[RP] The Hunt

[Karael]

On his way home from the taverns, Karael came across an old man. Dresses in rags, the old man sat at a corner of the street, shivering from the cold. Remembering how tough it used to be, Karael felt a sense of connection, a bond between people who shared the same suffering. The old man looked up at him with tired eyes, as if life is no longer worth living. The face Karael saw was one of despair, thin, shriveled, wrinkled that speaks of a hard life. There was no hope in his eyes, just waiting for the cold to put him out of his misery. Unable to let this continue on, Karael brought the man home, to share with him some hot food and ale.

As the man told tales of his tough life, an interesting story stuck in Karael's mind. The tale of a magnificent creature, hiding in the mountains to the west of Widu. The old man, a youth at the time of the story, was out hunting in the mountains. He spied a great deer and tracked it day and night, finally killing it in a clearing somewhere deep within the mountain. As he was cleaning the carcass, a great roar startled him. He looked up, a creature was coming into the clearing. It was a creature unlike any other, even with the hunter's deep knowledge of animal lore, he could not identify it. The creature had a body pure and white, but its eyes and limbs were dark. It shimmered, faded in and out of view. A magical creature! The hunter had heard of unicorns and basilisks but what is this creature? Huge giant eyes, black like midnight, such that it seemed to be always staring at you. The hunter feared for his life, trying to run, but the creature with unnatural speed, swiped him clear of his feet. As he lay injured, all hope seemed to be lost. Luckily, the deer carcass seemed more interesting than him. The creature dragged the carcass off and disappeared into the woods.

An interesting story, Karael is curious. He thanked the old man for his story and welcomed him to partake of more food. Meanwhile, Karael went about town, getting equipment for a hunt. He would capture this special creature.

[Karael]

Karael returns to find the old man gone. In his heart, he is glad, conversation always bore him. Karael sharpens his knife and prepares his equipment. Once done, he grabs some food and wears the stone around his neck for protection. When he woke up stranded in this world, the only thing he had were his rags, clutching this stone in his fist. It must be something special. Karael sets off to the deep mountains west of Widu to hunt for the mysterious creature.

[Karael]

After many days of tracking and hunting, Karael has nothing to show. Doubt begins to enter his mind, perhaps it might just be a rumor after all. There was no sight, no smell, no sound of the mysterious creature. Karael sat at his campfire in the clearing, disheartened. He sighed, wondering if it was a waste of time to chase after adventures. Unconsciously, he touched the special stone that hung around his neck. It felt warm, soothing, peaceful. He gazed up at the night sky, asking the stars if he should continue in this increasingly stupid adventure.

[Karael]

He was half alseep in the tent, wrapped up in fur blankets. Karael was grateful for the warm blankets that kept the cold mountain air at bay. The stone that hung around his neck gave out a warmth that made sleep much easier to come by. As sleep took him, Karael dreams of the mysterious creature.

In his dreams, a layer of mist settled on the clearing, obscuring the ground. Karael walked unsteadily out of the tent, unable to find his footing. His hands and feet felt detached as if controlled by someone else. A presence was felt, someone, something watching him. Observing his every move. This place is the campsite, yet not the campsite. Karael looked around in his dreamworld, seeking out the presence. A silent shadow stood tall at the edge of the clearing, Karael gazed upon its eyes and was sucked in. The mysterious creature! Suddenly, it was towering in front of him. Karael shut his eyes in shock, not wanting to see the creature. He felt the hot breath of the creature upon his face, the smell of the forest, the taste of death. He felt the rush of wind as the paw came down upon him.

Karael woke up in sweat, grasping his stone for protection. What a weird dream of have.