Collection Of Horror Tales - Chapter 12 The Hunt Pt. 1

Looking around, I couldn’t see anything. It was darker than black. Only shadows of shadows were visible. Knowing my direction I followed a path, made by my Imagination.

I struggled and tripped many times. Nevertheless I had the goal and would do anything to achieve it. Even if it meant to blindly crawl through the forest. He couldn’t be far. I chased his tracks for weeks now. I haven’t seen his appearance. Still, if I am, where I think I am, I will catch sight of him in the next days.

My tribes man said I shouldn’t worry to much. It is destiny that we will meet, he is me and I am him. We are only going to reunite with this.

I stepped on some dry wood as I was deep in thought. Instantly my senses turn back to reality. I scan my surroundings. That shadow to my left looks a bit unnatural. Slowly I loosen my bow. Internally I’m cursing my self. Why was I absent minded, Deep in enemy territory. I’m stupid. If this is the reason I’m going to die, I will kill the Great Spirit personally for this “destiny”. Also slowly, I take out a arrow and stretch my bow. Deep breaths, control your breathing. Be one with the nature around. The moment, when I just felt the Great Spirit touch my mind I shot.

The arrow whistles through the air fatally, hits the ground and… Nothing. This long Hunt made me paranoid.

I follow the trail of some footsteps and broken wood. The footsteps are awfully big for a Horse. Still, they were not as big, to be unnatural. The one I followed is a solitary animal, abandoned by his herd, he wanders aimlessly. This was the best case scenario for myself, a whole wild horse herd could become problematic.

The next day we arrived at the mountains. He wasn’t slowing down. Almost, as of he knew I am following him. His path became irregular since he arrived at the mountains. Sometimes he would climb up a hillside just to go down some 500 feet displaced. Other times his tracks lead to the conclusion, that he must have sprinted for around 1 or 2 miles, with no apparent reason.

I can’t really explain this behaviour, but he must be driven crazy by something. Most likely is that the separation from his herd was especially hard for him.

After 2 more days I finally saw him. What a beautiful animal. Black like the night and majestic, was he standing on a mountain top. His head turning, searching his surroundings. He knew I was there, I had to be careful from now on.

The following days were hard but successful. My location now is around half a mile behind him, with the option to strike if I get a chance.

What started to irritate me on my hunt was that I found a unnatural high number of cases, where predators have killed their prey savagely. The Corpses where not fully eaten. Mostly there were only a few bites taken. I guessed that it just looked weird to me because I am unfamiliar with the region. I am more than 100 miles away from our tribes encampment.

After 2 more days the waiting paid off. He was tired and needed a rest. I approached him, with the use of every hunting skill I have mastered. I was no excellent hunter but that didn’t mean was a bad one. Especially when I make use of the great spirit in my surroundings, I surpass most other hunters in my tribe.

Silently I got to a distance of around 50 feet. A more than solid distance for a good shot. As I take out my bow and start to aim, I can see him for the first time clearly. He laid on the grassland we just entered, his back facing me. I pulled the string back. Taking deep breaths, I tried to feel the great spirit. Then, just when I started to feel the great Spirit and reached out to touch it, he turned his head. His eyes focused mine, they were pitch black, only black. His mouth was distorted to a almost human like grin. In contrast to that humanly image were is teeth, long and sharp, just like from a predator. I finally realized why I found so many animal Corpses on the way. He was definitely not the horse, I thought he was. He was clearly a monster, that couldn’t be created by the Great Spirit.

This realization, together with his cold, almost intelligent eyes starring at me somehow interrupted my connection with the Great Spirit. I still let loose the shot I had. It didn’t hit, even in the slightest. Not waiting another second, I turned around and ran.