Helo is now twelve years old. The last year has been busy for him. Almost every day he has gone into town to look for work running errands, making deliveries, and cleaning among other things. Helo has continued to grow slowly forming into a muscular youth with wide shoulders. He is extremely fit due to his healthy diet and constant travel. His hair is a dark blood red. It is so dark it is almost black. But under any light you can see the sheen of red through his hair. His eyes have continued to change as well. They were black when he was a child but now, they are a red so light its basically pick.
As this process has happened his eyesight and sense are growing sharper. He can hear much further away and see far more clearly in the dark. One sense that continues to confuse him is his sense of smell. His smell has only grown. With his hearing, it is harder to distinguish between sounds. But for his smell it seems to focus on blood. His sense of taste also has been changing. Food isn’t as appetizing, and he can almost taste people's emotions in the air. The taste of food is also changing. It is the same taste, but his body just feels like it wants something fresher.
These last few years not only has his body and senses changed but also his ability as a hunter. Helo is continually having to help Fuzzball. Whenever he is not in town finding food and work. He is tracking the bear. For a while Fuzzball even moved into Helo's cave. People kept attacking him at night. The third time this happened Fuzzball showed up injured and smelling of blood he didn’t leave in the morning.
After a few weeks of them living together Lelai got sick of having the bear around and kept harassing him. Nipping at his legs and then running back to Helo for safety. Eventually Fuzzball left and found a new cave closer to the resort. That did surprise Helo because he has been through most, if not all the nearby forest and he didn't know there was a cave that large so close to Mr. Bernards resort.
It has been two years since people started entering the forest near his home and trying to capture the Fuzzball. He is not sure why people keep trying to capture him, but Fuzzball has been slowly growing stronger and more energetic. Like his body is growing more powerful. It has made it easier for Helo because the bear has a knack for getting caught. The bear is also so lazy that he really makes it easy to catch him. By this point Helo mostly sees helping Fuzzball as an exercise in tracking, hunting, and stealth. Practicing the techniques that Ms. Accleas taught him years ago.
Less and less people are entering the forest near the resort, but the town of Grass Valley continues to get busier. People are showing up from all over the world preparing for when the High Clan meeting is going to take place. None of the townsfolk know this, they think that it is a meeting between businesses every four years. This is a meeting that the sixteen families have once a year.
Twelve of these families are competing to gain control over earth when the system finally arrives in full. Four of these families are mediators for the other twelve and control resorts around the world. Mediator families are neutral families that own many auctions and safe zones around the multiverse. Every year the High Families meet up to discuss business, problems and the preparations for earth. This has been going on for hundreds of years, with thousands of clans and empires that can reach earth from their universes competing with one another to claim the world. 500 years ago, the competing stopped and the top sixteen were chosen to inhabit and control earth. The other groups on earth either swore fealty to one of the 16 or left.
The sixteen families were all given a basic dungeon core that acts as a node to interface with the system. They have slowly been increasing the concentration of mana on earth. Once the concentration is high enough the true integration will commence where the twelve families will start truly competing in the open for control. The four mediator families were given a slightly more advanced core that brings forth more mana. Sixteen was the number chosen by the system as the optimal number of cores to safely bring up earth’s mana concentration.
The mana concentration of most newly integrated worlds is so low that this route has been chosen by the system. To bring new worlds up to a multiversal standard so worlds aren't accidentally destroyed when the presence of the system truly reaches the new world. Once that standard is reached more gates and dungeons will start appearing on the world. The usage of families and mediators was an idea from the most powerful factions, this is so that new worlds have support when monsters started appearing. This also stopped wars from breaking out over new worlds. To the victor goes the spoils.
As the families are preparing to meet, Mr. Bernard has been busy preparing the town for members of the different races from all around the world. He knows that usually only a few of the families will show for High Clan Meetings out of their own regions but he still has a job to do.
“Don’t forget to properly display all of the banners Andy. All of the founders of the Global Business Alliance deserve to have their banner shown.” Bernard calls to a young man who is hanging banners down the main street.
