The Hunter Read Online Free PDF Page A

spirit, nor the pup either, for it was obvious that they were both
     alive. No spirit could hurt as much as he did. But whether the pup contained the spirit of Artallo was another matter and
     one that could wait for another day. For now, it was enough that he was alive and he would do his best to see that he… or,
     rather, they remained so.

3

    Braldt felt his way back toward the cave opening, his only thought being to somehow make his way down the narrow trail and find something to put in his empty belly. His legs were
     shaky and his body weak, but he knew that it must be done or he would die. He reached for his weapons with his good hand,
     only to realize that he still held the jaw of the lupebeast in his hand. He stared at it in the dim light, seeing the long,
     curved incisors and the double rows of teeth still stained with his blood, and nodded to himself, thinking that it would serve
     as a trophy as well as a reminder of the nearness of death. He tucked the jawbone into the folds of his robes and found his
     dagger still in its loop. His short sword was nowhere to be found and he could not remember when he had it last. He hoped
     that it was not back at the pool for his legs were without the strength to carry him there and back again. He could only hope
     that it would be found at the side of the slain he-beast.
    As Braldt drew near the cavern where he had killed the lupebeasts, the pup stopped abruptly, its large ears stiffly erect,
     the piebald-colored fur on its back rising in ridged spikes. A low growl emerged from between its teeth, a poor imitation
     of its parents, but a growl nonetheless.
    Braldt studied the pup, wondering what would cause such a reaction, then, because his head was feeling very heavy and his
     vision blurring with every step, he decided that it was nothing more than bad memories. After all, the pup had seen its entire
     family slain. Under the circumstances a growl was not inappropriate.
    The pup stood stiff-legged and growled continuously, seemingly unwilling to advance farther. Braldt brushed pastthe pup, anxious to find his sword and be gone from the place. The pup would follow or not as it liked. When he looked back,
     the pup was following, although he still growled and his little tail, whip thin and without the plumelike brush that would
     distinguish it as an adult, swept back and forth like a nervous tic.
    Braldt could see the entrance to the cave now, the brilliant midday sun pouring in through the opening, bathing the stony
     ground with its harsh, hot light. He hurried forward, anxious to feel the hot sun on his body, realizing that he was chilled
     to the bone by the cold darkness of the cave.
    As he drew closer, his eyes fixed on the sunlight, Braldt suddenly became aware of a sound that he had been hearing for some
     time. It was a curious shrill, chittering sound, almost like quarrelsome children arguing in high-pitched voices. Braldt moved
     farther into the cavern, shaking his head in irritation and willing his eyes to stop playing tricks. The entire floor of the
     cavern appeared to be undulating.
    Braldt made his way toward the body of the he-beast so that he could reclaim his sword, for he was certain that that was where
     it would be found, but as he advanced, the entire floor seemed to explode, rising up around him in screaming, flapping hysteria!
     Braldt could hear the pup barking wildly as he flung his arm across his face to protect his eyes, realizing too late what
     he had done. Blood wings! Thousands of them were feasting on the rotting carcasses of the slain lupebeasts and he had waded
     into the midst of them!
    He could feel them flapping against his bare skin, attempting to settle so that they might suck his blood with their long,
     sharp-edged hollow fangs, replacing what they withdrew with a pale fluid that deadened the flesh around the wound. Harmless
     in small doses, the pale fluid could kill if the bites were numerous enough.
    Braldt attempted to