7 Ch 7 The Most Dangerous Game, The Most Dangerous Man.

"....Humans....We Need To Run...." Natalka spoke with a panicked voice before tossing a nearby fur onto the campfire which smothered it completely.

Almost instantly Natalka darted off into the forest in near perfect silence save for a few leaves being crunched underfoot.

I sprinted behind her into the pitch black forest in only a few more moments.

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[Not Far Away]

A dozen men charged through the dark forest, several with burning torches in hand as two bloodhounds sniffed the underbrush and bayed loudly...these hounds were old hands at hunting Aelves and their excitement was palpable.

Three out of the dozen men wore armor, Roughly made chain mail with Red Lion Heraldry embroidered on their Tabards, they seemed to be the only professional soldiers out of the entire group.

The most heavily armored man carried a brilliant silver plated long sword, chipped and scarred with age but still razor sharp from its users decades of experience in honing a blade.

The man with the worn silver longsword seemed to be their leader from the battered but still polished brass furnished great helm and the aire of command which exuded from him naturally.

The two other armored men were both fitted with somewhat new nasal helms, one had a short sword and shield while the other carried a loaded crossbow with a glistening broadhead tip and a mace at his waist.

The rest of the men seemed to be piss poor villagers with dirty clothing, yellowed disgusting teeth and greasy stinking hair, all armed with assorted weapons such as Pitchforks, hand axes and wooden clubs.

"Hurry Bastards!!! We cant let that Knife eared bitch get away!!! The hunstman's son said she came this way after foraging!!!" The Gruff voiced Sargeant yelled from under his great helm and his men grunted in agreement.

*WOOF

Both hounds barked at a high pitch while zooming through the dark forest.

they were hot on the trail now and their peasant handlers had wide grins on their grimy faces.

"Sargeant Reibar!!! they caught the knife ears scent!!! The Lord will pay us her weight in Silver!!!" One of the peasant bloodhound handlers yelled excitedly.

"Shut the fuck up!!! We haven't caught or killed the bitch yet!!!" The armored crossbowman scolded the man who balked immediately, No one wanted to get on the bad side of the Baronets men after all.

"Oh we'll catch that bitch, They never get away from the hounds and there's no river to cross until the far side of the Gray Ridge Mountains." The Tall Sargeant's gruff voice boomed from under his great helm.

After a few minutes they came upon the small camp which Natalka and Kalinik had just abandoned.

All her things were still strewn around haphazardly, The campfire now completely smothered the the thick moose hide.

"The Knife Ear was just here, We must hurry!!!" The armored shieldman spoke, the excitement in his voice barely containable as the bloodhounds sniffed around the edges of the camp while trying to find the freshest trail.

"!!!Hurry those stupid fucking mutts up!!!" The Gruff Sargeant yelled out as the handlers continued to search for the right trail.

*AWOOO!!!

*WOOF!!!

One of the bloodhounds yelped in excitement as it alerted its handler who immediately pulled a small bit of dried sinew from his pocket and fed to the loyal beast.

"Good job Carla!!! Over Here Sir Reibar!!!" The dog handler yelled out and the men immediately charged head first once more into the pitch black forest.

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[Nearby In The Simlaine Woods]

*PANT

"Natalka you cant keep it up, we'll need to fight back or we'll be caught before long." I spoke while standing beside the panting Natalka, she seemed weakened for some reason.

"I...Its the Venom i sucked out earlier...ha...ha....I didn't feel it until we started running.....ha...ha....." Natalka spoke with bated breath.

"We....we don't stand a chance, Just keep running...ha...ha....Leave me...." The woman spoke while panting loudly, I could tell she meant every word of it.

"I'm not leaving you its out of the question, they have dogs and no matter how much we run they'll track us.... we need to set a sickle ambush...." I spoke while grabbing Natalka by her thin waist and under her legs into a Princess carry.

She stared up at me strangely as I started running a bit deeper into the forest then making a wide curved turn before doubling back into a spot just north of where we had just run.....our scent trail would lead them right in front of us.

