1 Chapter 1

I sprint over the roots of the trees, my feet barely touching the floor as I cover ground in super human time. I skid to a stop and turn around once I'm sure I've created enough distance between me and the Graphorn. The beast is still charging towards me, purple scales glinting in the golden light penetrating through the canopy of leaves above. Hands shaking, I raise my bow, releasing an arrow.

I watch it soar through the air majestically and strike him in the eye. The Graphorn roars in pain, stumbling toward me, half-blinded by my perfectly aimed shot. I must save the rest of my arrows; if I hit its body, the arrow will just bounce off the tough scales. How do I get this damn thing to stop chasing me?

I pull my pukkoo knife from my belt, still blood-encrusted from a recent deer kill. I begin to approach the Graphorn, waving my knife around threateningly, when I feel a hand on my shoulder.

It's Adrien. He tells me to 'get behind a tree or something' before tugging his sword from the scabbard on his belt and creeping towards the monster. He swiftly strikes it right between its scales, the sharp blade sinking into the flesh effortlessly. The Graphorn lashes out, swiping at Adrien's face lamely. Adrien yanks his sword out, sliding it back into its scabbard as the creature sinks to the ground.

He makes his way back over to me, and he seems angry. "How the hell did you manage to get a bloody Graphorn to chase you out here? What were you doing up in the mountains?", he fumes, running his eyes over me to check I'm not hurt. I hesitate.

"There's a really pretty creek up there, with crystal clear water and smooth rocks surrounding the little pool. I just wanted to go there to feel free for a bit, to escape. He came out of nowhere!" I sigh.

He wipes the blood from his bleeding lip, shaking his head. "Lucky it was only a baby 'cause it coulda killed you if it was an adult."

A baby? I'm taken aback. The thing is huge, what would an adult look like then?!

"Yeah, lucky...You must have experience with them, you hit it right in between the scales," I say. Adrien smiles.

"You're not so bad yourself. I saw you shoot that thing right in the eye," he laughs. We stroll back to the village, sharing our triumphs and kills of today, savouring the beautiful scenery around us.