To Be A Hunter

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1          Outside of the town Hall in Forest Run Kogee called for me, “Rob, there is someone I would like for you to meet.” Shook up from the events of last night I begrudgingly gave Kogee and his friend my attention. All I wanted to do was sleep and recover from almost drowning on a sinking pirate ship last night. “Rob, meet Le. I talked with him and he said a quest has turned up in Wildfire. I would like for us to do a joint operation Niar's Guild and Wildfire teaming up in this quest.” I looked at Le to try and deduce what kind of person he was. He wore clothes that matched the outfit of a ranger, he was short, and he was a hairy ape. His shaggy hair had sweat beads saturated so much so that the morning dew on a spider's web looked to be a desert amongst rain forests. He did not smell bad until I stepped close to shake his hand. His hand felt earthy. Dirt was in the cracks of his fingers and underneath his fingernails.

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            A certain kind of forest grime covered his face. To describe the man only one word came to mind, green. Everything about him seemed wild and forest like. He spoke quietly, he must not talk to people very much out in the wilderness. His words were slow and calculated, “Were the pirates taken care of?” Kogee answered,

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            “Yes and everyone from Wildfire was a big help. So how about another joint operation between Wildfire and Niar's Guild, what do you say?”

 

            “What do you have in mind Kogee?”

 

2          “Well you caught all of the bandits on Maplewood path right?”

 

            “Slick escaped.”

 

            “How about you take Rob here with you. He has a bloodthirsty hunter on his tail. I would appreciate if Rob goes away for a while.” Le did not reply with words. It seemed, if he said too many his mouth might walk away. A quick nod was the only response Kogee was given. Le introduced me to Rahem. He was very similar to Le with the exception that he spoke often and fast. Not paying attention for a single moment left me totally lost in his constant spew of words. I did not want to go catch a bandit in the middle of the woods, but Hunter was after me. Kogee reassured me that once Hunter was captured he would write to me using his interlok. I have not left the familiar realm of people and buildings yet I already want to return.

 

            The Forest of Flames was a few miles from where I stood. The pines on the trees looked cold, everyone a needle waiting to prick my skin leaving a quick remembrance of how alone I would be. This option was by far, better than living on the run from Hunter. However, a life of hiding did not seem appealing. Rahem saw the way I looked at the trees over the tops of the houses. “A life in the forest can be a wonderful experience. How you see the world determines the hues it shows you. Look at this as a chance to learn and grow in ways you never would have.”

 

            “You are right. Had I never taken the quest to find the Sea Kaptain this would not have to happen. Kogee told me there was an operation in place to stop the Kutlass and her raids on coastal towns. They did not capture the pirates because I was trapped aboard. I simply was there as an inconvenience to the Guild.”

 

3          “Your way of seeing is skewed. See life as it is not how you think it is supposed to be. You sent a message through your interlok confirming what we had only guessed at. That also allowed us to set up here in Forest Run. You were but one bee among many in this hive. Don't see your drop of honey as insignificant in the large row of honeycombs we have built, see that drop of honey as but one building block holding up our hive.” The older conjurers always had a piece of wisdom to impart on me. I was hoping to put that behind me after this quest. We made our way to Maplewood path. Le and Rahem wanted to trace their bandit using his old stomping ground. The walk through the forest was tiring. Bugs sounded from here and from there, chirps were heard from behind us and above us, now and then there was the scamper of a small creature. The forest was teeming with sounds of life.

 

            The sound of running water intrigued me the most. After the constant droning sound of Lake Lal I found myself enjoying the rush of water skirting over the stone and sticks riddled about the edges of the stream. I could just imagine each drop of water running their race to the end of the stream. Each of those little watery feet pitter pattering their way along the dirt carved path made from millions of other drops that have scuttled through all eventually lead back to Lal Lake where they would sit in retirement. “Le, Rahem, can we take that stream to Maplewood path?”

 

            “Yes. As long as you figure out how to reverse the flow of the stream.”

