Choosing your first weapon

Spend the training yard on three weapons, not fourteen. You are looking for a rhythm you can keep when the animal stops being polite.

A slower weapon is not a harder weapon. It asks you to commit, then rewards the commit. A faster weapon asks you to stay close and forgive yourself for missing.

Watch the creature for a full minute before you draw. The tail, the head, and the moment it breathes are the real tutorial.

Bring one friend and one plan. A hunt falls apart when everyone brings a different idea of bravery.

If a weapon feels clever but tiring after ten minutes, it is the wrong first weapon. Clever can be the second one.