January 31st 1831
Huntsman Guild of Great Britain
Personal Journal of Leon Wagner.
11th Entry.
I returned to castle Orum, carrying the severed head of the wendigo in my hand. Swearing never to return to the land and it's people I had scourged. And never again to work with others in my hunt's.
I entered into the huntsman halls in silent dispirit. My head held low despite my apparent victory at having survived. I wished only to be left alone. Only to feel a large hairy mass of muscle and flesh rushing toward me at full speed, to wrap their powerful arms to collide and tighten around my back. I looked up to see it was my good friend Benjamin, cheery as always. He had another new scar across his face. Though he seemed not to even notice it in the slightest.
"There you are mate! He smiled enthusiastically as he patted my backside. "What took you so long?" How was the hunt?" Not too easy I hope?"
I reluctantly informed him of my adventure in his home country as we waited outside the doors. About all of my adventures up's and downs. And of the numerous obstacles I encountered and caused. He rubbed his beard intensively as he listened shaking his head all the while.
AGHH! He grunted displeased at not having been able to help. "Sorry you had so much trouble mate. I' wish I could have joined you. But at least you gave those beasts a good thrashing and made it back in time with all your pieces intact!!! He patted my shoulder.
I nodded calmly and thanked him for his kind words.
"How..How was your own hunt? I asked him a bit curious but mainly not wanting to bring the moment into any dispirit. Any trouble?" Benjamin's eye's lit up as he formed the response in his mind, clearly not able to wait any longer at relaying his adventure to me in all it's bloody and gruesome detail.
OH..It was a good time. Good good time indeed! I got sent to Australia! Lovely place. Danger, criminals, and killer animals everywhere. Almost reminds me of home. I think I will go back there one day. I had so much of a good time! Dealt with a bunyip! Big hairy beast that inhabited the swamps. Known by the locals as a dream demon, was causing their children nightmares that left them catatonic. Wanna hear the tale while we wait for the doors to open of how I finished it off? Please say yes. I don't like any word that means no."
I nodded. Clearly not having control over the situation.
"Alright!" Benjamin clapped his hands and hunched over mimicking himself throughout the ordeal.
"So There I was stalking through the swamps. It was hot. Murky. Bug's everywhere. An untamed and deadly land. My kind of place. But even so, the land was vast and the terrain treacherous. I would have tracked the beast on my own normally all the way through if time was on my side. But we both know it wasn't. So I had a guide help me find the monster's tracks. A local aboriginal who worked with me to find the location of the beast. I could scarcely...."
Wait..I interjected. You had a guide in your hunt?
"Well yea as a guide for the first part. But the rest was up to me. Pure grit and skill. He didn't help in the actual hunt. I wasn't stupid.
Why did he come along? I asked. Did you pay him?
Nah! He came along of his own free will. His daughter was one of the kids being afflicted by the nightmare's the beats was causing. He offered to help, but no way was that happening. He was skinny guy! Wouldn't have lasted five seconds! HA! I just told him to sit tight and that I would take care of it. But before he left he gave me this!!
Benjamin then pulled out a large curved piece of wood, painted and decorated with ornamentation. It was an unusual shape. I was admittedly curious and asked him how and where he got it.
Locals called it a Kylie. A throwing and returning stick. Or a boomerang. Didn't think much of it at first but when push came to shove it ended up saving my life of all things! Now I think I'm in love with the sturdy thing!
Benjamin then twirled the boomerang up in the air and caught it eagerly. As if he had trained his whole life how to use it.
How so? I asked him.
Well. As I approached the bunyip's cove buried in the green murky ponds at dusk. I heard the water begin to rubble in front of me! Before I knew it. Whoosh! The beast sprang out of the water right toward me! Hah! You should have seen it's face. Stepping clumsily into one bear trap after another as it charged blindly right at me leaning against a tree smoking my pipe! HA! By the time it reached me it was pretty damn pissed off to say the least. That's just how I like em. Mad and stupid. It was then I took one last whiff and got to work.
The battle lasted hours! Hours I tell you! Him charging and crashing straight through the trees like they were nothing swiping his long talons at me slipping in and out of danger just out of reach. But just barely. Me firing my rounds ducking in and behind cover behind rocks and above in the trees. He was a tough one! Honest to god as my witness! I didn't think he'd last that long as he did. I had packed extra rounds but even still it wasn't enough. I was as empty as a beggar's purse.
As the bunyip bloodied but still kicking snarled and circled me in the center of the pond, the creature took a swing of it's tail at my head. The beast was quick and I attempted to duck in time but took the blow full on! Benjamin pointed to his bruised and bloodied scar above his left brow full of pride.
