I

8 0 0
                                    

Raegor stalked through the forest, dagger and small catapult in hand. The forest was damp and cold at this time of year with a chill to the autumn air. The ground was covered in a thick sea of leaves interspersed with pines, yews and oaks. Raegor cursed as a twig broke under his foot. The squirrel he was stalking stopped nibbling a nut and looked around. Raegor silently slipped his dagger into his belt and pulled a stone from his pocket. He was just sliding it onto his catapult and aiming at the squirrel when a low growl erupted behind him.

He turned round, and standing there was a wolverine. It was several feet long with long shaggy fur and razor sharp claws on its paws. It had a large snout baring long fangs. It uttered another growl, and this one shook like an earthquake.

Raegor quickly reviewed what he knew about wolverines. The last time he had encountered one was four years ago when he was only twelve. That had been high up in the Sullalian Mountains with his farther, the last time they had hunted together before the soldiers had taken his parents away. He pushed his mind off the thought. He had to learn to leave his past behind him. He had been adopted by his grandmother Calma and had a good income from selling the things he hunted. A squirrel was three crowns, a deer five.

The wolverine growled again and stalked forward. Raegor backed away, loading another stone to his catapult. Suddenly the beast pounced. Raegor released the stone, hitting it in the eye, then turned and bolted. Through the flat leaf-covered forest he stumbled.He felt dizzy from running.

It was time to end it, thought Raegor. He quickened his pace for several steps and then turned. His dagger flashed in the afternoon light, then he swung it down. The wolverine saw it coming and skidded its claws scraping through the dry dirt but it could not stop in time. The steel blade passed into its flesh and blood spurted out. It fell down dead.

Raegor was dizzy from running so fast. He staggered as a wave of nausea hit him, dulling his senses. He tried to hold on to his thoughts but found himself drifting away, fading. He collapsed onto the ground, but the ground no longer seemed solid. Perhaps it's an illusion he thought. Then the blackness hit him.

The Adventures of RaegorWhere stories live. Discover now