Caught by a Hunter

Chapter 6

When the sun went down the forest turned really dark really fast. Alderoth did not like it since this forest was completely strange to him and to make things even better he had lost the road. Yes, Hodari had warned him but somehow it just happened! He stepped away from the road only for a second and when he turned around a few times... The road was gone.

The man was holding his arms, feeling a cold breeze coming from somewhere far from the east and he could smell salty seawater. Hodari had told him not to go that way so he tried to head towards west, or at least somewhere where he thought west might be...

It was easier said than done with all the big and small cliffs. He constantly had to circle them around, watch out for trees and keep an eye out if he might find a road. Or one of those sheds Hodari had mentioned where he could stay the rest of the night.

As it got more and more late, the darkness was starting to really take hold of the forest and now Alderoth had to admit that he was getting scared, but he just had to try and calm down. He had food and water so at least that wouldn't be a problem.

All in all, he should be fine as long as he would be careful. He had to move around so he wouldn't get too cold and eventually he would find a road or something that would help him to find his way back to Kilima, he was sure of that.

But after a long time and the air getting colder, Alderoth was starting to question his optimism... He should just stay where he was right now and make a fire, but every time he stopped, he could hear rustling and it spooked him enough so that he just decided to continue a little bit further.

The man was pushing away some thick bushes and he stumbled ahead, almost falling when thick branches finally let go of him and let him pass. He took a few steps to find his balance again and suddenly realized that instead of feeling soft grass he could hear sand rustling. He quickly looked down and his eyes went wide.

Road! He had somehow managed to find a road! He let out a sigh of relief and finally he was starting to think that maybe he might be able to get back to Kilima Valley before he would freeze to death. Once he would be back he definitely would forget this whole hunting thing completely! He'd try harder, work a lot more and learn how to grow vegetables and he would keep fishing.

Alderoth looked in both directions and now he had a new problem: which way to go?

He heard rustling again and quickly scanned his surroundings until something stepped out of the bushes. That thing was not a chapaa nor a sernuk that's for sure!

It was a big... Something. It had dark fur and huge eyes that were staring at Alderoth, making him feel uneasy. It almost looked like some kind of a plumehound but then again nothing like that! Whatever it was, it was clear it was interested of him and it was getting a bit closer. That was when Alderoth decided to go the way that was opposite of the way where that thing was.

He spun around and started running immediately, not even aware that his sudden movement spooked the creature just as much as he was scared of it and the animal just fled to another direction.

His heart was pounding so much it hurt, but Alderoth kept on running and just following the road, wherever it might take him. Anything was fine as long as he would get the hell away from that thing.

Finally after what felt like forever, Alderoth had to finally stop and he slumped on his knees, trying to catch his breath. What was that? Was that one of those muujins Hodari had mentioned? Whatever it was, it seemed like it had not followed him and Alderoth was grateful because of that. He wasn't sure if he would be able to run any further away.

"Oh my, what a cute little thing did I just find?"

Alderoth's eyes shot wide open and he looked around, seeing someone coming towards him. She was a very curvy woman and she had luxurious looking fluffy hair landing on her shoulders. Her face had sharp features, making her almost look sly and her green eyes had a curious look as she was observing Alderoth.

Alderoth quickly fought to get back on his feet, his muscles feeling weak but he couldn't just keep on sitting down. He looked at the woman that was slowly coming closer and she definitely was not scared of him even if he appeared out of nowhere.

"And what might your name be?" she purred.

"Uh... I'm Alderoth", Alderoth said and he was still trying to calm down. "And... You are?"

"My name is Tamala, I doubt you have heard of me", Tamala chuckled as she circled around Alderoth, looking at him closely. It made Alderoth feel uncomfortable, like he was some sort of a showpiece. "You look smaller than average human men I've seen around here", Tamala noticed. Not much smaller, but Alderoth was shorter and thinner than most human men she had seen. It made him look weirdly adorable.

Alderoth stepped a bit away when Tamala was getting a little bit too close.

"I can't help it how I look like", he said.

"Are you afraid of me?" Tamala asked with a tiny smirk and she was amused. "You poor little thing. Are you lost in this forest?"

"I... Um... I found the road but then some kind of a big... Something with a long tail found me."

"A muujin?" Tamala said and she laughed waving her hand. "Those things are not really even dangerous. They are more scared of you than you are scared of them. Well, maybe if there were more of them and since you are such a cute little thing..."

She shrugged. Muujins never really attacked anyone, but maybe if the prey might look non threatening enough – like Alderoth who she thought was cute as a button with his long hair and soft features – they might at least try approaching.

"So it was a muujin", Alderoth muttered with a frown. "I've never seen one before so I didn't know what to do."

"If you had just shouted something it would've fled immediately."

"I have to remember that, thank you", Alderoth nodded. "Um, would you mind telling me which way I should take so I can go back to Kilima Valley?"

"Are you in a hurry? It's already way past midnight."

"Why are you here during this hour then?"

"I'm gathering some things I need. Some things can only be found during night after all. Kilima Valley is very far away but my house is a lot closer so why don't you come with me, Button?" Tamala chuckled with a seductive voice and it made Alderoth feel cold shivers. "It will be warm and cozy there, I promise."

"Back off, Tamala."

Alderoth's eyes went wide and he turned to look at the one who was talking. He was surprised to see that stern look as Hassian was coming closer, glaring at Tamala who crossed her arms and looked amused.

"Oh, too bad, Button already has an admirer", she said with a tiny smile. "You should keep him on a shorter leash or he might run away."

"Leave him alone", Hassian warned her. "He's not for you to play with."

"That is unfair, we were getting along so nicely. I was just about to show him the way back to Kilima."

"Like hell you were, you would've just lured him into your house. I'll take you back home", Hassian said and he grabbed Alderoth's arm, pulling him with him.

"Why -" the man started but Hassian just gave him an annoyed look.

"You want to go back home or not?" he growled and Alderoth opened and closed his mouth, finally nodding. "Then let's go. Tau is waiting", Hassian grunted and pulled the shorter man with him away from Tamala.

The woman chuckled when looking after them. Too bad, but whatever. She just continued on her own way to gather herbs.