Huntress' Heart

Into the Forest

I do not own the artwork, credit to the artist

An elleth clad in black hunting leathers strode silently through a darkened forest, mocha brown hair swaying in the breeze and her footfalls steady in the twisted undergrowth. Gnarled trees seemed to reach for her from the shadows, spindly fingers snagging at her shimmering cloak, threatening to take her legs out from underneath her. But the Elf swept on, unscathed by the scrub as her eyes darted from tree to tree, scanning the gloom hanging within the forest.

Her slender, down-pointed ears detected every subtle movement and rustle of bushes. Her violet eyes outlined every tree, every boulder, every round in the path, and every foe hidden in the shadows.

The forest had once been a peaceful place, where one could walk on twisting paths without the fear of becoming lost, where sunlight streamed through the luscious canopy and bathed the earth in gold. Now, the forest was cold and dark, manipulative to those who do not know the way and the paths.

At present, the Elf was stalking her prey, a pack of spiders using one of many sacred clearings as their nest.

Cobwebs stretched from tree to tree, movement vibrations racing down the silks occasionally, setting a trail for the Elf to follow. Hundreds of identical impressions littered the soft dirt, and the Elf moved the dull orange leaves to the side with the toe of her boot, eyes narrowing as she counted the tracks.

A distant shriek had the Elf's head snapping up, eyes locking onto an approaching foe. The spider was crashing through the forest, flattening scrubs and struggling wildflowers beneath its legs.

The elleth acted instantly, hands flying smoothly as they unhooked her bow from where it was slung by her quiver, flipping the recurve over her shoulder and catching it fluently. Her left arm was raising as her right snagged the fletching of an arrow, pulling the projectile from her quiver and notching it to her bowstring.

Her breathing was calm and even, hand drawing the arrow back until her thumb brushed her cheek. She trued her aim, the creature still charging for her, before firing. The arrow whistled through the air, fletching a silver blur against the dark trees. The spider was felled with an agonised screech, the arrow lodged firmly in its gapping maw, perfectly between the chelicerae.

The Elf lowered her arm with a small huff of victory, which was quickly cut short when the cobwebs on either side of her started to vibrate, warning of multiple incoming foes. She hissed as they sprung over their fallen comrade, arm raised once more, an arrow already notched, drawstring pulled tight.

Quick as a flash of lightning, the arrow was loosed, and two more notched. Without hesitation, the arrows were fired, three spiders going down with less than a second between each dying thud. But where one fell, another seemed to take its place.

Arrows were loosed, ground was lost, spiders fell with horrid shrieks.

The once eerily silent forest was now filled with the sounds of battle; the shouts of enemies, the twang of the bowstring, and the scrape of metal on leather as each arrow was drawn.

The Elf was forced back, hopping nimbly over fallen trees and roots as she backed into the forest, away from the path. The spiders kept coming, and the elleth kept slowly retreating, more so she could fell them from a distance with her bow.

A faint rustling overhead had the Elf's attention snatched away from the oncoming horde, looking up to find a gargantuan bull spider staring down at her with eight beady eyes. She cursed under her breath as she sprung forward, diving into a roll as the bull spider dropped from the tree, landing with its front legs raised and fangs bared.