"Catch your breath until you can use your bow again....They will follow our scent trail just over there, I need you to do as much damage as you can before I move in.....Its the only way."

I spoke while pointing to a spot only thirty meters away but i saw the lack of enthusiasm in her face, almost as if she'd already given up hope so I had to do something.

"Surely the Best archer in the Valewood Clan can hit her shots at this range even with a bit of poison in her system right?" I asked the pretty chestnut haired Aelven woman while looking into her big green eyes.

"O...O...Okay...ha...ha....But you don't...have a weapon...ha....ha...take my dagger..." Natalka spoke while fumbling to pull the large curved Aelven dagger which hung at her waist but immediately i put a stop to that.

"No need for that girl, I have my own."

I spoke while grasping the golden pendant from my neck which reminded me of Aella.

I only needed to will it and a Curved High Aelven longsword appeared in my other hand.

The stunning blade glimmered and glowed for a few moments before returning to normal.

"..B...Beautiful...ha...ha..." Natalka panted out as she stared up intently at the long curved shimmering Aelven Blade.

I couldn't help but nod at her words...Beautiful but not even close to nearing the beauty of my Golden Haired Goddess....

"Get ready Natalka....I hear them coming only fifty meters away." I spoke softly and heard a small hum of agreement as she pulled out a small ceramic pot covered in soft fur.

When she opened the little pot's lid the stench of a familiar venom filled my nose....Those humans were in for a special treat if the debilitated Aelven woman could land her shots.

I helped her dip eight or nine wicked broadheads in the disgusting orange goop before picking my sword up and walking quietly towards our scent trail.

For a long moment we waited for the band of men hunting us and before long they came into earshot.

*WOOF

"Go Girl!!! Find That Knife Eared Bitch!!!" I heard a disgusting greasy voice yell out, the excitement in the mans voice was clearly evident.

before long the flickering light from the men's torches came into view as they illuminated the large trees around them.

An old familiar feeling came over me as my hands trembled for a few long moments from the dump of adrenaline before becoming perfectly steady.

My hands gripped tightly around the long beautiful sword in my hands...Its weighty feel and shimmering razor sharp blade gave me an immense amount of confidence even though id never touched a sword in my life.

Just as the men came into view i turned over to look at Natalka who was on one knee while leaning against a large thick tree

Her big Green eyes sparkled in the darkness, I could see the weakness in her face but her eyes told of an unstoppable focus....Those were the eyes of someone who has mastered their craft, It was at that moment that I could trust this woman to handle what was about to come.

.............................

[Sargeant Reibar's Pov]

As we moved on the Knife Ear's trail I could feel something wasn't right.

Nothing obvious was out of the ordinary but after nearly three decades of fighting for my lords family, A dozen field battles, and hundreds of hunts upon Knife ears and bandits had honed my sixth sense enough to know something was was wrong.

And as i watched the stupid fucking peasants baying just as loudly as their hounds a shiver ran down my spine at the feeling of someone staring at me from the darkness which was all around us.

Without alerting the easily terrified peasants I turned back to my two sons who were rushing through the dark underbrush alongside me.

"Boys keep your heads on a swivel, we're nearing the knife ear and i doubt she'll go without a fight." I spoke through my great helm which limited my vision greatly.

My youngest son Arnald Immediately answered with labored breath, Even through a few years of training this was his first hunt in full armor.

"Yes Father! But I can barely see ten paces in this darkness." He spoke as his red lion painted heater shield bumped clumsily into every other tree...He had much to learn.

My other son Justin simply gruffed in agreement, He had been with me on a dozen man and knife ear hunts, He was confident....Something he'd have to get rid of if he wished to live as long as I.

Not long after I heard a familiar sound...the twang of a bow and zipping sound of an arrow cutting through the air.

Immediately i turned to the direction of the sound but saw nothing in the darkness.

