The maze of merchants and shops throughout the village of Eknor was a labyrinth that Enok took pride in mastering. Enok feasted on this efficiency. He knew the fastest way from the leather shop to the armory, and if he had to visit the farming supply and feed outlet, he knew just how to plan his trip to hit every stop without delay. He didn’t have time to wait for meandering villagers indecisive about the wares, or how to get there. Enok had accompanied his father on countless trips to the town center. His father made a point of knowing the busy and intricate streets of downtown Eknor, passing along the same drive to his son, Enok.
Eknor was an old village that had expanded over the years, building out new town centers, connecting to old ones. The village infrastructure was far from the organized and planned developments of Hallador. It was more akin to a wild vine that spread through the sections of mountains that offered its protection, stretching out its spindly arms, reaching and grabbing for any inhabitable land. Visitors from Hallador would easily get lost within the unusual layout of streets and alleyways that traversed the lower hills. Enok’s father boasted he was just as comfortable in the hills as he was downtown. He refused to be categorized as an out of touch country boy. Enok held close to the same philosophy.
Enok was a young man, with thick blond hair and fair skin. He was quite large for his age. Not only in his size, but also in his strength. Working every day on his father’s ranch contributed to his overall strong physical appearance, but it was the nature he was born with that made his daily exercise accentuate his already bold physical appearance. Socially, he liked to keep to his family or close friends, but his physicality was impossible to go unnoticed by the other villagers. They always selected him to play in local games and competitions. He was always hirable to the many farmers or homeowners that just needed a little extra help. The village loved him. They loved to project the prospect of him becoming the next Yerik Gold-Sword, the most recent warrior celebrity that came from Eknor.
Though never obsessed with the idea, Enok, like any other young man his age, dreamed of being a celebrated warrior, traveling the lands, fighting valiant battles for the good of the Kingdom. He figured his talents and abilities would lead him in that direction, but he didn’t like to think about his future as a career fighter at the moment. He liked his life as it was and wanted to enjoy it. The future would eventually unravel for him. All he had to worry about was enjoying the upcoming summer and getting a few chores done for his father.
Enok was already halfway through his list, packing his mule to ensure he could fit everything in one haul. Efficiency was his goal. He was on his way to the leather shop to pick up some repaired braided cordage when a loud bleating grunt rang out from the streets, followed by an intense crashing noise. Several people began screaming and shouting. Enok turned his attention to the commotion. He could hear more villagers screaming, some shouting out what sounded like directions, followed by the clash and clatter of pans and wood being strewn across the cobblestone streets.
Enok tried to get a look, but the variegated height of the hills kept the sounds nestled deep within the streets of Eknor secluded from sight. He listened more intently. Was it a simple accident? The clumsiness of a fool? Or was he in danger? Did he need to get to safety? Enok took several steps closer to the other side of the street and listened.
More men yelling directions, calling for the local patrol help. And shields plenty of shields. People began shouting about their businesses and “controlling your animal”. Then Enok heard a huffing grunt from a large animal. “I know that grunt!” Enok thought. He had to see it himself, to be certain.
Enok led his anxious pack mule to the far side of the street into a little corral off the main streetway. Then climbing several fences and hopping across some roof tops and stairways, he was several streets down. His ears and mind were as accurate as ever. There in the middle of the street, tearing up a poor vendor’s wooden cart, was a very large and very upset hongar goat.
Enok’s heart sank. Did one of his father’s goats escape? “How would it get downtown?” Enok thought. Then Enok saw the owner. It was his father’s competition.
A breath of relief. Hongar goats were very rare, and very few ranchers even attempt to raise them. Enok’s family was one of the few that found success in raising them. Though they are the most ornery and stubborn beasts known to be domesticated, the cheese made from hongar goat's milk is exquisite. To eat hongar goat cheese was an experience to savor.
Several months ago, a rancher on the other side of town acquired some hongar goats hoping to compete with Enok’s family. A challenge his family would welcome, knowing the difficulties in raising the stubborn things. Enok didn't understand why the other owner thought bringing one into town was a great idea. Well, probably because Enok’s father did one time, and it drew all kinds of positive attention to his father’s business, but both Enok and his father knew how to handle the pesky beasts. The new guy was just looking for some attention. Enok chuckled, realizing the new rancher was getting attention for his hongar goat, just not the kind he wanted.
It wasn’t clear what had excited the hongar goat, but they were notoriously aggressive and territorial, and this one was on an absolute rampage ramming carts and vendor booths as if the inanimate objects were heckling the poor animal. The city streets were filled with people running for safety as fruit and baskets were thrown in the air.
For a moment, Enok paused. This was one errand he didn’t have to worry about. It wasn’t his goat, and the rancher needed to learn how to handle them. Enok watched as the owner shouted, trying to attach a leather harness to control the beast, all while desperately avoiding a head butt or getting gored by the large horns. Enok mumbled words of direction on how to handle the creature, as if sending his thoughts out into the air might help. But the owner seemed clueless. The place was in a panic.
