The Hybrid Fateful Sorrow

A Good Hunter

Just outside the village of Masse, at the top of the hill near the forest entrance is where the house of the two sisters, Amelia and Elise have lived along with their new companion Amadeus.

‘Living with them has always been a delightful day, I can easily say the best thing that's happened to all the days I've lived.’

A month has passed since Amadeus decided to stay and live with them.

Walking on the way home, Amadeus with his new life wears simple plain tunics bringing a basket full of cloudberries. Beside him is a young girl in a sleeveless short gown, Elise as she walks with a new flower collection in her hands.

“Ex-knight, ” She called.

“Yeah, ” He quietly responded.

“You seem to be sweating more than usual?” she asked.

‘Yeah, she's right. Everything has been going well since I decided to stay until now, but this damn wolf has awakened. I can't stop thinking about flesh, veins, blood, and to hunt,’ Amadeus thought as his body sweats.

“Are you well? Do you feel cold inside? It’s starting to get colder now that it’s September, ” Elise continued to ask.

‘Do you feel cold inside…’ a voice of a man in his head.

‘You are back,’ Amadeus said in his mind.

‘I never left, what I do is wait,’ the voice said.

‘I’m living a good life now, you go ahead and wait for a long time, I’ll never be fooled by you again,’ Amadeus said.

‘You'll need me.’

“Ex-knight?”

“You are right, I’m probably just excited from all that plucking, it's my first time harvesting these golden berries. I can’t wait to taste it as a jam, ” Amadeus replied.

“Yes, that must be it! And I think you did good, Ex-knight! ” Elise said as she giggled.

“Thank you, Elise.”

As they continue to walk, seeing Amelia on the grindstone grinding some corn.

Amelia waves at them as she notices the two.

‘She really is trusting me now with Elise, last time she would freak out if Elise wasn't on her side,’ Amadeus thought as they closed in.

Equipped with her bow, arrow, and a dagger in her waist with her all the time hunting clothes that consist of brown wool, and a cherry linen shawl.

“You both sure did take your time, I'm thinking of going into the forest to hunt today, ” Amelia said, greeting the two with her hands on her waist.

Dropping the basket filled with cloudberries in front of Amelia.

“It looks like it was worth the wait, a big haul we are lucky this time, ” she said.

“I see, and Elise found a new flower for her collection, so, she's pretty happy, ” he said as he looked at the ecstatic Elise.

“Yes! This will go straight in our garden, ” Elise said.

“Not so fast, young one, ” Amadeus said.

Looking at her adorable eyes.

“Help me wash the berries first, ” he added.

“Hmmmmph,” a long soft, and the sweet sound of annoyance was heard from Elise.

“Good, good, ” Amelia said as she chuckles.

“Make her flabby arms work, ” she added as she softly pinches Elise's arms.

“I'm not fat! Sis!” Elise let out as she folds both her arms across her chest.

Amadeus and Amelia laugh at the sight of a mad Elise as they tease her.

“I'll be back soon, enjoy both of you, ” Amelia said.

“The two of us can help you hunt sis, we could get a lot more, ” Elise said.

Bending forward to Elise, Amelia speaks.

“I know you can, but now it's different, ” Amelia said.

“Different how?” she asked.

“I always hunted with you Elise, and that made me braver in the woods. That's true with you on my side I feel stronger, and it becomes much easier, ” Amelia said as she inspects her arrows.

“The way our father used to hunt, his eyes, the eye of someone who truly hunts. The way he moves, he was in a thrill of the hunt. I would like to feel it one day, ” she added.

“I see, ” Elise said trying to comprehend her sister's words.

“I understand Amelia, we'll get the cloudberry washed and cleaned soon, so it's ready when you get back, ” Amadeus said.

'The thrill of the hunt, a bit different from what I am, who wanted it safe, boring, and quick.'

“You can count on us, sis!” Elise said.

“Thanks to both of you, I won’t stay long, ” Amelia said.

“Be safe out there, ” he said.

——

Hunting quietly in the forest, sinking into the woods clouded part, being one with nature as they say. 

Amelia quietly approaches with the wind going in her direction to avoid passing her presence to her prey that is in front of her.

A deer which is having some green grasses, constantly checking the air with its excellent sense of smell.

Arrow ready. String pulled. Target in sight.

“Come on, show me your heart, ” Amelia said as she holds her breath.

Release!

Silently whooshing in the air as it travels to the heart of the deer.

