Chapter 3 – The Risk of Hunting

RHETT

The large ghastly beast rears up letting out a grimacing snort and takes off in the direction of Dana as soon as its hoofs hit the ground. Charging her down.

Dana revs the bike as the beast closes in on her. The other four take note and begin to turn in the same direction.  I move quickly pulling two arrows from my quill and placing them against the bow. My thumb brushed over the small trigger button activating their electrifying modifications.

As they gait, I poise. Ready to release my grip. I pulled the bow taught waiting for the perfect shot. Just as they move, I release the two arrows. They whizz through the air, a hushed whistling sound coming from them as seek out their targets.

The arrows split as intended and hit their targets. Two of the beasts screech out as the arrows meet their flesh and light up upon contact, shocking the beasts and causing them to fall to the ground. The other two scatter in the direction of the first.

As fast as I can run, leaning on the wolf strength inside me I hurdle towards the two Nightmare horses that writher on the forest ground. I draw my swords just before reaching them and when I do, I slice through the thick neck of the first. Cutting its head clean off. The second I gut, from the groin to the chest, then stab it through the neck with a force fueled by hatred.

There's no time to waste, three still remain. I raise my head in the direction of where the sounds of the dirt bike's engines strain and see the largest of the beasts running down Dana. Eyes burning red, nostrils flaring with black smoke and head bowed ready to stab her with its horn.

Eli whizzes past the tree line, goading the other two into following him. I take off on foot giving my own chase. “Come about!” I yell out and watch Eli bring the bike to a skid, changing direction and heading for me.

I pull out another arrow, crouching down as Eli nears, the two nightmare horses hot on his trail trying to catch their next meal. Eli speeds past me, only twenty feet or so away. My arm shakes as I hold my form, straining for the right moment to release the arrow.

The opportunity comes, the arrow flying through the air meeting its target and taking the beast to the ground. Hooves flail in the air as the current travels through the horse-like creature rendering the body to spasm.

I pull another arrow quickly and let that one fly, but the creature is smart and quick, using its horn to bat the arrow away.

“Fuck.” I curse as the beast gains on Eli.

The snap and crackle of a whip draws my attention, I look to see Dana trying to fight the biggest nightmare horse that’s running parallel with her. She strikes the horse several times, the tip of the whip letting out a strike of light before the weapon dies out which didn’t phase the creature at all.

I looked between my two officers and decided Dana needed my help more. I ran in her direction letting an arrow fly at the gigantic beast. I pull another striking him twice and the charge of the current finally slows it down bringing it to its knees. Dana whips the bike around drawing her sword and slicing through the beast's neck as she passes.

I let out a breath of relief and just as I am about to run to Eli’s aide Dana screams his name. I turn around in time to see the last of the beasts impale Eli with its horn. His body bent backward over the horse's face, the smoke from the creature's nose searing his clothing and skin. The nightmare horse rears up, kicking out its front hooves then tossing Eli's limp form to the ground before stomping on it.

My arrow flies true striking the beast in the neck. The beast drops to the floor and before I can even get there to finish the job, Dana is already screeching the bike to a halt, jumping off and leaning over Eli.

“Eli, wake up!” She yells at him with a voice full of panic.

I slice through the horse's neck and come up on the pair. I already know Eli is dead, my enhanced hearing not picking up a heartbeat.

“Eli,” Dana sobs. “You can't die. Come on, open your eyes. You’re too young. You have a whole future ahead of you.”

“Dana…” I sorrowfully say, placing a hand on her shoulder. Wet blue eyes turn to look up at me and I shake my head. “He’s gone.”

I watch her swallow deeply, her throat straining and tears falling. I should feel bad, and I do, but death is a price we all will pay. It’s expected in our job. Here today. Gone tomorrow. Any day could be our last and after a while you become numb to it.

Eli was young and eager. He was a good officer, but it seemed as though lady luck had not been with him on this day.

“I’m sorry Dana. I know you two were close.” I put as much sympathy into those empty words as possible. I feel like I have repeated them a lot over the past few years. And I had.

Dana stands and throws her body against me, her arms squeezing around my waist as she sobs. I stand motionless as her tears fall until I let the tension fall off me and wrap an arm around her in an attempt to console her. Not out of sympathy but out of duty. My sympathetic and compassionate side had dried up long ago.

My arm dropped from Dana when I heard the sound of villagers talking excitedly. As they neared to see our triumphant hunt of the monsters that threatened them.

Dana hastily wiped her tears away, turning her back on the approaching group.

“Burn the bodies but keep their horns. Place the horns around the town and bury them deep in the ground. This will keep other beasts from the underworld from bothering you.” I inform the townspeople, speaking directly to their mayor. An older man I remember from growing up here in Briarshire.

“Aye, will do.” He replies and then sends off several others to take the horns of the nightmare horses. His eyes land on the unmoving body of Eli. “I’m sorry you lost an officer Rhett.” He says sincerely.

“Me too.” I husk not wanting to talk about it. I was ready to move on immediately and go back to MacTire.

“We are very thankful for you and your team’s effort and ridding us of the creatures.” The mayor's lips purse. “Are we safe from all creatures of the dead?” He asks warily.

“No.” I shake my head. “The horns will keep their kind and the devil dogs away. As for the ones that fly… Probably not.” I tell him honestly. “Can you have some of your men carry my dead officer back to town?”

“Aye, we certainly can.” And then adds “Tell us where you want his body sent and we will make sure it gets there.” With certainty and resolve he offers.

I appreciated the gesture. “ To Avon Wilts. That was his home.” It was then that I realized I would be sending his body home to his father who was already ill and on his deathbed. This would be a big blow to his family.

“Dana,” I call to her, and she looks at me with big wide sad eyes. “We will stay the night and leave first thing in the morning,” I tell her which she responds by bobbing her head. Her brown hair fell from her ponytail over her grief-stricken face.

