First Hunting Alone

Chapter 1: First Hunting Alone

My eyes flew open, my body was burning hot and drops of perspiration were sticky all over my body. I turned my gaze to someone standing beside me. A tap on my shoulder woke me up and tore me from that nightmare. I took a huge breath as I saw his frowning face.

"Up," His lips barely moved covered with his white thick mustache. He turned to leave and I noticed his walk, he went weaker and weaker every day. In his dirty white shirt, I knew his getting thinner too. As he slammed the door my eyes fell to my palm, that dream kept on hunting me until now. Her face was clearer before, but now it has gotten blurry as time pass. "What are those?"

"Olive!" I heard him call out. I climb down to my bed and fixed my blanket made of wolf fur. I turned my light on and started changing my clothes into a brown cloak, I got my metal bow painted black and grey on each end. I choose not to tie my hair and didn't even bother combing it. I was facing my unfurnished wooden door when it went open. His cringe face greeted me. This old man had been having a bad night I suppose.

"Is that how hunters move?" His sarcasm sounded boring, it wasn't felt insulting anymore. He handed me a bundle of arrows. I stopped when I noticed his clothes, he hasn't changed into hunting wear.

"Aren't you supposed to change? Who is slow now?" He only sat down in his favorite chair and got his cup of coffee with him.

"You are going out, alone." And my ears started burning, then my heart went hammering against my chest, I am going alone.

"Okay," nervousness with excitement made my heart jump. I bit my inner cheek to restrain my smile. "Are you sure?" Of course his so sure, why did I even ask? I have been waiting for this.

"I won't be searching for you if ever you lost your way home." A half-smile crept on my lips, his not good at wishing someone a stroke of good luck. His high pride could never hide his care for me.

I got out of our cabin, it was still dark, a few hours away from sunrise. And a few hours of the chance to hunt for food. I was stealthily walking to the North. Under the shadow of the trees, I took a glance at the huge moon. It was a perfect sphere, I unconsciously stared longer at the moon than I planned. It was hypnotizing. I blinked to cease feeling.

The scene seemed familiar. As I looked at the trees around me and the shadows of those trees. The sphere, sphere, I kept using that word, it seemed familiar. The chilling breeze of dawn air made me realize that I was wasting time. I started running and the familiar feeling was creeping me out. Then I smelled wet fur, I carefully placed my foot on the ground and positioned my bow with an arrow.

Fur, if this was a wolf then I doom.

I stepped back feeling nervous, I thought of stepping behind and hiding in its shadow.I felt like walking wasn't a good idea. Then I heard a swift move against the air from my left. My eyes widen when I met its gold eyes and yellowish teeth. Its paw pushed both of my shoulders down and felt its sharp nails dig into my skin. I stepped back and bent to support my body from falling, I got my pocket knife and stabbed it between his eyes but it manage to bite the knife. It was too strong which made me step back more.

It was about to bite my shoulder, I used my bow to hit him. He stepped back and I saw the part where I hit it was burning. My bow was laced with silver on each end. I didn't waste any time and shot it. He angrily attacked and I hit it again followed by a strong stab from my other hand. I stabbed his shoulder and it almost got my arm. But I ran and strike him with my bow again. I got an arrow and shoot its head. It bled more and I watched it howling angrily. I didn't let the opportunity to shoot it again pass. And my bow struck to its throat.

I waited for it to die, 'this big wolf is enough to please that old man. Luckily this isn't an Alpha, I might miss my limbs if ever.'

After making sure it was already dead, I slit its throat to make more sure, it was safe to carry. Crickets had been filling my ears, no matter how irritating it was, they were my only companion. I felt like they were following my every step or something. Started walking home while that wolf was in the sack I am pulling. The hardest part, I rather hunt all night and all day than carry a dead animal to the house.

"Tasio should be the one to do this," I ranted. I thought hunting alone would be fun, with no rules, no sharp insult of inappropriate behavior, and no orders of what I should do. But carrying wasn't my thing.

I stumbled into a small cliff-like ground beside an Olive tree. An old Oliver tree. I had been here before but this felt different now. The sun had started to rise, and I continued walking back too. I felt sore on my shoulder, I know this wolf did these scratches.

Good thing the cabin came into my sight and I saw to the old man Tasio was but rifting some firewood. He saw me coming yet continued what he was doing.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Gues," he looked at the sack.

"A rabbit," I rolled my eyes, what kind of rabbit he was thinking? A giant one?

"Have you ever seen a rabbit of this size?" He has been insulting my hunting skill. "Your eyes had gotten worst, Tasio," I exclaimed and dropped the sack. I went into the cabin to tend my wounds. I didn't call him dad, papa, or any. I grew up calling him Tasio.

He wasn't my father, nor any relative. All I knew was, he named me Olive, cause he find me under the Olive tree. He was hunting at that time and he saw me unconscious lying dead on the ground. I took a heavy breath and exhaled. My body seemed tired or something weak. I felt like doing nothing all day, I massage my neck while walking to shower. I was gentle and careful taking off my shirt, not wanting to stretch my arm too much because my wounds might bleed more.

I faced the mirror and found something strange.