Colt began to crawl backwards with only one thought streaming through his broken brain. 'I need to run but why can't I stand up?!'
The eyes that caused the initial reaction were all he noticed at first because this creature, or monster rather, had been to close for him to perceive anything else. But now, as he crawled in reverse, he was able to take in a full view of this thing that resembled a grizzly bear in size and bulk, but had the face of a tiger and instead of striped fur or even hair of any kind, it's skin resembled that of a crocodile.
This beast looked like a demon straight from hell to Colt as he just knew he was moments away from dying…again.
Surprisingly, the monster only tilted his head towards Colt as if confused why he was so afraid of it. Colt noticed this as he began to slow down his movements but still moving away, keeping a wary eye on whatever this thing was.
"Hello, there." A voice erupted from the mouth of the monster making Colt's brain scream in pain as he tried to process everything he was seeing and now hearing.
"Y…you can talk?" Colt asked incredulously. "How is this possible? What are you?" Fear still the dominant emotion in his mind and reflected outwardly through a squeaky voice.
"Of course I can talk" replied the beast in an almost arrogant tone. "All guardians can. And where are your weapons and armor, youngling? You are not allowed through the gates without them."
Colt was even more confused. 'What does he mean weapons and armor. Is this some fantasy world?' He pictured a knight fighting a dragon immediately after being questioned about these things.
"I don't have any weapons or armor. I didn't come through a gate. I don't even know where I am." Colt stated beginning to gain his seemingly lost state of mind.
"No weapons or armor?" The guardian asked as he narrowed his eyes. "How did you survive getting so far from the settlement without anything to protect you? I passed dozens of groups of wildling monsters on my way here."
The guardian then started walking towards Colt, sniffing loudly as he looked over him head to toe.
Colt froze stiff as the guardian circled him. "Curious…" the guardian slowly stated as he finished his observations. "You don't have the scent of the settlement on you. Which direction did you come from, youngling? Is there a new settlement that I am unaware of in the vicinity? I must say, I haven't left the walls of Drust for many years."
Colt considered his response before deciding to just tell the truth, hoping that either the guardian would just think him to be crazy at worst, or maybe even believe him. "I just appeared here from another world." Colt began lowering his head as he spoke, "I have no clue who or what you are or what this place is. That is why I don't have any armor or weapons. And I'm not from Drust or any other settlement. I just woke up in this new world right before you found me. "
As Colt raised his eyes to meet with the guardian's he saw the very toothy mouth wide open. The beast's eyes were so wide they seemed to take up the majority of its face. If not for his overall presence, the look would have been most comical.
"You are a Hunter?" The guardian whispered more to himself than to Colt. "We haven't seen a new Hunter in over three thousand years. I thought they had abandoned us after…."The guardian mumbled on incoherently before he suddenly snapped back to reality, eyes fixed on Colt like he had found the only thing that could carry water in a burning house.
"My name is Alvon, young Hunter. What may I call you?"
"Uhm… Colt…" was the short response.
"Alright Colt, you will return with me to Drust. We must hurry if we are to make it before nightfall. I have already completed my own business in this area. I noticed when I arrived, you seemed to be having trouble with your movement."
At this statement, Colt's face flush a bright red as he quickly looked down wishing he could hide. 'I had forgotten about that.' It seems that Colt easily forgets how often he falls.
"My body feels different…no, my body is different from what it used to be, and I have not been able to control everything perfectly yet." Colt explained to the guardian.
"HaHa!! That is to be expected, young Hunter. To leave behind your place in the True Dream and come here must feel very inferior to what you were. I will carry you on my back."
'True Dream?' Colt wondered. Not wanting this Guardian to think him an imposter he only responded by saying his thanks and climbing atop the beast.
Once they started moving, Colt couldn't help but smile at this wonderful feeling of flying without leaving the ground. The Guardian was traveling as fast as any sports car back on Earth.
After a time, Colt started to see the walls of Drust in the fading light. The trip was silent and allowed Colt to consider what kind of life he would be getting from now on. Apprehension was mostly what he felt, but hope was slowly beginning to take a hold.
"Open the gates for the young Hunter!" Exclaimed Alvo as he approached the walls.
As the gates opened, several guards appeared whispering to each other while looking at Colt with appreciation and curiosity.