“Of course, Sir. You can count on me!” Andy cheers back.
Coming up behind Bernard his longtime assistant says to him. “Mr. Bernard, I know we have a week before the members of the sixteen families will start to arrive. But all of the preparations are almost complete. All we have left to do is freshen up each clan residence.”
“This is good. Really good. Usually, a representative will come before hand to do this as well, so we are on track. Have you sent someone to catch the bear? I know we have been letting that wild child have his fun, but it is about time we got the bear out of the wild. It is getting too dangerous.” Bernard says back in a more serious tone. Getting the bear into a better habitat will also make my city safer from all those poachers showing up.
“Right away Sir.” Amanda replies reaching into her pocket and making a phone call to their team.
Helo was having a good morning. He had Lelai weaving through his legs as he made his way through town. The day was beautiful, and the town was looking far more colorful than normal. Approaching the coffee shop that Wendy works at Lelai gets more energetic. As he opens the door, she bolts through the entrance and jumps as high as she can onto the counter waiting for her pets from Wendy.
“Well, if it isn't my favorite delinquent and his adorable ball of fluffy!” Wendy says excitedly. “How have you two bean, I haven't seen either of you for a few days.”
“rahhrr wahwruuuruuu”
“Ahhh, well like she said we are doing fine. We have been busy with the traps for the last few days.” Helo replies while approaching the counter. Letting out a slight shrug. “We just stopped by the say high on our way through town. Lelai didn't stop whining the last time we came to town and didn't say hello.”
“Well, I'm sure you will be happy to hear that they are finally taking care of the bear problem.” Wendy says looking happy.
“Wait. What... What bear problem?” Helo isn't quite sure what to say because it sounds like she is referring to Fuzzball.
“You must have heard about it. For the last two years poachers from all over have been trying to catch a bear. Some say they have even gotten it trapped or tranquilized but it always gets away.” Wendy says with a smile. “But I heard that next week before the Global Business conference they are sending in a professional team.”
“Ohhhh. That is... Great.” Helo says. He isn’t quite sure how to respond, so he starts playing with the box of straws on the counter. It sounds like I have a week to figure out what is going on. “Do you know when they are getting here?”
“Mhmmm I'm not sure sweetie. But it sounds like they are staying at the resort while they are here. They plan on catching it right before the conference.” Wendy says while playing with a very hyper Lelai. “This is good though. We can't have a bear so close to town.”
Wendy reaches over to play with Helo’s hair that has been getting longer. “You really need a haircut it is almost past your shoulders. You should soon. I hear that Mr. Fetch who runs the club Backroom is looking for you. Sounds like he is preparing for all the people coming to town. The businesspeople usually stay near the resort, but the employees will come into town and spend a lot of money. They also have a day at the club where they cater to the kids of the business owners.”
Helo looks up a bit confused. In the past he has bussed some tables for the Backroom, but he isn't sure why he needs to cut his hair. “Uhhh.. Why do I need to cut my hair?”
“Really... after everything I said the only thing you focus on is your hair. Some girls might like that rough mountain man look your trying. But these kids that are coming are your age and from rich families. I'm sure you want to make a good impression. What if a rich teenager sweeps you off your feet to her mansion.” Wendy grins at a bewildered Helo.
That smile is really creeping me out. “I am not a character in one of your romance novels.” Helo says while slowly walking away. “But I'll think about a haircut.” As he steps to the door, he whistles over his shoulder to Lelai and she leaps off the counter to the ground, through Helo’s legs and out the door.
The last thing he hears is the voice of his tormentor, “If you end up catching someone's eye at least say goodbye before you leave.”
Helo makes his way over to the club. It is never open this early in the morning, but it is a restaurant and bar as well. Opening the front door one of the employees that is hanging decorations notices Helo and says, “Hey it's the wild child. The boss is looking for you. Something about wanting you to help out.”
