A story from my previous tumblr. I didn't really feel comfortable posting there so I posted it here again, instead. ^^
The night was silent and dark, riddled with the scent of blood. The shadows danced within the forest, taunting the fearful with illusions of the creatures that hid within them. The wind blew on the trees, whispering things and singing songs that would drive one mad if they heard them.
In the thick of that dark forest, wandered a lone Hunter. Losing his sanity...losing his mind, and fearful for those that were not enemies, the blind Hunter sought to get as far away from the hunt as possible. Much to his dismay, however, he heard footsteps from nearby. Without hesitance, he quickly pulled out his Blunderbuss and aimed it at the direction of the sound. The other Hunter made a sharp inhale as the gun stopped right at his forehead. Exhaling slowly, he gently pushed the gun away.
"Relax. It's just me." Came a voice he knew all too well. Their partnership had lasted them through decades of trials. He couldn't mistake that voice...no matter how far his sanity had escaped him.
"Henryk..." Gascoigne said and lowered his weapon. "What are you doing here?"
"Your family's worried about you Gascoigne." Henryk simply stated.
"No...no, not now. I...I can't tell friend from foe. The blood..." Gascoigne clutched his head. "It's all I recognize..."
"You recognize me." Henryk simply stated and then gave a slight chuckle. He then walked up to a tree and sat underneath it. "Sit. We all need a rest every now and then."
"I don't know how much more of this I can take..." Gascoigne said as he sat down next to Henryk.
"I used to think the same thing...I still do, to be perfectly honest. The blood almost drove me mad...more than once." Henryk stated quietly. "But I endured."
"I've always known you to be strong." Gascoigne huffed as a smile formed on his lips. "Pray tell your secrets."
"I have someone I care for." Henryk said and pulled out a small music box from his pocket and winded it. "Don't you have the same?"
The music that reached Gascoignes ears left him in a nearly trance like state. It got him lost in the memory of when he first got that music box.
"They gave this to me just in case...but I know I'll never need it." Henryk smiled underneath the shadows of his clothes. "Whenever you're ready, let's head back home. Your family's worried sick now I bet."
"I can almost hear their complaining." Gascoigne groaned and Henryk simply laughed at the comment. "Go on ahead. I need more time to recover…gather my senses."
"Oh no." Henryk simply laughed and leaned on the tree, waiting for his friend to recuperate. "Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere, friend."