The Hunt

~5~

Alo rubbed his eyes before slowly opening them. He looked around the lodge and glanced at the pile of fur blankets near the front entrance.

“Hinto?” Alo said.

He felt confused about what happened the night prior when noticed he was covered with a warm, wool blanket and an empty bowl sat a few feet away.

“Hinto?! Where are you?!”

Alo rose from the blanket and began to feel frustrated.

“I told him to get out of town. I don’t want him here. I don’t need him here.”

“Calm down, Alo.” He whispered. “Just breath.”

Alo took a breath and walked into the kitchen area. There he saw a loaf of artisan bread resting on the spotless counter. Alo gripped it in his paw; it had a nice weight to it, and a perfect golden brown crust. He began to slide it into his mouth when he heard the front door heave open and then close with a slam. Hinto walked in with a package in his paws and noticed Alo with half of the bread in his maw.

“Well,” Hinto said with a warm smile, “someone looks a bit hungry this morning.”

Alo removed the bread from his mouth and set it back down on the counter. “I thought I told you to leave, Hinto.”

Hinto laughed and set the package next to Alo’s half eaten bread.

“We aren’t going to do this every time I walk in, are we Alo? I told you the chief wants me here, so here is where I’ll be.” Hinto said as he slid the package closer to Alo. “I got you a small something.”

“I don’t want it.”

“Please just open it; I’ll leave you alone for the rest of the morning if you do.”

Alo rolled his eyes and brushed Hinto’s paw from the package. He began to tear the thin paper to reveal a dark wool woven vest with rabbit fur trims. Alo slowly unfolded it to gaze at its craftsmanship; he must’ve had one of the weavers make it, but how could they manage to make it under such short notice?

“I thought I’d give you this to commemorate our first hunt together.”

“I already have a vest Hinto; stop wasting your money.”

“It wasn’t a waste if you like it…do you like it?”

Alo did like it. The design was beautiful.

“No, I don’t like it at all. I don’t even wear a vest when I hunt…so it’s pointless.”

Hinto let out a defeated sigh as Alo handed him the vest.

“I’m sorry, Alo.”

Alo began to walk from the kitchen back to his sleeping pile to search for his hunting clothes.

“Hinto, where did you put my stuff?”

Hinto rubbed his eye then quickly turned around.

“Oh, I put all that stuff in the closet.” He said while pointing over to the thin door. “You didn’t seem to use it often, so I put them in there.”

Alo walked over to the door and swung it open to find his loincloth hanging over the wooden hanger bar. He yanked it down before pulling it over the front of his groin. Hinto watched from the kitchen in confusion as Alo reached down for his quiver and fastened it across his back. Finally he lifted his bow and turned to see Hinto’s eyes fixated on him.

“What is it, Hinto?”

“I…uh…is that all you’re wearing on this hunt Alo?” Hinto asked.

“Yes.” Alo tersely responded; Hinto’s confused look was starting to annoy him.

“Why Alo? You-”

“None of your concern eastern filth.”

Hinto let out a growl, becoming steadily agitated by Alo’s insults, but he decided he would let this one pass; he did promise to leave him alone. That, and, they had a large hunt ahead of them.

“I’ll be ready to leave soon Alo, just let me get my gear. Oh, and my map. Wouldn’t want to forget that.”

Alo ignored him and strolled through the front door.

“What a fool.” Alo thought. “The game isn’t going to wait.”

Making his way through the town, Alo attracted the usual stares of the townspeople. Despite his time in the village, everyday the citizens made him feel as if he was a stranger. He had learned to ignore them, but their judgmental eyes still pierced him.

“Don’t mind the looks Alo, they are looking upon a proud hunter.” He muttered under his breath.

Just when he was about to leave town for the woods, there seemed to be a commotion behind him. He turned back in curiosity to see a crowd listening as another voice rose among them.

“What is that?” a voice asked.

“How does it work?” another asked excitedly.

Alo’s curiosity consumed every fiber of his being.

“How does what work?” he thought making his way to the crowd.

Alo pressed his way through the warm, furry bodies as he reached the center. His face grew hot with anger as he saw the spectacle of a hunter: Hinto. He wore dark leather arm guards and wool shorts along with a short sleeved coat with a design that reached the base of his nubbed tail. However his clothing was not the center of the crowd’s attention; rather, it was his arsenal. A small silver pistol was strapped to his waist and a magnificent silver cross bow was cradled in both paws to show it to the adoring Ursine. Alo had never seen weaponry such as this before; though, he had heard rumors around the town of the countless new inventions being manufactured by the industrial district.

“Are you the hunter that’s going to help the runt?” a female asked.

“Yes, I am.” Hinto proudly replied.

“He sure is an odd one!” an Ursine announced, ignorant of Alo’s presence. The crowd began to laugh while Hinto let an awkward smile form on his face.

As Alo pushed through the crowd to free himself from his humiliation, Hinto looked on to see his partner taking his leave.

“Ah there he is now! I’m sorry, my new friends, but I must be off.” Hinto said as if taking a final bow on stage.

The crowd eagerly let Hinto through and waved him goodbye as he caught up to Alo. They shouted praise and adoration as if he single handedly saved the lives of every individual. Alo continued his pace trying to understand these Ursine. This Eastern Ursine hadn’t brought in a single scrap of meat, yet they treat him like a town hero.

“Where is my farewell? Or, at least, compliment? Is Hinto going to eclipse my entire existence?” Alo asked himself. “What if one day I walked through the streets, and they didn’t even bother to stare? What if they never acknowledge me at all?”

Simply the thought cut through his heart.

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