The Little Hunter and The Woman in The Woods

    The air had a bitter cold as he walked across the dew covered grass. He pulled his cloak tighter as he moved through the dark woods, the only light coming from the full moon above. He was thankful for the clear skies other wise he would be in almost complete darkness. The only noises he could hear were his own breathing and foot steps. He had entered the woods with four other hunters. Each hunter came for the reward for killing the towns 'beast'. After the beast had killed a few sheep, a village girl, and almost killed the shepherd, the town had pooled their coin to who ever could bring it down.

    Now Ray wasn't really a hunter so much as a scholar who was good with a bow and short sword. He had spent most of his life studying and cataloging different creatures and plants. When your father is a Ranger and mother a Druid, you tend to spend a lot of time outside. He didn't have magic like his mother or the prowess of his father. He was stuck right in the middle, which he was fine with. He filled up multiple journals as a child writing down everything he learned from his parents. Now that he was a man he started to explore, writing down all he saw. Which led him to this town.

    The shepherds description left much to be desired. All he was able to see were the glowing yellow eyes before he turned and ran away. Ray could think of dozens of creatures that matched that description. He said the creature had large powerful claws, but stood on two feet. That narrowed it down a bit but not by much. So all the hunters had to go on was it was big, had yellow eyes, could move on its hind legs, and ate meat.

    Each hunter set out just as the sun went down in search of the beast. Ray had come across some of the other hunters traps. Some used crude make shift traps made of twigs and rope, some used large metal bear traps, one had gone so far as to dig a pit and cover it. Ray almost found that one the hard way.

    Ray had decided to simply observe the first night. Seeing if he could find tracks or possibly a den. Though he wasn't really sure he would get that lucky on the first night, he could always hope.

    After wandering the woods for hours Ray was about to call it a night when he saw a small light flicker through the trees. He dropped to a crouch and pulled his short bow, notching an arrow moving slowly keeping the bow at the ready but not drawn. As he got closer he saw a woman sitting next to a small fire. She had a few rabbits cooking over the fire, she pulled one back inspecting it.

    "You know it isn't polite to sneak up on people." She said with a cold confidence. She turned and looked right at where Ray was hiding. Ray slowly stood up, lowering his bow slightly as he did. Stepping into the small opening he eyed her suspiciously as she wasn't one of the hunters that was in town earlier.

    "Apologies, I thought you might have been a monster." Ray said as he put his bow away. At this range his sword would be better if she were to attack him. Looking at her it dawned on him that even with his sword, it would take everything he had along with dumb luck to beat her if she attacked him.

    She put her food back over the fire and stood up looking at Ray again. "Do I look like a monster to you." She flashed him a smile that made him feel like either way he answered that question he would be wrong.

    She was human as far as Ray could tell. Now with her standing she was almost a full head and shoulders taller than he was. She had the body of a woman that wrestled bears for fun. Her hair pulled back into a crimson braid that went down to the middle of her back. Her clothes were made of mostly leather and hide, most of which Ray assumed she caught and killed herself.

    "No... umm... what I meant..." Ray took a second to gather himself to the visible joy of the woman in front of him. "...There is a monster somewhere in the woods. It's not safe to be out here." Ray was having a tough time looking at her, something about her made him unsure of himself.