 

            “That doesn't do us much good. How many miles further?”

 

            “The Maple trees don't start to appear for another 18 miles so I would say another 18 miles.” Rahem's dry voice led me to believe he wasn't poking fun. Many hours later we started to see Maple woods take over the landscape. The forest was a beautiful place. The air was different here than it was on the ship being pushed by the crisp air of lawless piracy that shrouded every port town it visited. The air here had a smoky fog about it. When ever there was a breeze our noses were greeted with a new burst of campfire nostalgia. Rahem told me the forest was always on fire in some part or another. Now on Maple wood path, Rahem and Le started to look for tracks left by Slick. I noticed they would cast spells on not just the foot prints but, on the surrounding trees and plants nearby. It was clear to see a struggle took place here. Continuing his work, Rahem spoke out loud as if some audience were here to listen,

 

4          “This is where we captured the Maplewood bandits. Slick always slips out of capture. He usually manages to escape with a few of his crew, this time he wasn't so lucky. We must hurry before he enlists more men. He is at his most powerful when he has others to manipulate.” Just then a traveler passed by on the trail. His head was craned down. His eyes never rose from the dirt path. The other two still busy at work paid no heed to the traveler. He stumbled on the flat path causing something to fall out of his bag. I noticed him flinch, just a bit, trying to ignore the sound of a metal object hitting the ground. I thought that was suspicious and moved closer to the object. The man's head stayed in the same position. His eyes flicked back to see if one of us would go to the lure. I noticed and he made a step quicker than the rest. Breaking his stride, I realized his steps were forced.

 

            Stopped at the side of the road I studied him rather than the object. “Excuse me, sir, you dropped something.” I stepped in his direction and he sprinted away. I followed him without thinking. He cut right, into the forest. I heard a distant “NO” behind me but I did not process it until I was deep into the forest. The man was in my sight about 20 paces in front of me. His body was familiar with the forest, that much was clear. Each step took me closer to the river. The man jumped up as he came to the river; his hand made a swooping motion as it went from one of his feet to the other. A light came from his hand and appeared in an ark under him. He landed on the top of the river staying afloat on the ark of light. He then used his hand again to produce another light that seemed to propel him across the water. I stood by the river amazed as this man zipped across the surface of the water without a boat.

 

            Rahem was on the water as well. He glided over the water in a similar fashion. He extended his hand and I took it. I stepped behind him on to his ark of light. It was firm like a cobblestone road. He pushed off and we were racing down the river. The water sprayed everywhere as we cut ahead of all those little droplets running their own little race. Rahem had me lean coming into the curves so that we wouldn't wipe out on the river bank. I saw the wide river shrink down to three fourths the size, I couldn't make sense of it. We were coming up on a left hand curve. As I began to lean left Rahem shouted, “Lean right!” I did. I looked at the rocks piled up on the river bed and nearly jumped off, had Rahem not shouted, “Hold on!” I would have. Heading straight for the pile of rocks I clutched Rahem's clothes for dear life. Instead of a hard surface of rock and dirt, I felt a cool mist on my face.

 

            I saw only the outlines of a cave that Rahem's magic ark illuminated. The cave was short-lived. We shot out the other end and continued on this river that shrunk by more than half of its former self. We coasted on this stream until a cottage appeared on our left. This two story cottage looked so far from everything else I couldn't help but be suspicious. There were plants growing up the side and on the roof of the cottage. Smoke made its way out of the chimney telling us someone is home. Approaching with caution we did a sweep around the cottage to look for ambushers. We could not see into the windows. “Rob that illusion spell earlier that concealed the cave was very well done, it had several layers and even changed with the sunlight. Be careful and don't touch anything in this place. Rahem opened the front door. Despite his best attempts at opening it slowly it made the loudest creek imaginable.

