Dragonsbane

The Hunt

 Chapter 8

The Hunt

When are you going to tell her? Ralem asked as they made their way through the forest. And why on earth did you invite her, he wanted to ask, but didn’t think this was exactly the best place to do so.

When the opportunity comes up, Jaydon answered as he stepped over a large fallen log, keep up. Ralem just noticed how far behind he was. While Arianna and Jaydon moved like cats in the forest, Ralem was left behind as he tried to avoid stepping on the quicksand-like mud.

I’m trying to, he said, grimacing when he found himself ankle-deep in the muck. With a tremendous effort he pulled himself out but one of his boots didn’t follow. Curses, he thought as he tried to pull it out. But the muddy water just filled his boots to the top and it slowly sunk deeper into the mire. Scowling, he gave up and kept trying to keep up with the rest. They were already disappearing in the forest. Anxiously, he tried hopping, then gingerly treading on the forest floor, but thorns heavily infested the area, and he could hardly walk without tripping all over himself as they caught on his clothes and bit into his foot. He said more than one curse as he continually got nailed by a viciously curved thorn. When he stepped on a particularly nasty web of stickers, he was forced to sit down and painstakingly pick out each one. By the time he was done, he had one bloody sock, a particularly bad attitude, and was completely lost.

Oh great. Here I am in the middle of the forest more lost than a bird that fell out of its nest, with who knows what kinds of creatures out there looking for a good meal.

He thought, scanning the surrounding area for any sight of his “friends” or an unfriendly animal. When he didn’t see anything he kept hopping, trying to remember where they had gone and where he had went. I need to be able to go back and get the Jul-whatever before some carnivores gets it so I could show it to the Queen. He thought about the stories that would be told about his kill for decades to come. Not to mention the possibility of a prize…

A crash in the bushes startled him from his reverie. Now he had absolutely no protection. No weapon, no armor, no dragon, and he felt completely vulnerable. He stood stock-still, his eyes searching for something he could use to defend himself. The animal jumped out of the bushes in a flurry of brown fur. Ralem yelled and jumped backward, his heart hammering in his chest.

But instead of attacking the animal just bounded away on graceful long legs.

“A deer?” someone snorted, “Really?”

Ralem was relieved when Jaydon jumped down from a tree nearby. “We have been waiting here forever. Are you usually this slow?”

“No,” Ralem said grumpily, “I just lost my boot.” He showed him his mucky sock.

Jaydon waved his hand dismissively, still chuckling, “Come on, her camp is just over this hill.” He turned around and walked away. Ralem hurried after him, determined not to lose him again.

When he made it over the hill he was surprised to see her little camp. A tent was made out of some strange furry white animal hide. A small fire was burning in the center of the clearing; a stick with a fish impaled on it was slowly roasting on top of it. Arianna was kneeling next to the fire, tending her dinner.

When she saw him she laughed airily, “So there you are straggler. About time you showed up.” She poked the fish, “A little burned on one side because I left it cooking when I was busy saving your behinds. Not enough for all of us. But..”

Jaydon cut her off, “I can get some more. I just saw a deer nearby,” he said, smirking at Ralem, “I’ll be back in no time.”

“You need help?” Arianna said, fingering her bow.