Fanfic:The Art of the Hunt Season 2/Chapter 6-Night on the Plains

Y uki pulled a blanket around her ever tighter. As always, the desert night brought cold winds and icy memories. Her teeth chattered as she retold her story.

"I did not want to alarm anyone. I set out without the proper equipment to light a fire anyway, because I was certain that we had not come far enough to find it. So I kept walking -- I walked, using my compass, in a straight line for what must have been five, or even ten miles. Then, I spread out, using my binoculars to look for signs of life. That's when I saw Starfoot," she said, pointing at the Aptonoth, and continued: "he was moaning and looked confused. Every so often, he would raise up and roar, as Aptonoth do when they smell a threat. I was confused, alright? So I got up, I walked towards it, and I calmed it down. It was docile, and around it part of its halter had become entangled. Upon untangling it, I saw his name inscribed on the thick leather.

"He allowed me to ride him, thus speeding my travel. But as I came ever closer to the end of a ridge that I had ridden to, a fell sense of shadow fell over me, and Starfoot bucked. I fell off, but he did not bolt. I thanked the Gods for that much," she said, rubbing her back at the memory. "I took out my binoculars and looked into the forest of stone and sand that lay before me. And inside it, between two huge silvery rocks and underneath a raised plateau, sat the Curse, the Beast. Upon seeing it, I -- I couldn't handle it. I mounted Starfoot and we took off with all haste," she finished.

"Please tell me you didn't wake it!" Taka said, entirely alarmed.

"No! I did not," she explained, "for when I had gone a fair mile, I turned around and looked. I could still see its sleeping figure. It sleeps now, I am sure. From there, I came here when I saw the smoke signals."

The sun was finally setting in its entirety. Only shadows remained now. The vastness of the sky was an ocean, a pale blue sapphire locked within the heavens. On the horizon, pink clouds had settled. The winds of the desert were dying down, no longer blowing sand as hard in the sand fields outside their camp. Quiet had settled on the group and night had set in, affecting them all.

Suddenly, a realization hit Katrina. "Where are Noami and Reia?!" She asked. "You sent them out and they never came back...! Where did they go?" she asked worriedly.

Taka, realizing his err, grabbed at his hair and, for the first time, showed anger. "I do not know -- the went into the cave," he said, pointing towards it.

Katrina, ever the worrywort, instantly decided that she would go find them. "A slagtoh takes no time to gather oil from. They must have encountered a Great Jaggi... or.... worse..." She said, grimacing as she lit her lantern.

"But you cannot go alone!" Taka protested.

"You let them, didn't you?" she replied.

"Fine, but I'm going with you," Calli said, lighting her own lantern.

"I'll come, too. They might need more," Gamor said, finding a torch and lighting it. He sharpened his sidearm, a trusty knife, and walked towards the cave. The rest followed his lead, venturing into the dark.

Yuki pulled her blanket ever closer, deeply concerned about the fate of the few friends she had that had went into the darkness. Jeren walked over to the group. "I can finish the build as soon as I have the oil," he said, "then we no longer need to stay here on the morrow."

Ali smiled as she sat down by Yuki. She gave Yuki a hearty hug and whispered, "they'll be fine. I just know it." she said. Yuki looked at Ali as if she had gone mad. She did not, however, push her away.

"...thank...you. I think..." She said.

Ali hopped up gleefully. "You're welcome!" she cheerfully chirped.