We walk in a single-file line through the forest. Brian is in point position, at the front, and Alfred is behind at the back. All of us are on high alert. Without the vial, we are vulnerable. And as much as many of the hunters like pretending they're invincible, we can be killed just as easily - if not more easily - than everyone else back in the village. Oh, what I would do to get back to my village alive.

    The forest is eerily quiet, like all the animals are being silent as we continue our march back to certain death. Our odd procession is quiet too, our natural hunter's instincts making our footfalls muted even in the crunchy fallen leaves. No one speaks. Even I can't crack a joke right now, as much as I want to.

    We've been walking for around an hour when Brian finally breaks the silence. "We should be back at the castle already."

    I look around. I had managed to completely lose my bearings (pun intended) when running from mama bear. So I had no idea where in the forest I'd been when I ran into the group, nor did I know where the castle was.

    Another hunter spoke up, "I think we've passed that rock before."

    "No, definitely not," Alfred says decisively. "Brian, you must be a bad navigator. Let me take point."

    Brian looks like he wants to argue, but he defers to the older man's authority and moves to the back of the line. We enter a small clearing, ringed with trees. I consider making a joke about how the trees must be younger than Alfred (because the trees are ancient looking) but decide that now is not the time.

    Suddenly, the crack of a branch makes us all whirl around. Brian has an arrow nocked in his bow and aims it into the trees behind us. The rest of us have our hands readied to grab our weapons if necessary. Alfred draws his sword, and moves towards the back of the line, eyes fixed on the forest around us.

    "Who's there?" he calls. "By order of the king, you must reveal yourself to members of the king's Royal Hunting Party."

    A cackle from the other direction makes us spin around again. Now all of our weapons are out, and we've unconsciously moved out of the line into a hunting circle. Our backs to each other, we stay close, each person facing a different direction with their weapon pointed at the trees.

    Now the laughter is all around us, loud and ringing through the trees. Echoes bounce back from all directions, making it seem like we're surrounded. Alfred swallows hard. I can tell he's trying not to act afraid, since he's supposed to be the experienced veteran, but his sword hand trembles ever so slightly, giving him away. Not so cocky now, are you? I can't help but think. Dark smoke seeps through the trees, filling the clearing with a murky haze.

    "Reveal yourself," Alfred demands again. "By order of the king-"

    He's cut off when a figure appears in the trees, flitting from shadow to shadow. A menacing figure in the forest is more than some of the men can handle, as they step back in fear. Brian and I step forward, weapons drawn.

    "It's the witch!" someone shrieks. I don't turn.

    "Witches don't exist," Alfred scoffs.

    "Oh, I've waited many years for this," said a raspy voice that came from none of the hunters around me. We jump and face the figure again. Now that they've come closer, we can see that it's a woman, with wild hair and dark ripped clothes.

    "Don't come any closer," Brian threatens (since Alfred seems to have gone silent in shock).

    The woman laughs. "Or what?" she challenges. "You'll shoot those arrows at me?"

    Brian's hand drops slightly, but he raises his chin. "Yes," he says simply. The woman cackles again, and with a sweep of her hand all of our weapons fly across the clearing.

    "How about now?" She shuffles forward a few steps. Taunting us. "I've waited many years for this," she repeats. "Now finally I'll have some fresh meat to enjoy." Her gaze fixes on me. "Oh yes," she says hungrily. "You'll do just fine..."

    I take a step back reflexively, and she laughs yet again. I'm terrified out of my mind, but I manage to recover enough to do what I do best: crack a joke. Preferably at her expense.

    "I'm sorry, lady, but you have no right to do any of this to us. Like, I get what you're saying, we're a very handsome group of men, but 'fresh meat' is overkill. I know why you're excited though; it must be very hard to come by guys here...especially if you look like that." I make a point of looking her up and down with the air of disgust I'd perfected from my time at the castle.

    Her expression sours. "You're not a nice one," she says, giving me a steely glare. "I think you'll need to be taught some manners." She holds up her hand, and crooks one finger. I feel my body responding involuntarily, carrying me forward. The hunters behind me cry out, telling me to stop, telling her to release me, but she just smiles.

    'Witches don't exist,' Alfred? Really?

    What complete and utter crap.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written August 3, 2023

Word count: 902