The Hunter : Chapter 3

                            Chapter 3

        WHEN YOU SAY LIFE IS THE GREATEST GIFT YOU COMPARE IT TO OTHER GIFTS.SO ARE THERE GIFTS SUCH AS LIFE AS WELL?

                           

                                                                                     -Helianthus III of Castovia

                          Tina could hear their footsteps silently diminishing in the back. She was close to escaping them. She ran as fast as her dreary and beaten legs could carry her. Her duty as a mother wouldn't fail her. "YES...A LITTLE FURTHER!" she heard the voice speaking again , silently whispering through the wind. The mist deepened and she could hear the sounds of the crows getting closer and closer. Tina ran through a dense patch of shrubs and berries. She recognized this path. This path was leading to the daisies she used to pick during the day. As expected she heard the faint gurgling of the river Nadhezda. Her heart skipped a beat. This was the place her life began. Her eyes filled with tears and she felt a cramp up her throat. "What has happened to our small town! None of this was supposed to happen!" she broke down crying near the river. Her tears merging with the river and the cool moonlight clear. The sound of the search party started getting closer by the minute."You have to do this for the safety of others! Don't be such a selfish brat girl!"She heard Aldrin's voice. The sound of her comfort now turned into a bad and ironic joke. Fate was a cruel joke. 

                           

                                   She felt the baby kicking and then it happened. She knew the baby was coming now!"Atleast you'll live my love". Her face lit up and she mustered a smile.

She looked around and saw a tiny alcove by the river covered by the shade cast by the cheddar trees making it perfectly hidden. "Yes, that spot seems safe and can keep me hidden!"  She crossed the river and felt the cold water gushing against her legs. The memories of her time with Aldrin came rushing back to her.Their first encounter, their marriage and how they planned to spend their time in each other's company. She went inside the alcove and sat down.The cool walls of the cave brought comfort to her burning mind. She could feel her breath drawing short. She remembered her life flashing in front of her eyes. Her mother, caressing her hair, Her time spent amongst her friends playing along the river. Her first moment with Aldrin, Her vibrant and robust village, all came before her. "May the all-seeing mother watch over you my child" she said as she closed her eyes and kissed her stomach...for one final time.

                                            

                                     The next day the elders found her alcove yet they didn't find her body."Her body must've been taken. Our village is safe". Aldrin stared at the alcove fully knowing that this mistake would cost him. He wanted to break down yet his pride wouldn't allow him to. He wanted to get lost in her hazel eyes for one final time, wanted to embrace her closer for one final time . The sound of the rushing river and the chirping of birds was soon broken by the cries of  a baby."Look! I found a baby here!", the elders quickly gathered and sure enough they saw a healthy baby crying loudly. It was wrapped in leaves from the nearby shrubs and saw a murder of carrion crows besides his body. "It's unsafe to leave it here all alone. We need to bring it back to the village. They took the baby in their arms and soon reached the village. The baby was light yet their journey back was heavy. The villagers got out of their houses and saw the elders walking towards the nursery with a baby in their arms.They gave the baby to the matriarchs and returned to Shahadi the shaman."Well, is the deed done?"asked Shahadi. The elders reported their findings to the shaman.Unexpectedly she hit the chief with her stick! "You fool!" The others were perplexed.Her face was a combination of rage and fear. "You have brought upon us not a child but one of them!". The elders felt their breath leaving them as they rushed to the nursery. The sight that awaited them was brutal. "By the mother's sake" said the shaman as she passed out. Two men carried her body back to her Hut. The walls of the nursery were drenched in blood and the matriarchs were dead. In a manner that would even make a butcher vomit! The elders approached the baby's cradle and saw not a baby, but a monster.It's eyes were bulging and it's skin was a shade of purple. It had jagged teeth and a long tongue."By the gods it's a plnění do lahví-a botchling! A baby born of hate and malice!"These creatures were born without the taste of breastmilk, but the flesh of man. A vile monster that groes into a whole beast in just a week and what's worse is that if they feel threatened. They care not for the being, but all they can see is prey.

"We only have one choice now" said the chief. "We must call....him"

The village stood silent their expression turned from shock to regret. They all went inside their home and brought out a coin purse. The chief counted all the coins."That's enough for him" said the chief as he called the courier. The chief took out a parchment from his hut and wrote something on it."Make sure to deliver this to the noticeboard". The boy knew what must be done.On the outskirts of their forest was a small inn which was inhabited by all manner of bounty hunters , yet it wasn't a bounty hunter they required now. The others hurried inside their houses and drew a line of salt outside their homes. The only person left outside was the chief. He was prepared for the breaking of hell that was to follow. His feet shuddered knowing that the....monster that was to come would be worse than a wood spirit. Worse than death itself. 

VELENWOOD

                                   23 OF COLDSEED, 12

WE HAVE REPORTED THE PRESENCE OF A WOOD SPIRIT IN OUR FORESTS. WE HAVE BEEN PESTERED BY THEM FOR SIX MONTHS.OUR LIVES RUINED,AND OUR PEOPLE MURDERED.

WE REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF THE VATICAN.WE REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HUNTERS OF THE NIGHT.