Rise Of The Hunters - Chapter 28

“So, Willow,” said Xun seriously as the laughter faded. “What did you mean when you called this place Hunter’s Vale?”

“What?” said Rick in surprise.

“Oh, I lied.” She said it so naturally, as if it wasn’t unusual at all. “I was hoping they would give me a meal at Bob’s Bar, but all they gave me was beets instead. I hate beets.”

Xun would have laughed at her face, if he wasn’t so stunned. What did she mean she lied?

“You said they beat up werewolves and taught people how to hunt all the dangerous creatures.” He tried to stay calm as the shock faded to anger.

Rick laughed again, not catching on to how upset Xun was. Or maybe that was just his way to try and calm him down? Xun wasn’t sure, but he started getting deep slow breaths to get himself under control.

“You said all that?” Rick looked at her and she shrugged.

“I can’t believe you fell for it. I was sure you knew I was making all that up. They wouldn’t give me a trip to Bob’s Bar because that stupid wolf bit my foot. The doctor said the reward was paid in his medical fees. What a quack. It still hurts some, but I can go back to hunting tomorrow.”

“How much of that stuff you told me was true?”

“I don’t remember everything I told you, so I don’t know. What does it matter?”

“Oh, Willow!” Rick shook his head at her indifferent face.

“What? Does it matter how I got him to come here? He’s here now.”

Xun was quiet as he thought over the letter he had found. Pulling it out, Willow snatched it out of his hands to read. He thought seriously about hurting her to get it back, but decided she could read it.

-The teachings of the hunters are very good, but they want too much in return. If you can manage to escape their city before they swear you into their gang, it’s worth it. Otherwise, don’t get too close or they will try to make you join them. Love you guys, good luck. –

“Swear you into their gang? This sounds like some kind of cult.” She handed the letter to Rick who read it much slower.

Xun still couldn’t believe he was in charge of the library when he couldn’t read very well.

Rick scratched his head and handed the letter back. “That sounds like a group that took up house in an abandoned city to the west. They were a nasty group that kept trying to steal game from our hunters. The council eventually sent several groups of guards and hunters to get rid of them. That’s where Hayden came from.”

Willow nodded. “I remember they were bringing all the kids back that they found there, but many of them were sick from something that they had been eating. The cooks thought it must have been tainted meat.”

“Only Hayden survived, out of all those they brought back. The weapon wounds were nasty and everyone had infections. The doctors were working overtime trying to keep people from dying. They were quarantined and everything.”

“Yeah, a lot of people died. I almost thought you were one of the scattered survivors, but I just couldn’t see you as a threat, nȧkėd and wet.”

Xun turned red and Rick laughed again. He knew it had to be too good to be true. As far as he could tell this place didn’t have a clue when it came to hunting. In fact, if they never hunted at all, they would have plenty of food.

“Why were you nȧkėd again? I remember Willow telling me about that, but she never told me why. Only something about you were soaking wet from tripping in a stream.”

“I was trying to wash my clothes. I never tripped.”

“Oh! So that’s what you were doing!” said Willow, and they laughed again.

“So, have you ever had any training to hunt?” Xun looked at her unhappily.

“Nope, not one day of anything. I told the leaders I wanted to be a hunter and they said ok, good luck.”

Xun ġrȯȧnėd. If this place didn’t have so much to offer him, he would leave right now. But the allure of learning about the past from all the newspapers and books was too much. And there didn’t seem to have ever been any Slavers here. The people were too complacent and laid back.

“Mostly only outsiders are allowed to be hunters. There’s a few of the leaders’ kids who go out to hunt, but they aren’t very good. I believe Hayden is the best hunter of all of them. Most of our hunters died fighting the group to the west.” Rick looked thoughtful as he picked up the trays to return to the kitchen.

Xun looked at Willow, but she shrugged. “There’s huge chains in the gym that I was told were once used to chain up a werewolf for training to hunt them. That’s where I got the idea. It’s not my fault you’re so gullible.”

With a groan, Rick stood up. “Come on, Willow, before he decides to show you how gullible he is with that axe of his. Though, I am grateful you were willing to come. It’s nice to have more friends.”

Xun nodded as the two headed back towards the kitchen together. As he continued to watch, he saw Willow slide her hand into Rick’s and he smiled. Rick was smart enough to see through her sass, and she needed the friendly attitude that rolled off of him constantly.

Shaking his head, he decided he needed to head to the barracks. It was late and he needed some sleep if he was going to be so busy the next day.

Despite the lateness of the hour, he was surprised at the number of people who were casually strolling around the compound in the dark. There had never been a compound of people who were so comfortable after dark in his life.

As he tried to find his bed in the dark, noises of people trying to settle for the night as well as snores from those who were already asleep, drifted through the room. He made sure his hide was still tucked safely under the bed before settling down for the night. He hoped sleep would come soon, but his mind just kept running in circles.