HalfBlood

Chapter 1

There it was. Idly feasting upon a green bush that recently grew on a rotten wooden bench. Life had come to this; hunt a prey for a day, only to quiet a roaring stomach for four short hours.

The sun was setting down, letting the burning city slowly fall into the grasp of darkness. Ashes were floating wherever they pleased, carried by a soft wind. Black smoke was obstructing sight and made air hard to breath for any living being.

Its fur was blackened by the harsh environment. Many bruises were distinguishable from afar, revealing the horrors it has been through.

"Don't you dare move again you filthy thing." Moaned a bearded silhouette, reaching for his last remaining arrow stocked in the quiver strapped to his hip.

He was covered in mud, all curled up against what seemed to be a phone cabin. Sweat was slowly crawling towards his cheeks, crossing a remarkable scar escaping from his eye socket. A black cap was covering his bald head, protecting him from the roaming burning ashes.

"Steady..."

The head of the arrow was aimed towards the elk's heart. The piece of wood used by the man as a bow formed an uncommon curved display as his fingers gently pulled the firmly attached string. His arms were shaking as if the pressure of the improvised weapon was too much to bear. Maintaining the bow bent like it currently was would eventually snap it.

Craved only hours ago, the tiny arrow was awaiting to be launched into the dead silence. It was genuinely made to pierce through fur and skin, if it were to reach a target.

The hairy fingers finally let loose of the arrow. In a matter of seconds, it disappeared into the black mist created by the collapsing buildings across the street. A faint grunt was heard, followed by a loud stomp.

"Gotcha!"

Heavy legs lifted a muscular body, revealing the man itself. He wore a red stripped shirt and a pair of scrapped blue jeans. Massive boots were sheltering his tired feet. He almost looked like the typical lumberjack, aside from his cap.

He began making his way towards the same mist that engulfed the arrow moments ago.

Before he could see the damaged body lying on the ground, he heard small groans of pain. He felt no pity towards the suffering animal. The elk had been escaping his grasp for the past five hours. The psychological warfare between the two had finally come to an end.

The large four-legged body was now lying at his feet, fighting for its life. The animal's black eyes were pointed at his assailant. Its mouth was partially opened, revealing a drop of blood, pouring onto the sidewalk. Air was hissing out of its chest every time it exhaled as if the stuck arrow was slowing draining life out of the mammal. Every now and then, one of its rear leg agitated as an act of desperation. It was as if the animal though it could suddenly stand up and escape once more.

The hunter kneeled before the dying prey, laying his left hand near the fatal wound. He could feel the heart beating rapidly, fueled by adrenaline. The fur was steep and rough. After removing his hand from the dying animal, he looked at the palm of his hand to discover his skin now drenched in blood. He moved his other hand to reach his skinning knife, located under his belt which served as a sheath for his blade.

As he raised his hand above the animal to deliver the final blow, a mixture of purple and black sludge emerged from under the head of the elk. A massive maw erupted from the shadowy sludge, revealing razor sharp teeth.

Dropping his knife, the surprised man stepped back in a hurry as the giant maw crushed the elk's head, instantly decapitating it.

"God damnit Sid, what the hell is wrong with you!?"