 

            We just walked in abandoning any secrecy. The inside was massive, filled with weapons, food, and jewellery I saw why the Mapplewood bandits were such a high priority. From the outside, the cottage did not look nearly this big. I remembered the cave entrance and discarded my awe so that I could be ready for what comes next. With an open floor plan on the first level, we had to go to the second level. Rahem tested each stair first with a drop of a pebble then a thud with the dull end of a spear he found on the first floor. At the top of the stair, a door was shut blocking us. I reached for the doorknob to receive a quick slap. “It could have a spell.” Rahem kicked the door down. It took several attempts since we had to run up the stairs to gain any momentum. Passing through the doorway we saw a hall that stretched from where we were at the back of the house to the front.

 

5          Doors lined both sides. Two doors on the right, two doors on the left, we chose the first one on the left. The moment we broke the door in someone swung the door open from behind us and gave us a shove into the room. I fell in but Rahem cast an element spell on the wood chips spread about from the broken door. He made a cane to hold him self up just outside of the room. He shifted his weight and spun. The assaulter fell into the room with me. He jumped back at Rahem only to be stopped by an invisible wall no doubt an enchantment. This was the traveler I saw on Maplewood path. Rahem called out from the other side of the doorway, “How many more?” Instead of answering he glared at me. I panicked and used my transformation magic to turn in to a porcupine. He looked half as surprised as I felt. He scanned the room looking for a spot away from my many quills. Rahem called out again,

 

            “Where is Slick?” Someone tried to catch Rahem by surprise but received a quick whop on the side of the head from Rahem's makeshift cane. The man fell to the floor clutching his head with both hands. Rahem tossed the man into our room through the enchantment. “Rob make sure these two don't try anything funny. I'll check the rest of the rooms.” Rahem cleared each room and returned to see I had both of Slick’s men backed in the corner. “Le will show up shortly to break the enchantment. In the meantime, you two will tell us everything you know.” The two appeared to know nothing about Slick that was relevant. After being questioned we all just sat in the room together, none of us could break the enchantment. Le showed up. He put both hands on the enchanted doorway causing cracks to appear in the air like a pane of glass about to be shattered, then they faded.

 

            Le said nothing, as usual, so it was up to Rahem to shoo the men out from the room. As they passed through the doorway Le grabbed one by the arm, “Who was in the cave?” The man looked shocked as if Le was not supposed to know about that. It was decided Rahem was to escort the men to the town of Maplewood. I followed Le to the cave that the river ran through. Walking alongside Le, I noticed his eyes scanning the riverbed. After a while of me looking at him he said one word, “footprints.” I started to look as well. Not a trace was found leaving the river except near the cottage. We followed the river to the cave where there was an illusion spell hiding it from the other side. Looking at it from this side there was no illusion. From this view I saw that the cave had more than one exit. It was shaped like the letter ‘Y'. The second cave exit looked man-made.

 

            This is probably where Le saw that man. By the reaction on the guys face back in the cottage it was probably Slick. There were tracks that lead out and off into the wilderness. This path looked well worn by its sole commuter. It was dusk yet Le did not set up for camp. Le spoke, “We follow.” My ears are trained to listen exclusively to his voice when he spoke; I did not want to miss the few words that he did say. We followed the path until dawn. As tired as I was I kept going. There were parts of the trail that fell off and I would not have been able to find the path. Thankfully Le had a very good sense of where it would pick up again. My feet were dragging from the long night of walking. My ears strained again to hear Le as his voice sounded a few paces away, “The prey survives when the predator loses its desire to feed.” I don't think the best when I'm tired, yet it started to sink in.

 

            The man after me, Hunter, he will not give up just because he is tired. The only way to out run a predator is to make it so difficult that it loses its desire to follow. With my decision made that I was going to not let up I told Le that we should keep moving. I needed to learn how far I needed to go in order to shake my pursuer. Approaching noon it was hard to stay awake. I asked Le how much further not expecting an answer. My words were lost among the woods. The trees were closer together and the smoky air felt thicker as we ventured further along this trail that only Le could see now. The Forest of Flames was earning its name in my book. With my sleep-deprived eyes, I thought I saw something dangling in the distance; Le was already fixated on it like a fox stalking a hare.