“Thanks, can I just head to his office.” After getting a nod to his question Helo makes his way upstairs with the ever-present Lalai trailing directly behind him. Alot of the places they go Lalai loves greeting everyone, but she has never been a fan of Mr. Fetch so she stays near Helo the entire time.
The club is the only one in town and is owned by Bernard but ran by Mr. Fetch. It is three stories with an open-air style on the roof. The second floor is a nice restaurant while the ground floor is a classic bar. Getting to the second floor the duo head to the office door and knock. “Sir. It’s Helo”
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“Ah, the wild child, come on in kid.” Entering the office its rather large with a big desk in the center. Sitting behind it is a rather short and stout man with a long nose and a face that makes you clench your wallet. “Well kid, Im glad you showed up. I asked someone to let Wendy know because you always see her.” Mr. Fetch seeing the acknowledgement in Helo’s eyes nods his head and continues. “I was hoping you could come in next weekend. I'll give you some cash, a meal, and even let you bring the fox.”
If Mr.Fetch was trying to get some bonus fox points with that last statement it didn't. Lelai continued to stand behind Helo and lightly glare and him. Quietly whispering to Lelai to be nice Helo looks up, “Sir, I can come help but why Lelai. You have never let her come in before.”
“Well Kid, next week is a different breed of service. It's a bunch of rich eccentric types. The building will be basically empty because we are fully rented out. So, the more unique the better. Just make sure she stays out of trouble.”
Helo nods his head only for Mr. Fetch to speak up again. “Here is an advance in your pay. Go ask Wendy to make sure you look sharp this week.”
“Yes sir.” Helo grabs the cash and sees $300. “Is this too much?”
“Haha nah kid. You need to look sharp. Use it all.” Mr. Fetch waves him out after that last statement.
A week went by since Helo had his meeting with Mr. Fetch. Unfortunately, shopping was far worse that he thought it would be. The entire experience was filled with the whistles and calls from Wendy as she did her best to make him embarrassed. Not only that but she forced him to go to multiple stores trying on different outfits the entire time. Only to go back to the original store and purchase clothes there.
Today was the day that Mr. Fuzzball is supposed to get captured by the professionals. The next day the conference starts. Helo debated on how he wanted to try with keeping the bear free. But, in the end, he decided on the repeating the same thing he did first time. The day before Helo spent some time in the woods tracking the bear and checking out the new cave that he lives in. This cave is much closer to the resort than the last one which is good and bad. Good because it isn't too far away. Bad because the poachers are living in the resort now. This new cave is within a small hill with massive trees surrounding the entire hill.
Helo is getting tired. He spent the entire day in the branches of the trees on the side of the den closest to the resort. He has been waiting for the poachers to make their move. But there hasn't been anything. In the end he decided to wait and follow the hunters after they catch Fuzzball to then free him. It is easier than getting in the way of the poachers. He doesn't want to kill them or anything, just free the bear.
Suddenly Helo hears a yip coming from Lelai. That means that the poachers are on the way. He had trained her to alert him if anyone was coming near him while she wanders around. It is almost sundown which Helo sees as a good thing, he knows these woods well and for some reason his night vision is fantastic. Creeping through the trees about 50 paces in front of himself Helo sees the first poacher making his way toward the den. From the left and the right of the man in the center two more men come into view. All of the men are wearing black pants, a jacket covering a bullet proof vest, and a mask. They are also carrying tranquilizers.
As the men drew near Helo notices the man on the left has his jacket sleeves ripped off turning it into a vest. Nobody is capable of seeing the black clad figure in the tree above them. The man in the center signals to the others, in the next moment, with synchrony showing their skill all the men fire together.
Helo watches from above as the bear slowly collapses onto the ground. The men continue directly up to the bear and shoot it one more time just to be sure. Then he hears them speak for the first time.
“Well, I'll be. Which idiots couldn't get this big fella. I mean damn this went more smoothly than my coffee does in the morning, and I take mine with bourbon.” The man on the left says with a southern drawl
“Ah shut it you fahking hillbilly, fahck. Nobody cares about your coffee man. Now someone call it in.” the man on the right states with a clear Bosten accent slipping in.
