Mads Ackabal and the Hunter
This is a short story I wrote based on subjects given to me by others. It is not much, and it may not be good, but I enjoyed writing it. Hope it is worth reading. :).
He squinted with his eyes, looking down the road. The fog was thick and Mads had a hard time seeing any more than ten meters in front of him. A sigh escaped him as he shook his head in frustration. "Where is she?" He said to himself, wondering where Amanda had run off to. Mads got up from his kneeling position and scouted into the forest, hoping to catch a glimpse or even a sound of Amanda, but there was nothing but silence.
A shiver ran down his spine. It was unnatural for these woods to be so quiet. The road was often traveled, as evident by the cobblestones that paved the road he now stood on. He tightened his grip around his staff, the arcane energies it radiated giving him some comfort in the midst of these cold and now lonely woods. Deciding to continue his search, he marched on down the road, the sound of his feet hitting the stones beneath him giving off an unnecessarily loud noise, sure to drag the attention of anything in the woods, but they were silent. Silent as the grave, and foggy as the swamps of the Crescent Hollows.
He marched on for several minutes before the silence was broken by something else than his footsteps. Someone else. Someone running on grass. Mads turned his head to the right, searching for the source. The fog was still too thick to see any further than 10 meters ahead, but Mads was not about to give up. He thrust his hand out, all the muscles in his arm, hands and fingers tensing as arcane energies began flowing through him. With a single thought, he saw through the fog, through the trees and through reality itself, peeking into the shadows. It was here he saw her, a female figure running between the trees, dodging their branches and jumping over their roots. Her face was soon revealed and he knew it was her, and his fears was confirmed.
Mads had hoped he wouldn't find her doing this, but he saw her with bow in hand and quiver on her back. "On the hunt again." He whispered to himself, sighing. He wondered what poor creature was her target now. He steeled himself, and sensing her presence within the woods he marched on, a quick-paced walk was all he needed to catch her and stop her.
It took him long, but he finally reached her. She was crouched down, arrow at the ready. She had not noticed him approaching, too focused on her prey. Mads peered out ahead of him, trying to see what she was hunting, and there it was, her prey.
In the middle of a clearing, a hunched over creature stood, looking around nervously. The fog seemed to come from the creature. How he couldn't tell, but the immediate area around it was without the fog which lay like a blanket across the woods, which made it clear to him that it was magical in nature. His attention moved from the creature and back to Amanda, and he saw that she had pulled back the string on her bow, ready to fire the arrow.
She released, the arrow flying through the air with great speed towards its mark. The creature looked towards the hunter's position, towards its impending doom, the sound of the arrow breaking the silence of the woods.
BLING! It sounded through the woods. Amanda looked up, only to see what had happened. The arrow was laying in the wet grass, her view of the creature blocked by muscular man wearing a dark blue robe, wielding a magical staff. She saw his hand was extended, a shield of arcane energy pulsating between her and the man. She managed only to let out a grunt of anger before the shield faded away as quickly as it had appeared.
The mage nodded to the creature, and it hurried on its way, fleeing from its hunter. "Amanda! What do you think you are doing?" Sounded it from the mage, his deep voice ringing with authority, piercing through the quiet like the arrow Amanda had just fired.
"What does it matter to you, Mads?" She spoke in defiance; looking displeased that he had not only protected her prey from her but let it get away.
"I am keeping you from causing any more harm. I thought I had told you not to hunt!" Mads' tone was higher in volume than before, and the anger in him rung clearly through his speech. "I will give you once chance to come back willingly or I will have to take you back by force."
"Fine, but don't think I'll forget this." She said, annoyed that her hunt was over, but knowing fully well that she stood no chance against the Archmage of the Rakivik, School of Proper and Safe Practice of the Eight Schools of the Arcane.
It took them not long to return to the humble village, escaping the heavy fog and the woods. Neither of them spoke a word as they walked back, an aura of tension hanging around them. The creature was free, and Amanda was safe. She might not be happy, but to Mads it didn't matter. She had to learn that her actions would have consequences.
As soon as they returned to Rakivik, Amanda was hastily sent to her room, forbidden to enjoy any companionship or other activities, except for studying for her classes and doing her homework. Done with the task, Mads sighed. "Another day, another apprentice..." He mumbled to himself, walking off with staff in hand, a faint smile on his lips as he returned to his duties.