Of Home and a Rabbit

It moved with stealth, almost hidden from his view. Green leaves, gray tree trunks, and green grasses surrounded him. Above was a white washed sky. He could see Fire Mountain far to the north, a colossal, fiery landscape containing secrets he longed to explore. He removed an arrow, as he watched his prey slink after its own prey.

"How ironic," he whispered. "The way of the world is never fair."

His chase was a greenish-gray goat-like creature, with fangs big enough to humble a smilodon. He’d been stalking it since before noon, and still hadn’t caught the elusive beast, which his people called a Tulap. Tulaps were fast. Add the brindled coloring that blended with this wilderness, and it was near impossible to catch them. They were also ferocious hunters... equipped with grand vision, but poor noses.

To avoid the notice of this Tulap who couldn’t smell him, all he had to do was camouflage himself with leaves, so that instead of a hunter, the Tulap spied a tree. Still, every time he released an arrow towards his prey, it fled. Their game of hide, seek, and murder soon excausted him, but he knew he had to slay the Tulap and return home to his dear wife with game for her table.

Tana pleaded with him each time he went in search of prey, "to come back early." As he watched his chase pounce on a rabbit, he thought about sitting across from Tana at their dinner table, picturing her beautiful face full of pride after fixing the game he’d brought her.

"Now or never," he whispered as he nocked and let loose the last arrow in his quiver. It cut through the air, and in mere heartbeats, was deep in the Tulap's neck. A hiss like that of a snake, but louder, came from the Tulap’s mouth. The sound was quite unpleasant. Its dazed prey dropped to the forest floor.The stubborn beast hissed again and lunged for the rabbit despite the arrow that pierced its neck. He nocked and let loose one last time, sending an arrow through the Tulap's head. It collapsed, and the rabbit leapt to safety.

The sounds of the wild hushed with the last breath of his prey as he approached the fallen beast. He stood still for a moment to offer a prayer to the gods, the Ancient Makerdurs, thanking them for a successful hunt and to accept the return of the Tulap's soul. Then he stooped to remove his arrows, cleaned them, and slung the animal over his shoulder.

"Yes, Tana! I'll be home soon, safe in your embrace, as we watch the sun set over Hillsin."