A grunting sound was yelled in the distance. A big man with a wide cross scar in his bare body, only wearing a full mantle and fur pants, showed up from sneaking into the deer only to frighten it as it quickly runs away.

Missing the arrow as it almost hit the man, piercing in the nearby trees.

A couple more voices were heard.

“Stupid Jowan, you scared it fool!” the voice of a man said.

“No, it's not me, Thomas, ” Jowan said seriously as he looked from where the arrow came from.

“Sh*t…” Amelia uttered.

“A f*cker has almost shot me in the nuts, ” Jowan yelled as he pulled the arrow in the trees.

“What?”

“Here, ” he said as he showed them the arrow.

“Come out you f*cker! Learn to God damn shoot!” Jowan yelled.

“Might be a b*tch, a b*ch who hates nuts, ” Thomas said.

‘Come on, that’s not even my fault,’ Amelia said.

“You scared my target away!!” Amelia yelled from the distance.

Upon hearing her voice, two more of his men showed up.

Jowan a middle-aged big guy with a mantle and pants made of fur. Equipping two steel swords.

Thomas in his right is an old man, covered with fur clothing, with an ax in his waist.

Another man a younger in leather and wool clothing, holding a shortsword

A middle-aged woman in the back wears sleeveless leather armor, equipped with a bow.

'Sh*t! Sh*t! Why did I yell? they look like trouble,' Amelia thought.

“I see it's lady, I see, you just stay right there, we will come at you. Let's talk about this, ” Jowan said as he quickly traverses the distance between them.

Followed by his companion.

As they got closer Amelia kept her distance.

“Oh, my my, a lady alone in the woods, ” Jowan said.

“Oh yeah, it's true it's a woman. Look Rioljar that right there is a real woman, you haven't seen one yet, am I right kid?” Thomas said, pulling the young man with him.

“P*ss off, you old fool, I’m a woman, ” the woman said.

“Shut up Anafe, your ugly face isn’t considered as one, ” Jowan said.

“But this one right here is one hell of a woman, ” Jowan added as he steps closer.

“That was my hunt, I didn’t know you were there, ” Amelia said as she tried to keep her distance.

“Oh! Do you own this forest? Does your name etch in here? Whatever it is, ” Jowan said as he gestures his hand pointing to the trees and lands.

“No.”

“Then I guess it wasn’t yours, I almost have it you see, but your little misfire scared the damn deer, ” Jowan said.

“No, no. You're the one who scared it away, ” She said as she keeps her distance.

“If I were shooting at you, you would already be dead, ” She added.

Thomas moves closer.

“Now, now, dear, do you really think threatening will work for you here?” Thomas said.

With everyone stepping closer, slowly surrounding Amelia.

“I wasn’t threatening anyone, alright, alright. It's my fault, I'm sorry, I'll keep a better eye next time and avoid anything like this again, ” Amelia said. 

“You are brave, you know why? Because you are still in here, but really foolish, ” Jowan said as he sighs.

“I'm glad you understand your wrongdoing, but still you owe me a deer, a flesh of meat, a delicious one that would sate my thirst, ” Jowan added as he glanced at Amelia's thighs and bodies.

“Talk man, say hi to the young lass, you are not a mute are you?” Thomas said as he pushed Rioljar.

“I um, Rio—” Rioljar said only to be interrupted by Amelia.

“I don't have any, I only started my hunt!” Amelia said.

“Right here kid is where you'll have your first, you'll be munching a sweetmeat right there, you lucky son of a b*tch, ” Thomas said to Rioljar as he points his finger to Amelia.

“I'm sure beneath your clothes you have a nice meat body right there, can you show us more?” Jowan said as he continued to come closer.

“What are you talking about?”

“Here you thick skull, ” Anafe said as she pointed to her breast and body.

“He wants your body, ” she added.

“What??” Amelia asked.

“This is the time when they usually run, either she is too dumb or she is good at hiding her fear, a good hunter,” Anafe said.

Jowan upon walking much closer.

“Don't come any closer!” she said as she quickly drew her bow, arming it.

“Oh she's a fighter as well, ” Anafe said as she pulled her bow as well.

“Maybe she thinks she can take us all, ” Thomas said.

“Then a fool, ” Jowan declared.

'They are right, what am I doing? I can't face them alone, this is impossible for me, I'm the one that will be hunt!' Amelia thought, caving into fear.

'Run, Run, Run!'