“Oooh... You’re so naughty” The elf maiden giggled when I tickled the sides of her body. “Stop it. Hehehe. That tickles!” I stopped my finger from moving and looked at her greedily.

“Hmmm, ticklish are we my lady” I teased the wriggling elf on the bed. I walked my fingers on the leg moving upward. “Maybe if we remove this I can tickle you better” grabbing her shirt with my fingers.

“Bzzzt” The elf whispered in my ear when I tried to remove her top.

“Excuse me?” I asked confused and stopped my very important work. I looked at the giggling elf face.

“Bzzzt! Bzzzt!Bzzzt!” The elf suddenly shouted at me. She kicked me hard and I flew off the bed.

Bzzzt....bzzzt....bzzzt...bzzzt...

I opened my I eyes and groaned. A couple of more minutes! I swiped the snooze button on my phone and closed my eyes. Maybe I can get back to my lovely elf. I tried falling back to sleep but the alarm went off again. I sighed and opened my eyes. I yawned, rubbed my face and sat on the bed. I stared at the wall for a few seconds and I stretched my body.

Bzzzt...bzzzt...bzzzt...

I reached over and turned off the alarm on my phone. I looked out the window and it was still a little dark. I checked the time on my phone and it showed 5:00 am. I stood up and went to the bathroom and used the porcelain throne. I then took a long hot shower and dried myself. I opened my closet and took out my hunting camos and gear. I put on the camos and opened my pack and started tossing my gear inside.

After checking everything were all accounted for I opened my safe and grabbed my rifle. I checked the chamber and confirmed it was empty and placed it gently on the bed. Since a lot of the usual timid animals turned savage when The Event happened, a lot of the gun laws were relaxed. I also took my utility belt and put in on. I checked the knife for the sharpness and felt satisfied with the sharpness. I also grabbed my handgun and clipped the holster on my belt. I shouldered my pack, picked up the rifle and exited my room.

I smelled the coffee brewing when I walked to the kitchen. My dad was sitting at the table drinking coffee and was reading the news on his E-Pad. He's forty-one years old, black hair, full beard, and 6'3 in height. He looked up when he heard me and examined my clothes, guns, and gear.

“Going Hunting.” He asked raising his eyebrows.

“Going Hunting” I confirmed and my dad nodded. Setting my pack on the floor and placed the rifle on the counter. I grabbed some cereal and milk and started eating my breakfast.

“This story says the government’s hiring some aliens to clear the Red Zones” my dad showing me the article on his EPad. ”It also says here they raised the bounties this year. That's good money”

“Umhuhm," I mumbled. I looked at the article and continued eating.

“Hmph... It's just a waste of tax payer's money.” My dad grumbled. “They could infil some Recon Marines and call in some air support. BRrrrrrrrrtt Boooom and pick up the cores later” motioning his hand like a fighter. My dad was a retired marine and sometimes his solutions to problems were more firepower.

“They tried that before,” I pointed out and spooned the last of my cereal. I placed my bowl and glass in the sink. “They were horrified that the cores were scattered all over the place and it took months to find them. Hahaha” I laughed. I remembered reading an article about that operation. The government thought they could use the cores to buy some new Altech. Instead of just grabbing the cores calling it a day, it became a giant Easter egg hunt. It ended up costing more.

“Anyways. I gotta go, Dad. Those cores aren’t gonna collect themselves” I said hurriedly and grabbed my stuff before dad goes into full rant mode. I grabbed the keys to my truck and went through the door.

“Be careful out there” My dad called out as the door was closing.

I opened the door of the truck stowed my rifle and pack in the back. Then I went back in the garage to take out our secret weapon. I examined it and tossed the weapon in the back satisfied that it can handle a few more beatings. I started the truck and drove to pick up Frank.

He was already waiting for me when I stopped in front of his house. He was also wearing camos, carrying a pack and rifle. He placed everything in the back. When his hand went to the door handle, I stepped on the gas and he missed it.

“You’re so mature Brian.” he said rolling his eyes and got in.

“Hahaha. How was Mr. Bonzcrahzr?” I teased him laughing.

