The wind rustled through the trees and the Huntsman's hair. In the Autumn woods he could smell winter on the breeze, it would soon be upon them. He knew that shouldn't mean anything to him, but he felt invigorated none the less. A few feet away stood his Lord, tracking the buck young Katsuo had wounded.
"It's close," his Lord said touching the blood on a fern leaf. "This is still warm."
"As you say my Lord," he said bowing, taking the bow from across his shoulder and handing it over, drawing out an arrow for him to notch.
They walked on, Katsuo trying to imitate his father's steps, small arrow notched in his short bow. He walked behind them, slowly and further back, but always on alert. It was his job to ensure their safety in these woods. He was the Lord's Huntsman, and while there might be many warriors close to them ready to die for their Daimyo, here they were his responsibility.
As gaijin, failure was death. Not just his, but his family's too. His wife, his daughters. He had not asked to be raised by the Chosen, but such was his lot in life. And he would give his life happily if it meant his girls could live the happy little life he had made for them.
"Father," Katsuo whispered pointing at the buck some forty yards away.
The creature had finally gone lame after some three miles. He admired the fight, the refusal to yield...and he knew he shouldn't. His Lord notched an arrow, drew, and let fly. The buck fell dead in an instant, the arrow piercing it's heart. His Lord always struck true.
As they approached he felt uneasy. He couldn't hear any rustling of the smaller beasts or the chirps of the birds. Even the insects incessant buzzing, so common in the Myre, seemed absent.
"My Lord..." he started.
"Well shot father," Katsuo screamed. "Notch, draw, loose! Bam! You killed It! How can you..."
"Enough Katsuo!"
His Lord turned on the boy with fury in his eyes. He knelt beside the buck, withdrew his Tanto, and sliced the bucks jugular. The Lord knew the buck was gone, but he wished to instill in Katsuo a sense of honor...or tradition? The Hunstman wasn't certain.
"Katsuo...you must understand, life is..."
"My lord..." the Hunstman whispered, seeing the amber eyes glowing in the ferns.
"I am trying to teach my son Gaijin! Why do you torment me..."
The creature with the amber eyes hissed and came forward, claiming the buck for itself, sinking inches long claws into the flesh. It was a mottled creature, black and white and orange, but the Huntsman could see how powerful it was. His Lord and Katsuo began to back away, catching the creatures attention.
"NO! DON'T RUN!"
His Lord drew his katana, putting himself between the beast and Katsuo. The noise seemed to loose something in the creature, it hissed and spat, clawing huge chunks from the buck. Finally It roared.
No wonder Katsuo fled.
The beast jumped towards the boy and his Lord but the Hunstman threw himself at the thing while it was in the air. It landed on the bucks antlers with a sickening crack. It roared again backing away, swiping at the air. The Hunstman saw a trickle of blood drip down it's side.
"Go my Lord, look after Katsuo," the Hunstman said.
He had fought next to his Lord, seen him in battle. He'd seen him fight the metal men and the men from across the water and even his own people. Strong and swift and brave. But less brave without an army it seemed. His Lord fled.
He was alone. The Hunstman. Thirty feet away, the beast was eyeing the buck again, but swiping it's massive paws through the air and hissing at him. He jumped towards the buck and snapped off two of the biggest antlers he could find. He rounded on the beast and swiped, clipping it's eye. God's how it howled.
It backed away mewling but only for a moment. It turned on the Hunstman and crouched to strike, it's amber eyes blazing, licking it's jaws.
The beast let out a mighty roar.
The Hunstman did the same and rushed towards it.
