The afternoon sun wove a tapestry of dappled shadows through the ancient trees as Viktor, Marcus, Ethan, and Gerard ventured deeper into the heart of Blackwood Forest. Each footstep resonated with a symphony of crunching leaves, and the air itself seemed to carry the echoes of past hunts, both triumphant and disappointing. The scent of pine enveloped them, mingling with anticipation and the lingering enmity that clung to the very roots of the vast forest.
Ethan possessed an innate advantage, an extraordinary sense of smell and hearing that extended for miles. Unaware of the uniqueness of his abilities, he assumed everyone shared such heightened senses. Bathed in sunlight, he skillfully released arrows, each finding its mark with unerring precision. Five deer and four wild boars fell to his prowess. Marcus, following a step behind, managed to take down a deer of his own.
Marcus's many attempts weren't bearing fruits, he looked at Ethan, and jealousy became fully etched on his face.
Viktor observed the scene with a discerning eye. "Ethan, you embody the essence of a true hunter. It's accurate what they say—only a lion can sire a lion," he remarked, a trace of pride softening his typically stern demeanor. However, when his gaze pivoted to Marcus, a sternness swiftly reclaimed his expression. "Your brother, your younger brother, Marcus, you could learn a thing or two from him. Hmmm, a deer, just one deer—what an accomplishment." Viktor's words acted as fuel to the internal turmoil within Marcus, who was already grappling with shame and self-reproach as he looked at Ethan with nothing but envy in his heart.
As the sun began its descent, casting a warm amber hue upon the forest floor, the echoes of the day's hunt reverberated through the dense Blackwood. Ethan, his bow slung across his shoulder, suggested they head home, the bounty of their efforts ample for the night.
"We've got plenty for the night," he proposed, his words carrying a sense of finality amidst the rustling leaves. "The sun is setting, I think its time to go home."
However, Viktor swiftly dismissed the notion with a terse declaration. "We're far from finished, boys. Today, you're going to take down a wolf, or wolves." Gerard, with a potential chuckle, remarked, "This is about to get interesting."
Ethan's brows furrowed with reluctant hesitation, a silent protest etched in the lines of his face. Yet, Viktor's stern gaze quelled any objection as the group pressed deeper into the verdant expanse of the forest.
Amidst the ancient trees, Viktor's sharp eyes discerned a lone wolf. He nudged Ethan forward, a silent insistence for him to take the shot. "Do it boy, don't be a coward." Viktor goads him. Reluctantly, Ethan drew his bow, the tension in the air palpable as he released the arrow, hoping not to hit anything. However, the chilling truth unfolded—a wolf, lay lifeless, her fur dappled in the golden hues of twilight. Around her, five helpless wolf cubs whimpered, their cries cutting through the forest's serene quiet.
Regret and sorrow seized Ethan's heart as he confronted the consequences of his actions. Viktor, unmoved by the tragedy that unfolded, grunted in approval, oblivious to the anguish he had ignited in the heart of his son. The somber twilight bore witness to a moment that would linger in Ethan's conscience.
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"What's taking her so long? Could she have been captured?" A resonant, deep voice echoed from a ramshackle shack at the outskirts of Blackwood Forest. The speaker, Taran, possessed a huge, muscular frame that suggested he could break through walls effortlessly. Engaged in conversation with two other men sharing the meager refuge, Taran's concerned inquiry hung in the air, met with equally troubled expressions from his companions, both named Todrick and Roald.
In the afternoon haze, Taran had dispatched Mara, a member of his pack, to rendezvous with Gabriel at his shop. The purpose was clear—to discern their next course of action, particularly in the urgent matter of rescuing Gabriel's son from the clutches of Blackwood before the impending transformation took hold. As the uneasy trio waited for Mara's return, the rickety shelter offered little solace, and the weight of uncertainty pressed upon them like the looming shadows of the surrounding forest.
As the atmosphere in the shack became charged with anticipation. The footsteps of an approaching figure grew louder, each step resonating with a sense of urgency. The air itself seemed to still, capturing the heightened tension within the small space.
The door groaned open, unveiling the owner of the footsteps to be Mara, whose disarming beauty could melt stone cold hearts. Her green eyes held a captivating depth. Without delay, she relayed Gabriel's message to her comrades, her petite frame gasping for breath as if she'd sprinted a marathon. "He provided a description of the boy and his location, but urgently warned us to flee. Gabriel's informant revealed they've dispatched hunters to eliminate us. We must leave immediately." The urgency in Mara's voice mirrored the gravity of the situation, compelling her companions to heed the imminent threat and act swiftly.
Ethan grappled with the weight of his recent actions, the lingering pain in his heart refusing to dissipate. As the evening shadows deepened, Viktor and Gerard guided the way to the outskirts of Blackwood Forest to execute their main mission. Exhausted from the day's hunt, Marcus and Ethan hesitated to head home. Viktor assured them that once they concluded the pending task, they would be free to return, Ethan feels nothing anger towards Viktor, but he buried deep inside. The group approached a dilapidated shack, spotting four figures retreating from it. Viktor motioned for his sons to pursue, urging, "Don't let them escape!"
Taran and his pack, sensing the imminent threat, fled in a desperate bid for safety.
Amidst the fervent pursuit, Ethan, bewildered by the urgency of their chase and why they are chasing them, voiced his confusion, "Father, why are we chasing them?"
Viktor, his eyes narrowed with unwavering determination, snapped back a terse response, "Stop asking questions, boy! Just do as you are told!"
In the searing intensity of the moment, conflicting emotions wrestling within him, Ethan reluctantly reached for his bow, but before he could draw his arrow, Marcus rushed closer and took the shot, the string drawn taut with tension. The arrow cut through the evening air, its trajectory fixated on Mara. However, in a cruel twist of fate, Taran, swift as the wind, intercepted the projectile with his left shoulder, an instinctive sacrifice to shield Mara from imminent harm.
The forest echoed with the impact, and Taran staggered, momentarily slowing the pursuers. Viktor, Marcus, and Gerard, their attention now firmly fixed on the wounded Taran, provided an unforeseen opening for the remaining for the members of his pack to slip away into the sanctuary of the night.