounded like the combination of three beasts, then over the hill crests the three headed monstrosity, one of the smallest he has seen of its kind. It seemed as another fool wished to impede him, as all of the monster's eyes homed in on him, their mouths began to water as the hunger no longer could be restrained, they charged towards the lone bull with a cacophony of screeches. This had not been the first multi headed beasts the lone one had fought, and it would not be the last for he returned the cry of the monstrosity with his own bellow and then charged forwards towards the soon to be dead fool.
The frankly tiny monstrosity did not last long against the lone one and it was swiftly dispatched and now the victor was allowed to return to his meal. It was not long before he was disturbed again as an object from the sky approached his very location and with his one eye, he spied a Griffon or Brana, that was the question. One was much more trouble than the other, he tracked as the lone Griffon approached his location and as it got closer, he could notice the shine of metal on the creature's body, Brana then. The Brana landed next to the corpse of his recent foe walking around it seemingly inspecting it, all the while the bull watched the Brana as he ate, if it did not bother him then he would not in turn. The Brana was larger than the others of its kind he had encountered and was covered in a plume of green feathers. A few moments passed until the feathered one seemed to be satisfied with its inspection it turned to the bull noticing he possessed a Torc of his own and metal leg.
"You! Mammoth, did you slay this, Chimera?" it chirped with the Torc around its neck glowing as it spoke.
"…...Yes?" He responded causing the Brana to perk up and assume a stance before spreading its wings as high as it could and lifting its head high.
"Then understand this fluffy one! You have taken the foe that I, He who burns with endless Vigor have sworn an oath to defeat in combat! As such I challenge you to a martial contest to prove I have the strength to defeat who would have defeated my Foe!" the green one states while holding its pose.
"…"
"…"
"I refuse, go find another foe to challenge" he intoned as he continued to eat.
"Well then prepare yourself as on the count of- wait WHAT!" the bird squawked "you can't refuse! I have sworn on my name to prove myself. We will battle whether you want to or not and before that I will the know the name of my foe!"
"I have no name" the bull states.
"WHAT!?!" the Brana yells as it recoils as if the bull had struck him "What do you mean you have no name? Everyone must have a name! For one to be themselves they must have a name!"
"I have no name" the lone one states as it moves to another tree to continue eating. He who burns with endless vigor continues to stare at him frozen with beak open. Out of curiosity he asks, "What was your foes name then?"
The question shakes the Brana out of his stupor "it was named 'It which makes too much noise before dawn' a mighty beast which I had sworn to defeat!"
The mammoth looks at the smallest example of a Chimera he has ever seen then returns his sight to trees to see he has eaten all he can without harming the plant. He goes to take a quick drink from the nearby rapids, it seems it is time to return to the path and the mammoth turns to leave the Brana speaks once more.
"Hold on! I can't let you leave until I have proven my martial capability!" the Brana says while moving in front of the lone one's path. "Prepare yourself!" it yells as it charges the lone one and leaps at him.
With surprising dexterity for one his size the bull sidesteps the charge catching the bird on top of his tusks then with a shake of his head throws the Brana into the rapids where it is carried away before it can recover. "I CAN'T SWIM AAAAAAAAAAAA"
Finally in peace the lone one continues his march along his path to his next target. The next time he encounters the Green one, two days have passed, and he is fighting a pack of wolves. The beasts circle the lone one and wait until he makes a mistake to strikes but the stalemate is broken when the Brana dives bombs onto one of the wolves clawing them in half then jumping to attack the next closest one. With the distraction and the wolves in disarray he strikes. With both Mammoth and Griffon working together they make quick work of the remaining pack. The Mammoth turn to look at the Brana.
"Why are you here?" he asks.
"For a rematch!" it yells "After my defeat in our last bout you taught be a weakness to improve, so since we last met, I have learned to swim and done 500 laps around the Crystal Lake, and I lose again, I shall swim another 500!"
What?
"What?"
"Prepare yourself my nameless rival" The Brana states as he charges once again.
This duel does not end as quickly as the last with He who burns with endless Vigor paying attention for any counterattack from the Mammoth. The Brana is able to land swipes on the Mammoth, but no hit leaves any notable damage, and the bull is only able to land glancing blows that his opponent heals extremely fast for even his own kind. During the fight the Bull notices that the Brana never seems to use the abilities the Brana are known for, no lightning and no ice are thrown his way throughout the fight. In the end it is the bull that is victorious in this encounter as the Brana lay on the ground looking at him with a bruised body and broken bones that have already begun to heal.
