The rustling of leaves outside coaxed me awake. I groaned as I turned over in my bed to look out the window.


    Barely light out, perfect. I thought to myself as I threw my blanket onto the other side of my bed. Quickly and quietly I pulled on my hunting leathers and tied my hair into a braid that fell over my shoulder. I picked up my boots and tip-toed back over to my bed, careful to not alert the guard outside my door. I pulled the long rope out from under it and tied one end to one of the posts at the foot of the bed. I made my way back to the window and gently let the rest of the rope hang out the window, barely reaching the ground. I pulled on my boots and hoisted myself over the windowsill. The rope was rough in my hands as I repelled myself down the side of the castle and into the hedges below.


    I kept myself low to the ground as a guard came close. Once the light of his torch faded, I crept from my hiding spot and made my way across the courtyard while sticking to the shadows. I found the loose grate I had marked and pulled it aside enough for me to slip through. I replaced the grate and then watched for the shadows of the guards patrolling the wall. After a few minutes, there’s a pause between guards that I use to sneak into the woods ahead.


    Leaves and twigs crunched under my boots as I swiftly made my way deeper into the woods. I followed the path of markings in the trees I left myself until I find a large oak with a hole in the side. I reach my arm inside and smile to myself when my fingers find the handle of my bow. I pull it out of the tree, followed by a quiver of arrows and sling them both over my shoulder before making my way deeper into the woods.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    A soft breeze pulls a few strands of hair out of my braid and around my face as I make my way through the woods, tracking the deer that escaped my snare I had left two days ago. I follow the trail of blood and pause when the blood trail starts to look as if it was made more recently. I touch my finger to a small pool of it and rub it between my fingers, confirming that the animal came through here recently. I ready my bow and pull an arrow from my quiver as I approach my target, my footsteps almost silent.


    I crouch behind a bush and draw my bow, my target oblivious to my presence. I take a deep breath as I aim for the buck’s heart and let my arrow fly. A smirk makes its way onto my face as my arrow finds its home with a thud. I slide my bow over my shoulder while I make my way towards my kill.


    I pull out the knife I had hidden in my boot and begin to skin the beautiful animal but stop when I hear a branch snap behind me. I turn around and find a set of yellow eyes staring back at me from the brush. Before I could ready my bow, the beast lunges for me. I let out a scream, covering my head with my arms… but the beast never reaches me.


    AN: Thank you so much for reading! I’m going to try and update this as regularly as possible! Please let me know what you think!!