13 The Hunt
The sunset bleached the sky with a wide array of colours. In the distance, the silhouette of a wide treeline cast a shadow on the land below them. Standing atop the hills, the hunters passed around some waterskins, and everyone had a drink. After a quick rest, they continued.
As the moon rose into the sky, one of the hunters stopped walking.
"Vision of the Night," the hunter said.
"Vision of the Night," another hunter repeated.
Both hunters walked along the group, repeating the phrase. One of them reached Gerard and spoke the words again.
Because of his vampiric nature, he could see much better than humans in the dark, but everything appeared in shades of grey, and there was a distance limit.
Gerard's eyes felt warm, and the world around him bloomed back into colour as if someone had brightened the moon.
"What?"
"You haven't seen this before?" Fletch asked.
"No, but that's because I've spent most of my life researching the nature of goblins in their natural habitats."
"This spell could be used to observe goblins at night, could it not? I suppose there are things that even researchers don't consider. Well, this is a light spell we use on ourselves and others to see during our night hunts. We believe that we can see better with this spell than the deer and wolves."
"Interesting. I'll have to keep that in mind."
[You've learned the spell 'Vision of the Night'.]
*Perfect.*
They reached the beginning of the forest.
"Alright, silence from here on out. Those in the village are counting on us. We won't return until we've caught enough! Move in your usual pairs, and Gerard, you're with me."
The hunters dispersed and entered the forest from several places. Gerard closely followed Fletch.
As they made their way through the woods, Gerard picked off two birds, a rabbit and a fur-covered frog. Fletch struck a squirrel-like creature with protruding fangs down from a tree and plucked a large lizard from a bush.
With each kill, Fletch smiled, helped drain the blood into a clay jar, and they moved on. The animals were tied to a large stick, which Fletch attached to his pack. The furred, scaled, and feathered bodies swayed with each step.
A large rustling erupted from the bushes beside them, and a wolf tackled Gerard to the ground.
Gerard heard Fletch grunting, but the wolf's snarling and rapidly snapping jaws required more attention. Gerard held the wolf back by the throat with both hands, but he was too weak to snap its neck. He quickly grabbed the sword around his waist and unsheathed it, but the wolf was quicker.
A large chunk of Gerard's throat hung from the wolf's teeth, and blood spurted from the wound. Quickly, Gerard covered his injury with his free hand and drove his sword through the wolf's jaw, piercing its skull. He positioned himself under the wolf's head and filled his mouth with blood. Much more sour than the fresh blood of a human, Gerard wondered if it would heal him in time.
[You have gained 119 experience.]
Gerard turned to see Fletch pull an arrow from another wolf's skull.
The flesh beneath his hand knit itself together. He felt new skin fold over the wound, and the bleeding ceased.
"That's a lot of blood! We need to get you stitched up!" Fletch's eyes darted from the wolf to the blood that covered Gerard's mouth, neck, and clothes. He quickly stumbled forward.
"It's okay; I'm fine, see?" Gerard sat up and wiped away the blood to reveal smooth, undamaged skin.
"But-"
"I used a healing spell. The wound wasn't as bad as you thought. A night's rest, and I'll be good as new."
"Thank goodness."
*He bought it for now, but I'll have to be more careful in the future. I can't just compel everyone. If I lose too much mana, I could die if something happens on the way back to the village. And besides, I don't want to force all of my relationships.*
[Are you being cautious, or do you actually like this man? It seems he'll be a good friend.]
*Friend? I don't know him. I don't trust him. The same goes for the rest of them. Humans are only out to serve themselves.*
Fletch looked over Gerard's neck, and the two prepped the wolves for transport.
"You magical sort really are something. We should head back, though. A wolf tastes like arse, but food is food, and we can't carry more than this back to the village."
"Okay. I'm good to go."
With both wolves wrapped in cloth, Gerard and Fletch pulled the carcasses along with a thick rope.
*Sprite. Would all of these wolves give me the same experience?*
[Yes.]
"Trash, then," Gerard whispered as he tightened his grip on the rope.
---
Upon reaching the edge of the village, the sun peaked over the plains, proving that their work in the forest had lasted all night. A couple of hunters met with Gerard and Fletch on the way back.
"What about the others?"
"Don't worry about them. They've practically lived in these forests since they were children. They usually stay until they've caught elk, something of the same size or bigger. Harry actually dragged a bear back once, fashioned a wagon out of logs and sticks and fibre, and it took him a whole day to come back."
"Amazing."
Guided by Fletch, Gerard and the other hunters stood before the biggest building Gerard had seen in the village so far. Two stories tall, and the width of at least four of the other basic houses, the building was untouched by the disasters that had struck the rest of the town.
"This is our inn. She doesn't have a special name, but Trent, the owner, can cook a dish out of anything and make it passable."
Fletch opened the doors, and some weak cheering ensued. Many of the villagers inside looked malnourished and barely alive.
"Our hunt was a success! Look at our bounty!" Fletch dragged his wolf in front of him, and the villagers jumped forward.
Gerard did the same, and although he was a stranger, the villagers hugged him, thanked him, and one even gave him the rest of their ale.
"They already like you. Trust is hard to come by around here, but you've already a position for yourself in our little village. Instead of a normal breakfast, we'll have ourselves a feast!" Fletch reached behind the bar that the giant of a man named Trent stood behind. His hand reappeared with a small bread bun. He tossed it to Gerard.
"Let this keep your hunger away for a while. Get some rest out back, there should be a spare room or two, and someone will wake you when it's time to eat."
"Thank you, Fletch."
"And you, Gerard. If I had fought those two wolves alone, I might not be here tonight. You deserve it."
Gerard walked to the back of the inn, pushed the door open, which led into a short hallway, and pushed another door open. He walked into the small room.
In one corner, a small wooden bed with a straw mattress and no pillow, likely just big enough to hold him. In the other corner, a small writing desk and chair. A small chest sat at the edge of his bed.
He munched on the bread, and tears streamed down his face.
[What is it now?]
*This bread is the first piece of human food I've eaten here, and it's delicious!*
[It's stale, and I'm pretty sure there were specks of mould. You did this with the mushrooms and berries as well. Is food really that good?]
*Believe it or not, but I used to cook every day in my past life. At the ripe old age of seventy-two, my family finally forced me to stop getting up to cook my food. I wonder if Trent will let me use his kitchen one day.*
The fatigue set in at the moment he sat on the bed. He hurriedly removed his shoes, robe, cloak, and armour.
Gerard slept soundly for the first time since appearing in this bizarre world.
