Remember.3
I turned my head and realised I was alone. No, not entirely. I knew the hunter was close by and watching me. It was not his duty to protect me, only to observe and escort. The laughter was closer. I turned on my heels and continued to race away from the sound. I didn't know where I was going; I just need to find somewhere safe.
It was too late. Now, the laughter was ahead of me and I had nowhere to turn. I turned my head around to look for a tree to climb. I found nothing. The trunks of the trees were much to thick around and there were no low branches I could pull myself with. I cursed and began to run again toward what, I didn't know. My only option was the weapon hidden under my coat. I reached for it but before I could pull it out, there was rough shove against my shoulder.
I turned and saw the hunter looking at me, growing acid in his eyes, distaste on his lips. The laughter began again, closer and the hunter ran ahead of me. I hesitated for a moment, and then followed; the hunter knew where to go. It was only a few moments before a cave was visible in the snow. I would not have noticed it if the hunter did not disappear into a snowy crevice. I swallowed before entering, my hand still on my weapon.
It was incredibly dark and cold. I could hear drips of water falling from the ceiling and the slight flap of wings. I felt nervous. Caves were a scary place. Often there was no way out and they were enclosed and contained evil things; the one setting light could never penetrate for long.
"We will not be safe here." I said, my voice echoing eerily against the walls.
The hunter did not reply. I did not even know if he was still inside with me. There was a flicker of light and I stared in its direction, my hand gripping the hilt of my weapon even harder. Another flicker. It was the hunter. His arrows were the light. I sighed softly, reaching for an edge of the cave. My hand touched a cold and damp rock and I positioned my back against it. More screeches of laughter sounded, not just one anymore.
I had a clear view of the opening of the cave and stared out it. I could see them, then. Dozens, hundreds, of black, matted creatures were running, dashing, tearing through everything in their path, their sound echoing through the cave.
Goblins. I knew that term immediately. Goblins were murderous, mindless cannibals that lived for the pleasure of torture and hate. They had no form of leadership or culture. They simply lived to destroy, only traveling in packs in order to consume each other or other fresh kill
They were passing the cave, but I doubt for long. There will always be a stray, searching every opportunity.
There it was; long black fingers were slowly making their way inside the cave. I could hear a sniff, as the goblin's ugly face poked in and searched for any signs of life. Something had caught its attention as it headed toward me. I swallowed, trying to steady my breathing. There was a low clicking growl coming from the entrance of the cave. Another goblin had entered, doing the same movements as the first. The second goblin stayed close to the ground, its face sniffing the round, its long black tongue licking the floor.
I had an idea as to where the hunter was and I could see the smallest hint of light, my eyes adjusting to the dark. The first goblin was incredibly close to me now, his nose inches away from my boots. I had to make a decision, or I would be found. It was instinctive; I've done this before. Quickly, I looked at the other, its face still to the ground and facing a different direction. I pulled out the weapon from under my coat, glistening in the dark. The first goblin noticed and barred it's teeth, seeing me for the first time. I did not allow it to make a sound as I sliced my dagger across its throat. Warm black blood shot out toward the cave wall and me.
I had not forgotten the other goblin, but I did not have a choice, I was expecting to be attacked with strong, dirty claws and long sharp teeth, but nothing happened. Right in the moments it took for the second goblin to stand and state at the dead fallen in it its it's own dark blood, I watched as an arrow flew through the goblin's skull and penetrate the cave wall on the opposite end.
I gasped, but there was no time to pause, the sound attracted more goblins. Two more entered the cave, one noticing the bodies. I swallowed, trying hard to move away from them, but dared not move very far. The bodies were going to pile up and that would attract deadlier creatures; there are far worse things than goblins. The two new goblins reached for the dead ones and began to consume them, ripping and tearing into the flesh, screeching angrily. I looked up at the cave entrance; the goblins were gone, at least for now. I saw another glint of light and another arrow went through another goblins skull mid-bite. The other goblin gave a whaling screech but was cut short as I reached for it with one hand, exposing its neck, forcing the head to look up. Slowly and with alarming satisfaction, I severed through its neck with my dagger. I dropped the corpse when the goblin stopped struggling.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the hunter striding past the cave floor and standing at the entrance of the cave. I took a step over the dead goblins and followed. The hunter was peering, looking for any signs of movement, his stance tense and attentive. He relaxed a bit, seeing nothing.
It was quick and fast, but I was expecting it. The hunter pushed me back inside the cave. He pulled me off my feet then threw me against the wall hard, my back and shoulders feeling the edges of the uneven rock. I grunted as I felt the impact and stared back up at him, his eyes red with anger and his teeth barred.
One of his arrows were on my neck and I could feel the slight burning against my skin as it cut into me. His other hand was in fist, holding onto the scruff of my coat, my feet still off the ground.
"Who. Are. You?" He whispered vehemently, his hand with the arrow shaking.
"I don't remember." I told him truthfully.
"You lie." He replied, his anger growing.
I let out a breath between my teeth, feeling the arrow still. "I am not lying." With that, I pushed the dagger I had in my hand into his torso and he looked down.