That’s when Enok saw the local guard running through several alleyways to approach the goat. “no, no, no…” Enok said out loud as he watched the local guard closing in. He thought to himself, “if they surround that goat…” the Hongar goat lifted its head, ears to attention, made a large grunting nose and charged into the group of oncoming soldiers. “… defensive flight mode.” Enok said with a breath of frustration.
Absolute pandemonium erupted. Guards began chasing the poor goat, as the goat barreled full speed through the town streets, swinging its large horns at anything in its path. Villagers screaming and taking cover, people yelling for more guards to help them coral the beast.
“They are going to hurt it; they don’t know what they are doing!” Enok thought out loud. His mind began weighing his options. “It’s not my father’s goat. I have no business stepping in. Right? The owner will get it under control. I just have to walk away and let them deal with it. It’s not my responsibility, right?” It wasn’t his job. Other people’s problems are not his. But he wouldn't forgive himself if the goat got hurt or put down. Hongar goats are magnificent beasts, and why should they suffer just because their owner doesn’t know how to handle them?
Enok observed the situation as it seemed to get worse and worse. On one side, it was none of his business. He wanted to help, but it wasn’t his responsibility. On the other side, choosing to help the poor new guy meant chasing a wild Hongar goat through the village, putting his ability to run and his knowledge of the village streets to the test, all while risking being charged, stampeded, kicked or gored. Man vs. beast. He shook his head and smiled as he leaped into a full-on sprint.
Enok tried to predict the path of the angry goat, running as fast as he could, leaping over barrels, climbing over walls, running across rooftops, jumping through the alleyways. He was a master of the maze-like village streets. He was getting closer and closer. Enok could see the hongar goat through a side alleyway, rampaging through the streets. Catching up to the angry goat was his first goal, but Enok had an immediate challenge ahead of him. He had to figure out a way to stop the goat’s defensive flight mode. The beast was a juggernaut designed to run through anything it encountered until it felt safe. Hongar goats are not keen on taking any sort of direction from humans.
Enok ran faster. He had to get in front of the goat. Enok scooped up some large planks of shattered wood, crossing through the path of the goat. It made running difficult, but he was nearly there. Enok rounded a corner. The charging goat rounded the corner, running full force towards Enok. The adrenaline was pumping fast through Enok’s heart. He had to act or get run down by the goat. Enok did the only thing he figured would work. He yelled as loud as he could and began clapping the wood together, then held the sticks of wood up to his head, letting out the best bleating goat impression.
The hongar goat came to a screeching halt with a loud grunt. It gurgled a loud bleating grunt in Enok’s direction. Enok returned the noise the best he could. The Hongar goat began shaking its head, lifting it up and down. Enok repeated the action. Enok recognized how crazy he looked at the moment, but he focused on getting the goat’s attention. The goat gave another loud bleating grunt, lifting its head up and down. Enok mimicked the action.
It was working! Enok had stopped the wild hongar goat from charging. Enok understood that only one thing could distract a hongar goat from its desire for safety.
An Alpha challenge.
Now Enok was facing the one thing more dangerous than a stampeding hongar goat. Enok took a deep breath. Hongar Goats will not hesitate to engage in a battle to be alpha, a battle a human would never win. Enok could hear the town guard approaching. He had to act fast or the goat would charge again. Enok waved to some villagers, lightly yelling to tell them to stop the guard. The kind villagers responded.
The hongar goat cocked his head, with the strange appearance of horns detaching from his opponent’s head. Enok regained his stance. He mimicked the goat by lifting his head up and down and grunting. He realized he was turning into quite the spectacle as villagers and the guards gathered to see Enok staring down a goat twice his size, while holding fake horns up to his head. The pieces of wood looked like impressive horns, probably the one thing that kept the hongar goat from immediately launching into an alpha fight.
The town guard and helpful villagers filled in around the scene. Enok motioned to them to stop, and called out several instructions, trying to keep the crowd calm and the goat’s focus on him. The crowd was glad to oblige, passing on a mumbling whisper spreading throughout the cluster of people. The goat's owner pushed his way to the front of the crowd. Enok motioned to remain calm and quiet.
Enok’s heart was racing. The surge of excitement that spread through his body made him feel alive, like he could sense every bit of life around him. Despite the danger, Enok smiled as a natural reaction to his senses, realizing the situation he was getting himself into. The massive goat continued making huffing grunting noises, bobbing its head up and down, clawing its hooves at the ground. Enok did his best to mimic the behavior. But timing was crucial. He had to deescalate the alpha challenge.
