EXPEDITION: An Unmatched Fanfiction

Chapter Twelve: Gaze Of Stone

Sinbad felt the rope holding him to the tree loosen, and he was soon released from his bonds. The second his feet hit the ground, a wave of relief and joy washed over him, and he was incredibly thankful for the grass gently brushing up against his toes once again. After taking a short time to appreciate his freedom, he turned to see the Huntsman. In his large hands was the axe that freed Sinbad and Little Red. Much like Little Red's daggers, the axe was worn from years of use. The wooden handle was tattered and chipped in several spots, and the blade of the axe was discolored in certain areas, presumably from the blood of the animals he hunted.

If was just be assisted by the man, Sinbad would have been leery of the Huntsman's intentions based on his appearance. Unlike Robin Hood, his rugged countenance was much cruder. His beard, peppered with gray, was largely unkempt like he had a fuzzy yet coarse rabbit clutching onto his chin. His skin was dark and dried out from the elements like a piece of fruit left out in the sun for a day too long. His clothes gave off a similar impression. They were simple but shabby. The sleeves around his biceps were nearly threadbare. The one piece of clothing he had which looked decent was his fur coat. Knowing his association with Little Red, Sinbad assumed this was the hide of some long-dead beast.

What Sinbad noticed last were the Huntsman's eyes. They were mostly shadowed by his eyebrows, and his dark brown irises nearly blended in with his skin, but even in their obscurity, Sinbad was able to get a peek at his soul. Despite his rough exterior, the glimmer in his eyes showed a tint of humanity, making him appear more as a weary traveler than a rugged outdoorsman. As with Little Red, there was pain in his eyes that blocked off much of his inner emotions, but there was an amount of compassion hidden within him. How much compassion, however, was unknown to Sinbad.

"As-salamu alaykum. Little Red has informed me of your being," Sinbad said with a slight bow. "I am in debt to you for your kindness."

"Not kindness," the Huntsman replied. "Just don't want to see people hurt." His voice was gruff but reserved.

Little Red, after getting her basket and reorienting herself, warmly walked up to the Huntsman. She was not outwardly showing any passionate emotion, but Sinbad could tell in her gaze that she was gleeful to see the Huntsman.

"I'm happy to see you," Little Red greeted. Her arms waved erratically at her side like a child with too much energy. "I don't know what happened, I was covered by this black smoke, and then--"

"Same thing happened to me," the Huntsman interrupted, keeping his eyes averted from Little Red's as he surveyed their environment. "I've been out here for a few days."

"Me too. I mean, it actually feels more like forever, who knows how long I've been out here, I--"

"Count the moons."

"Huh?"

"How many nights have passed? That will tell you. Easy."

Little Red's cheeks flushed. "Well, I just...I just meant it as an expression."

The Huntsman took a few steps away from Little Red, his eyes darting back and forth between some of the nearby ferns. Throughout their entire conversation, the volume of his voice never wavered, almost as if his speech was an involuntary reflex. His mind was wandering different paths. "There must be shelter nearby."

"Me and Sinbad have been looking for other people," Little Red mentioned sheepishly. There was a tiny tinge of embarrassment in her voice as she said this, like the fact that they have not succeeded in finding a safe town for them was a personal failure.

"We were travelling eastward," Sinbad added. "Considering the crass men we encountered, I believe there to be civilization nearby."

The Huntsman plucked a leaf from a nearby plant, examined it, and dropped it to the ground. "Let's not waste more time." With that, he began to traverse into the woods. Sinbad looked over to Little Red, but she averted his eyesight.