It wasn't intimidating, the man pointing the bow didn't scare him surprisingly. His bulging muscles seemed to make the bow creak as he pulled the arrow back further, his eyes not wavering while he stared at me before speaking slowly,

"Get away from my kill, them zippers ain't easy to catch and this one here is mine."

Looking down at the carcass, just like the Stenchling the name hovered over its head, in gray letters he read Rattler Maturity - 5 (dead). Slowly walking away his hands raised he asked the man,

"Do you always point a bow at people you just meet or am I just that scary?"

The man's eyes narrowed "Have you seen yourself, you're not stealing anything from me. If you try anything this arrows going through you like that zipper."

His appearance was that of a beggar, it was no mystery as to why the man was cautious around him. "I'm not a threat to you, I'm just a little lost if you could point me in the right direction."

The man didn't budge his bow still resting on me, as he approached the body. His stride was slow and graceful for someone of his size, to be honest, the bow didn't suit him. His hands being gigantic it looked like he was holding a twig that would snap any moment.

Standing over the carcass he glances down for a moment before his eyes rest back on me. Before he can open his mouth, more snarls echo through the tree's overhead. The leaves rustle before three shadows drop to the ground. More Rattlers appeared, this time they focused solely on him and the dead body that lay lifeless next to him. 

His bow jolted forward towards them still holding the arrow in place, knowing if he shot it he wouldn't be fast enough to fire another before they would tear into him. As if knowing this the Rattlers just snarled viciously, waiting for him to fire before they pounced him.

"I should have known that zippers don't hunt alone." the man mutters as sweat seeps down his face, his back now hugging the tree.

The Rattlers spread apart from each one slowly closing in on him, snarling in unison as if talking to each other. I ducked behind the tree and watched, I only had one move I could use and if it was powerful enough to kill them I didn't know, so I just sat back in silence watching as they toyed with him.

Then it begins one pounces forward, Shin could hardly follow it, there was only a blur before the snap of the man's bow rung through the forest. He had stretched it too far, the timing was perfect it was like they had planned on it happening. The claws sunk into his shoulders as the mouth began snapping in his face.

"Fuck, I can't just sit here!"

The man had saved his life so he was just returning the favor. The element of surprise was in his favor, so sliding from behind the trees he positions himself so that he was aligned with the remaining two Rattlers. 

The man screams as the beast clamps onto his shoulder slicing through the bone. The other two rattlers beginning to start their assault when light pulses before erupting in their direction, they were fast creatures but changing their course of direction mid-sprint caused them to stumble leaving them defenseless as the beam rammed into the first one pushing it into the second one before slamming them into a tree.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

It didn't kill them, but it left enough damage for them to fear Shin. The smell of burning hair filled the air as the light faded from his hands. Looking at the two Rattlers one had taken the brunt of the damage some of its skin even peeling, as it attempted to regain its footing. The second rattler seeming to take only minor damage from being rammed into the tree on some of its fur being frayed from the beam.

The light had distracted the third Rattler that had pounced on the man long enough for him to push it off, and roll towards his bag of arrows, as he grabbed one it began lunging for him. Grasping the arrowhead he plunged it deep into its throat before withdrawing his hand, grabbing another and stabbing it in the left eye. Reaching in his bag the Rattler snarled, grabbing a small knife he began stabbing it in the throat repeatedly blood soaking his hands and face before it stopped moving. 

Snarling in anger the remaining two Rattlers back away slowly before stalking up the trunk of a tree and disappearing into the leaves. Releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding, I approach the man as he wipes the blood from his knife on his vest.

"Why did you help me back there, you could have been killed if those zippers decided to keep on fighting." his voice sounding exhausted.

"What was I going to do, leave you to die and save myself. That would leave a bad taste in my mouth, you did save me first so I was just repaying the favor."

Looking up at my extended hand, he stares for a few seconds before firmly grasping it. Letting out a chuckle before grinning the man replies,

"Most people in your situation would have run for the hills, I'm Eugene thanks for saving my ass uh,"

"Shin, my names Shin, but you can call me Venge."

Shin didn't want Azel to know he was still alive, it would make it that much harder to track him down so instead he'd go by his last name hopefully not drawing too many eyes in his direction.

"Well uh, Venge you have my thanks, but uh why are you dressed like that and what was that light you used, a flashlight? I haven't seen one of those since before the wipe. Didn't know that they had a weakness to light though"

Before the wipe? What was he talking about the meteors maybe? Eugene began lifting the Rattler over his shoulder before looking at the other one.

"You mind carrying that zipper over there I've got my hands full here unless you want to split the kills but from your looks, i'd say you don't have a place to go. My camp's not too far from here we can rest there and don't worry zippers don't go around there."

"Do I really have a choice?" Muttering to myself I toss the body over my shoulder, it was lighter than it looked, probably why it could move so fast and climb tree's with ease, also explains how a single arrow had managed to kill one. 

At least I won't be starving out here tonight I couldn't help thinking to myself as me and Eugene headed west towards his camp. Eugene continuing to make small talk to pass the time. About his friends, what he did before the wipe sample things. It was nice, Shin hadn't talked to a "real" person in what seemed like years and the simple minded Eugene put his mind at ease.

We walked in the forest for what seemed like hours but Eugene insisted it had only been about 45 minutes, the trees began to become more scarce as we approached his little hut the fire was still ablaze as we dropped the bodies in the grass.

"Wait here Venge, I'll introduce you to the rest of the group" walking through the door Eugene disappears the door closing behind him.

The little house was built sturdy, it seemed Eugene and his companions had used the trees around the area to construct it, but they had no protection from keeping out the monsters that kept him on edge.

The door opening 9 people came out of the small hut, Shin wondered how they all could fit in such a tiny space. As they approached him he could already see that some of them were not happy to see him.