Prey (1 of 5)

I walked as silently as possible through the woods that stood between me and my village. I always do whatever I can to be quiet enough to not attract any unwanted company.

I had just finished making a trip into a nearby town and was now on my way back to my village. I usually made two or three day trips into town to deliver things or pick up items. This time I had just traded some food in exchange for a new sharp bladed sword.

Weapons are more valuable than actual food these days. Food won't last but for so long, but a weapon such as a sword will last long enough to continue hunting for more food.

These were tough times and the world was becoming stranger each day. I sometimes see it as an advantage, but also as a threat most of the time.

Animals are growing to be twice their original size, and even the trees appear to be growing much larger. Now with bigger animals, they could provide a great amount of food. But they are much harder to kill and they seem a bit more blood thirsty. Even a deer can be deadly if you don't kill it in one swift movement.

So during walks like this, I can remain silent enough to keep out of the way of any animals that could spot me. So today should be easy for me to head straight home with no trouble.

Suddenly I heard a low growl and I came to a stop. I held my breath and listened carefully for the sound again. I slowly reached for my sword strapped to my waist and kept my hand on the hilt.

Several seconds passed and I didn't hear anymore growling. I let out my breath and started walking again, but slower this time. If an animal was nearby, I'd have to be even more silent and alert.

I looked around my surroundings to make sure there were no threats nearby. If there was, I'd be ready for it.

There was another growl but further away this time, so I sped up my pace. It wasn't close enough to hear me now. It must have just been passing by.

A scream caused me to stop dead in my tracks. It was a girl's scream and it came from the same direction of the growling.

Usually, I would take the chance to ignore it, but what if it was someone from my village. I was at least an hour away now, maybe it was someone I knew. Maybe they'd been making an extra run for food.

I cursed under my breath and drew my sword. I walked quickly in the direction of the screams. No point in running and allowing an animal to hear my footsteps.

I heard the scream again coming from my left this time. I turned and headed towards it, hoping that the girl would still be alive by the time reached her.

As I got closer, I saw fresh blood on the ground. I wouldn't know if it was hers or from another animal. Did it already get to her?

I begin to hear low growls again and realized that I was close to an animal now. The girl was also nearby.

This time I started running. Maybe my footsteps would distract whatever animal it was.

I stepped through a cluster of bushes and stopped. There was a girl backing away from something big. She looked to be around seventeen. Someone was lying on the ground behind her, not moving a muscle. Maybe the blood back there had come from them. But what was the girl backing away from?

As I studied it, I realized it was a bear. Except this bear was huge! It was three times her size and stood several feet away. But even from there it could swipe at her.

The girl held a bow in her trembling hands and aimed it at the bear. She fired an arrow and hit the bear's stomach, but it barely even noticed.

The girl whimpered and dropped the bow to the ground. The bear prepared to leap on her so I stepped out of the shadows.

The pair of them were so focused on each other that they didn't notice me at all. I cocked back my sword and slashed the back of the bear's leg.

The bear roared in pain and anger as it turned to me. Drool dripping from it's big, sharp fangs. Its eyes narrowed at me ferociously, eyeing its new prey.

I didn't wait for it to attack. I jumped up and hacked across its throat. It tried to roar again but all it could do was gargle and stumble backwards.

Blood spilled over my head and clothes as it swayed on its feet. I took a step back to avoid having it crushing me.

The bear finally fell hard onto its side with a loud thud. It was still gasping for air, but it wouldn't make it.

I stared at it for a few seconds, silently thanking God that I escaped death. Then I turned to see the girl gaping at me.

She looked terrified and confused. As if she didn't no whether to stay or run from me.

I walked over to her and she quickly bent and picked up her bow. I stopped and raised an eyebrow.

She looked questioningly at me and then at my sword. I realized that she found it threatening so I placed it in its sheath.

I looked pass her and at the body on the ground behind her.

"Is that your friend?" I asked as I stooped down to gather some leaves. I had to clear my face of some of the blood.

She looked around for a moment and then studied the body as if seeing it for the first time.

"Ben," She gasped and fell to her knees beside the body. "Ben, are you alright?"

The young man didn't respond. When she realized he was dead, she stood up and sobbed.

"I have to return home," She cried. "I have to get away from here."

I studied her for a moment as she continued to stare at her friend Ben's body. I had no idea who she was or where she'd come from. But maybe I could bring her back to my village to provide her with safety and shelter. If it were the two of them, I couldn't allow it, but one wouldn't be a setback.

"Come on, it's not safe here." I told her as I used the leaves to wipe blood from my face. "Come with me to my village. It's not too far-"

"No." She said, finally tearing her gaze away from the bloody corpse beside her. "I really need to get to my place... If I can find it. I've never traveled through the woods alone before."

"Well, come to my village and then you can leave first thing in the morning." I offered. "It'll be dark soon."

"No!" She snapped. "I'll just have to take my chances. It's urgent that I get there really soon. I can't spare even a minute."

I started to speak again but decided against it. I couldn't waste anymore time talking. It would be dark soon and I needed to get home.

"Suit yourself." I said and turned away. As I turned, I saw in her eyes that she was afraid for me to leave her, and that made me think that she would reconsider coming to my village. But as I walked away she didn't say anything. I guess she really wasn't going to change her mind.

I stopped and turned to her. "How far away is your home?"

Her eyes lit up. "A couple of hours away, I suppose," She said quickly. "But you could stay there until you're ready to leave if you'd like. We have food and it's safe."

I hesitated before answering. I'd rather be home in my own bed than at a stranger's house. But I didn't want to leave this girl alone out in the woods. I wouldn't be able to live with that on my conscious.

I sighed. "Come on. Start in the direction you came from and just hope that we get there in time."

She sighed with relief and nodded. Then she took one last glance a the corpse on the ground and we began walking. Away from the direction of my home and further into a more dangerous territory.