Hunter's Return

Chapter 13: Mysterious Voice

Marie's POV

I woke up to find myself on the floor with a pillow.

"I hate you Ranie..." I quietly said to myself.

"Morning!" Someone said from behind me. It was Leonora, she was making breakfast.

"Ooh! Look who's being the cook here!" I said looking at her. "So, what are you making?"

"Waffles...," The lion responded.

"So... Is this one of your conjured up waffles?"

"Sort of... I just conjured the batter and heated it myself in the waffle maker."

"I'll be outside if you need me," I said as I tiptoed across the room so that Ranie wouldn't wake up.

I opened the door and breathed the fresh air. The sounds of the forest was still and quiet.

Last night, before we went inside the cabin, I saw a strawberry bush farther along the trail. Strawberries go good with waffles so I decided to pick some.

As I approached the small bush, I heard a voice.

"Marie...!" It's said.

"WHO GOES THERE?!" I yelled into the nothingness.

"Oh... You know who I am...," The voice said.

I kept turning around to see nothing but nature.

"Who are you?!" I shouted.

"Ugh... You are a truly puny and dumb zebra. It's me!" It responded.

I paused for a moment, then I realized I was not crazy. I knew that voice.

"Yes, you do know me...," The voice said.

"STOP IT!" I yelled. "GET OUT OF HERE HUMAN!"

"You silly animal. I am always around, I was here ever since you were sleeping."

"WHAT?! HUNTER, WHY?!"

"Do you want to know?"

"Yes, that's why I asked...,"

"Well because... Wait why am I telling you? Like OMG!"

Then I felt him tackle me, in my right ankle. I fell to the ground after he attacked my right.

"HOW DARE YOU!" I yelled in pain. The attack was like a snake bite with a sword... Oww.

"Too puny huh?" Hunter said.

"No...," I said quietly as I looked over to my feet to see that there was a bit of blood.

Then I saw his shadow, forming into a human.

"Ahh! I can now see you clearly puny animal." he said.

"Can you please stop using the term puny, it's very annoying," I said trying to stand up.

Hunter then kicked me back down on the dusty path.

Nobody could see me from the cabin, I was too far along the trail for them to hear or see me.

"You will never get away with this!" I said angrily.

"Oh, I already have...," He said as Hunter snapped his fingers.

Two, very familiar faces appeared to the path with me, all tied up in ropes.

"GUYS!" I said trying to get to Leonora and Ranie.

Hunter snapped his fingers again and a wall of earth pushed me back, separating us.

I fell back on the path, harmed badly.

"Oh no," Hunter said with a smirk. "You're coming with me!"

Hunter turned into the form of a snake and coiled me up.

And before I knew it, we were no longer on the path.