“Yeah Yeah. Don’t remind me,” He said grabbing the seat belt “It wasn’t funny y’know.”

“Hahaha, I told you to start exercising!” I laughed and stepped on the gas. I thought Frank was a little overweight. He gave me the evil eye.

Frank got over it quickly and we talked a lot on the way. Mostly about cars and the new mission impossible movie trailer.

“They say Tom Cruise's popular off-world,” Frank mused reading the comments on the trailer.” “listen to this. TAM CRUZ SUKZ” reading the comments.

“Never read the comments.” I advised sagely as I turned the wheel for a right turn ”It’s all full of trolls. Literally!” W both laughed at my joke. Frank watched his favorite gossip channel and the rumors were highly entertaining. An Elf princess ran away, an Orc party turned in to a riot, and a couple other scandals.

Half an hour later we arrived at the Whitman National Park. I parked my truck on the side of the dirt road and turned off the ignition. We got out from the truck grabbing our stuff from the back and geared up. We walked silently for thirty minutes and Frank grumbled something about his legs. So we stopped for a break and drank water from our CamelBak.

“I wish we could use a storage mod” Frank grunted as he removed his pack from his shoulders. “Can’t wait till I’m eighteen. Stupid age restriction.” W sat down on a fallen log.

“Hey. Do you remember Gorim?” he asked remembering something.

“Gorim? Gorim. Gorim.” My eyes unfocused as I tried to recall the face with the name.

“Machine shop class Gorim?” I guessed. “Dwarf with shave cuts ” my hand pointing at my chin.

“Yeah, him” “Sure why?”

“His clan elders activated his Core at 15”

“What? That cheater. That asshole ripped me off!” I said rubbing the middle finger in memory remembering the sneaky dwarf hustler. We bet our lunch money and finger wrestled and I can still feel the pain to this day.

“Yep. Fifteen” Frank grumbled then taking another sip of water.

We sat there and complained about the injustice that was the Activation minimum age. I understand that activating your core at a young age was not good for the body. A child's body needed to develop more. I could use some strength right now I thought darkly. We resumed our hike after resting for five more minutes. In an hour we finally reached our secret location.

As we placed our gear inside empty fuel drums I heard the sound flapping wings. I turned my head to where the sound was coming from and I saw a park ranger on a brown Pegasus landing on the clearing nearby. I recognized the park ranger on the peg. We raised our hands in greeting and he waved back. After they landed he patted the beast on the neck. The ranger was a rough-faced man, heavily tanned from the sun. He looked very thin and short in stature around the mid-50s in age. He carried a huge rifle strapped to his back.

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“Well. Well. If it ain't the Monster hunter duo. Heya boys.” The ranger greeted touching his hat and smiled at us when he got into talking distance while rubbing his mount’s neck “How ya doin?”

“Heya Bill.” “Hi, Sir.” “We’re doing fine.” We greeted back and shaking his hand. The Pegasus bumped his head on my shoulder snorting and started sniffing my coat.

“You too Herc” I added rubbing his neck. I noticed him trying to get his mouth in my pockets. “Sorry buddy, no apples today.” I apologized showing my empty palms but the peg turned his head away in a huff, annoyed for not getting his due. When the peg saw Frank approaching he raised his hind leg in warning. Frank immediately backed off.

“Greedy bastid. Ur supposed to be on a diet!” Bill admonished while the peg turned his neck around nipped the ranger’s leg. “Ey. Watch it!” Slapping the offending head affectionately

“How’s your daddy?Bin here long?” he looked down at us smiling.

“Dad’s fine. Still grumbling and we just got here.” I replied shaking my head.

”We’re planning on hunting a lot” I gestured with my head nearby meadow. Dad and bill used to hunt together when I was little.

“Uh-huh. Lemme check. Jus a second” the ranger produced a little notebook from his front shirt pocket flipping the pages. “You boys can hunt as many as you want,” he said returning the notebook “No huntin limit yet.”

“Boyaa!” “Ka-ching!” We high fived. Our luck was holding. The ranger was smiling when he saw us. “Jus hunt what you can carry.” he cautioned us with a pointed finger.