He slowly took a step towards the hongar goat. Wrangling a hongar goat was a delicate task. If wrangling other livestock was like the pounding of a drum, hongar goats took the delicacy of an exquisite symphony. Enok knew that hongar goats fought to the death to be an alpha. You can’t convince them you are their alpha like other livestock, or they will challenge you the rest of their lives. It doesn’t work. Communication with an alpha goat took as much effort and intricacies of an emotional symphony. Enok knew he had to look strong, like a substantial contributor to the herd, but not so strong that he becomes a threat or a challenge to the alpha.
Enok took a step closer, still mimicking the goat’s movements, just hoping the hongar goat would not take the challenge. The enormous beast hopped forward a couple of steps with its head lowered. The adrenaline shot through Enok’s soul, but he forced himself to stand his ground. Hongar goats will either engage in an alpha battle immediately, or they will offer a few threats to test the courage of their opponent. If their opponent flees, it knows it has the advantage and will attack. If his opponent doesn’t flee, the alpha prepares for an intense battle.
Enok took a couple more steps towards the goat. It made another threat, but Enok held his ground. Though the condition of Enok’s heart was more akin to his full sprint through town, Enok stood still. He took a deep breath. Time to submit. Enok slowly lowered his faux horns. Ever so slightly. The Hongar goat lifted its head up. Enok continued, ever so slowly lowering the pieces of wood. The hongar goat cocked its head at the strange transformation of his opponent.
Enok crouched down and set the pieces of wood on the ground. The hongar goat would either eliminate the threat, or accept the submission into the herd. Enok wondered if it was the sheer oddness and transformation of the goat’s opponent that kept the alpha goat sitting still instead of charging. Enok glanced at the surrounding vendor stands, trying to keep eye contact with the goat.
GOLD! There was a fruit stand. Enok began whispering to some bystanders.
“Toss me some of that!” Enok said.
They threw him several pieces of citrus.
“Hey, that one, that one” Enok pointed to some star fruit. Hongar Goats love star fruit. They like any kind of fruit. If you ranch them, you must be careful to keep fruit trees out of their pastures, otherwise it can mess with the flavor of the cheese, but in an emergency, fruit was the saving grace. Enok broke open the fruit, hoping the aroma would help him communicate with the calming beast.
Enok was now standing, holding out the star fruit. The goat would either accept his offer or attack. If you can convince a hongar goat, you are part of the herd, that’s one thing, but if you can bring the goat something he likes, he’ll be your friend forever. Slowly, slowly, Enok stepped closer and closer, holding out the fruit. The hongar goat had now fully shifted from Alpha mode to curiosity mode. He kept sniffing the air, extending his nose closer and closer to Enok. Enok took several steps. The goat took several steps. Closer and closer. The goat would lift its head up and down, sniffing the air. It was close enough that it began sniffing the open star fruit. Then it took a bite. It gobbled up the fruit. Enok offered another piece of fruit. The goat took it. Enok offered another piece, this time taking a step further back.
Now the goat was hooked. It took several steps in his direction. Enok reached out and let the goat sniff his hand, then stroked the goat’s nose. The goat was looking for more fruit from his new herd member. Enok motion to some bystanders, and they tossed him more fruit. Enok began stepping away but leading the goat along.
The goat’s owner nodded to Enok and lifted the leather straps in his hands, as if to harness the goat again.
Enok shook his head. “It’s better if I lead the goat of its own free will. It won’t resist if it wants to follow me.” Enok said to the owner. “Can you buy a bushel of fruit and lead me back to your ranch?”
“Yeah, yeah, sure, anything.” The owner motioned to some of his crew to buy a bunch of fruit. Then turning back to Enok, who was still backing away, leading the goat. “Uhhh, my ranch isn’t that close, won’t this take a while?”
Enok thought for a moment. “Get a wagon or carriage ready. Once the goat trusts me, I can ride in the back of the wagon. He’ll keep up.”
“Okay, will do. Thanks, my boy, you are a wonder.” the owner said.
Enok kept backing away as a kindly bystander kept tossing him the fruit. The entire crowd stared on. They wanted to cheer, but Enok reminded them again to keep quiet until they got far away. People were doing their best to not be loud, but it was human nature to mumble each of their accounts they had all witnessed.
The new owner talked with the town guard and paid them a courtesy fee for responding and thanking them for their patience. Using the fruit as a lure, the goat followed Enok to one of the outer roads. Just as planned, Enok climbed aboard a wagon, and they gradually brought the goat back into its home pasture.
The event became the talk of the town. For several days, Enok couldn’t walk through town without someone shouting out his name, or praising his bravery. It was nice to be recognized, but that’s not why he did it. There was a thrill standing face to face with that massive goat, not knowing what would happen next. It was that sensation of facing nature one on one and coming out on top that made Enok smile.
Most people told him he was brave to face the hongar goat alone. Enok didn't know how to explain it. He just nodded along agreeing with the commentators on his experience. But if given the choice to do it again, he wouldn’t hesitate. Not to show his courage, not because he would be praised with fame, but it was the reaction his body had to such an event. He didn’t know how to explain it, but it was a feeling he craved.