The Hunter Read Free Page A

weight of his foot and then held just as his numbed fingers could hold no more.
    He flattened himself against the rock and breathed deeply, feeling the cold night air rasp painfully against his dry throat,
     wishing that he could somehow quench his thirst. The smell of water hung heavy in the air, tormenting him. Lifting his head,
     he saw by the light of the swiftly rising moon that he was in a natural amphitheater, circled on all sides by steep walls
     of rock. At the base of the rock lay a large and black pool, which seeped from the rock itself and contained an image of the
     rising moon. More important for his purposes was a dark opening, a cleft in the rock, just ahead that could be the lair of
     the crafty lupebeast, for they were most cautious where they denned. Having no wish to meet the beast on the narrow ledge,
     Braldt crept forward on silent feet, once more gripping his weapons and trusting his footing to the gods.
    The cleft opened into the face of the cliff and disappeared into utter darkness, giving no clue as to its inhabitant. A rush
     of fetid air swept overhead, swirling about his head like a strong current, filling his nostrils with the stench of rotten
     meat and his head with shrill, piercing whistles. Bloodwings!Braldt crouched low, waving his short sword above his head, but he hideous things were gone, sweeping into the night in search
     of larger prey whom they would settle on and drain of their life’s blood, overwhelming the victim by the sheer weight of their
     numbers.
    Braldt watched them go with a shudder, knowing that he had been lucky, then turned his attention back to the cave, wondering
     if it was home to more than the bloodwings. The moon, rising majestically on its course, chose that moment to illuminate the
     mouth of the cave, revealing bloodwing droppings and numerous tracks imprinted in the dust, tracks of the lupebeast whom he
     had been seeking. Braldt raised his face to the Moon Mother and let her benedictions shine down upon him, knowing that she
     could safeguard him with her blessed presence only so long as he was within her radiant sight.
    Glancing upward one last time, taking courage from the siiver-white globe that was his god, Braldt crept through the narrow
     opening and paused, allowing his eyes to become adjusted to the darkness within. To his surprise he found that the cave was
     larger than he had anticipated, spreading away before him in all directions with a multitude of ledges and nooks that would
     provide comfortable dens to a score of more lupebeasts. The cave itself was well lit, for the brightness of the Moon Mother
     filtered down through numerous long cracks that dimpled the surface of the low roof, and he nodded to himself, comforted by
     this omen that his god was with him. The roof was obviously unstable and at some point in the near future, it would fall,
     but with any luck, the lupebeast would have no further need for its shelter.
    A long, low, rumbling growl filled the cavern, raising the short hairs on the back of his neck and turning him toward the
     sound. Braldt saw not one but five pairs of green eyes glowing at him out of the darkness! Crouching low, crossing the sword
     and dagger before him, he tensed for the attack, wondering bitterly how it was that he had failed to consider that the den
     might be shared by more than one beast.
    There was no more time for thinking for the beast was upon him, springing out of the darkness and landing behind him rather
     than before him at the mercy of his weapons.
    Braldt whirled and raised his sword as the beast sprang forward, paws extended, hoping to pin him to the ground. Braldt slipped
     to the side and lunged forward, trying to end the battle quickly for its companions would undoubtedly join the battle soon,
     dragging him down by sheer numbers. The lupebeast leaped aside as soon as it touched down, easily evading Braldt’s charge.
    Braldt and the beast circled, eyes locked upon each other, searching