Page 1 of Monster's Maiden

1

LARA

After walking several miles north from our city of Kantor, we finally reach the edge of the massive forest filled with bountiful game. This hunting expedition surely will help sustain us during these harsh winter months. The dense forest looms ahead, a tangle of shadows and trees. The icy snow crunches beneath our boots, but the sound is swallowed by the forest's thick silence.

Aiden and Maya follow close behind, their breaths forming white puffs that quickly disappear in the crisp air. I steadily push on through the dense thicket as the cold nips at my cheeks. I try to ignore the air’s biting sting, while my eyes focus on finding any faint tracks of dae.

"Aiden, keep up," I call over my shoulder, spotting his familiar figure lagging behind. His auburn hair, messy as ever, stands out against the white landscape.

"I'm coming," Aiden mutters. He adjusts his pack and picks up the pace, eyes darting around nervously.

Maya trudges beside him, her cheeks flushed from the biting wind. "Why do we always follow you into these frozen wastelands?" she asks, half-jokingly.

"Because you love the thrill of it," I reply with a grin, not bothering to turn around. My fingers grip my bow tighter as I scan the treeline for any signs of movement.

"Thrill or frostbite?" Maya's voice carries a playful edge, but her eyes remain sharp and alert. “Think we’ll find anything today?”

“If we don’t,” Aiden mutters. “I’m blaming Lara. This was her idea.”

"We'll find a dae soon," I assure them both. "It's out there."

Aiden scoffs. "I sure hope so."

"We’ve got to be close to something," I say, as I spot some tracks half-buried in snow. I crouch down, tracing the prints with my numb fingers.

Maya kneels carefully beside me. "How fresh?"

"Fresh enough," I say, with a glint of hope in my voice. "Let's move.”

We continue moving forward, following the tracks deeper into the forest. The trees around us are tall and imposing, their branches heavy with snow. The air feels heavier, colder. A sudden gust of wind sends a shower of flakes down upon us, but we keep our focus sharp. Our senses alert to every sound and movement around us.

My bow feels solid and reassuring in my grip, an extension of myself. The leather quiver on my back holds arrows tipped with steel heads I’ve honed to perfection. A hunter’s tools must be reliable, just like their instincts.

We move in silence for a while, our breaths the only sound breaking the winter stillness. My heart pounds with the familiar rhythm of the hunt. Each beat reminding me why I do this. The cold air stings my lungs but invigorates me all the same.

“See anything yet?” Aiden asks, his voice low and cautious.

“Patience,” I whisper back. “It’s close. I can feel it.”

Maya shivers beside me, pulling her cloak tighter to block out the cold bite of the wintry air. “You always say that.”

“And I’m always right,” I retort with a grin.

Aiden chuckles softly. “She’s got a point.”

The forest almost feels alive, every rustle of leaves and whisper of wind heightening my senses. A sudden snap of a twig nearby catches my attention. My heart starts to pound as I hold up my hand, signaling Aiden and Maya to halt. They stop immediately, their breaths stilling as they wait for my next move.

Crouching down behind a cluster of trees, I use the thick trunks as camouflage. Aiden and Maya follow suit without a word, understanding the urgency in my movements. The rough bark presses against my back, grounding me in the moment.

Holding my breath, I peer through the foliage, scanning the area ahead. There, just beyond the thicket, is a dae. Its silver coat glistens under the faint sunlight filtering through the canopy. Each muscle ripples with grace as it grazes peacefully.

Aiden inches closer, his eyes wide with anticipation. “Is it alone?” he whispers.

I nod, keeping my gaze fixed on the dae. “Looks like it,” I whisper back.

Maya shifts beside me, her fingers twitching around her bowstring. “What’s the plan?”

I take a deep breath, the crisp air filling my lungs. “We wait,” I say softly. “Let it come to us.”

---