Chapter 1

Today is the last day of the second year and I find myself hunting wild boar that have been plaguing a nearby ranch. It's dangerous to go deeper into the forest, but I'm desperate for supplies, and they said I'd be well compensated, so that's means they're not giving me all the details.

I spot tracks on the forest ground. Not sure what boar tracks look I like, so I'm comparing them to the pig tracks at the farm.

Tracks looks similar enough. Still daylight.. I'll go a bit further in...

Spot a rabbit, tempting but I don't want the gunshot scare away the boar, and I got only one arrow left.

Follow the tracks a good 50 meters. I really shouldn't be this far into the forest. I sit for a minute. Nothing... Not even birds...

The tree next to me explodes, I roll away and through the splinters I see it, a boar, much bigger than I thought, too big, but wait... Is that a saddle on i-...Vision goes black before I can react, didn't even hear anyone coming up behind me...

Wake up, vision blurry, ears ringing, kinda dark. Looks like I'm in a wood cage, tarp over it. Feel the blood trickle from the back of my head, I hear grunts and squeals just in front of me. They took my shoes, shirt and coat. Glad they left my pants, they should've taken those. Tarp is pulled off, the sun blinds me, I blink as my eyes adjust, no shade, seem to be in a clearing, let's see what the bastard looks like.

Jeezus!

I see claws and a scaly hand come at my throat and my first instinct is to jump back and press up on the other side of the cage.

Another one of them slams the cage from behind me, suprise to you too. Tall mother fuckers 6'5, other just above 6ft, lanky, crazy long torso , quilts? Loin clothes? Heads covered by hoods so I can't make out faces, red glowing eyes are enough. These things are new

Take a look around, small clearing, campfire, no tents, two boars between me and the fire, two tall whatchumacallits. So it's just them two, sun still high. Good. Creeps circle my cage, sizing me up.

Second look at the fire, looks like one of the goats from the ranch on rotisserie, yup there's my stuff right next to it. Cage looks solid for rope and wood. They walk away, guess they're more hungry than interested in me. They pick up my rifle, and from the way the short one points the barrel at his face guess they don't know what it is. Are they chewing on my boots?

Idiots seem bored, they go for the goat, here's my chance. Reach into my pants and pull out my small blade, big knot atop one of the sides, must be the "lock".

Shit! They're looking my way, look innocent. Shorty tosses a bone at one of the boars, thing gladly takes it. Boar eat bones? Look at its eyes, they're also glowing red, these aren't normal boars, size of bears, tusks are way too big, these are new.

Back to their meal, that's right keep eating, don't look my way, reach up, good moment at the rope. Can't cut it all the way, need a plan...

Ok they don't know what a gun is, so I bet they never had someone fight back before. Here goes nothing...

"Hey you, tall dark and ugly!"

They both turn.

"Not you, the other one"

They look at each other... Don't seem to understand me. One gets up and starts stomping towards me. The short one decides to take one last bite and follows. That's better, not too close together boys.

"So which one of you is the bottom? Guessing you right, tall one? You're the pretty one, I can tell you know... From your eyes"

Here we go...

I jump up and hang from the top of the cage and kick, front of the cage falls over the tall one, put my whole weight on it. Trapped. The other guy, too shocked to react, I take my knife and run it through pretty eyes' forehead. Cracking? No. Crumbling... what the hell.. disappears from under me, left in a cloud of ash. What the hell... That's a roar! I role forward as I see a club cut through the cloud, swing was so wide it hits the boar next to me instead. I hear the crunching of its skull as I roll up to my feet, definitely dead boar.

I turn around.

"Got a good arm there Tweedle Dum"

He overhead swings, slow move buddy, I dodge left, take my knife to his knee, he doesn't like that. Whoa! Brings a palm to my chest launches me a good ten feet. Ouch yeah, that's a rock I landend on, I feel heat, fire!

Shortly stumbles towards me, I reach for my rifle. Pull back the bolt. Click.

"Can't believe you looked down the barrel"

Shot didn't miss, but it didn't hit either. Goes right through his arm and into the other boars eye, still a kill...

Gun jams, bastards got debree in the chamber, reach for an arrow, comes at me with another overhead swing, I stand and run the arrow through his "heart" I guess? He goes limp, too heavy to hold up. Falls over on top of me.

"AAaaawww hello Mr. Rock, we meet again"

Same damn rock on the same spot, Tweedle Dum goes poof...

"Couldnt have done that before I reunited with Mr. Rock?"

Something new, ball of pink light in the smoke, didn't see that in the first one, not taking any chances, trying to roll away but I'm too late. What the hell?

Body seemed to obsore it, pain in my back is gone... What the shit?

"Sure mister rancher sir, I'll help you kill ugly pigs"

Walking towards my stuff

"Whats that? Oh giant boar with large tusks you say? Sure no problem."

Slip on my boots

"And tall lanky weirdos with glowy red eyes and clubs? Well that just makes me want to help even more"

Slip on my shirt and coat, pick up rifle, spot a sack tied to one the boars side, could be loot.

"I'm sure it'll be a very educational experience"

Check inside... A few nuts and berries, what's this... Pull out a white marble, size of a plum...

This is new, closer look, small misty light at the center, mind goes blank... getting euphoria...

Not me, feels like it's coming from this marble...

It seems happy I found it...

This is important.

Gotta keep it safe, slip in inside pocket of my coat.

Pull my bow off the boar, walk up to the cage, take one last look.

"Thanks for your hospitality"

Look down where Tweedle Dees body would be and spot something under the cage door, I find shard, perfectly symmetrical, blue, size of a half-dollar, glass? Might be worth something to someone.

Pull out my compass from my coat, 180° turn, take the goat as a bonus, could probably make jerky out of it, don't know if rancher will hold his end, better get back before dark...

End chapter