The Hunter's Song II: Lost Blood

Ch 7: Snare (Lor)

"No!" I ran top speed through the rocky outskirts of the airfield

That psycho, Bold Step, ripped open the ship we were hiding in and snatched an injured medic.

"You won't get away!" I sniffed the air and stalked a trail of pale pink razkur blood smeared along the dirt leading away from the monastery.

The others scattered and I heard Arctic Haze shepherding them to safety when another wave of minion dogs ran toward the commotion.

Fuck... I refuse to let that dishonorable maggot slip away again!

It was infuriating to no end that this pissant tidy razkur was correct about our group's hobbled state. Preserving the remainder of our group was paramount, but I was already too far out ahead to turn back and give up the chase.

Every instinct inside me proclaimed that Bold Step was toying with us and intended to dismantle our group one gruesome death at a time.

"He must die!"

There was still much to learn about the internal power structure between the network of Graven, but the latest intel indicated that this specific Corrupted Slayer was an essential lieutenant.

His will or the presence of a Graven would keep the mindless minions organized and focused on our scent. Killing Bold Step was the only sure method for giving what few of us remained a better chance of survival.

Fresh blood streaked off toward a ravine just beyond a tall outcropping of rock spires.

I was alone but the medic's scent clung to the air.

CRICK

The stones behind me snapped, and one of the brown towers collapsed behind me.

I dodged and caught the faint flick of something black, slithering away behind the rock fall.

"Victory will be mine!" I didn't hesitate to double back up the tumbling stones and spotted the tail-end of Bold Step's shadow darting off into a maze of hoodoos.

The narrow stone passageways were obviously a deathtrap. I had no choice but to climb up one of the pillars.

"Nothing," the higher vantage point offered little benefit.

A woman screamed.

I took off, leaping between the pillars toward the fleeting echo of the female razkur.

Suddenly, the base of the pillar I landed on gave way and I lost my footing. Undoubtedly a result of Bold Step's tampering.

"Show yourself!" I landed with a graceful roll and twirled my scorch-pike.

The abomination remained silent.

I knew the Slayer would cling to deceitful tactics, and was fully prepared to undo his inevitable ambush.

"This game will end shortly!"

I followed the sound of trickling of gravel to the edge of the hoodoo labyrinth cut off by a sharp unstable ridge sloping off into an empty dry gulch.

A pack of large minion dogs came snarling up behind me. I slid down the steep incline and crawled up the other side, only to find more of the mutated hounds waiting for me on the other side.

"You do not see it," I growled at the dogs and positioned myself in the center of the dry riverbed. "But I have you right where I want you!"

Red rabid froth dripped from the beast's uneven jaws as they twitched erratically with each encroaching step.

The first one jumped, and I pierced its skull midair, then tossed it away. The next three I eviscerated, and another I stomped its ugly red maw straight into the ground. It was easy once they gave up the high ground and hopped down into the slippery gravel. The pack may have arrived in the dozens, but I quickly cut them down until there was only me.