He dropped me and stepped back, unable to hide his mix of anger and surprise. I swallowed ever so slightly took a step toward the entrance. He saw it and his anger intensified. I was breathing hard and took a chance, his arrow barely missing.
It was too late. Now, the laughter was ahead of me and I had nowhere to turn. I turned my head around to look for a tree to climb. I found nothing. The trunks of the trees were much to thick around and there were no low branches I could pull myself with. I cursed and began to run again toward what, I didn't know. My only option was the weapon hidden under my coat. I reached for it but before I could pull it out, there was rough shove against my shoulder.
I turned and saw the hunter looking at me, growing acid in his eyes, distaste on his lips. The laughter began again, closer and the hunter ran ahead of me. I hesitated for a moment, and then followed; the hunter knew where to go. It was only a few moments before a cave was visible in the snow. I would not have noticed it if the hunter did not disappear into a snowy crevice. I swallowed before entering, my hand still on my weapon.
It was incredibly dark and cold. I could hear drips of water falling from the ceiling and the slight flap of wings. I felt nervous. Caves were a scary place. Often there was no way out and they were enclosed and contained evil things; the one setting light could never penetrate for long.
"We will not be safe here." I said, my voice echoing eerily against the walls.
The hunter did not reply. I did not even know if he was still inside with me. There was a flicker of light and I stared in its direction, my hand gripping the hilt of my weapon even harder. Another flicker. It was the hunter. His arrows were the light. I sighed softly, reaching for an edge of the cave. My hand touched a cold and damp rock and I positioned my back against it. More screeches of laughter sounded, not just one anymore.
I had a clear view of the opening of the cave and stared out it. I could see them, then. Dozens, hundreds, of black, matted creatures were running, dashing, tearing through everything in their path, their sound echoing through the cave.
Goblins. I knew that term immediately. Goblins were murderous, mindless cannibals that lived for the pleasure of torture and hate. They had no form of leadership or culture. They simply lived to destroy, only traveling in packs in order to consume each other or other fresh kill
They were passing the cave, but I doubt for long. There will always be a stray, searching every opportunity.
There it was; long black fingers were slowly making their way inside the cave. I could hear a sniff, as the goblin's ugly face poked in and searched for any signs of life. Something had caught its attention as it headed toward me. I swallowed, trying to steady my breathing. There was a low clicking growl coming from the entrance of the cave. Another goblin had entered, doing the same movements as the first. The second goblin stayed close to the ground, its face sniffing the round, its long black tongue licking the floor.
I had an idea as to where the hunter was and I could see the smallest hint of light, my eyes adjusting to the dark. The first goblin was incredibly close to me now, his nose inches away from my boots. I had to make a decision, or I would be found. It was instinctive; I've done this before. Quickly, I looked at the other, its face still to the ground and facing a different direction. I pulled out the weapon from under my coat, glistening in the dark. The first goblin noticed and barred it's teeth, seeing me for the first time. I did not allow it to make a sound as I sliced my dagger across its throat. Warm black blood shot out toward the cave wall and me.
I had not forgotten the other goblin, but I did not have a choice, I was expecting to be attacked with strong, dirty claws and long sharp teeth, but nothing happened. Right in the moments it took for the second goblin to stand and state at the dead fallen in it its it's own dark blood, I watched as an arrow flew through the goblin's skull and penetrate the cave wall on the opposite end.
I gasped, but there was no time to pause, the sound attracted more goblins. Two more entered the cave, one noticing the bodies. I swallowed, trying hard to move away from them, but dared not move very far. The bodies were going to pile up and that would attract deadlier creatures; there are far worse things than goblins. The two new goblins reached for the dead ones and began to consume them, ripping and tearing into the flesh, screeching angrily. I looked up at the cave entrance; the goblins were gone, at least for now. I saw another glint of light and another arrow went through another goblins skull mid-bite. The other goblin gave a whaling screech but was cut short as I reached for it with one hand, exposing its neck, forcing the head to look up. Slowly and with alarming satisfaction, I severed through its neck with my dagger. I dropped the corpse when the goblin stopped struggling.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the hunter striding past the cave floor and standing at the entrance of the cave. I took a step over the dead goblins and followed. The hunter was peering, looking for any signs of movement, his stance tense and attentive. He relaxed a bit, seeing nothing.
It was quick and fast, but I was expecting it. The hunter pushed me back inside the cave. He pulled me off my feet then threw me against the wall hard, my back and shoulders feeling the edges of the uneven rock. I grunted as I felt the impact and stared back up at him, his eyes red with anger and his teeth barred.
One of his arrows were on my neck and I could feel the slight burning against my skin as it cut into me. His other hand was in fist, holding onto the scruff of my coat, my feet still off the ground.
"Who. Are. You?" He whispered vehemently, his hand with the arrow shaking.
"I don't remember." I told him truthfully.
"You lie." He replied, his anger growing.
I let out a breath between my teeth, feeling the arrow still. "I am not lying." With that, I pushed the dagger I had in my hand into his torso and he looked down.
He dropped me and stepped back, unable to hide his mix of anger and surprise. I swallowed ever so slightly took a step toward the entrance. He saw it and his anger intensified. I was breathing hard and took a chance, his arrow barely missing.