Falkner waited in the bushes. waiting for that deer to reappear, he clenched his boar spear. I know it’s there.

The sun was almost down and I’m not going back to camp empty handed. Nyssa will never let me hear the end of this. The deer came through the underbrush. just a little closer reading the spear to throw then throwing his spear and barely missed and the deer ran off into the thick underbrush.

“Not bad maybe if you were more patient my lord” Brith said

“ya maybe” Falkner muttered, this hunting trip was not going very well for me I haven’t killed a single thing! His stepfather and to a lesser extent his stepsister were the real hunters. He liked hunting enough. Falkner went to retrieve his spear and found it stuck in a tree, reaching it free. Finding not too much damage to the point. joining his servant at his moa and handing him the spear to carry. His moa stood nine feet tall dark brown feathers with light brown on top, two powerful legs with three talons on each foot a flat beak perfect for grazing, Falkner mounted and placed his right hand on his long neck to steady himself Brith got on a much smaller moa then they rode back into camp as the sun set.

The camp was pretty big even though the tents were small except a few big ones with all the knights and servants. You had to have a big party in case of monster attacks. dismounting while his servants took care of his moa as Nyssa approached him.

Her shoulder length white hair is quite pretty with a lean and muscular build and a sword at her waist. in breeches and a cotton light blue shirt

“Nothing?” Nyssa asked with mock surprise “not today” Falkner sighed she raised an eyebrow at that. leaving towards the head tent where mother was reading a book. but not my stepfather. He must still be coming back.

The tent was nice. rich rugs and furniture, even a map on the table in the middle of the tent. “Nothing today, maybe I’ll try again tomorrow,” Falkner announced. she looked up from her book

“Just keep trying, you'll get the hang of it’s only your first day” he loved his mother but sometimes she treated him like he was twelve.

“Where's John?” as he poured himself some wine looking over the map

“your stepfather has a surprise for you” mother said with a sly smile he perked up at that. He's very rich in fact his parents are the most powerful lords in the kingdom

"oh really”

“he said it’s perfect for you,” mother promised. placing the book down she still looked young with warm blue eyes and long blond hair in her red wool dress she got up and stood in front of me.

“why did we come here you know I’m poor at hunting” “It's good to try new things and besides John love’s hunting”

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Falkner sighed “fine I try again tomorrow maybe elk are easier to hit” his mother beamed at him

"That's the spirit” mother said as she left the tent. They were married when he was a child. His stepfather probably wanted to give him an arranged marriage. I don’t want to get married yet, but I'm sure I’m old enough at sixteen and being a godling many lords and lady's would jump at the chance to legitimize their houses but still! John walked in with a smile, behind him two servants held a large chest.

“Hey son I’ve got a surprise for you” John said

“Wow, really thank you'' Falkner said, pretending to be surprised. It can't be an arranged marriage. The chest was dark smooth wood. Opening it was red leather armor, a breastplate, greaves, for his lower legs, and shoulder plates, a helmet with a nose and eye guards and a red sheath and a servant came in with a kite shield also painted red. very fine “thank you” Falkner said shocked he just waved off his thank you

“don’t mention it and its behemoth hide so it's extra tough”

“This is a really great gift,” Falkner replied. John sat down in the seat mother was sitting in “I'm going to try it on'' Falkner announced taking the armor out of the chest it did feel extra rough and it covered way more than mail or scale mail except the head. heading to his own tent smelling dinner of venison steak and some kind of vegetable soup wash over him. at his tent opening the flap and changing immediately. it fit perfectly and the red matched my fiery red hair. He quickly changed back to his black breeches and red coat over his white linen shirt and red coat. Brith was waiting just outside and breathing heavy “is everything alright” Brith shot his head

“I came as soon as I could, come” waving him forward and striding at a brisk pace curious what could this be?. Nothing too terrible. I hope maybe there has been an accident pushing the terrible thoughts away, passing everyone in the camp and tents mother and stepfather were waiting for me and Nyssa at their tent entrance.

“What's this about?” Falkner asked as Brith left to attend to his duties mother just shrugged

“We don't know” she replied a hunter who’s name he couldn't remember in green head to toe and sturdy boots he waved them over they followed him into the woods couldn't it wait till morning it’s almost night time and dinner is ready.

they stop near a corpse dressed in furs an accident or worse murder?. On closer inspection the corpse had gout horns and fur all over “a satyr” Falkner said

“yes and it’s been drained of blood,” the hunter explained.

“great chupacabras and a tribe of satyrs” John said mother put her hand over her mouth

“How many?”

“hard to say but it could be in the hundreds” the hunter said satyrs where bloodthirsty monsters who love to kill.

“We need to go home first thing in the morning” John said

“and more guards tonight” mother added “back to camp” Falkner said walking back at the front.

He couldn't enjoy the red and orange tree’s of fall, his favorite season in fact.

He would've cursed the gods for making such abominations but they were dead so who was he to curse. back at their tent they sat around and didn't speak for a while. John looked miserable he was looking forward for this hunting trip since they couldn’t go in the summer

“We have to leave in the morning,” John said miserably. “I don’t like our chances of staying” everybody agreed and left for dinner without saying a word well. I guess we’re going home early if we don't get attacked by chupacabras or a tribe of satyrs in the night.