 

 6        A few paces more revealed the shape of a dangling man. A few more paces revealed the sound of frustrated grunting and swearing. A few paces away from the dangling man I saw his face. I looked at Le to confirm it was Slick. It most definitely was. There was Slick dangling from a tree in an outfit of brown and green. It looked as though he tied himself to a branch in the hopes that we would pass by. There were fresh tracks that lead through the forest beyond the tree. He must have someone walking in his place to lead us on. He thrashed about like an animal caught in a trap. “What are you looking at? Are you going to set me free or what?” I looked to Le who just sat down and waited,

 

            “Go ahead and sleep Rob I'll take first watch.” I had no objections. Fast asleep on the forest floor I felt a hand on my shoulder to wake me. The sleep was short lived. Only a few hours passed before it was my turn to watch the dangling bandit. Le was asleep now and Slick tried to talk to me. I ignored him at first trying my hardest to look away and keep him in my peripheral vision. He won; I gave in.

 

            “No Slick I'm not untying you, I do not care how uncomfortable you are. This is something you did to yourself live with it.” His voice was inviting and he sounded so genuine that I really wanted to believe him,

 

            “Listen times are tough, it is no excuse I just needed something to put me back on my feet.” I listened and started to feel bad for him. I stepped closer. As he spoke his words became softer and I subconsciously stepped nearer and nearer to hear, “My guys needed help. With all of us down on our luck, I just wanted a way for us to have enough to start up a new. That actually was our last raid. The only thing,” he continued on capturing my attention with his heart warming tale. I was only three feet away and he was talking at a mere whisper. I was so enveloped in his story that I lost my footing trying to come closer. Tumbling forward he was able to grab me with his one free hand. “Untie me. Scream and I'll break your arm.” I have already faced death before, shackled to a sinking ship. He did not scare me.

 

            I was thinking about using my transformation magic to turn into something to free myself, however, something told me not to. I simply let my arm go slack and then I let the rest of my body go slack. As an adult would drag their child in the middle of a temper tantrum Slick struggled to keep a grip while dangling from a tree. I felt my arm slipping through his hold. I could sense the desperation in his voice. This prey was doing everything it could to avoid complete capture. “Come on kid aren't you at least going to fight back? Stop lying like a limp fish. Hey, I have got extra stores of whatever you need.” My arm slipped through his hand. Now only holding me by my wrist I shifted my body weight so that all of it was on my heels and my arm. It hurt a bit, but I could feel his grip failing. “Please kid I can't be locked up my daughter needs her daddy. Have a heart. I’m a bad guy, but I’m a great father.”

 

7        I only pitied him now. Rahem told me that he has no family. Will he truly do or say anything to avoid capture? “You can let go now.” Le must have been woken up by Slick’s frantic pleas. I couldn't help but to laugh thinking about how funny this must look to Le. There in the middle of the woods was a man tied up in his own rope dangling from a tree holding the wrist of a boy with only his heels touching the ground in an almost horizontal position. The laughing jostled my entire body enough for Slick to lose grip. I hit the ground and laughed even harder. I did not like Slick even though he had taught me: to survive as pray you just have to outlast your predator. All the way back to Maplewood Slick tried to free himself, fussing with his bound hands, trying to run whenever one of us had to stop for a bio break, and he even tried to implement my tactic of just going limp.

 

            The route back took twice as long even at half the distance. Greeted by Rahem at the Maplewood jail a feeling arose, one that I should stay. “We could use someone that knows transformation magic. Especially out here.” I knew my learning wasn't done. I now needed to master the skill of escape and evasion.

 

            “Le will you teach me? Hunter will not stop looking for me. I need to be ready for him.” Le only grunted and turned away. Rahem seemed excited,

 

            “Wow Le you must owe Kogee a big favor. Alright Rob don't blow it Le doesn't teach anyone outside of our Guild. Oh and don't spill all our secrets when you go back. Guilds are touchy about stuff like that.”