Chapter 3: Reckless Hunt
Light filtered down through the trees lending a soft feel to the forest. The birds chirping as they flit from branch to branch sometimes diving and snatching small bugs in mid flight. A cool breeze rustled the leaves slightly as a young boy paused to watch a small bird snatch a hapless insect. The boy had a disheveled and slightly gaunt look, what little handsomeness he possessed was covered in sweat and dirt. His face was twisted in dismay as he watched the successful hunt of the bird. This young boy was Vale, he was now carrying a make shift spear, though his sword was still strapped to his back. He'd already used it once in a miserable attempt at spearing a rabbit which ended with the throw being so bad it actually didn't even spook the animal. In fact it wasn't until he let loose a scream of frustration that the rabbit scampered off out of sight.
So naturally seeing anything succeeding in something he was failing at spectacularly only served to remind him of his inability. Vale started moving deeper into the forest, earlier that day he decided when he reached the clearing he normally centered his hunt around that his only chance of survival lay further in. Even if he only found some wild mushrooms it would help quell the now habitual growling of his stomach and the sharp pain that flared from time to time. He saw many small animals along the way but they all fled his presence, if only they'd known how bad he was at hunting they probably would have stuck around to mock him he thought to himself. Eventually he came upon a small clearing. It was no more than 10 meters across at it's largest point and was triangular in shape. In the center of the clearing there were two boars with coarse dark brown fur drinking from a small puddle of water maybe 2 meters in diameter. Vale held his breath as he spotted them. Although he was starving he remembered what his father had told him about boars, they were ferocious and hard to bring down. Often they'd charge any prospective hunter with wild abandon. The hunger was obviously messing with Vale's head as he envisioned eating roasted pork, drool forming on his chin. One of the two boars was small enough that he thought he could handle it, the problem was the other boar was quite large with some intimidating yellowed tusks protruding from the side of it's mouth, one of which was shorter with a jagged tip that looked to have been from it breaking during a fight. Vale waited hoping the larger of the two would leave the clearing but much to his chagrine when the big one went to leave the smaller one followed closely. He watched in silence as his imagined meal disappeared into the forest.
Vale continued his foray deeper into the depths, but still had no luck with wild vegetables or hunting. Spotting a small rocky hill between the trees ahead Vale decided he'd take a rest before continuing on, he still had about 2 hours before he'd have to turn back. Vale cleared a spot of small rocks before sitting and taking a drink of water from his canteen, the water was warm and tasted quite bad but he had no other choice. He pondered a bit on what to do but eventually decided, since he couldn't hunt any prey he might as well try to hunt something that was generally the hunter. He knew it was reckless, even dumb, as the only predators in this forest that would try to hunt him were Dirge wolves. If he was unlucky he'd run into a pack, if he was really unlucky he might run into a pack with an alpha. An alpha was a pack leader that was capable of slaughtering multiple peak Shackled realm body refiners, they were fast, cunning, and their fur was thick and as strong as wood which made hurting them quite hard with a sword and difficult still with a spear. This seemed to him to be his only choice as his skills were just not suited to taking out fast moving animals that mainly run away and although boars are weaker they tended to charge once then run off and only an idiot would try to take on a boar during it's charge with Vale's strength. Although Dirge wolves were faster and more cunning they were also less defensive and more aggressive. Plus they had a tendency to try to wear out their target, which would give Vale more opportunities to land a fatal blow. Thinking out a plan Vale looked around the the nearby forest for some thick green vines, after spending about half an hour he'd harvested about ten vines as thick as his wrist and about 4 meters in length. Looking down at the vines Vale couldn't help but envision one snapping as he tried to climb it, his plan was simple, lure the Dirge wolf to the clearing with the rocky hill while having a the vines tied to branches of different trees for him to scramble up if things went bad. It was a terrible plan just based on the average Dirge wolf he was barely faster, if it was a slightly stronger one he'd probably never make it to one of the vines much less be able to climb it. After another hour and a half Vale had everything ready and had just managed to start a campfire to wait to see if he'd get lucky or perish in the forest.
Orange flickering light bounced about the rocks making the shadows dance in and out of sight. The small campfire was doing it's best to push back the darkness but it was a losing struggle as the darkness often covered the nearby trees, including the vines conspicuously hanging from four of them.
Vale shifted nervously to a crouched position. He'd been waiting for a few hours now for what could be his death and just a few minutes ago the first high pitched yips followed by a lower pitched howl had filtered through the forest. This meant a pack of Dirge wolves was close which sent his already taut nerves buzzing throughout his body. He could no longer sit, in fact if not for the slight reassurance of the vines he knew were there and that he wasn't quite sure which direction the wolves would enter the clearing from he'd have already climbed up into one of the trees. Unfortunately his fear that he'd run straight into danger if he made a move too early kept him next to the fire.
As the minutes passed his nerves started to settle. Vale started to calmly survey the surrounding trees and underbrush with only a trace of nervousness outwardly apparent. Suddenly high pitched yips filled the air followed by crashing sounds from the forest. Vale felt his face drain of blood and his body start to shake almost violently. A clattering sound rang out causing him to jump before he realised his spear was no longer in his hand. Taking a deep breath Vale took a few steps forward and down a little and bent over. When his hand touched the spear a few taps and scraping sounds entered his ears. A tremor ran through his body as a low growl sounded from the other side of the fire. Vale slowly turned his to catch sight of the sandy brown furred meter and a half tall Dirge wolf its fangs exposed as the low rumbling growls continued. Vale blanked instantly, no thoughts were currently being transmitted inside his young head. It wasn't till a strange warmth traveled down his leg that his brain finally fired it's first thought, 'grab the spear', his hand responded quickly but so did the Dirge wolf as it bounded forward it's maw open. Vale spun quickly swinging the spear like in an arc with the tip facing the wrong way. Before it could connect with his impending killer his body suddenly fell backwards as he lost his footing. Sending his swing awry but luckily also sending the wolf over him as his back slammed into the rocky ground sending pain spiking through his ribs which must have landed on a protruding rock. He could only watch as the sandy brown beast soared over him as the light from the fire caused the wolf's eyes to take a slightly orange hue which only fed Vale's fear. Covered in cold sweats and dirt he rolled into his stomach quickly relocating the wolf with his eyes as it landed half way between him and the closest path to safety. As he focused on the wolf in front of him a yip came from his left splitting his attention only to see a slightly smaller Dirge wolf with the same sandy brown fur except on it's head was an almost black patch in the shape of a diamond. Chills caused involuntary shudders to rack his body as he scrambled to his feet!
With his back to the fire Vale's eyes couldn't be seen and nobody was there to see them anyways but if they could they'd only see despair and tears.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Invisalats
Invisalats Real life kicked me in the *** and my inability to get into writing mode (mentally) made this chapter extremely late. Also I will continue writing but my updates will probably be erratic at best.
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