Hunting 2

Borne held his breath, tightening his grip on the bow as his eyes locked onto the massive elk just a short distance away.

The wind ruffled its fur, and its enormous antlers glistened faintly in the sunlight.

The elk, unaware of the looming danger, lowered its head, leisurely munching on the grass beneath its feet.

Borne counted silently in his head, waiting for the perfect moment.

As the elk raised its head and exposed its back, Borne swiftly pulled back the bowstring.

The arrow flew through the air, slicing through it like lightning, heading straight for its target.

But just as the arrow was about to hit, the elk sensed something amiss. It suddenly lifted its head and sprang forward.

The arrow missed its vital spot, piercing its hindquarters instead. Blood splattered, but the wound wasn't fatal.

With a panicked low growl, the elk turned and bolted, its massive form tearing through the trees, trampling leaves, and charging through the forest like a gust of wind sweeping across the woodland.

"Damn it!" Borne muttered under his breath, immediately rising to his feet, slinging his bow over his shoulder, and preparing to give chase.

Grandfather, who had been standing nearby, swiftly grabbed his bow and looked toward the fleeing elk, his expression calm but slightly tense.

"Keep up! Don't let it get too far!" Grandfather urged, already beginning to stride after the wounded animal.

Borne followed close behind.

Their footsteps were quick, barely making a sound on the soft earth.

The trees around them blurred as they sped through the forest, sunlight filtering through the leaves, alternating between bright and dim on their faces.

The tension in the forest thickened, and time seemed to slow down in the midst of their pursuit.

orne's heart raced in sync with the chase, and all he could hear were his own rapid breaths and the sound of the elk crashing through the underbrush.

Though the elk was injured, it still moved quickly. However, the continuous flow of blood left a trail along its path.

These bloodstains became the crucial clues for Borne and his grandfather as they tracked it.

Despite the elk's repeated changes in direction to shake them off, each drop of blood betrayed its whereabouts.

"Don't rush," Grandfather panted.

"We can't move too fast; we need to keep our distance and wait for it to tire before we make our move."

Borne nodded, knowing his grandfather was right. Although the elk was fast, its injuries would surely lead to exhaustion.

One of the most essential qualities of a hunter is patience, and the best moment to strike comes when the prey is worn out.

They followed the elk's tracks and blood trail, weaving through dense woods, crossing streams, and navigating tangled bushes.

Every step felt critical, as if a single misstep could cause them to lose their target.

The blood trail began to thin but remained visible.

Suddenly, Grandfather stopped ahead, raising his hand to signal Borne to halt.

Borne paused, quickly quieting his footsteps and inching closer to his grandfather.

"Look over there," Grandfather whispered, pointing toward a nearby thicket.

Following his grandfather's finger, Borne saw the elk had finally stopped, gasping for breath as it staggered into a slightly clearer area.

Its hind legs still bled, and it moved unsteadily, clearly exhausted.

Borne knew the opportunity had finally arrived.

He slowly nocked an arrow, aiming for the elk's heart.

Just as he prepared to draw the string, a low, threatening growl suddenly echoed from nearby.

The sound was deep and powerful, seeming to emanate from deep within the forest, carrying a sense of wildness and ferocity.

Borne's heart skipped a beat as he quickly turned to look.

There, in another thicket not far from the elk, stood a massive beast.

It was a Bloodthirsty Bear, towering as tall as two men, its muscular body hidden beneath thick fur.

Its sharp claws scraped against the ground, producing a piercing sound.

The bear sniffed the air, its blood-red eyes fixed intently on the injured elk.

A deep growl rumbled from its throat, as if it was about to pounce at any moment.

"Not good! It's the Bloodthirsty Bear!" Grandfather's expression changed, and he cautiously observed the bear's position.

The Bloodthirsty Bear had caught the scent of elk blood, clearly eyeing it as its next meal.

In that moment, Borne realized that the situation was more perilous than he had imagined.

The elk had become the bear's target, and he and his grandfather were now within the predator's strike range.

"We have to take down the elk before it does!" Borne whispered, urgency flooding his mind.

He knew that if the Bloodthirsty Bear began its hunt, they would face an even graver challenge.

Grandfather nodded, his eyes fixed on the elk, his bowstring drawn and ready.

However, the Bloodthirsty Bear was faster than they anticipated.

Just as Grandfather pulled back his bow, the bear surged forward.

Like a frenzied beast, it charged at the elk.

The elk let out a terrified cry, trying to flee once more, but its speed was already compromised.

The Bloodthirsty Bear moved like lightning, its massive frame exuding an air of intimidation.

In an instant, it closed the distance to the elk, its sharp claws striking down and seizing the elk's neck.

Blood splattered everywhere, and the elk struggled weakly for a few moments before collapsing, letting out a final low roar.

The Bloodthirsty Bear lowered its head and began to feast on the elk's carcass, its mouth and claws coated in blood.

The bear was clearly lost in the thrill of its feast, momentarily oblivious to Borne and his grandfather's presence.

Borne's heart raced as he gripped his bow tightly.

He knew better than to act recklessly; the Bloodthirsty Bear was one of the forest's most dangerous predators.

Once it set its sights on you, the chance of escape was almost zero.

"Slowly back away," Grandfather whispered, his gaze fixed intently on the bear.

"We can't alert it."

Borne nodded, following his grandfather step by step, carefully placing his feet to avoid making any noise.

However, just as they were about to retreat to a relatively safe spot, Borne accidentally stepped on a dry twig, the faint crack echoing sharply in the stillness of the forest.

The Bloodthirsty Bear's head snapped up, its blood-red eyes immediately locking onto their direction.

It let out a low growl.

Leaving the elk's carcass behind, it slowly turned and began to approach them.

The massive figure loomed like a mountain, filling the air with a heavy, blood-scented aura.

"Run! Run now!" Grandfather shouted, quickly nocking an arrow and aiming for the bear's eyes.

The arrow shot out, but the Bloodthirsty Bear reacted with lightning speed, effortlessly dodging the shot with a swift movement of its head.

With a fierce roar, it accelerated, charging straight for Borne.

Borne felt his heart race as if it would leap from his chest.

He turned and sprinted desperately, the heavy thuds of the bear's footsteps pounding behind him.

Suddenly, the bear lifted its front limbs, using its powerful hind legs to propel its massive body into the air.

"Boom!"

Dust exploded around them with a loud crash, nearly knocking Borne and his grandfather off balance.

But when they looked again, the Bloodthirsty Bear was already glaring ferociously at them.

"Not good!"

Borne stepped forward, extending his arm to shield his grandfather.

"Come on, you beast! I'm not afraid of you!"