first encounters part 1
The grey winter clouds blocked the world from the warmth of the sun, I sat the base of a large oak tree. covering me from the light deluge of snow I pull my scarf up to cover my neck. rummaging threw my pack I pull out what i was searching for, a water-skin and a half eaten loaf of bread. The wind picks up nipping at my face I frown as I cover my face at this readjusting my scarf and I pull the map I had pilfered from the family archives up to take a good look at it, I eye the marking for "Lyon" my home as I trail my way up to a another red dot and the letters "horizon the lake town ".
From my guesses it was another good three days hike in good weather though in winter on icy forest paths... I stood up brushing the snow of my clothing I had better get going while I still had the light.
The broken path was rather hard to navigate, staring up at the grey sky out of boredom needing to do something to keep my mind bissy, as I let my mind wander one thought brings be back down to the world, how would I get a trainer? I halt at this thought. most hopeful hunters were the children of hunters like himself or went to a training school... though some hunters would take apprentices as a way to weed out which hopefuls made the cut.
I smile at this thought perfect! I would just find a hunter in horizon and get them to take me as there apprentice as most huntsman travel I wouldn't have to worry about my family finding me there. A hopeful gaunt fills my walk, that however was a mistake as I find the frost winter path as in fact covered in ice. And I find my self staring up at the grey winter sky pain from the back of my head blurring my eye sight.
The sun was setting now faster then I would have imagined I would need to find a safe place for the night out of the cold wind and the Grimm. It was two days ago that I found a trees smashed into splinters by a mighty force as well as a great brown bear is chest cavity collapsed half drowned in a pool of its own frozen blood. taking the scene in I could easy see it as a conflict between some massive Grimm and the unfortunate bear, it did not end well for the bear.
The cold was coming now as the dark descended on the country side, I would need to find a safe place for the night or brave the elements during the night ... something I was not looking forward to. An odd smell fills the air salty and of rotten eggs the wind caring this had an odd warmth a strange combination for this time of year. though warmth was warmth perhaps I't would lead me to something I could use to help me bear the cold night.
To this end I left the path using my hand to hold the closest trees to me unwiling to take a fall down the hill side constantly looking down at my feet carefully taking each step forward I eventually found what I was looking for. Placing my hand in the pool of steaming water a tingling warmth over came my wind cooled hand, I sighed in relief a hot spring! a saving grace in the cold of winter I had heard that the mountain side was doted by there presence though up to now I had been unable to find one.
Deciding to use this as my camping site for the night I began my search for wood twigs and any moss that could withstand the cold of winter. Running a bright red cloth over one of the trees near my camp I make my way into the darkening woods every so often looking to see if I could spot the red cloth, didn't want to get lost in the woods at night. Bending down to pick up a rather hefty log I frown finding its weight uncomfortable to handle, I shake my head if I wanted to be a huntsman a heavy log couldn't stop me with determination I rip the log from the snows grasp.
I was rather surprised by the sound that the log made the ripping sound filled the silent woods echoing for what I wonder might be miles.I took a moment to appreciate the still calm of nature, The forest deathly quite that seemed to only grow as night descended. It was then that I felt something a quite chill at the base of my spine a prime evil instinct grasp at me trying to warn me, to inform me of something, the feeling of dread. the dark seemed to move unnaturally as if the dim light of the sun had lost all perchance in the world in those faint few seconds.
I made my way back to the camp the feeling never left me warning me to fear the growing dark. Guinevere had told me on many occasions that I was horrible at building fires though I muse if she had seen how quickly I had managed to create this one she might have bin proud. It did little qweel the unnatural chill over coming me, as if something was reaching out of the woods and grabbing hold of my heart and I wonder if it just a child's fear or if there was something assaulting me, I did not have to wait long to get my answer.
The sound of creaking trees awoke me from my light slumber, the sound of thundering foot steps told me of it's direction its deep red eyes that glowed with unnatural light told me all I needed about its intentions. It moved slowly methodically though full of intention it's burning eyes never leaving me, it sniffed the air testing to see if it could pick up any other scent it must be surprised to find a child of it's hatted prey out in the world alone.
the beast was massive though it held it's self close to the ground muscles collied under great pressure ready to spring on its prey at a moment notice thick black leathery skin gave way to white bony prostitutions moving down its back it's long neck coil around making it harder to keep the hole creature in my line of sight great hooked claws that gave one the image of cruel meat hooks. An ice drake the words come to mind like a flash of memory remembering the beast description from a old hunters journal I had found in the family study, Ice drakes could only live in places of great cold while they were rare in vale they where well known and feared in atlas.
And unfortunately for me it didn't remain surprise for long...