We grab the bikes and watch as a couple of men come and load Eli's body into the bed of a truck. Bringing him back to town where they would lay him in a coffin and then transport him back to Avon Wilts. I would make sure to include a note to his family as well as a generous amount of money to see them through as I knew any earnings Eli made went straight back to them.

Once we made it back to the hotel and parked the bikes, Dana stood there fiddling her fingers together looking sad and sheepish. “Spit it out, Dana.” I quipped not wanting to read minds.

“Can I stay with you tonight, Rhett? I don’t feel like being alone.” She said with a melancholy tone.

I looked into her sorrowful eyes, “Yeah sure. Pack your gear and Eli’s and then head over.”

“Thank you,” She whispered before sauntering to the room she had been sharing with Eli.

I walk back into my motel room, shaking off tonight's ordeal and packing it away in the back of my mind with the rest of them. I had lost more than two handful of officers over the years, and even more that were injured beyond repair and would never step foot out in the field again.

Moments later Dana was knocking on my door “Come in!” I shout, placing my weapons back in the duffle bag and then peeling off my pants again.

I wasn’t worried about being half-naked in front of Dana. I wasn’t her type. She liked a nice pair of tits and wet pussy. Something we had in common. She and Eli had bonded, and their relationship was more like big sister and little brother. I knew she was hurting but I couldn’t muster up the emotion I knew she needed to see and hear.

And Dana knew it too. It was enough for her that she wasn’t alone tonight. And if it wasn’t, then there really wasn’t much I could do about that.

I climbed onto the bed and watched Dana strip down to her crop top and panties then climb in bed beside me. She curled up on her side, her back to me.

It was a shame she didn’t like men; she was a beautiful woman. Shoulder-length brown hair striking blue eyes and an athletic physique. She was half werecat and you could see it in the way she moved and fought. She had speed and strength, but those were the only extra qualities that she possessed from her hybrid stature. She was nowhere near as fast or strong as me and she lacked night vision as well as the ability to heal but she was a damn good hunter.

“Do you think he will be received by the moon goddess?” Dana’s quiet voice filled the silent night and I let out a sigh.

I wasn’t sure there was even a moon goddess after everything we had learned. Maybe Ascena had risen to take the place of the goddess. Maybe not. “If she does not then Zeus will carry his life force into the afterlife.” I tried to assure her.

“I hope so.” Those were her last words before her breathing changed and evened out, slipping into a mournful sleep.

I lay there for some time, my eyes finally drifting close as I listened to Dana’s soft breathing. Thinking sleep would finally claim me.

That was until I felt the pressure of invasion inside my head. *Rhett,* Hunji’s voice resounded internally. I tried to block him out, but he pushed the mind link on me again. “Rhett, I know you can hear me.” Hunji sounded agitated.

*What?* I growled back. Annoyed that I might have actually caught some sleep for once and this royal reject was disturbing me.

*Don’t be an ass.* He said and I could almost feel his smirk. *The council is coming to MacTire to hold a meeting. Your presence is required.*

*For what?* I sighed back, flinging my arm over my eyes hoping I didn’t disturb Dana who still slept soundly beside me.

*Because Mathias ordered it.* He barked back. *And because Morgan had a vision.*

I jerked bolting into a sitting position, *Does she know how to bring Lamia back?* I asked hopeful.

I could feel the disappointment in Hunji before he even replied. *No.* I heard him sigh *But her vision could help us find a way.*

*Fine, I'll be on my way in the morning,* I told him. *We lost Eli tonight,* I added after a beat.

*I’m sorry to hear that.* I could detect the genuine remorse in Hunji's voice even if was over mind link.

I cut the link and laid back down gently. Holding in the grumbling sigh I was desperate to release. I wondered what Morgan's vision was knowing full well Hunji would not disclose the information over a mind link.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go to Riocht, I just knew what would happen. We would all meet and sit in the grand room around the table. Mathias would spit orders at people and not listen to anyone. Hunji would try to lead the discussion only to be cut down and Marcus Langley would end up arguing with them both. It would be a whole day or more of the same shit with nothing being done.

Talks that went around in circles. A room full of males arguing unable to come to an agreement.

It would take us the better part of two days to get there. Maybe I could figure a way out of it, bypass Riocht, and head straight to MacTire.

I would have to contact Alpha Travis to let him know I had been summoned by the almighty King Mathias. 

Travis was not going to be happy as even MacTire was struggling to stay afloat. And without a Delta or active Gamma they were short on commanders. I still didn’t understand why after three years Alpha Travis had still not named a Delta or new Gammas.

Then again it was touch and go with Travis. You never knew which side of him was in charge on a daily basis. He had changed drastically since I had first met him. The two sides of his wolf are always at war and clouding his mind. With that said, along with the extra spirit animal came an abundance of power. One no one saw coming. A strength that grew every day making the Alpha more dangerous and a formidable opponent.

If he so wished, I was sure Travis could challenge Mike for the throne of New Moon and become the king of werewolves. Mike was strong, but Travis, there was something about him and his two counterparts, something that grew deeper and darker.

No, by no means was Travis evil but there was a cruel streak in him that I had seen a handful of times. An unforgiving cruelty that reared its ugly head that would push rhyme and reason from his mind. A quality that has helped him and his army of elite warriors defeat quite a few of Aodh's dark army in battle.

If you asked him how he wouldn’t be able to tell you. He would say it was luck. I wasn’t so sure. I leaned more towards the demon wolf that occupied his body along with Janus his true wolf.

Once again sleep eluded me and by the time the sun began to peek over the horizon, desperately trying to push through the grey clouded sky, I was up and ready to roll.

Still trying to think of a way out of going to Riocht.