The hunter stepped over a twisted root while I admired the new view. But silence settled heavily on my chest until I couldn't take it. So as he walked on I spoke up. ‘You mentioned knowing the city we are travelling to. What is it like?’ Suddenly his head snapped to the side like spooked prey. In a heartbeat he hurried to a tree, hand cupped around me and climbed it single-handed with ease and little noise.

Still, he blended into the foliage.

Moments later a Skin-Slurper hulked into view, a hideous dark thing, pungent with rot. They were known for stealing your skin, to walk among man as an imposter to make finding infant blood easier. I didn’t believe I’d see one and live… Shock snapped into dread- colour seemed to snap away! I snapped my eyes shut, I wouldn’t believe it! Sssscsssscssss… It hissed, so I clamped my hands over my ears- it wasn’t happening, it wasn’t happening!

THUD, THUMP, THUD, THUMP, THUD, THUMP! My heartbeat pounded, breath ragged and suddenly feared it could hear it. I felt myself rise and fall steadily as the hunter kept his breathing calm and controlled. He brought his palm up and encased me in his hands like a cocoon. It was warm, and I was able to catch my breath. Slowly I moved my hands from my ears. No matter the fading terror I wouldn’t open my eyes. I eventually heard its mighty footsteps quieten. It crunched through the forest, unaware of them. I dared look, as if my eyes would have been beacons to them. We were safe… as safe as one could be. An icy grip loosened. Being so high made me feel exposed, despite knowing being on the hunters shoulder was near infinitely safer than alone on the ground. As still as the trees trunk he let a little more time pass before dropping down.

‘You’re ok.’ He reassured, able to hear my heavy breath. ‘You were speaking of the city. I don’t like such edifices, I especially hate the one we walk to now, it city is ruled by The Godless.’

His talking to me was to be a distraction, so despite my wish to simply scream my lungs out, I forced myself to play along- especially when what he said needed correction.

‘No, everyone worships a God. Perhaps they are simply secretive in their matters. It can be a personal subject.’

‘No, they truly believe in none. The leaders flaunt it like some prideful thing. It’s nothing of the sort.’

‘It is… strange to not have even one.’

‘Ay. It makes them unpredictable, which makes me unnerved. What must they hide from the Gods in their very mind which warrants they not dare care for one? But my distain goes beyond preference, the city itself is disgusting.’

‘I love my kingdom.’

‘This is no beautiful fae city- people so tightened by culture you’d think them strangled. Any wood is dried and dead, nature naught step foot lest it be burnt. The rocks a pus yellow.’

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I became aware of my golden strands, flowers were still interwoven amongst the curls. No nature? A foreign concept. I didn’t think it possible it was like saying air couldn’t flow there- I would have to see this myself. In the chaos of the rat I had forgotten my manners. I hadn’t yet thanked him for the rescue. As I opened my mouth suddenly as swift as water the felden took the bow in his hands and pulled back an arrow! Cold steel trained on still bushes the world froze… I watched the foliage intently… I heard him mumble… It was a prayer in a language I couldn’t identify. After a beat I dared dismiss the danger, whatever it was it was gone… Suddenly, a massive worm jumped from the ground! Within the same second the arrow went through his brain and it was dead on the ground! The entire battle could have been missed in a blink! It fell forward and crashed into the ground. Disgusting pieces of black slid off of its body like it was shedding or melting.

‘Don’t touch it.’ The hunter informed, watching black blood drift from the arrow wound and mix with the mud to make maroon puddles.

‘You won’t get your arrow?’

‘Not from that. Do you see that?’ He ushered to the strange black sluggishness of the blood with his bow. ‘It’s infected with parasites. On touch they’ll make any felden mad, but they would just absorb one as small as you.’ He put his bow away.

I searched my mind for the name, I learnt about it a long time ago with my tutors. ‘Char-leechy.’ I sought. ‘I remember them differently.’ The pictures in textbooks displayed the parasites as dark blue things, visible to the eye.

‘There are different variations.’

I believed him. His knowledge dwarfed mine.

***

Hours later I looked skyward, rainclouds returned like the shore but remained only a grey sheet which eclipsed the sun, draining colour from the land. I felt my tattered clothes, remembering how poorly the farmer, the first citizen I helped, hand repaired his.

My stomach rumbled.

'Hungry?' He asked.

I was close to his ear. “Yes.” Then quickly added 'but fae don’t eat meat.'

He was already taking out a small bag, picked a glossy violet berry and handed it to me. My reflection was clear in its rich deepness. ‘I know.’ He said.

I took it with thanks. Despite the kindness I still felt the need to say ‘it’s a great sin to hunt. You’re taking life.’

‘It’s the natural order of things.’

‘Of choice-less things. You have a choice.’

‘Eat the berry already.’