*THUD

*SQUELCH

"AHHHHHHHH!!!!FUCK!!!" I heard the shout of my youngest son Arnald and immediately turned to him.

A long dark arrow was buried deeply into his upper thigh.

thick bright red blood spurted out, survivable if we staunched the bleeding quickly.

"Brother!!! FUCKING KNIFE EAR!!!! I'll KILL YOU!!!!" My other son roared out and fired his crossbow blindly into the darkness, The dull thud of a tree being impacted spoke of a wasted quarrel.

The stupid fucking peasants had already run behind trees to protect themselves, their hounds were barking and baying angrily into the pitch black wood line but the handlers held them close to protect them from arrow fire.

"You nine Stay in cover!!! Harald Help your brother!!!" I ordered and immediately the dirty stinking peasants all voiced their agreement from behind their tree cover.

My son Justin rushed from his spot just in time to avoid a zipping arrow that would've ripped right through his belly.

All the while youngest Arnald screamed like a dying animal.

"AHHHHHHHH!!!!! IT HURTS!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" He screamed loudly just before my other son Justin called out to me.

"Father!!! The arrow was poisoned!!!" Harald yelled out in a panic while looking at some goop which dripped out of the wound.

I looked over to the large tree where they were taking cover.

Through the dim flickering flames I saw something which made my stomach churn....Orange Hellebore Venom....A death sentence without Green Aenroot which only an apothecary or court wizard would carry.

I knew Arnald would not make it out of this forest alive so i made the hard choice to leave him and save ourselves by killing the knife eared bitch.

"Justin leave your brother and take his shield!!! Come with me and we'll avenge him!!!"

I yelled out and I could see the heartbreak in My oldest sons eyes for only a moment before he lifted Arnald's shield.

Arnald was left screaming in the underbrush with the poisoned arrow still deep in his thigh.

"DON'T LEAVE ME!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!! IT HURTS!!!!!" We both heard Arnald's pained screams behind us as we rushed through the trees towards the cowering Peasants.

*SWOOSH

*SQUELCH

*THUD

One of the stupid fucking peasants had peeked into the darkness from the edge of a tree and caught an arrow directly in his eye, the arrow ripped deep into his head before shattering the back of his skull dropping him like a log.

"Don't Peek! Now listen closely you dogs or I'll skin you alive when we're back in the village!!!"

I yelled out and immediately they all locked their beady eyes onto me as they awaited my orders.

The trembling peasants had no other choice after all since if they fled both them and their families would hang.

After making sure all of them were focused on me I gave my orders.

"We will all run in different directions as we charge towards the Knife ear!!! Shes only one so We'll Get that bitch before any more of us are hit, Don't stop moving for even a moment and we'll make it home."

I ordered and the trembling peasants nodded with fear in their eyes...I could even smell piss coming from a few of them but that was the last of my concerns.

"Y...Y....Yes Sir!" The bravest of the peasants answered but his trembling hands which gripped a small hatchet told of his deep fear.....Fucking useless peasants.

All the while Arnald's screams continued to cut through the cold night air.

"On my order release the hounds and charge...Three....Two...One.....CHARGE!!!!"

*ARF

*SWOOSH

*SQUELCH

As soon as the hounds were released a zipping arrow struck one in its chest, nearly burying itself nearly entirely into its body, but the dogs sacrifice served to let us spread out chaotically and charge forward.

But before the second Hound got very far I saw a bright glimmer in the darkness from begind a large tree much closer from where I could hear the arrows coming from....A filthy Aelven Longsword.

Simultaneously another horrified scream rang out. "AHHHHHHH!!!! HELP!!! IT HURTS!!!!AHHHHHHH!!!!!" One peasant screamed after collapsing with an arrow lodged deep in his soft unarmored belly.

I realized the Aelven bitch was not alone. "FUCK!!! THERE'S TWO KNIFE EARS!!! JUSTIN ON ME!!!!"I bellowed out as the twang of the horrifyingly accurate bow was heard once more.

