Chapter 4: Bad Omen

“Is this what the elders called bad omen?” Quinn muttered as we slowly walked away from the scene.

“Bad omen?” I asked, never heard such a word before.

“Elders say that bad omen is something unpleasant or undesirable thing that happens before a hunt,” Quinn explained carefully.

I can see her nose wrinkling and her eyes being restless, an indication that she is nervous.

“Maybe this is not the bad omen they meant,” I calmly butted in which made Quinn look at my side.

“These stacks of dead werewolves were made by hunters who also lost their loved ones,” I continued.

I admit, seeing a lot of werewolves on that state shocked me. I even sympathized for a second, good thing is I dragged my feet back to where it belongs.

“They are werewolves who paid for their sins,” Rendall said which made me and Quinn nod in an instant.

I shook my head to remove the thought that lingered in my mind since we saw the dead creatures. I am here for the mission; I don’t have the time to doubt.

“I apologize for bringing up the bad omen,” Quinn apologetically said.

Just when I was about to say that it is not a big problem…

“I will not let anything happen to you – to the both of you.”

I laughed at what my cousin said, he is taking any chance that he can get to make Quinn notice him.

“Let’s just continue fishing and get some fruits for our meal,” I muttered and slightly grinned at my cousin Rendall who is now blushing.

“Y-yes!” Rendall ran to the lake and grabbed the rod I left earlier.

“What are you doing?” I asked my cousin who is now staring at the fish bait.

“You folks sure you can catch fish?” Quinn shouted as she is sitting under a big oak tree holding a wooden bowl and a pestle.

I waved my rod to signal her that I got this, I don’t know about Rendall though.

We saw some crappies, eels, and king salmon.

“Three king salmon is enough for the whole day,” I said and started putting the bait on the part of the lake with more pebbles and stones.

After a few hours of standing and under the stinging ray of the sun, we decided to call it quits with two king salmon.

I thought I can at least catch five or more, but imagination is a far-fetched reality.

“Finally,” Quinn muttered when she saw us walking in her direction.

We created fire from dried branches and by using some flint. We set up the fish for grilling and Quinn already made some tomato salad and even peeled some fruits.

“After a long time!” Quinn exclaimed as I took out the fish at the center.

I chuckled and Rendall smiled, this hunt wouldn’t be this comfortable if I am with other hunters. All the hunters in Guala seem to avoid my eyes or me as a whole. Quinn, on the other hand, is the only one who challenged me in archery before and we ended up being a friend because she won and that is her condition.

After a massive lunch, we started eating the apples and pears peeled and served by Quinn.

We decided to rest for a while, I lie on the ground and looked at the clear blue sky. Rendall did the same, Quinn rested her back on the oak tree.

“Are those?” my brows furrowed with what we saw.

A flock of crows almost covered the fresh blue sky as it flew very fast as something scared them away.

“Crows.” Rendall stood up and take a closer look, the sky became dark as the sunlight is being trapped on the crow’s wings.

“Bad omen,” Quinn muttered.

“Don’t mind these crows, maybe it is time to go.” I stand up and shake off some leaves that stay on my clothes. I grabbed my baggage and waited for Quinn and Rendall to do the same.

I looked up and the crows are starting to diminish and the fresh blue sky is waving again, on us.

“Let’s go.” I nodded as I saw Rendall lead the way, Quinn and I followed him.

The second forest is not as big as Felon, however, it is a rainforest. I couldn’t believe it when I first heard about the forest Yulo. It took us half an hour to reach its entrance and we were welcomed by Yulo’s residents, poison dart frogs.

To avoid being stuck with these frogs, we decided to take the side route and use big leaves to cover our bodies and pieces of baggage. The saliva of these frogs, which comes out of their nose is very poisonous in that it can burn your skin until the core.

We successfully passed Yulo and now we are on the front of the third and last forest before Domlur, the forest Wadek. There is nothing special about this forest aside from it being wide.

“We’ll succeed in our hunt in no time,” Rendall smirked as he stood proudly with both hands holding his waist.

“We should be more aware of our surroundings,” I interrupted as I saw an unusual scratch on some trees in front of us.

I snapped my finger which immediately caught Quinn and Rendall’s attention. I put my index finger close enough to my lips and slowly put down the baggage and bring out my spear. Rendall took out his claymore and Quinn tightened her grip on her bow.

I can sense something, someone. I cannot tell how many but the air is cramped, it feels heavy.

A small growl from somewhere caught our attention and made us do our formation. Quinn as the support, Rendall as the slayer, and I, as the marksman. We formed a small circle enough to watch each other’s back.

“They’re here, they knew we were coming.” I scanned the trees in front of us and my eyes fell into the grass with rash movements, just near a chir pine tree.

