Wanderers

Chapter IV

Cursing the Twelve under his breath, the hunter tried his best to ignore the throbbing pain from his head.

Thankful that he hadn’t broken anything, Lavi decided to keep to the ground and the greenery, in an attempt to stay hidden.

With his bow still strapped to his back and his daggers sheathed on his side, the lalafell had everything he needed in case of a confrontation; though he was praying that it wouldn't come to that

Every cell in his body was screaming at him to run but he knew that it would be a foolish decision to start fleeing now, the monster would easily catch him.

 

There was really only one option left open to him.

 

He was a hunter, trained by the very best.

It was time to use every trick in the book.

No more getting distracted, his life was on the line.

 

Taking a deep breath to slow his breathing and allowing his presence to disappear, the hunter steeled himself as he heard the beast come stomping over towards the source of the sudden sound, hissing and squawking all the while.

Looking through the small gaps of the bush he’d taken refuge in, Lavi noted the monster’s size.

It was absolutely huge, maybe about five of himself stacked on top of one another.

 

Up close, he could see the monster’s blue scaly skin and large blood red talons, the spikes he’d seen before were actually gigantic feathers of the same colour.

Hanging over its neck was a large flap of skin that seemed to be a frill of some kind and its beak looked even more terrifying up close, rows of sharp, jagged teeth filled the inside of the creatures mouth.

Its small, beady eyes scanned the area in front of it, sensing something was there.

 

Ignoring the rampant rear running through his very being, Lavi attempted to keep silent.

Perhaps it would leave if he stayed still long enough.

 

‘Its a mere beast after all, surely it was only capable of staying still for so long’ the hunter though to himself as kept focused on the danger that was mere yalms from him.

 

A minute passed.

 

Then so did another five.

 

Neither of them moved.

 

Only then did it occur to Lavi he’d severely underestimated his target.

He’d forgotten that this was no everyday forest creature, it was a killer.

A predator.

The monster was waiting him out, knowing that he would have to move at some point.

 

Whatever this creature was, it was clever.

Or maybe Lavi was just too panicked to think straight.

Either way, he was coming to realise that a confrontation may be his only way of escaping…

 

Another one of Orin’s saying flashed through the lalafell’s head in that moment:

 

‘Being a hunter is all about the element of surprise. Always be thinking one step ahead of your prey’

 

Even now it felt like Orin was at his side, guiding him.

This was real.

This was literally life or death and Lavi would be damned if he left his mother to fend for herself, alone.

 

‘I need to create a distraction’ the hunter thought to himself as he silently grasped a handful of dirt in his right hand. ‘The second I get an opening, I’ll slip deeper into the forest and try to erase my presence further’

 

Another few minutes of quiet dragged by.

 

The monster lowered its head to the ground, its nostrils flaring; trying to pick up Lavi’s scent.

It had seemingly grown tired of waiting for him, deciding that now would be the best time for an attack.

But as the gods would have it, the creature was just about close enough for an ambush attack.

 

Strengthening his resolve, the hunter knew that he may not get this chance again.

It was do or die.

He couldn’t afford to take any further risks.

 

“Father, please watch over me.”