*SWOOSH

*SQUELCH

*THUD

Another worthless peasant dropped from a poisoned arrow.

before long a tall Aelven man with pale white hair emerged from behind a tree and swiftly moved towards three of the Peasants far to my right.

With a blindingly fast swing of his long curved blade the White Haired knife ear sliced a one mans hand clean off, the now useless appendage tumbled into the earth as its owner screamed and spurted out a thick stream of blood.

Then with another swift swing the screaming peasant's head was sliced diagonally at the mouth leaving only his tongue and lower jaw attached as he collapsed onto the ground and spurt lifeblood onto the dark forest floor.

The two other peasants who stood near the Aelven swordsman charged with their weapons raised and ready to swing....brave men.

Brave but stupid since another swing of the curved Aelven blade sliced their bellies wide open and spilled their guts out onto the ground just as the White hair jumped away from their already swinging weapons.

Now only Six of us were left if My Son Harald and i were counted....Fuck.

.....................................................

[Natalka Pov]

My vision blurred and my arms trembled as i struggled to pull back my bow once again.

*TWANG

*SWOOSH

I released yet another Venom tipped arrow but my trembling arms and blurred vision was now too much.

The arrow flew deep into the dark woodline a few feet away from where i was aiming....I could shoot no longer.

...I managed to kill a few but now that handsome white hair would be torn apart by those Two knights and handful of peasants...no one could survive those odds without armor and hindered by a wounded hand.

I looked over to the handsome Aelven man once more.

The two armored humans had just reached his position as the dirty peasants circled around him

'....I guess this is it....At least we tried....' Natalka thought before her blurred vision turned completely black and lost consciousness

....................................................

(Unknown Time later)

Natalka's eyes opened sluggishly with a throbbing pain in her head.

Her body hurt slightly after digesting part of the Orange Hellebore Venom but what struck her the most was the horrifying screams which threatened to burst her sensitive Aelven ears.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! MERCY!!!! MERCY!!!! NOT MY LIPS!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" For a moment she thought they were the screams of the white hair until she saw him standing a few meters away.

His Pale white hair and rough spun tunic now spattered with an immense amount of blood which shimmered in the moonlight as he stood in front of one of the young armored men.

The young soldier was leaned against a tree, His hands and feet cut off but the bleeding staunched by makeshift tourniquets.

Natalka looked on in horror as Kalinik Used a dagger to slice off the armored mans lips slowly....The beautiful huntress shuddered when she saw the mans nose and ears were missing entirely.

"What...What...The Fuck...." She murmured to herself as Kalinik finished slicing off the mans lips and held them in his free hand.

Then she heard Kalinik's soothing voice as he spoke softly to the screaming human.

"Oh don't scream....I'm almost finished....How about we make a deal?....Eat your own lips and I'll send you to your God...The pain will end....." Kalinik spoke to the screaming man who nodded frantically as blood slowly oozed all over.

"YES!!! YES!!! ANYTHING!!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

"Okay we have a deal now eat..." The White hair spoke and placed the severed bloody lips near the mans mouth.

Almost immediately the screaming man gobbled up his own lips and chewed several times before swallowing hard

Justin only wished for this to end.

he'd do anything.

After Kalinik was sure the lips were completely swallowed he smiled down at the tortured man.

"Oh sorry, I've changed my mind i think ill take your face as well." Kalinik spoke before walking forward and grabbing the human mans hair hard and bringing a golden Hooked dagger forward to the screaming man's forehead.

Natalka immediately turned away in fright and horror from the sight.

As soon as Natalka looked away she noticed five other human corpses, all had their limbs missing.

faces and bodies mangled beyond belief.

Natalka could see the pure horror in the faces of the dead men, Even more so from the few who still had their eyes.

Natalka's stomach churned and she became lightheaded from the horror a few moments before Fainting completely.

.....................................................

(Search [Bosniaksmasher reddit] for the images of Monwraithe, the easiest place for me to upload nsfw images reliably]

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