Stung like hell! I was near knocked out! As the beast's muzzled smelly face stood inches above, pinning me to to the muddy ground, getting ready to tear me to pieces. I reached for the boomerang and tried to stab it in the eye with it. But the beast' pinned both my arm to the wet ground with one of it's paws making me lose my grip as it slipped out of my hand and out of sight in the distance. For a brief second. Only a second mind you! I thought I was a goner. But I wasn't gonna go down easy. If I'm gonna meet my death I'm gonna meet it with kicking and a whole lot of screaming.
It was then as I tried choking the beasts' neck in-between my legs. Are you laughing! What was I supposed to do ask it politely to leave!!!??
I scuffled my laugh under my hand and breathed aloud slowly struggling to keep it together.
"WELL ANYWAY!" Said Benjamin a bit angry at my interruption of his tale. "There I was trapped. No way out. Arm's pinned. And then out of nowhere. WHAM!! Benjamin made a slicing motion with his boomerang held firmly in his arm through the open air and space between us.
This lovely blessed stick came flying in right like a heavenly angel. Hitting the beast squarely in the eye!! One of it's paw's came lose as it reached for it's face in agony and I seized the moment. Good as any!
Benjamin then pulled out his hunting knife. Sharpened and almost comically oversized. He then made a harsh quick stabbing motion through the air stopping just short of my face. I didn't flinch knowing my friend had far to much skill to be so clumsy.
Once this little shinning beauty entered right through the hairy bastard's remaining eye the beast thought our little dance was as good as over. The bunyip attempted to flee back into it's murky lair. But ohh noo! That wasn't happening on my watch! I flung onto it's back as it dove right into the water. Hanging on for dear life and stabbing my knife into the base of it's skull until there was nothing left of it's face to begin with. I climbed out of the water dragging it's severed bloody head to shore. I'm telling you mate! Joining this guild. Best decision I ever made! I don't think I can ever go back to hunting bears and beavers.
That's....incredible. I said aloud to my friend. Not trying to show any sign's of jealously in his comparatively more efficient hunt. Then what happened?
After a long hard battle I rested for a bit with a good smoke laying against the shore of the pond, watching the cloud's pass by above. Good day overall. Best I've had in a long while. The aboriginal man thanked me for saving his daughter's life, and his family offered to have me over for dinner as thanks.
That must have been nice. I said aloud saddened at hearing how his hunt had a much happier ending than mine.
"Don't know." Benjamin responded rather bluntly, not giving it much thought. "Didn't stick around. Hunt was done. I packed my things and left without saying goodbye."
I looked up stunned. "But you saved them. Why didn't you stay after the battle was won?"
Benjamin simply shrugged.
"This line of work don't need no glory or thanks. Only thing I need to worry about is exactly what and where my quarry is. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy I was able to help the girl and for this little beauty of a weapon, but to be perfectly honest I wouldn't have given a dam about what happened to her afterwards or her family. I've seen dozen's of people killed over the years thanks to beasts and men alike. Seeing that kind of stuff so much. You just stop letting it get to you and focus on the job at hand. No use in sticking around for something you don't deserve to interfere in any more than you have to."
I leaned my back against the wall. Immensely upset at myself for not have followed suit. I should have not have interfered more than I needed to. If I had. Maybe the Iroquois village and Gliding hawk would still be alive.
"Well...I'm glad you did so well and returned alive." I told him.
"You to mate. He said sternly back at me placing his hand once again gently on my shoulder. He meant it. "First job's always the hardest. "It'll get easier."
I hoped he was right.
It was then that the doors swung open to allow the returning graduates to enter back into the auditorium. We both lined up along side the other huntsman initiates. Only I was shocked by what I saw. Or rather what I didn't see.
There were less than half of the original students left. Half. I stared down at their empty spots knowing full well what it meant. Friends and students I had known and trained beside for years were gone. And they would never return. Either by their own choice, or worse. But that hardly was the most dreadful sight before me. My mind then started to panic as I turned toward one spot in particular anxiously.
Noriko's spot was empty.
I gulped and turned toward Benjamin behind me. He looked just as nervous about the realization of her absence as me. She was the most committed and skilled out of all three of us. We hoped it wouldn't be the two of us from now. To see her missing. Made me nervous and scarred beyond words.
My heart began to race in dread as the doors slowly began to creep in slowly behind us. Any one late or missing would be officially cast out or proclaimed dead. At least in the eyes of the order. But to Noriko, that might have been worse.
"Come on Noriko." I whispered under my breath nervously with sweat running down my face. "You can do it." The light from the hallways slowly began to close.
Suddenly.
A large smile consumed both me and Benjamin's face as we watched a familiar katana blade wedge itself between the faint gap in the door to keep it from closing forever. The guards opened the door and there she was. Noriko dragging the heavy head of what looked to be a Russian Troll with both hands atop her back. Her hair and armor streaked with crimson blood and black guts. Clearly not her own that dripped across the clean floor as she approached. All the surviving students watched in utter disbelief at her sheer luck and timing as Noriko dragged the severed massive head by it's hair strenuously across the cold floor into place beside me, panting but still confident as ever.