"Hah! You fought well my nameless rival as expected of the one who defeated my prey." The Brana says.
"Why did you not use your abilities your kind is known for little one" the lone one asks as he takes note of his wounds however minor, they might be.
The Brana flinches on the ground "Ah you know about that, well, I cannot safely. I have no talent with wielding the unseen winds, I have even seen chicks with more skill than me" it mumbles as it seems to slump down before raising its head, eyes burning with determination "BUT that will not stop me from becoming one of the strongest Brana ever seen! That is why I sworn an oath to best that Chimera and why I must now best you in combat my nameless rival!" the Green one says slowly rising to its feet as its incredible regeneration already working to mend his body.
"…" The Lone one stares at the Brana and realises that if he doesn't do something its not going to stop challenging him "Well He who burns with endless Vigor understand this you may have not bested me today, but I can assure you that you are stronger than the Chimera you hunted, from battling both you and the beast I can say it does not compare to your skill. So go home understanding that you have proven your prowess" he says as seriously as he looks into the eyes of the Brana seemingly burning with energy.
"so cool" the Brana whispers before it stands up straight unshed tears in its eye and starting to speak in the voice full of never ending energy "Thank you my nameless rival, I am gladden to know that I have been able to prove my self worthy in martial skill and I can return home with an oath fulfilled!" the Brana spread it wings in preparation to fly. The mammoth nods and begins to turn to leave and before the Brana leaves he speaks. "Now I must return and swim another 500 NO! 1000 laps before I return and challenge you once more my eternal rival!" and with that the Brana soars into the air leaving behind his 'rival' stupefied.
"Surely, he was joking……. I'll never be rid of that overgrown pigeon will I." the Lone one says to himself sighing as he looks at the speck in the distance grow smaller and smaller.
-------Over The Years-------
"Ah HA! I have found you once again my Nameless rival! I challenge you to a test of speed and if I lose I shall…."
"Here you are my Nameless rival! I challenge you to a test of strength…."
"You bested me once again my nameless rival I shall climb to the top of Drongkaraz without flying 1000 times!"
"I will never give up as the burning passion of my spirit live inside me!"
"My Nameless rival I have found you now we can…."
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The young Runelord once again has returned to the forest alone, sitting in a clearing she has returned to many a times. She sits on what is quickly becoming her favourite tree stump and ponders again if she should just make a chair. She might be a bit sentimental, but she has fond memories of this stump. She is pulled out of her wool-gathering by the sound of a loud trumpeting bellow that is followed by the loud thumps as one of the largest mammoths she knows pushes through the trees and she is not pleased with the sight. The mammoth has even more scars than last time and his Gromril leg is damaged again.
"Scruffy! The only time I seem to see you is when you come to get your prosthetic fixed! You can't keep being so reckless" she admonishes.
"Apologies, Young Runelord, I have come to tell you that your fathers trail should be clear" says 'Scruffy'.
Snerra sighs, ever since he learned about her father's caravan business and the big lug realised that there wasn't anything she could really ask for him to pay her back. he so 'innocently' asked about the routes the caravans of Winterhearth take to in his words "ensure that he does not cross them when he wanders". Since then, he has been going around clearing out any beasties that are building up not that the big lug would admit it. She still has no idea where he got the idea and every time he says, "he was inspired by an energetic bird".
"I have told you this many times already, but the caravans have armed escorts and you don't need to go around culling the monster population." She says knowing full well the reply.
"I have told you many times that I just happen to be in the area, when one wanders, he only goes where his feet take him" the mammoth says in the most innocent manner possible.
"Bah! On the subject show me your leg at this point I am going to have to make it out of adamant to keep up with your 'walks'" she says with a small grin on her face "you also seem to be is higher spirits then when I last saw you something happen recently? Maybe impress someone?" she asks with a teasing tone.
"No, nothing of the sort there is just this bird who keeps following me around. I have finally come to enjoy its company".
AN: This is the first creative story/omake i have ever written so hopefully its readable. Enjoy the Omake!
