Hunters

The howling is a little closer now.

"Looks like we wondered enough. Let's get back to back for this fight." Heather says calmly.

"Okay." I reply turning my back to her. 

I ready my bow and I hear her do the same. Her breathing is slow and steady putting me at ease while I look into the snowy desert before me.

"I bless thy with strength." Heather says holding her hand up. Her aurora of green lights dance over the two of us granting us strength.

Movement catches my attention out of the corner of my eye. I try to speak Heather's name but get knocked to the ground by a giant wolf. It stands majestically over me. Its white fur shifts in the bitter wind. His dark eyes are gentle while looking down at me. Then he is gone as fast as he appeared. 

"You alright?" Heather asks keeping her eyes on the horizon.

I scramble to my feet. It's white fur must really hide it well in the snow because I can not see it anywhere. 

Again I catch a glimpse of this Amarok wolf before being knocked down again. Heather doesn't react in time either and it's gone. Fear is starting to grip around my heart and adrenaline is pulsing heavily through my veins.

"You alright?" Asks Heather.

"I... How are we supposed to shot it?!" I start to cry. My tears and snot freeze instantly causing me a great deal of pain in my face. Yet I can't move my hand from my bow and arrow to wipe my face.

"Calm down. We might have to use guided arrows. But I'm not getting any bloodlust from this wolf. Maybe we found the wrong one." Heather states.

"This could be the wrong one?!" I shout.

"I'm thinking so." She replies.

Again, I am knocked to the ground but this time he sits on me.

"Hello hunters." A deep voice comes from the wolf.

"Why hello there. I knew you were a good one." Heather says putting her arrow back into her quiver.

"I would beg to differ." I say trying to breath under his crushing weight.

The Amarok laughs a deep laugh. "I see you have came to hunt but if not me then for who?"

"Have you heard of an Amarok slaughtering people in the area?" Heather asks nonchalantly.

"Ahhh so you're here for my uncle. If you go due North you should come across a frozen trail. Follow that and you will find him."  The Amarok points his paw toward some northern lights.

"You are very kind thank you. Come on Hazel you rested long enough. Let's go." Heather says waving for me to follow.

"A little help first?" I beg breathlessly under the wolf.

"Oh sorry little one." The Amarok shifts some weight and I'm able to pull myself out from under him.

"Thanks." I tell him then I have to ask. "Why would you let us go hunt your uncle? Do you not get along?"

"Oh we get along just fine but the hunting will be easier without an extra mouth in the area." His snout either smiles or snarls to show his teeth.

I then really regret my question and scurry beside Heather. The wolf laughs then disappears into nothing when a gust picks up snow beside him.

"Ha ha ha. Happy hunting young one." His voice gets carried away on the wind and snow.

"I don't like this." I say with a shiver.

"You'll get use to it." Heather says slapping me on my back.

I hate when she says that.

"I have a question." I ask walking beside her.

"I may have an answer." She smiles.

"This is a ghost slash spirit type being, how are we supposed to shoot it with something physical?" I demand.

"Very good question. You and I naturally put out a little bit of spirit power. Now your friend Matilda is a little more intune with spirits so seeing and doing damage to them is a little easier for her." Heather explains.

"Then why isn't she out here?" I shout. 

"Part of this is so you can get stronger. Now duck." Says Heather.

I duck and she shoots an arrow at a shadowy figure. 

"Got him." She says with a smile.

"Those things are creepy too." I state.

"Once you get more experience with seeing the beings that walk beside us, you will be a better hunter. That's part of why it's you on the mission and not Matilda. Since the shadow figures are spirit based too. You never knew when you will need to defend yourself or others from them." Heather explains.

"There is so much to learn." I complain before stepping on some ice and falling onto my back side. "Owwww." I whine.

"Hey you found the path. Good job Hazel." Heather says reaching her hand out for me.

"No problem." I grunt as she helps lift me up.

I brush myself off as she looks left and right at the trail.

"Which way?" I ask.

"This way." She points to the left.

"Then we go right." I say starting to trudge to the East.

"Hey I said this way." She protests.

"Outside of knowing you are horrible with directions. I read that the trail the Amarok leaves behind gets narrow the farther away the Amarok travels. Your way clearly gets smaller. While mine." I gesture to a widening path. "Is getting bigger."

"Ahh good job yet again." Heather says slapping my shoulder as she walks past me.

"Just don't want to be lost." I say following her East.

After awhile of walking in silence and my thoughts running rampant in my head. I finally get the courage to ask Heather about this spirit power.

"So tell me how to get stronger with this spirit power thingy." I ask.

"How's your friendship with Aba?" She answers with a question.

"Uuuuuhhh how does that have anything to do with this?" 

"You realize he is the reason you can see the shadow figures right?" She looks at me a little funny.

"I thought that was because one of my ancestors drank some angel blood. Then me being so many generations from them, the blood got thinned so my powers aren't as strong as others." I explain.

"That is a big part of it. But, the stronger your friendship is with Aba the stronger you can become." She smiles at me.

I think on that for a moment. 

'So Aba is a spirit thingy?" I finally ask.

"That's one way to think of it." 

She pounders the question too while looking at the star filled sky. I look up at the huge sky and the feeling of how small I am slowly sinks in. 

Friends with Aba. Maybe I should give him a visit the next time Heather goes to visit him.

A warmer breeze circles around us both. It circles around as if to hug us. I feel a bit more at ease. Heather giggles and reaches for the sky.

"I know. Thank you." She says quietly.

"Whaaaaaat was that?" I ask.

"Aba is watching." She tilts her head.

A howl in the not so far distance grabs our attention.

"Found for a third time tonight." Heather comments drawing an arrow. "Prepare for a fight. The bloodlust on this one is thick."