"If it wasn't a dishonest place, I would be in my element here." I comment before rising up away from the exposed tree root. The path I had taken had opened up to a vast forest. A rather humid one that drove me to strip myself of any thick furs I had on. I did not like it, but, a hunt called for flexibility.
Then, all of a sudden, I heard a loud bang that sent birds fleeing into the air. It was clear that a fight was going on somewhere in this forest. Yet, I could not tell where as it seemed to echo about the trees. So, I dashed into cover just in case.
"Follow my trail, foolish ones, I will trap you." I warn anyone who might follow my footprints before I start to sprint. Leaves and branches whacked and slapped me as I ran through the forest. Marks of moss and dew painted my skin in the process. Then, at the end, I use the mud to slide along an open patch before huddling against a rock.
With calm breaths following the end of my actions. I relaxed and listened to the lying world around me. I could not trust it as I would normally. But, I would have to offer it my sincerest effort if I was to make it out the victor.
And, after a few more moments of waiting, I was able to figure out where a fight was happening. Yet, the sudden bangs and pops made me wary of further movement. These spells sounded familiar. In fact, I am pretty sure I had seen them in use before.
"Arfsgeer?" I ask the wind before a similar sound to what had come before came again. It was indeed him. He was an odd one because he spent his time hunting. A profession that did not seem all that popular here. Yet, even then, he stood out.
From what I have seen of him, he preferred to be as quiet as possible. Picking off what he could with some kind of magic weapon that focused air. So, if I was not careful, I would not even see his killing blow. He was not a particularly strong witch, after all.
But, he was a skilled one. As the forest was full of cries and confusion. Familiar flashes of light and damning fire filled the sky every now and then. So, Arfsgeer had certainly proven himself a capable hunter of men.
So, I had to face him as something other than a man. A perplexing requirement, admittedly, but, the land would provide me with my means. As such, I began to slip into the mud.
Slowly crawling my way through grass and reed while hearing the forest sing. Disturbed beasts guided me and the cries of the hunted warned me. I even managed to get a few kills in myself. But, to both gladness and despair, I knew I had killed no one.
This was a game of elimination, after all. There were no trophies to be had. Eventually, however, it got quiet. It was increasingly just two hunters in these woods.
"God of Game, guide my shot." I prayed before I slipped out from a tree I had long since moved to. And while my shot did not hit anyone, it did make the distant plants rustle. I had spooked someone, yet, another shot made that bush flash.
It seems I had not taken out the hunter, but merely hidden prey. And, as such, I had lost my right to be called a hunter. Because now I found myself hounded all the way into the darkness. And, before I could even realise it, I was seething in pain for my side was bloody.
"A fine shot indeed." I commented as I looked down with grim curiosity. Despite it just being air, it had punched through my side as if it were a perfect ball. Thankfully, a small ball. Like a sweet moulded treat from back home.
Unfortunately, I was forced into a desperate decision. Either I risked losing my chance to win by exposing myself for a risky shot. Or, I traced my way to him with help from my injury. It clean and true nature meant I could figure out his place in time.
Yet, I might not have had time because no good hunter stayed still. He made sure his prey could be found again. Or, he was unfindable himself. I, however, was willing to believe the last option.
"May the best hunter win." I bless my opponent with before I run out into a brief opening. Dropping down into a hidden river and sticking to its sides. If I was lucky, I was on the side he would approach from. If not, I had a way to stop him.
Yet, the sight of the clear sky made me nearly weep. It may have been a lie, but, it was a beautiful, open sky I was beholden to. The imitation of the holy home shone brightly and I was gifted a magnificent view. One that made me wish that Luhki was here for me to ride.
And, having seen this sky, I knew that I had to win. For the sky was calling for honour to be presented before it. Arfsgeer might've been skilled, but, he knew nothing of a hunter's honour. Admittedly, many did not.
I have even failed at times to honour the bright sky above many times. But, here I would not fail. I would best the one who had spilt my blood. I would see that this Hunter of Men vanished to where the others had.
And so, I took out my precious tool. One designed to help me focus my magic, but, one that also could be converted. From a means to focus to a means to attack. I was now in possession of a bow with brilliant strength at the rope.
But, now I needed a place to take the shot, and, I found it soon. Yet, I would not arrive quickly because I had to climb along the root-covered cliff-face. My injury put me at greater risk as well. However, I would not fall.
And when I reached my destination, I waited in the open light. Calling out to the hunter with a proud voice before a shot pierced me at the breast. Yet, its clean nature only drove me to sing louder. And, I drew my bow in the direction of the shot.
"One eye, for two." I said to my lense-tipped arrow before I honoured the Betrayed Sun with a star of my own. Brightly did it shine and loud did my opponent cry when he was blinded. And, like a sabre-toothed beast of the plains, I charged at the noise. One hand reached out while the other clenched my bow.
Eventually, I felt my focus lense and it came back to me. And I spun around to let loose the final shot. Narrowly avoiding a panicked shot from my opponent. However, my haste made it so that I missed too. As such, I heard a knife be drawn.
"Give me a moment, to recover my eyesight." I begged Arfsgeer before I collapsed down onto a rock.
His knife then went against my throat, "Why would I do that?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him in his moment of victory.
"You are a hunter, no? What good is there in hunting blind game?" I asked, appealing to a sense of honour that I hoped burned bright.
"You will lay down your arms and accept the final shot like a man?" he asked as the blade eased away from my neck.
"I will hold my head high..." I admitted with a nod before his knife was sheathed. I was then helped to my feet and left alone briefly.
"Your eyes will clear up as your sight returns?" he asks me as I hear his weapon firmly settle into his hands again.
"I will tell you the colour of the bird behind you when I can." I tell him before I blast him with a spell made from my returned vision. And, I smiled triumphantly while looking back at the spooked bird behind him. It was a red creature with a white face and a small, squarish beak. And, once again, I sought a tree for comfort.
Because using both my eyes like that would leave me blinded for longer than usual. Yet, I was happy either way, because, I had bested a fine opponent. And, as he had a weapon in hand, my honour remained intact. Thankfully, as well, trickery was just as much a hunter's tool as was his bow or mount.
And, eventually, with Arfsgeer gone, I heard life return to the forest. For battle was coming back to the land and it disturbed it greatly. So, once my vision came back, I picked up my bow again. For someone had to keep the forest at peace.
This was an element I was comfortable with, so, I had no problems lingering here. The skulls I would claim would suit me fine. No trophy made by machines would impress me. Tales to boast about, however?
It made me smirk as if I had gone mad.