So, I decided to write a little spooky/tragic fanfic as it is the day before Halloween where I live, and I happen to be off sick from school to boot! Well, this is basically why you don't hunt in the dark. And why we have a half an hour before sunrise/after sunset law here in California for shooting at animals. Just some more practice for me. Please do post your responses! It helps. :D

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Darkness surrounded Kofideth as the sun set in the west. He was returning to Haven after a long, albeit unsuccessful, day of hunting.

A natural hunter, he walked as silently as possible at all times, even when there was no danger or prey to be aware of. He paused briefly to check the hillside just beyond the woods for any animals, before he left the woods. An animal was grazing on the hill, so he took the rifle off his back and prepared to fire.

The animal suddenly took off running before Kofideth even looked down the scope. He cursed his luck, then slung his rifle over his shoulder again and approached the spot where the animal was standing.

It was too dark to see the shape of the animal’s tracks, but Kofideth followed them anyway. They wound down the hill on an easy trail, before vanishing into the woods. Whatever this thing is, it sure does know how to leave a trail, Kofideth thought to himself after seeing the carnage left by the blundering beast.

Kofideth continued through the woods. Occasionally, he would hear the sound of wolvers barking, or the howl of a Snarbolax in the distance, but noted nothing out of the ordinary. Kofideth jumped when an owl swooped down in front of him to catch a mouse, then chuckled to himself about his foolishness. Some old owl shouldn’t scare me!

Every now and then the beast seemed to stop on the side of the trail for a rest, before continuing. Before these little rests, Kofideth noticed that its tracks became closer together, and that they were the farthest apart after the rests. He assumed that the beast was either too old to maintain a steady pace, or too young to conserve energy.

Kofideth thought he heard whispers in the wind, telling him to turn back, and warning him to be careful, but he thought he was so tired he was hearing things. What he didn’t know was that his hunter’s conscience was trying to speak to him.

The beast began to take more rests and its tracks became closer and closer together, so Kofideth assumed that he would soon catch up with it. His senses became sharper, his feet treaded even lighter than normal, his breathing became more regulated, and his mind ceased to wander. Kofideth was completely immersed in the hunt, and was one with the woods.

The same could not be said for the beast he was tracking, who was leaving even more destruction on the trail.

Kofideth tracked it farther into the woods to a clearing, where he saw the beast sleeping. He mounted his gun, but could not discern the animal’s shape, even with the scope. Kofideth aimed for center of the animal and pulled the trigger. The beast jerked up with a gasp, before falling silent and still. Its muscles appeared to spasm a little bit, but Kofideth was unconcerned.

He decided to let the animal sit there for an hour before investigating, as in an hour, it would be sunlight once more. The time had flown so fast while he was stalking it. He fell asleep just outside of the clearing.

When he awakened just over an hour later, the beast was still there, and no ants had found it yet. The beast he saw was black and red, with a dark brown hat upon its head. Its eyes were hazel, its hair brown. A blood stain was visible on its poncho.

“What have I done?!” Kofideth cried out, running over to the fallen knight. The warrior was one of his hunting friends, who had taught Kofideth almost everything a few years before.

Kofideth turned back to the forest after he heard a growling. Six red eyes gazed upon him. In the early morning light, the Snarbolax pounced on its new prey.