“Yes sir” “Sure Bill” we chorused grinning like mad. My precious. Just wait for me.

“Trouble sir?” Frank nodded at the rifle on his back. It looked like a large bore rifle and it was almost as tall as he was.

“Not really,” he replied shaking his head. “Just spotted some wolf tracks five miles from here, they high tailin it moving west” He informed us pointing due west. “A small pack” he added to allay the fear forming in our faces.

“Really?! Is this area safe?” I asked quickly getting concerned about the wolves. Those Dire Wolves were twice the size and five times the attitude from normal ones. If the wolves were ranging in the area we might have to cancel this hunt.

“Hmm. mebe... It's Safe enuf I think. Dey probably far away by now. But better be safe than sorry” he said rubbing his chin and pointedly looked at our rifles. We sighed in relief. “Jus be on the lookout” Bill advised us.

“Gotcha Bill. We’ll keep our eyes open” I assured him looking at Frank. He shrugged. Hunting was a dangerous hobby if you got careless.

“You boys got them flares?’ the ranger asked. Frank reached behind his belt and showed him a flare gun. “Good.” The ranger nodded approvingly.

“Well. See ya later boys. Say hi to your daddy for me. And good luck on your huntin” Bill said in farewell and adjusted his saddle straps. I guess the ranger had a lot more patrolling to do. Can’t blame the old cooter. The park rangers were spread a little thin in our area, the Pegasus can cover a lot of ground.

“Yeah. Catch you later Bill. Have a good one” I said stepping away from the duo.

“Bye Herc. I bring some apples next time” I assured the peg and his neck nodded.

“You too boy” he called out before running into a gallop and the Pegasus flapped his wings gaining altitude.

We stared at the flying figure until it disappeared from view. We grinned at each other and went back to prepping. I wore my armor and pulling the straps tight. After I was satisfied I bucked up my helmet and slapping it to make sure it was a good fit. I glanced at Frank and he was doing the same ritual.

“I never get tired seeing Herc fly.” I said to frank tightening the straps and spikes on our secret weapon.

“Yeah. Dude, I really want one” Franks said wistfully staring at the sky.

“Good thing you’re still a virgin then” I joked throwing a stone at Frank.

“I’m not a virgin asshole and that’s a Unicorn thing!”

“Them too!” I laugh at Franks reddening face.

“C’mon. We’re burning daylight out here!” Frank said as he shouldered his rifle and ignored my teasing. He walked to the meadow and I followed still laughing.

We approached the meadow slowly and crouched as we examed our surroundings. As we neared a little mound maybe six feet tall with a slight incline, I signed to Frank to follow me. He nodded and stayed at my rear. After we walked crouching we reached the top. We looked at the field of full grass and flowers and our prey was sitting happily munching on the grass. I pointed to Frank the closest target thirty feet away and he nodded and pulled out a slingshot. I readied my wooden shield and kicked the spikes into the ground.

“Now!” Frank’s aim was true and hit the white Horned rabbit the size of a large dog in the leg. The bunny saw us and charged straight toward us. Frank hid behind me pushing me slightly forward, dropping the slingshot and pulled his baseball bat from his harness. I braced the shield with my shoulder when a strong impact rocked the shield. The top lip of the shield hit my helmet so hard I almost lost my balance. But with Frank bracing me behind I quickly recovered. The rabbit’s horn was embedded in the wooden shield and Frank slugged the struggling bunny with a baseball bat it to the head a few times. The bunny was dislodged from the shield and was stunned from blows. Not wanting the animal to suffer I quickly drew my knife and slit the bunny’s throat. Grimacing from the blood spatter of the kicking rabbit I held the head down while Frank grabbed the legs. When it stopped moving, we tossed the bunny on the shield and dragged it to a tree near our camp. We tied the legs to a robe and hanged the bunny head down.

“That was so effing fun!” Frank said smiling breathing hard from the bunny's weight.

“It’s a good size,” I said grinning still full of adrenaline patting the dead bunny “That was one solid hit!” rotating my shoulder.