She then turned her gaze toward the masters standing atop their pedestals above us all. Placed one hand in an open palm and bowed calmly.
"Apologies for being so late headmaster." She said with a clear and concise voice.
"Cutting it kind of close aren't we miss Noriko? Van helsing said aloud with a heartfelt smile across his face."
"Indeed master. I shall not show such near tardiness again. Forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive miss Noriko." Headmaster Archevald said aloud. "You are still on time and have delivered your quarry, albeit barely. Now may I proceed?
I saw a faint smile release from Noriko's red lips. But she quickly kept it to herself.
"Yes Master. And Thank you. She bowed once again and stood at attention as Archevaled began talking aloud to the surviving students. I tried to pay attention but was so overwhelmed with relief at seeing Noriko alive beside me that the effort was near impossible.
"Nice one." Benjamin leaned in slightly to whisper to Norkio with a caring yet obnoxious grin all across his bearded face. " Making us both look good. Never thought you would be the last one to arrive, scrambling to get through the door on time.
Don't get used to it. She replied assuredly.
What kept you? I whispered. Trying not to get caught by the headmaster. Beast trouble?
"Indeed." She whispered back. Although not in the way you think. I killed the troll easily and quickly. But I didn't account for how long it would take to drag is damm head back across thousands of miles.
Benjamin smothered a chuckle from escaping. I can see that. When was the last time you bathed? You look terrible like you ran through the beasts gut's over and over again.
"I did. I sliced cleanly through the troll's overstuffed belly before it dropped but..." Noriko then shook her arm and wrist, flinging drops of blood that caked her gauntlet armor trying to clean it. Now much redder than usual. ".....There was quite a mess afterwards."
"Never thought you would be the smelly one." Benjamin smirked looking her up and down and making an overexaggerated gesture of plugging his nose.
Noriko scoffed and rolled her eyes, punching him in the shoulder.. I then noticed as she managed a quick sniff of her under arm while he was looking away. An unpleasant grimace formed across her stoic face at the sudden realization of her poor impression and the pungent smell she had hardly noticed during her travel back. She had clearly been so busy racing just to get back. But now that she could breath. There was no avoiding it.
"It's good to see you." Benjamin said quietly. We almost thought you didn't make it.
Really? Said Noriko a bit astounded at his kind change of tone and grateful for his genuine concern.
"NAHH." I replied. We knew nothing could keep you down. If you were late delivering this monster it probably meant you were dealing with a dozen more for good measure that threatened some poor innocent soul along the way.
Noriko smiled.
"Perhaps next time."
The three of us stood beside on another in silence from then on until Archevald called each of us forward to present our severed beast head as proof of our success. Me and Benjamin both offered to help Noriko drag her head over. But she refused stubbornly, saying she had to do this alone. I understood the feeling and backed down immediately. After we were all done and rushed back to our places, just beginning to breath a sigh of relief. The bowl of fresh contracts came around again.
It was overflowing.
One down eleven to go.
I stared at the bowl as it came closer toward me down the line with a strange sense of dread that was absent before. After seeing first hand what an actual hunt looked like. I was much more weary this time about the danger the little parchment would bring to me and those in my path unless I was more careful this time. This was a good feeling of dread and I embraced it. Now knowing that fear for others lives would keep me alert and acting on my own. And therefore keeping them safe from my path. I would not cower away from my responsibilities, there was no going back through those doors. I would not make the same mistake twice.
I reached in.
The location was close. Much closer than the United states. I was at least a bit relieved in that regard. I wouldn't have to worry about time as much.
I folded the paper inside my pocked and saluted sharply once again to the masters with my other initiates in a loud thunderous clap of our boots that echoed throughout the room. Well. Those that were still around at least. The sound was quieter this time. And I knew it would only weaken in the coming weeks.
Archevald wished us the best of luck once again and left alongside the other masters to hang our trophies among the wall. All the surviving initiate's exited the room in a somewhat more relaxed manner patting each other on the back and shaking hands. Breathing and resting momentarily along the halls and chatting with each other about our first hunts and how their assigned beasts died. A few stood standing around eagerly tapping their foots, wanting to see their trophies properly hung on the wall as a now permanent display of their success and excellence to all. I didn't care about the wendigo head. They could let it rot for all I cared or even better burn it just to be sure. There was only the next monster that concerned me.
As I began to walk out of the hallway toward the stables to begin my journey. Benjamin and Noriko ran up quickly beside me.
"Where do you think you're going mate?" He shouted aloud. Almost sounding offended by my mere action of walking. I told him we had to start the next hunt as soon as possible. That time is of the essence and we mustn't delay.
"Let me see your contract." he sighed aloud. Flexing his fingers for me to give.
