"It was the Scorchback Kin Gang. They stole our meat and captured us, trying to make us one of them. We resisted, and eventually they left us half dead. We were only able to get back with sheer willpower."
--------------------
Eren slowly recounted what had transpired in the past few days.
The sun had shone brightly as the four of them had trekked deep into the forest beyond the south ridge. Spirits were high. Eren, Kel, Marna, and Donn had moved swiftly, confident in their route.
On the first day, they caught two forest bucks — fat, healthy, perfect for meat. They even found a small patch of edible mushrooms and herbs. It was the best hunt they'd had in over a year.
They laughed by the fire that night, roasting meat and planning what they'd trade for in the next city — maybe cloth, maybe salt. Donn had joked about buying a proper comb to fix Marna's tangled hair. She had swatted him with a branch.
The second day, they packed up, ready to head back — but the trail home was gone.
"No birds. No sound. No wind," Eren recalled, his voice hollow. "The forest went quiet… then we saw them."
Where familiar landmarks should have been, there was only a tangle of undergrowth and identical trees. Marna crouched, tracing a finger over the soil. "These tracks… they've been scraped away." Her voice trembled, though she tried to hide it. Donn scoffed, kicking a rock. "We're not lost. Just… delayed."
But by midday, even Donn's bravado faltered. The forest seemed to close in around them, shadows stretching like claws. Kel paused, nocking an arrow. "Something's following us."
No one could anticipate what happened next.
Suddenly, a net dropped from the canopy, weighted with stones, crushing them to the ground. A group of burly men came and immediately surrounded the party.
Rough hands yanked their weapons away. A man with a scarred face and a rusted axe leered down. "Look what stumbled into our web."
"Carry them to the camp. They look young and able bodied. Might be good to have a pair of extra hands."
Soon, the party were carried to the camp, their hands and legs tied firmly with rope. The bandits' camp reeked of smoke and rot. The hunters were shoved into a pit, their wrists bound with frayed rope. Days blurred. The Kin's leader, a hulking brute with a melted ear, offered stale bread and threats in equal measure. "Join us. Hunt for us. Or feed the crows."
Eren spat at his boots. "We're not your slaves."
The brute backhanded him, splitting his lip. "Stubborn pup. We'll see how long that pride lasts."
Nights were worse. Bandits jeered, dangling meat just out of reach. Marna shivered in the cold, her defiant glare slightly wavering. Donn muttered plans—"Wait for the guard to doze off"— but exhaustion and hunger dulled their hopes. Kel traced maps in the dirt, his hands shaking. The village is northwest. If we could just—" However, the party never got an opportunity to escape.
"They called themselves the 'Scorchback Kin,'" Eren said through gritted teeth. "Said they were claiming these lands and if we wanted to live, we had to become a part of their ganag, or die."
Donn's fists clenched. "They beat us. Starved us. Said they'd 'burn out our weakness' until we joined them. They kept talking about how the other villages would soon kneel."
For three days, they were held. Beaten. Tested. Promised food and safety if they pledged themselves to the Scorchbacks. None of them agreed.
"We told them to rot in the Flame Pits," Kel muttered.
Then, yesterday night, the bandits had had enough.
"They cut us up and tossed us out into the forest," Eren said. "Left us half-dead… but not before tying bleeding meat to our armor.
Marna shivered. "They wanted us to die screaming. Said they'd collect our bones later."
But fate played its hand.
As the adventurers lay there, fading in and out of consciousness, a pack of massive black wolves appeared — drawn by the scent of blood.
But the bandits had underestimated the wild.
The wolves, who were initially attracted by the party on the ground, suddenly ignored the fallen.
Instead, they caught the scent of steel, fire, and cruelty — and sensing the ambush, attacked the bandits instead.
"It was chaos," Eren whispered. "Screams, blood and a fierce battle. I don't know what happened after that. The four of us just lay on the ground, awaiting our fate. Just… I knew I had to get back. I had to see my family… just once."
"I do not know what happened, but the next thing I remember was seeing the face of my sister and father, then I fainted."
Riku heard Eren's story and sighed. It looked like the willingness to see his family for the last time had triggered a lot of adrenaline for the seriously injured eren, which kept him alive till he met them.
Lila smiled faintly, brushing Eren's hair from his face. "You're back. That's all that matters."
Barou exhaled deeply, standing to face the others. "We'll speak of this at the village council. It seems like these bandits are trying to take over all the villages. We have to plan some defenses."
Riku nodded silently. A peaceful life was worth pursuing, but not when the peace came at the price of fear.
Not that he was afraid of those bandits. With his strength, even a million of those bandits would not be able to touch his hair.
Well, we will see if they come here to attack.
------------------------------------------
After the mini episode, slowly the villagers dispersed back to their daily lives. Riku also went to the blacksmith, as he was expecting to get his wind turbine and wires today.
Grond, the blacksmith, was wiping soot from his forehead as he opened a thick wooden crate beside the forge.
"Right on time," the big man grunted, lifting a polished copper coil. "Wires insulated with resin-dipped cloth, just like you said. And your spinny wind thing — I even painted it black so the birds don't attack it."
Beside him stood a modest but sturdy wind turbine, its metal blades feathered and curved to Riku's specs, connected to a small wooden stand reinforced with iron nails.
"Thanks, Grond," Riku said, examining the clean solder work. "You've outdone yourself."
Grond folded his arms, trying not to grin. "I've no idea what it does, but if it makes you happy, it was worth it."