“Quinn, East!” I shouted as I felt something from the east running in our direction.

Quinn nodded and immediately positioned her bow to release the arrow with poison. With a bolt, Quinn calmly let go of the arrow when a big brown werewolf appeared.

This is our first time to see a brown-haired werewolf, most of the hunts we’ve been to have black or grey fur.

“Brown?” Rendall asked as we saw the arrow hit its leg and growl in pain.

“He has company,” I calmly muttered and prepare my spear for the hunt.

After saying those words 10 more werewolves appeared in all directions, blocking our sight with their huge bodies and all of them seem to have the same brown hair.

“Is it the whole pack from Domlur?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

Werewolves growl as they slowly walk with their claws ready to slash everything or everyone on its way.

We, on the other hand, are prepared to do everything. The werewolf that was shot by Quinn using her arrow slowly fell to the ground making its comrades look at us with hatred and disgust.

I smirked, the poison is working and all we have to do is to attack them all with it.

“Go!” Rendall shouted and we quickly charged at the werewolves near us.

I successfully stabbed one werewolf on its arm and used the other end of the spear to strike another werewolf that is sneaking an attack behind me. I have no sight of Quinn and Rendall but I know they are doing fine.

I remember we have 10 werewolves here but the fight is unending and the number of these monsters just keeps on increasing. I even counted the ones on the ground, the ones who are still alive are more than ten and I do not have any idea where are they coming from.

“Beware of your strength!” I warned them as we have to keep on fighting until we kill all of them.

I wasn’t able to hear their response but I am sure they are doing what they know best, to hunt.

“Do not run away!” I shouted and throw my spear directly into the werewolf running away. I got its left leg and I immediately run to finish it off.

The werewolf raises its claws and desperately reached for my face but I evaded it and took out my knife and pierced it through its heart.

I wiped the blood that splattered on my face and raised my head to find Rendall and Quinn.

Rendall is owning this hunt by slashing the werewolf’s body mercilessly while Quinn, Quinn is nowhere to be found.

“Quinn!”

Finally, I saw a movement of Quinn’s bow and arrow behind the tree that is seven feet away from me.

With a sigh of relief, I continued chasing another werewolf. It is faster and slimmer than the first one so I have to make sure that my eyes will always follow it.

We ended up on a small pond, I saw it looking side to side.

“Where are you going?” I mockingly asked.

I shrugged when I received a small growl from it, I took out a small knife that is on my leg and is ready to throw it to the werewolf when.

“Raffi!” I heard the desperate scream of my cousin so I had to rush back.

I run as fast as I can and when I arrived, I saw Rendall on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

“What is it?” I asked him and helped him stand up, using claymore in this kind of hunt is difficult because it requires extra effort just by swinging it.

“I-I haven’t seen Quinn in a while,” he said in between his long deep breaths.

“I saw her with her bow earlier,” I traced the tree where I last saw Quinn and true to that, she’s not there anymore.

“Alright, maybe she’s just somewhere resting.” I looked at the east and west side of the forest and come up with an idea.

“You go east, I’ll go west.” Rendall nodded with what I said so we split up, still holding our weapons and sharpening our senses for an attack.

I saw some blood on the ground which I followed until I reached another pond, I saw nothing so I turned my back not until I heard a growl not too far from where I am standing.

I immediately duck and hide behind the tall grasses beside the pond.

I saw a werewolf trying to wash its wound using the water from the pond, I immediately grabbed my spear but my eyes widened at what I saw.

The werewolf is slowly transforming in a human form, in the form of a kid. I stay stilled, carefully watching how this little werewolf girl treats her wound. Making me realize that not all of those huge werewolves are adults, some of them are kids.

I shake my head, making the thought go away. No matter how young or old werewolves are, they’re still ferocious. I was about to throw the small dart with poison when I heard someone running.

The werewolf kid noticed it too, making her stand up and look around. The werewolf kid slowly steps backward and runs away.

I looked around to see who is the one behind it until I saw Rendall who easily found me hiding in the bushes.

“R-raffi,” Rendall’s voice broke when he said my name.

“Why? I was just about to kill another werewolf, Rendall.” He grabbed my arm and started walking back to the east side of the forest where I told him to find Quinn.

He didn’t talk but I could feel his heavy breathing, sniffing, and trembling.

We stopped at a certain area, since he is in front of me, I let him face me by pulling his shoulders.

My heart sank at what I saw in front of us, no, I almost died with what I saw.

I saw Quinn’s upper body lying on the ground, her eyes still open, and her bow is still in her hand.

“No, no this can’t be,” I helplessly muttered and rushed to Quinn’s body.