The man in the middle of the three hangs his head and puts a hand up to his ear. “This is ...hahh... we are ready for extraction.” to the other men in the area he says. “I don't understand... Why would a man who has all those guards at a nearby resort go out and hire us to transport one bear.”
“HA well I got this answer for you bossman” the man on the left said. “I heard some suits at the resort say somethin about it being a show of power or somethin. Because some of the men at the event have been hiring some sorry fucks to come out and get this bear. They have been trying for the last two years. So, he hired outside help just to rub it in.”
“Huh. Well, I guess when money doesn't matter, you show competency through your hired help.” ‘Bossman’ says to himself.
Off in the distance from the direction of the resort Helo hears the sound of an engine revving as it comes closer. “Oh, so that is how they are going to move him.” he mumbles to himself while looking down on the three men.
“Shhhh did you two hear anything just now?” The bossman says while silencing his comrades. The three men begin looking around their surroundings, clearly showing that they are well trained at working together even if their personalities don't match well.
“Mhm maybe.... Nahhh... Just some bad light.” the Bosten man says while looking directly at Helo. “It’s getting dahrk let’s just finish this.” turning away he approaches the other two.
A minute later the three men hear the engine as well. The man on the left smacks the side of the bear, “Well big fella, looks like we gonna get you all tied up. I did something like this back on the farmahhhhh.”
As soon as he smacks Fuzzball the bear wakes up and roars over his shoulder at the man. Moving far faster than a large bear weighing 700lbs should. He gets up and swipes a massive paw at the man. Sending him off his feet into a nearby tree.
“WTF. What the FAHHCK.” the man on the right says.
“Just shoot it already.” ‘Bossman’ says. Lifting his tranquilizer and firing off the entire magazine of the gun. Looking around to see if everything is clear after the bear drops a second time he says, “I think I can see why they had so much trouble. The bear was lazy and basically let us shoot it. But it was far stronger than it should be and the tranq wore off way to quick.”
The man from the right heads over to their downed friend. “Well, he’s out, it looks like he hit his head when he was tossed.”
A fourth man drives up in a side-by-side ATV. Looking at the scene around him all the does is shrug his shoulders and say “huh”. Getting off the ATV he helps the other two men load up the bear using a winch installed in its bed. After the bear is loaded up the three men buckle up the unconscious fourth and head back to the resort.
From a tree above them all Helo is sitting as still as can be. He was sure that he was spotted. The man looked directly at him. Letting out a deep breath as the men drive away, he climbs back down the tree. Once he reaches the ground Lelai reappears and rubs on his leg.
“Well... now I know that I should keep quite while stalking. When we hunt, I know animals have better senses. But I guess humans shouldn't be underestimated. I let my guard down.” Helo starts making his way toward the resort following the path of the ATV. As he is on his way, he mutters to himself. “Ms. Accleas would have been disappointed in me almost getting caught.”
The distance between the cave and the resort is a little over a mile. Jogging though the woods following the ATV the young hunter makes it there in under 10 minutes. Breathing a little heavily Helo stays within the tree line and starts circling the resort. Eventually he finds the four men talking to a group of guards on the east side of the resort. This is the back side of the resort.
The men are having their ID’s checked as well as the bear before they are let in. Looking at his surroundings Helo is trying to find the best way to enter the resort without getting spotted. How am I supposed to get in there. What would Ms. Accleas say. Continuing to circle the back entrance of the resort Helo sees a large wall with a tree line that has been pushed back about 10 feet. Over the wall he can see a massive compound on the other side. Thinking back, he remembers someone saying the resort has over 20 buildings all of them are works of art. From his position he can see the tops of five different buildings each with its own architecture from around the world.