“Yeah. Dude, I even felt it from behind” Frank also grinned

“I didn’t know you like it from behind!” I guffawed slapping my knees

“What?” Frank asked with a confused face, then he finally he got it and laughed

“from..behind! Hahaha!” He repeated the punchline.

We then skinned the rabbit taking extra care not to poke holes in the silky soft fur. It’s the reason why we don’t use the rifles. A .22 will only annoy the rabbit but anything larger would cause large exit wounds which lower the value when the alien traders appraise it. After skinning it we quartered the meat and put it in a large garbage bag. Only one last thing to do. I checked the spine carefully and found a little dark grey sphere the size of a match head. I used the tip of my knife and carefully removed it dropping it in a small ziplock bag.

“Got it.” I said shaking the bag in front of my face.

“Even the bunny’s core is activated.” Frank said sighing folding the fur and packing it in a garbage bag.

We then gathered the fur, horn, and meat separated by bags tied it with a rope and suspended it high on a tree. I dropped the guts in a hole I dug earlier and buried it. We retraced our steps earlier and hunted some more.

We bagged another two bunnies but the last one was a little dicey.

It was the largest bunny we ever saw. The buck saw us approaching slowly and I thought it was going to run away. So I was surprised that it just sat there staring at us. I looked back at Frank and shrugged and readied his slingshot. I jammed the spike on the ground braced the shield on my shoulder. I hope the padding will help cushion the force of the impact.

“Shoot!” I ordered and tightened my body.

The bunny was hit on the chest and predictably it charged us right away. It hit us so hard that even with Frank bracing me from behind, it hit like a truck and bowled us over like bowling pins. I stood quickly shaking the dizziness out of my head. The straps ripped and the shield was torn away from my hand. I looked to my right and the bunny was on its side starting to get up but it was stunned too. So I jumped on the bunny held for dear life

“FRANK!! KILL IT! KILL IT!” I shouted holding the bunny by the horn to keep it from goring my face, and I wrapped my legs around his midsection.

“HOLD ON!” Frank shouted pulled his knife and drove it into the neck. “LET GO BRIAN! LET GO!”

I let go and rolled away from the bunny. I tried standing but I was just too tired, so I sat on the ground and waited for the bunny to stop kicking. After the bunny died, I laid on the ground staring at the sky feeling drained. I looked at Frank and he too was on the ground breathing heavily.

“You okay Frank?” I asked checking if he was okay and standing up.

“I’m fine dude. You okay?” Frank answered and sat up.

“Yeah. I’m fine” I walked to Frank and pulled him up.

“Duude. Look at the size of that thing” Frank poked the bunny with his foot.

“It’s huge. It must be the level boss bunny or something” I said amazed. It was a giant. It was maybe fifty percent larger than the average bunny.

"LEVEL BOSS BUNNY?!" Frank shouted incredulous at my deduction and slapped me on the back of the head "AINT NO SUCH THING!"

After admiring the bunny, I checked myself out and undid the straps. I scrutinized my armor and helmet for damage. I bought a used motocross armor set and football helmet at a garage sale. I added more padding and painted it camo. Looking for broken bones, cuts and sprains, I tested the motion of my arms and legs. Thankfully I found none and I put the armor back on. Resting for a bit we dragged the giant bunny to our camp and started the whole process again. I was my turn to stand guard so I watched the surrounding area while Frank field dresses the bunny.

Frank was taking pictures of the bunny promising to post it in Phasebook and Twitter. I was scanning the area when I heard the sound of cracking branches in the distance. I turned my head to the sound and I saw a small and brown flicker between trees a hundred feet away. I was instantly on my guard raising my rifle and I whispered to Frank to keep quiet.

“Shush” I whispered to Frank again and he stopped posing for selfies. He slowly walked to the nearby tree and took his rifle.

“I saw something” my voice cracked a little scanning the trees.

“What is it?” Frank inquired walking slowly to stand beside me.

“I dunno..I think I saw a deer” I whispered quickly. I was starting to get excited. I checked the chamber on my rifle and when Frank saw what I doing he checked his too.

“There are no deer in this area.” Frank whispered back.

“Hhruoh”

“Hhruoh”

“Fuck!” “Fuck!”