John Beede - The Warrior Challenge: 8 Quests for Boys to Grow Up with Kindness, Courage, and Grit

Are you listening to me, boy?

The man yelling at you is inches from your face. His eyes are wide and wild, and you can feel the heat of his breath on your cheek. Youve never seen or met him before in your life. You have no idea who he is. His intensity makes you cringe and turn your head, taking in the inky darkness and feeling the soft dirt under your feet. Its just the two of you out here in the middle of nowhere, seemingly in the dead of night.

Where the heck am I?

Beside you, a blazing fire pops and sparks. You tense and find that youre sitting ona hard stump of wood. Am Icamping? Your mouth is dry like sandpaper and your nostrils burn with dust and smoke.

If you do not listen, you do not stand a chance, the man goes on. He imitates a knife slicing across his neck as he backs away from you, the motion drawing your attention to his bare, dark-skinned, muscular chest. The band around his head hasAre those teeth?! Theyre pointed upward like tiny menacing horns.

You try to find something familiar in your surroundings, but your eyes havent fully adjusted to the darkness. Orange light flickers from the fire and illuminates a few nearby huts. Each is thatched together with branches and grass.

This sure isnt like the camping trips you went on when you were little. This feels very different. Like its not about having fun.

Youll be sent out soon, the man says as he circles you, thudding the handle of a spear with each step as he sizes you up. Which is why the village elders have tasked me with starting to train you.

Train me? For what? you wonder, the blood beginning to beat in your ears. Andwhat in theThis dude has a legit spear?!

Take your weapon. He gestures to a second spear, its handle pushed into the earth next to you. The sharpened blade points to the stars of the galaxy above. They seem to be glowing more brightly than youve ever seen before.

I crafted yours with wood of the ebony tree, bone of the wildebeest, and iron from the earth. It can kill an animal three times your size. Only true warriors are fit to carry this weapon. Make it your prized possession. But use it poorly, and you may injure yourself. Or worse

You look at the blade. Its as long as your leg.

You finally find your voice. Whowho are you? you ask.

Me? He laughs, full of pity. I am your only hope. I am the only chance you have. I am the one who will guide you through this savanna, and I am the one who will teach you how to return alive from your quest.

My quest? you ask, feeling more deeply ensnared by each of his questions.

Yes. Your quest to face the King of Beasts, the man says.

Er, like a lion?

Is there any other King of Beasts? he snaps. Then, lowering his voice: I am Kakuta. I was chosen to be your Warrior Guide. Take your spear. Come now, take it! We dont have time for games.

You reach and slowly pull it from the earth. You feel its weight in your palm, which convinces you that you arent dreaming. This is mine?

Every warrior before you has completed a quest like the one in front of you. You must face and kill a lion. Learn, and you will survive, grow, and become strong. Succeed, and you will prove yourself worthy. You will be held in the highest respect. Our people will call you Warrior.

There is a pause. And the question falls out of your mouth: And if I fail?

Then we will not call you anything, the man snarls, because you will be dead. You will bring back the body of a lion, or

You dart your eyes anxiously, waiting.

After a beat, he finishes, Or a lion will bring your tattered body back to its cubs. One way or another, one will die. And one will live.

You shake your head. How can this be happening?! You learned in biology that an adult male lion weighs, like, 420 pounds. They can leap up to thirty feet in the air and run faster than fifty miles per hour. What possible chance would you stand against an alpha predator like that? Even ten grown men would run for their lives if a lion was chasing them down the street!

Kakuta takes a step toward you. With each word, the tone of his voice becomes graver. Do. You. Understand?

You gulp and nod.

Many have failed on this journey: Drowned by the raging floodwaters of the river. Mauled by the leopard. Some dropped dead with thirst. There are dangers all around. The one who is prepared to navigate all these challenges with honorthat is a man indeed.

The words ring in your head: The one who is prepared to navigate all these challenges with honorthat is a man indeed.

You wonder, Is that me?

Youll be sent out soon, he says, so your training begins now. Ill show you what Ive learned about becoming a man in our village. But eventually, you must decide for yourself what defines you, for every boy must decide what kind of man he will become. Your first task is to learn to wield your spear. Try to use it on me! What kind of man will you be?