FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

On the Hunt

--T. Glenn

Chapter 1

I awoke abruptly, to a voice calling down to me.

"Hey, are you okay down there?"

I quickly stood up, my mind still cloudy from the sleep and my body tight from the cold.

"Yes!", I yelled up from the pit I'd spent the night in, "I'm fine, just stuck down here in this hole."

I looked up at the edge from where the voice came and saw a head looking down at me from the top. The sun hadn't quite risen at that point, but I was able to make out that he was a wolf.

"Wow so how did you manage to fall down there," he asked, "Were you not paying attention?"

"Um, well," I said while brushing off some of the leaves and dirt caking my leather armor,

"I was actually reading something."

"Ah well that explains it," He chuckled, "Well I suppose I might be able to help you out."

I let out a sigh of relief, " Thank you, it's been a rough night down here."

He looked around thoughtfully for a moment, "I think I might have some rope in my bag here." he said half to himself.

I looked around the bottom of the pit to make ensure that I wouldn't leave anything behind, and after picking up my sword, I pulled some more leaves from between the pieces of armor. I looked back up at the top of the hole, but I could no longer see the wolf. I could hear some rummaging, so I supposed he was looking for that rope he mentioned. The sun was beginning to rise, and what little sky I could see through the tops of the trees was obscured with rainclouds. I thought for a moment how miserable I would be if I were forced to stay down here while wet, and I shivered at the unpleasant thought.

"Hey, so I was thinking," the wolf called down, his face reappearing at the top, "What were you doing wandering around out here in the first place? You're not a bandit are you?"

"I'm no bandit," I said impatiently, "I'm a beast hunter."

"A beast hunter, eh," I could see the smile on his face all the way from the bottom of the hole, "I thought all you beast hunters were more careful than that, especially tiger beast hunters. Boy, you must be pretty embarrassed down there, friend."

I kicked at the dirt sheepishly with my foot, "Yes, well it's a fitting end to a disappointing hunt. I was after a cockatrice that was holed up in a cave not far from here, but it looks like someone else beat me to it."

I had been very excited to kill this beast. The dry spell that spanned the last several months had left me low on coin, and in desperate need of a successful hunt. The bounty on this cockatrice was fairly large, as far as bounties go. It had apparently snatched the daughter of one of the lesser nobles in town while she was out picking flowers in the woods, and so several of the other noble families paid into the bounty on this beast. Had I been the one to claim the prize, I could have survived all the way through the winter and into spring.

Unfortunately, when I came across the cave where the cockatrice was reported to have been living, it was obvious that someone had already killed it. I drew my sword, on the off chance that the cockatrice had been killed by something even more dangerous, although I doubted it. If you don't already know, a cockatrice is something like an awful amalgamation of a rooster and a small dragon. They're covered in scales and feathers, and can turn victims to stone if they make eye contact with it. The strategy I was planning on using was simple and, admittedly, not very good. My plan was to put on the blindfold I brought with me, and go into the cave. Once inside, I'd use my sensitive ears and nose to find the beast, and my sword to kill it. Although my tactics were lacking in some aspects, I already had a decent amount of experience hunting beasts which gave me some confidence. I'd successfully slain a few salamanders (though I got some fur singed off on that hunt), a chimera (they love lightning magic), and I was involved in a group hunt that netted a minor dragon (more burnt fur), most notably. I hadn't killed any cockatrices at that point however, so it was still ill advised.

As I walked farther into the cave, my eyes adjusted to the darkness and I could make out the decapitated corpse of the cockatrice. After determining that there was no danger, I sheathed my sword and looked around the cave for anything I could take. Around the edges of the cave I saw the bodies of the victims the beast had claimed. Piles of corpses, many still rotting, were the cause of the putrid stench. I looked through some of the more dry piles of bones and fur for any jewelry of coins that I could pillage. As I went about the task the smell made my head swim slightly, strong as it was. Had the beast been alive, there would have been no way to find it by it's scent. I removed a gold ring from the body of some poor stag who wouldn't need it. It wasn't much, but it would at least feed me for a week or so once I sold it. I didn't find anything else of value, so I went over to the body of the cockatrice which I had been avoiding until this point. It was fairly large for a cockatrice, and the talons on it's feet were menacing. Strangely enough, it didn't seem like the beast put up much of a fight. I couldn't really find any indication that there was a struggle. I guessed that the lucky hunter might have been able to sneak up on it while it was sleeping. I crouched down to examine the severed neck, and noticed a note resting on the floor. I picked it up, and walked back out into the forest. As I backtracked though the woods, I took several deep breaths in an attempt to flush the scent of rot from my nose. After walking for nearly half an hour, I realized that I still hadn't read the note which was clenched in my paw. Still walking, I unfurled it and read:

Fellow Beast Hunter,

I regret inform you that your quarry has been claimed.

After a fierce and frenzied battle, I was able to valiantly slay this mighty beast.

Though you were not successful, I commend you on your dedication to aiding the good subjects of the Kingdom of Allant. If you should find yourself in the capitol, I hope that you come calling. I would be honored to take you on my next hunt, and perhaps one day, you will be the one to slay the beast.

With Warmest Regards,

Sir Roderick

Needless to say, the sheer cheekiness of the note only added insult to the injury of my failed hunt. I stared at the parchment, and in my anger failed to notice the pit trap in which I fell.

"Well, that's unfortunate," the wolf said with slight grin, "Here, I'll throw down the rope so you can climb out."

After a few minutes of struggle I emerged from the pit and got a better look at my rescuer. Until then, I hadn't seen anything more than his head leaning down over the side of the pit. Standing before me was a black wolf, a little taller than myself and fairly young, though he was probably around my age. He wore very elegant metal plate armor with a shield strapped to his back, and a sword on his hip. An open satchel lay near his feet, in which I could see his shiny silver helmet. He extended a paw to me, which I grabbed and shook.

"What's your name," I asked him cheerfully, "I'm Argent Lachance, the beast hunter."

"It's a pleasure," He said with a warm smile, "I'm Sir Roderick, Knight of the Realm."