Chapter 24: The Hunt
769 Words
The roar echoed across the valley once more.
This time...
It was closer.
The guards immediately raised their spears.
Children hurried inside the nearest buildings.
The laughter that had slowly returned to Greenhollow vanished.
Echo instinctively reached for his wooden sword.
His palms were already damp.
Dorothy calmly stepped toward the village entrance.
"Echo."
"...Yes, Ma'am."
"You and Kodie will stay beside the guards."
Echo nodded firmly.
"You are not to chase the monsters."
"Your first responsibility is protecting the villagers."
"...Understood."
She turned toward Mira.
"Mira."
"Yes, Master."
"The injured come first."
Mira gave a determined nod.
"I won't leave them."
Dorothy smiled.
"I know."
---
The evening sky slowly darkened.
A cold wind swept across the fields.
Kodie, standing on the watchtower, suddenly opened his eyes.
"They're here."
Everyone looked toward the wheat fields.
The golden crops swayed...
Then parted.
One shadow...
Then another.
Five wolf-like monsters slowly emerged.
Each one was nearly twice the size of a normal wolf.
Their crimson eyes scanned the village.
Echo tightened his grip.
"They're..."
"...Huge."
One of the guards whispered,
"I've never seen monsters this close."
Then...
Something strange happened.
The monsters didn't charge.
They sniffed the air.
Almost...
As if searching for something.
Dorothy frowned.
"They're tracking a scent..."
"...Not attacking at random."
---
Without warning—
CRASH!
One monster burst through a broken fence.
The villagers screamed.
"Protect the children!"
The guards rushed forward.
Echo followed without thinking.
His wooden sword collided against the monster's claws.
THUD!
The impact threw him backward.
He barely kept his footing.
"My arm..."
"It's so strong..."
The monster growled.
Preparing to leap.
Before it could—
A knife spun through the air.
SHHK!
It struck the monster's shoulder.
The beast stumbled.
Kodie landed silently between Echo and the monster.
"Its left shoulder."
"...Old injury."
Echo blinked.
"You noticed that?"
Kodie simply nodded.
"It favors that leg."
Echo grinned.
"...Then let's use it."
For the first time...
The two fought together.
Echo kept the monster's attention.
Kodie attacked only when an opening appeared.
Neither of them was stronger alone.
But together...
They slowly forced the monster back.
---
Elsewhere...
Inside the medical camp...
Another wounded villager collapsed.
Mira immediately caught him.
"Easy..."
"You're safe."
Her emerald healing magic surrounded the injury.
One young healer watched in amazement.
"...Lady Mira..."
"How are you so calm?"
Mira smiled softly.
"I'm not calm."
The healer looked surprised.
"...You're not?"
"My heart is racing."
She gently finished wrapping the bandage.
"I've simply learned..."
"...that my patients shouldn't feel my fear."
The young healer quietly nodded.
Those words stayed with him.
Nearby, Dorothy glanced toward Mira with quiet pride.
She didn't interrupt.
Mira no longer needed guidance for moments like these.
---
Outside...
The battle grew fiercer.
Echo ducked beneath another swipe.
His breathing became heavier.
His arms ached.
"I'm..."
"...Too slow."
The monster lunged again.
Before Echo could react—
A vine burst from the earth.
It wrapped around the beast's legs.
Not to kill it.
Only to stop it.
Dorothy calmly walked past.
Her walking stick tapped softly against the ground.
"Echo."
He looked up.
"...Yes?"
"What did you learn?"
Echo stared.
"...Right now?"
She nodded.
Even in the middle of battle.
He thought quickly.
"...Its strength is greater than mine."
"Good."
"What else?"
"...It loses balance when turning."
Dorothy smiled.
"Excellent."
The vine released.
The monster charged again.
This time...
Echo sidestepped.
Just as Kodie predicted.
The injured shoulder slowed the beast.
Echo struck its side with all his strength.
The monster stumbled away.
For the first time...
Echo had landed a meaningful hit.
---
Suddenly...
Every monster froze.
Not because of Dorothy.
Not because of the guards.
All five looked toward the northern forest.
Their ears stood upright.
A low...
Uneasy whimper escaped them.
Then...
Without another attack...
They turned.
And ran.
Echo blinked.
"...We won?"
Dorothy slowly shook her head.
"No."
She stared toward the dark forest.
"...Something frightened them."
Silence swept over everyone.
Echo looked toward the trees.
Whatever could terrify monsters...
Had to be far worse.
A moment later...
The ground trembled.
Once.
Then again.
Far away...
A deep, ancient cry echoed through the mountains.
Not a roar.
Not a howl.
Something...
Older.
Dorothy's fingers tightened around her walking stick.
For the first time...
A shadow crossed her gentle expression.
She whispered so quietly that only Edric heard.
"...It can't be..."
Edric's face lost all color.
"...Master..."
"...Do you think..."
Dorothy didn't answer.
She simply kept staring into the darkness.
---
End of Chapter 24
«Sometimes the hunter becomes the hunted...
...and sometimes even monsters know when it's time to run.»
- Writer
