The Hunt (1)

Ravian took a moment to gather himself, drawing in a short, measured breath. His senses, heightened beyond the norm, detected the faint sounds of the village hunters gathering for their morning expedition. The noise was distant, yet his hearing could peer beyond the mundane and so those voices were heard loud and clear to him.

With a destination in mind, and the time to join the hunt bears, he set off intentionally choosing a path that was less traveled. It was a route that was sheltered from the sun, the dense canopy of trees providing a much-needed respite from the harsh sunlight. The shadows cast by the towering trees provided him with the perfect cover, as the sun had quite the disagreement with his body.

As he navigated the winding path, his golden eyes took in the surroundings. It was at first the verdant nature he began to get used to but then an unpleasant sight caught his golden gaze. He noticed the shrubs that lined the path, their branches twisted and thorny. They seemed out of place amidst the otherwise lush greenery, their gnarled and partially withered forms a stark contrast to the vibrant foliage.

His gaze then landed on a bat, its small form huddled under the shelter of a tree. It was an unusual sight, a sign of perhaps some rising supernatural influence. Suspicions emerge from within the depths of his mind and Ravian raises his eyebrow, focusing on one that he quite disliked.

Then, Ravian's eyes briefly glowed a deep violet, a silent supernatural command passing between him and the bat. In response, the bat spread its wings wide, its red eyes staring back at Ravian with an obedient gaze. It was a strange but wholly familiar interaction, one that confirmed Ravian's less favorable suspicions.

His eyes glowed violet once more, and the bat obediently closed its wings, returning to its slumber like a deactivated machine. Ravian stood there for a moment, a hint of annoyance flickering in his eyes. He thought that the anomaly of magic would relieve him of this condition, but alas it did not seem to act in favor of his convenience.

That confirms it, the wolves, the bats and the abundance of these necrotic thorns. Fortunately, a consolation could be found with the lack of the more problematic effects to say the least. The dead had not risen as of yet and that cumbersome fog has not consumed this village.

Ravian looked up to the forest canopy, his attention blank but his mind abuzz with activity. Calculations that would baffle the mortal mind were performed in the span of a few seconds, and a verdict was made. He decided to put the matter aside for now, resolving to investigate it further later. Those concerns would only appear in months to come, he will cross that bridge when he reaches it.

Before he continued on his journey, he snapped his fingers. The thorny shrubs that lined the path transformed before his eyes, their twisted forms growing plump and giving way to vibrant, flowering bushes. The once gnarled shrubs now blooming with edible fruits, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to their previous state. With that, Ravian continued on his path, leaving the transformed shrubs behind.

As the first rays of dawn painted the sky in hues of gold and crimson, Ravian emerged from the dense foliage of the forest. His approach was as silent as a whispering wind, his presence as subtle as a shadow. The group of hunters, engrossed in their morning preparations, were taken aback by his sudden appearance. They turned towards him, their faces a blend of surprise and admiration. 

One of the men, a burly figure with a grizzled beard, broke the silence. "Ravian, you move like a shadow!" he exclaimed, his voice carrying a note of respect and surprise. A smile tugged at the corners of Ravian's lips, his golden eyes twinkling with amusement. He was used to such reactions, yet he found them entertaining nonetheless.

"Good morning, gentlemen," Ravian greeted, his voice as smooth as velvet, carrying the subtle charm that was his signature. The hunters echoed his greeting, their initial surprise replaced by a growing curiosity about the enigmatic newcomer. Their eyes followed his every move, gauging his strength, their interest evident in their attentive gazes.

"Are you ready to join the hunt, Ravian?" another hunter asked, his voice filled with anticipation. Ravian's eyes met his, a spark of excitement lighting up his golden irises. "Indeed, I am," he replied, his voice carrying his eagerness. His response was met with approving nods from the group, ready to witness what exactly allows this man to surpass them: veteran hunters of this village.

The air grew tense as a third hunter, a man whose weathered face and muscular build bore the marks of years of experience, stepped forward. His eyes held a glint of challenge as he regarded Ravian. "Do you know the hunting rules of the Sennthir people?" he asked. The Sennthir were the dominant tribe of the village, and of the kingdom that rules over this land.

