Consuming Fire

Chapter 4: The Call of the Small Army

Hunter was navigating through the dense jungle, his senses attuned to every sound. As he moved silently through the underbrush, he heard the faint murmur of voices. Two men were engaged in a conversation about the army. Intrigued, Hunter followed the sound, carefully parting the tall grasses until he reached a lake. On the opposite shore, he spotted a small camp with a campfire, where the men were cooking soup.

Approaching cautiously, Hunter kept his rifle visible but lowered to avoid alarming them. Despite his efforts, the men looked terrified when they saw him. "Please, don't kill us. We want to live! We have families!" one of them pleaded.

Hunter quickly reassured them, "No, I'm not part of the army. I'm against them. Where's the nearest town?"

One of the men seemed to recognize him. "Ah, you're the one they're talking about... a hunter, huh?"

"Yeah, that's me," Hunter confirmed. "I need your help. Is there a town nearby?"

The man nodded. "You're looking for a town, a safe place. Well then, come with me."

As they made their way to the town, the man's friend whispered, "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, he needs help," the man replied firmly.

When they reached the town, the man gestured broadly. "Welcome to Moore's Town."

"Moore's Town?" Hunter repeated.

"Yes, Moore is the founder of this town. He has an army and might help. He’s in that big house over there. Go talk to him."

"Okay, thanks... uh..."

"Lucas."

"Lucas, yes! Thanks, Lucas."

Hunter made his way to the large house where Moore resided. At the gate, he was stopped by guards. "Stop right there! Who are you?" one of them demanded.

"I'm looking for Moore. I want to talk to him," Hunter replied.

As the guards debated what to do, Lucas arrived. "Stop, he needs help. He needs to see Moore right now. Let him in." Lucas then called out, "Moore! Someone wants to talk to you!"

Moore sent one of his soldiers to escort Hunter inside. Walking through the hallways, Hunter observed the soldiers' appearances. They wore simple jackets over armored vests, pants with multiple pockets for ammunition and secondary weapons, and sturdy boots. Unlike Draven's private army, which was outfitted with full armor, helmets, and gas masks, Moore's soldiers were equipped more practically for mobility and efficiency.

The soldier led Hunter to a room where Moore was seated, his chair facing a window. As the chair swiveled around, Moore looked at Hunter. "Who are you, man?" he asked.

"I'm a hunter, and my name is Hunter. I—"

Moore interrupted, "Hold on a second. You're the hunter against the army?"

"Yes," Hunter confirmed.

"Ah! So you're the one who wants to hunt the leader, ja!?"

"How did you know?" Hunter asked, taken aback.

"I heard the story about a man who lost his mother on the shore when the private army began to conquer this island. His goal was to kill the leader and wipe out the army."

Moore leaned back, contemplating. "You know, we have the same mission. That bastard Draven Grimlock conquered our island. Well, I'll give this prey to you since you want to kill him so badly. Maybe I'll wipe out his army if you agree."

Hunter nodded. "Sure, that sounds good."

Moore then asked, "So, why are you here anyway?"

Hunter explained, "I need some help to get inside the main base of Grimlock’s Private Army."

Moore nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, we have Sarah here. She will be your partner for your mission starting now." He gestured to a woman standing nearby. "Sarah, this is Hunter. Hunter, this is Sarah. She’ll be your guide and partner."

Sarah stepped forward, her expression serious but kind. "Nice to meet you, Hunter. We have a lot to discuss."

Moore added, "Sarah will brief you on everything before you head into the army's territory. It's not the time to enter the enemy base right away. We need to plan carefully."

Hunter appreciated their caution. "Thank you. I understand the need for careful planning."

Sarah nodded. "Let's get started. We have a lot of ground to cover."

As they sat down to discuss their strategy, Hunter felt a renewed sense of purpose. With allies like Moore and Sarah, he knew he had a better chance of taking down Draven Grimlock and his army. The road ahead was long and dangerous, but Hunter was ready for the challenge.

Moore's Town was a beacon of hope in the midst of the jungle, a place where people had banded together to resist Grimlock's tyranny. Hunter realized that he wasn't alone in his fight. There were others who shared his goal, and together, they could bring down the oppressive regime that had taken over their island.

For now, it was time to plan, to gather strength, and to prepare for the battles to come. Hunter knew that with patience and perseverance, they could succeed. And when the time was right, they would strike at the heart of Grimlock's power, liberating the island from his grip.

As the sun set over the jungle, casting long shadows over Moore's Town, Hunter felt a glimmer of hope. The fight was far from over, but he was no longer fighting alone. With allies by his side, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.