Chereads / Albain, Tale of Robert The Elf / Chapter 8 - Fox and the Hare

Chapter 8 - Fox and the Hare

The rest was wonderful, aside from the horrible pain of every muscle trying to lock up and removing any feeling of rest. But that's beside the point, because now the sun is still gone, it's still dark as night, and I couldn't fall back to sleep if I wanted to.

I exit the shelter that is somehow still standing and stand myself. A quick stretch to reduce the muscle soreness helps with the pain. It's in this stretch that I peer up to the stars above. The flickering of white lights in the night sky reminds me of my home, however far away it is. Though sadly, this is no time to be lost in thought.

After stretching, I grab my spear and set to some night hunting. Now that I'm fully awake, I can finally notice the sounds of nature that was during the light. So wherever I am is nocturnal for some reason. Should've asked Wyrev what world I was going to, maybe make some mental preparations beforehand. Ah; woulda, coulda, shoulda. That does nothing for me right now, just focus on the hunt.

I focus on stalking through the dark forest, moving slowly through the unknown undergrowth. Due to my lack of skill, perception, and knowledge, I step on twigs and foliage that snap near constantly. Anything that I'm trying to hunt will know I'm hunting it before I do. This also means that if anything wants to hunt me will know where I am, constantly.

Maybe this wasn't the best idea, but I'll just continue until boredom overtakes discipline. I decide to stop moving, staying still with ears perked and eyes vigil. Nothing happens in the first minute, it's after that when nature's sound returns. Birds Squawking and singing, Squirrels moving light as feathers, and the fox goes back on its hunt.

A hare is carelessly moving nearby, its soft feet making it near inaudible to me. Though that will not save it, as I ready my spear and strike. It pierces through the air and nearly into the hare. It noticed the strike and leapt out of the way. Damn, there goes my chance of food.

No reason not to try again, so I wait still as death and get ready for the kill. Minutes roll by while I stay with muscles tensed. Once at the end of those minutes is when a fox passes by, unknowing and unwary of my spear.

I strike again and this time it tears through the fox's shoulder, shattering it and piercing the heart. It yelps in pain and fright while attempting to struggle. Its struggle is short lived as it slowly kicks and finally lays still, eyes glazed over.

Once the adrenaline subsides I collapse to the ground, hands shaking like thunder. I just killed something, like actually killed something. With my bare hands, no gun nor bullets, just a spear. This is new, this okay, fuck.

I stay there, staring at the fox's corpse. "Fuah, hah, how am I going to clean you? I don't have any sharp stones for cutting and gutting ya. Fuck."

I push those thoughts away and simply drag the fox back to camp. I'll find a stone later.