Ravian shook his head, his expression serious yet tinged with his characteristic playfulness. "I do not," he admitted, his tone respectful. His admission was met with a nod of approval from the experienced hunter. His eyes, hardened by years of survival in the wild, reflected a sense of pride.

"Listen carefully then," the hunter began, his voice commanding attention. "There are three rules you must remember." His gaze met Ravian's as he spoke, and Ravian, ever the attentive listener, nodded in understanding, his golden eyes focused on the hunter. The forest seemed to hold its breath as the hunter began to explain the rules, the morning sun casting long shadows as the sun ascended higher towards its throne.

The experienced hunter's voice echoed through the clearing as he began to outline the rules. "Firstly," he started, his voice resonating with the gravity of the tradition, "you must respect the sacred groves." 

"The trees marked with runes are offerings to the gods, their territory for their divine purposes." The hunter points at the distance towards one such tree, its rune sprayed with blood. Small stone idols were placed upon the exposed roots of the trees, surrounded by what seemed to be clay pots containing offerings.

"To hunt within these boundaries is to invite their wrath." His words hung in the air, a deliberate pause to convey the gravity of this rule.

Ravian nodded, his golden eyes being of unclear emotion. The Sennthir appear to be worshippers of the old gods, the old gods of this land, there were an entirely different order of gods in his own world. 

'How interesting.' Ravian thought, keen to add knowledge on this world's beliefs. He may be no anthropologist or sociologist, but like father like son, Ravian finds joy in the study of things. Especially since his father taught him personally such things and allowed him to help in his research.

The hunter continued, his gaze never leaving Ravian's. "Secondly, the hunt is not merely about the kill. It is about maintaining the balance of our forest." Ravian nodded in acknowledgement.

"Every creature you fell must be collected, else scavengers will be drawn to the village." Ravian had a guess as to what those 'scavengers' are, recalling his previous hunts where those creatures became his prey. They were no match for him, but he could see why they would become a problem for the village.

"Leave a corpse behind, and you forfeit a portion of your share." His voice held a stern warning, reflecting the importance of this rule. Another nod of acknowledgement, it was very much reasonable in Ravian's mind.

"Lastly," the hunter's voice softened, "we do not hunt mothers or their young. To do so would empty the forest of its life. We hunt for survival, not for sport." His gaze met Ravian's, the intensity in his eyes conveying the importance of this rule. 

Ravian nodded in understanding, unfazed by the gaze. "To hunt mothers or their young would be to rob the forest of its future. I understand and respect this rule," he repeated.

With the rules laid out, the hunter's stern expression softened into a smile. "Then, it's settled," he declared, his voice carrying his satisfaction as the hunt nears its start. "The hunt will commence until the sun reaches its zenith." He announced.

"When it does, all hunters in the forest must return with their bounties." His words echoed through the clearing, ensuring that all the hunters present could hear him loud and clear.

With the rules of the hunt established, the hunters began to disperse, each carrying their hunting bows and sharpened daggers. They exchanged words of good luck, their voices echoing through the clearing as a chorus of camaraderie and friendly rivalry. "May your arrows fly true, Ravian," one of them called out, a teasing grin on his face. "We'll see who brings back the biggest bounty!"

Ravian watched as the hunters disappeared into the forest, their figures swallowed by the dense foliage. He was the last to depart, his golden eyes scanning the forest before him, taking in the myriad shades of green and brown. "May the best hunter win," he murmured to himself, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

As he stepped into the forest, Ravian's senses heightened. His unique condition, a result of his hybrid heritage, allowed him to perceive the forest in a way the other hunters could not. He could see the layout of the forest for miles, the locations of the creatures within it clear as day. He could sense every wolf, bat, and rat within his radius of perception, their presence like a map in his mind.

"Quite the advantage, isn't it?" he mused aloud, his voice barely above a whisper. His golden eyes glowed with a supernatural light as he surveyed his surroundings, the forest reflecting in his irises like a mirror. The forest was alive with activity, the creatures within it oblivious to his presence as he began the hunt.