Directly on the other side of the wall is a massive garden. This garden looks like a well-manicured and diverse forest. The walls, corners and surrounding the gates have guards. The only blind spot is directly under the wall away from the gates. There is no way I can get in there without being spotted. Sitting down in the tree line Helo can't help but feel frustrated. An hour goes by, and it continues to get daker out until it is nighttime. Maybe I can go under. When Helo has this idea, he spots a series of bushes and rocks leading to the wall. Crawling on his stomach Helo slowly makes his way toward the wall. He is focusing on his breathing like he was taught to. It almost feels like the shadows are helping me. Hah that's absurd.
Looking up Helo can see that he is nearly to the foot of the wall, and he has yet to be spotted. As he draws near, he starts to get more and more excited. Focusing on that excited feeling he realizes that he has felt something like this before. When the cougar attacked Lalai and he scared it away. After it ran off, he felt something similar. An excited almost energetic feeling within his body. But this time it is different.
Following that feeling he realizes that it's like a buzzing outside of his skin. Wait. Buzzing. Outside. Realizing that something is definitely wrong he focuses on that sense. Following the feeling out of his body and onto the wall. Am I feeling the electricity. I have never felt this before. Drawing closer Helo unconsciously starts reaching his hand out to touch the wall.
“AHEM AHEM, damn I just can't get rid of this cough.” a guard on the wall says with a hoarse voice breaking Helo out of his trance.
Whew I'm glad he made a noise I don't know what I'm feeling but I shouldn't just touch things. Slowly drawing his hand back and looking down from his position Helo realizes he definitely isn't going under. The ground near the wall is layered with rocks.
Slowly making his way back Helo can't help but feel frustrated about the situation and confused about the feeling. Well now what. Once he gets back to the tree line Lelai jumps into his arms and licks his face. Oh, right I'm not alone. With new found energy Helo starts looking for a new solution. Looking up he sees a tree that is sticking out over the ten-foot gap. Not enough to get trimmed but enough for Helo to make the jump.
“So, this is what we are going to do. Once I am ready in the tree and make a bird call you are going to make a lot of noise and draw attention. Once, everyone turns to look at you I’m going to run and leap over the wall.” Getting a nod from the fox Helo makes his preparations.
A few minutes later Helo is perched against a tree. Sitting between the truck and branch he plans to jump from. He is watching with eyes that are softly glowing a shade of red in the darkness. As he is watching he is focusing on his breathing and the techniques he was taught.
From an outside perspective all the guards see is the shadow of night within the trees. They can’t see the boy hidden within the shade of the leaves. Even his eyes that are softly glowing with his night vision are hidden from their sense. Out of nowhere the guards on the eastern wall hear the shrill call of a bird followed by the excited yips and eerie howls of a fox.
At this moment as Helo sees all of the eyes of the guard’s shift focus toward the left and down where Lelai is hiding. He takes a final deep breath before leaping forward on the branch he was resting on. His heart rate starts to increase as he quickly takes steps down the branch focusing on keeping his footing.
Once he reaches the end of the branch, he takes a slight hop to use the flex of the branch to increase his jump. As he lands, he leaps as far as he can into the air over the barren land between the tree line and the wall.
While he is in the air all he can think is Damn damn damn! I hope I make it. Soaring through the air watching the wall come closer Helo closes his eyes and hopes for the best.
Helo and all of the guards at the resort are unaware that as twelve-year-old kid is sneaking into a guarded resort there are two people aware of what is happening.
Sitting in his richly decorated office in front of a screen is a very nervous man. Clenching his teeth Mr. Bernard watches a young kid the town has labeled the ‘Wild Child’ leap through the air. As he approaches the wall, he clears it by inches falling the 10 feet to the ground in a heap.
Mr. Bernard hears someone let out a loud breath be released over his shoulder. It is only him and his pretty and resourceful blonde assistant Amanda. “I was enjoying the show but as soon as the kid leaped, I couldn't help but be nervous.” Mr. Bernard says to her.
“Well sir, how do you think I feel. I have spent the last four years watching the kid for you. But due to some test you concocted he is leaping over ten-foot walls. You should have told him before sending men to take the bear.” Amanda says with a huff.
