Chapter 21
Hunter
Once I come to I see the elder standing over top of me with a worried expression on her face. "Hunter are you alright?" I struggle into a seated position, "I think so. Where's Emily?" I look around, and start to run towards the village. The elder giving a good chase. I come to a stop in front of the snow leopard statue, and see the elder freeze behind me, "Hunter, she was taken by the royal council. They took her to what they think is her home. The castle that the snow leopards once inhabited in the Altai mountains." I couldn't speak, something had gotten to me when I looked into the stone cat's now green eyes. I take a cautious step forward when I hear the elder, "Hunter what are you doing?" No words came, only my slow movements towards the statue. Then everything started to blur out of perspective, and I saw a strong elderly man standing next to the statue. His hand touching the nose of the stone cat gently, "Who are you?" The man turns away from the statue, "I think the question is, who are you?" I look around, getting really confused with the situation, "I am Hunter Gates, and you still didn't answer my question!" The man starts to laugh, "I am the one you have heard so much about. The one who lost his followers."
It was all clear now, this was the chief. Emily's ancestor who was driven to a nomadic life that led to his death. I stare in awe as a smile comes across the chief's aged face, "I see now that you recognize me. And I know about what you Hunter. I have watched over my ancestor for quite some time, and saw the two of you become mates." I awkwardly look to the side, "Well um, I had to work for it that's for sure." He started to laugh, "Why yes you did. Now I need you to do something for me." He walks away from the statue and puts a strong hand on my shoulder, "Make sure nothing like the big three happens again. Or so help me I will haunt you to your grave." I swallow the lump in my throat as he fades away. I let out a shaky breath as the elder grabs my shoulder, "Hunter, what's wrong?" I still couldn't speak. The elder was practically screaming now, "Hunter, what is wrong with you? Oh my you are white as a ghost!" I just stood there, nothing could have moved me.
The elder eventually got my feet to move by tackling me to the ground, "Hunter, what the hell is wrong?!" The lump lodged in my throat finally was gone and I found my voice, "The chief." She had a strange look on her face, "What are you talking about?" I look at the statue one last time before I turn my head towards the elder, "I saw the chief He came to me and told me I have to make everything right. But I don't know where to start." That is when I heard a familiar voice, "Hunter, I need to talk to you!" It was Mrs. Evans, "Hunter, I know where Emily is." She stumbles and falls next to me, I was still trying to catch my breath, "We need to hurry, she is in the Altai mountains and they are going to marry her off to some chief of the snow leopards tomorrow." My breath catches in my throat, they were really going to do this. The elder looks at Mrs. Evans, "How do you know this? Also how did you find us?" Mrs. Evans shifted her weight, "Well Emily just called me, and also I found this place before. I like to jog early in the morning and I stumbled across this place but that is beside the point right now. Right now we need to get Emily with the right man before she can't do anything about it!" I look at the elder, "I know what you're thinking. And do you want this to happen?" I nod my head, knowing she had everything made up for whenever she was making plans for me to be with her granddaughter. I just needed to get to Russia, before Emily was married off to some chief. I make my way to my feet, and as if on cue Bafon comes into view. I see Mrs. Evans out of the corner of my eye flinch, "Holy shit! Is that a dragon?!" I laugh to myself, "Yes, that is Bafon." Bafon lands and almost bows for Mrs. Evans. She let out a small laugh before fainting. Bafon gives me a concerned look, "Don't worry big guy she's new to all this. You my friend are the first dragon she has seen, ever." He relaxes at that, and gently picks her up in his hand. I have no idea what he was thinking but he seemed to have taken a liking to her.