I was appalled at his imprudent rule breaking, but before I could even refuse Benjamin snapped the paper out of my pocket and read it aloud in a hearty voice.
"Contract. Spain!? Come on man! You've got plenty of time. That isn't too far! I've got plenty of time too! Italy of all places! Ugh! Hate the food there. So tonight we must celebrate our first successful hunt with some real dinner and drinks!! After all. Who knows? we might not get the chance to again!
I snatched back my contract and turned toward my horse, readying it's saddle uninterested with his proposal.
Come on man! Have some fun! We got extra time to kill! Even Noriko of all people has agreed.
That admittedly caught my attention. More so on why she would possibly delay in her next hunt when she had come so close to failing this first one. I turned to face her standing beside Benjaimin, still covered in troll guts with a calm but weary look across her face. I approached toward her and asked why.
"Because I'm tired." She sighed and yawned. I haven't slept in days and I don't want to be sloppy and rush into my next hunt recklessly. That's a sure way to get killed. My contract's in Portugal. So I've got some time. Tonight I want food, rest. And a nice hot bath.
With friends? Benjamin asked eagerly.
Noriko gave him a an annoyed scowl and proceeded to slap his face with the flat end of her palm. Staining his face with the troll's guts as well. Clearly signifying that although they were close. Not that close. I barely managed to keep myself from laughing.
"I'll take that as a no." Benjamin grunted. Adjusting his chin.
Noriko then turned to me and stepped forward.
"Kurt You look terrible. You need to Rest. Relax and to rebuild your strength or else you're going to hurt yourself. The next hunt will still be waiting for us as always. We may not be. There is a time for fighting. And there is a time not to. Start crossing the two and you won't find the balance you need to survive and you'll never reach your full potential by being your own worst enemy. Please....Trust me on this."
I reluctantly lowered my horses saddle back to the ground. My arms still weary from my long journey across the sea which had left me racked with sea sickness. I shuddered at the thought of leaving them like this and possibly not seeing them again. That thought was enough.
"I guess...I could spare a couple hours." I replied before a faint uncontrollable yawn emerged from my lips.
Marvelous! Benjamin said aloud heartily. Swinging his arms around both of our backs with him at the center, not minding Noriko's stench.
May I at least have a shower first? Noriko asked aloud hopefully. Begging to not be covered in the inner workings of a troll for another second longer.
Nope! Drinks first!! Drink's are more important!! Benjamin replied. Besides I've smelled worse than you. I've got a bottle of brandy I've saved just for this occasion! Right this way fellas!"
"....I've got sake." Noriko smirked faintly as we all walked together toward our old bunk room. She had been thinking of bringing out her favorite drink still stashed away for us to enjoy.
"I've got jaegermeister." I added in a more spirited voice.
Benjamin liked these added suggestion's. He really liked that, as evident of his quickening of our collective pace toward the direction of the nearest hidden stash of alcohol.
"Now were' talking!!! Benjamin exclaimed aloud into the night.
The rest of the evening was spent laughing, joking, and enjoying the different taste's of sweet liquid fire we provided each other from our home continents of America, Europe, and Asia. To my amazement. Noriko handled her alcohol much better than the rest of us. Benjamin wanted to keep drinking in excess wanting to prove how much he could handle in a contest with her but Noriko sternly snatched the rest of the bottle's from his grip. Reminding him like a stern mother it wasn't wise not to be hungover the first day of our second hunt and that this drink would be his last for the night. I agreed with her. Benjamin nodded in compliance. Albeit reluctantly. He then refilled his last glass and raised it high into the air.
"To our first successful hunt!" He grinned wildly at still being able to share this small celebration with us. "We've still got a long way to go, and a whole lot of monsters to kill. But we're the best of bunch, so we'll turn out on top. And I know In one month time, we'll still all be here alive and well in order to finish off every drop of these lovely bottles no matter how long it takes. I refuse to drink alone. And if either of you die i'll go to the depths of hell to make sure you don't get off that easy. Understood?!
Noriko and I both glanced toward each other resting across on the floor from each other. We both smiled at his kind assurance of our fate, despite not knowing if it was true and simply shrugged. Raising our glasses toward his to create a loud victorious clink that echoed throughout the small room.
"Till next time." I said hopefully. And drank. That one particular drink tasted exceptionally better I will admit.
"Till next time." Noriko repeated. And drank. Not caring of anything else for the moment but the two of us beside her.
"Till next time." Benjamin drank. Falling atop his back a bit tipsy but grinning all the while content and happy.
After hours of sitting in a circle among each other talking about whatever came to mind. Noriko stretched her arms wide apart and finally left to take a long overdue bath before going to bed. Leaving me and Benjamin to chat in the dark together. About what we could not decide. We just sat there enjoying the peace and quiet for hours before finally both falling into a deep and blissful sleep.
I made the right choice in staying.