Hunter's Menagerie

Will spluttered out a considerable amount of dirt he’d coughed up as he raised himself off the ground, pushing up with his hands he watched as Hunter appeared a lot more gracefully than Will had apparently managed.

“I prefer walking.” Will said as he stood up and brushed the dirt and dust off his ruined clothes. He checked his tunic and found that the silver necklace was still there. Quickly, he shoved it back inside before Hunter saw him.

“This way is a lot faster than walking.” Hunter said and taking Will by the arm, he walked him towards what Will guessed was his home.

Once inside, Hunter began by checking all of his windows, peering outside each one for any signs that they’d been followed.

“What even is this place?” Will looked around. The house was small, with what looked like only three rooms. A main large room that they were standing in now. And two other rooms that sat directly opposite each other.

Then Will looked up and his mouth dropped. The roof wasn’t there. Instead, directly above him was the sky outside. Showing the same dark black clouds that had been there when he had first landed.

But before he could ask about why this place didn’t have a roof. Hunter grunted his reply. “Our home.” It seemed like he was getting increasingly irritated by the constant questions as he walked past an area that Will guessed formed some kind of kitchen.

“Our?” Will asked.

In response to that question, Hunter shouted into the right-hand room. “Hearthfast. Get out ‘ere. We have a guest.” Before returning to his sweeps of the windows.

From out of the right-hand room, a Dwarf lumbered out, a pair of smoke covered goggles were over his eyes, and an apron was tied around his tunic. A long black beard with flex of grey ran down from the dwarf’s face, running through his golden belt, and only ending just above his feet.

“What are you clobbering about now wizard?” Hearthfast asked as he came to stand a foot bellow Hunter’s eye line. “I was busy in there. You know better than to interrupt a Dwarf when he’s billowing.”

That was when Hearthfast noticed Will when he’d made to return to his own quarters.

The Dwarf strode over to Will, and began circling him, jabbing him with his forge prongs.

“What in the all the hells is that then?” Hearthfast asked staring up at Will, examining him like he was something from a travelling circus.

“That is Laura’s son.” Hunter said with a knowing look at the Dwarf. “You’d know that if you’d kept an eye on him like I told you too.”

Will stared between the two of them, though he was getting angry at the revelation that he had been spied on without his knowledge.

“Well forgive me your Wizardship. But I’ve been a little busy keeping your private menagerie from causing yet another incident.” Hearthfast replied as he began walking around Will, like he was sizing him up. “And besides. I had some of the clan check in when they arrived at that shithole of a town last year.”

“Another incident?” Will said smirking in Hunter’s general direction. Anything that brought the man down a peg was alright in his book. But then the second part of what the Dwarf had said came rushing into his brain. He’d been followed, by Dwarves. No wonder they looked at him funny on the few occasions that they had come to Harthpoint. Not that it did anything to improve his mood. The knowledge that people knew him from outside and nobody had offered to take him away from the Shephards and had still done nothing made his blood boil.

“Enough Hearthfast.” Hunter said before the kid became too cocky. It had taken enough of his energy to humble Will; he didn’t want the Dwarf to undo all his progress.

“Is this one goin to be staying the night then. Or is he going to be Griffin chow?” Hearthfast asked returning to his examination of Will.

“Wait. Griffin chow?” Will asked gazing up at Hunter, wondering if he’d somehow just traded being burned to death, into being eaten alive.

“I’m about to introduce him.” Hunter said batting away the concern. But also, notably not challenging the original point about food. “Hopefully she doesn’t carry this one away.” And with that he ushered Will out of the door.

The outside of Hunter small house were massive. Stretching as far as the eye could see in all directions. Littered around the grounds, were small brick buildings, about the same size as the house.

But before Will could marvel at the sheer amount of near empty space around the house, Hunter began whistling. It wasn’t exactly in tune, but clearly it meant something as an answering squawk came from somewhere in the distance.

As seconds turned to minutes, and nothing came. Will looked at Hunter.

“What are we waiting for exactly?” Will asked, after the conversation back at the house, he had been expecting more. In response, Hunter only smiled and pointed upwards. And following his point finger, Will looked skywards.

In the sky, a small object was approaching from a dense patch of woodlands to the south. The creature circled three times overhead, causing Will to stumble from the draft created by the massive wings. Then the creature quickly descended onto the grassy fields that surrounded the house, where Will was able to get a proper look at it.

“Don’t panic William.” Hunter said, clearly seeing the fear in his eyes. “You can’t outrun her.”

The forward part of the creature was that of an eagle, talons, beak and all. Its golden eyes haughty staring in their direction. The rear thought was that of a lion. And on its back, were two six-foot wings, currently nestled. And despite Hunter warning, Will was seriously considering taking his chances.

“What the hell is that thing?” Will asked staring at the creature with a mixture of awe, and fear. Back in his home, the most he had seen was a few small Spiderlings. And they weren’t that impressive when he now looked back.

“She’s a Griffin. Her name is Boreas.” Hunter replied as he began to slowly creep forward towards the creature. The Griffin stared back at them with its yellow eyes. Hunter could understand the kid’s apprehension at the creature. When he had first brought her back from The Lonely Island, it had taken him a few months to get used to it being in his back yard. “You two have met before.” Will looked up at this. He was pretty sure he’d know if he’d seen a Griffin before in his life. “She brought you to Harthpoint.” Hunter finished, seeing the confusion on Will’s face.

“Oh, so it’s her I’ve got to thank.” Will said jokingly. The joke though, was lost on the Griffin, who clicked her beak angrily at the words.

“You don’t want to upset her, William.” Hunter said as he took a tentative step forwards.

Slowly, and very carefully, Hunter bowed his head down, though never breaking eye contact with the creature.

Will watched as the Griffin stared back at the bowing man. Then, and equally as slowly, the Griffin slowly crouched its front legs down, so that it was unmistakably, in a very crude bow.

Hunter sighed, and watched the Griffin’s eagle eyes turned their gaze on Will.

“Hunter?” Will said not knowing what was going on.

“Walk forward slowly Will. Until your level with me.” Hunter said, still maintaining eye contact with the creature.

“But?” Will started, he wanted nothing more than to put a hundred miles between himself and the Griffin, the way it was staring at him reminded him unflatteringly of his stepmother whenever she was in one of her worse moods.

“Just do it, Will.” Hunter said, more forcefully this time.

Seeing that arguing would only delay the inevitable, Will slowly walked forwards, his legs shaking all the while. Then, half gazing at the Griffin, he bowed his head, trying to keep one eye on the beast, whilst another eye on Hunter.

When the Griffin had been approached by Hunter, it had bowed. Now though, it stared at Will intently, seeming to take in everything about him.

Then, it squawked at him, clicking its beak, and flapping its wings furiously.

“Back off Will.” Hunter said quickly, starting to panic himself now, glancing between the Griffin and the boy. “Nice and slowly; keep both your eyes on her. Don’t blink, she don’t like that.”

Will began to back off, whilst also trying not to bolt back to the house that now seemed a million miles away. But then, after backing up a few paces, the Griffin once more, bowed its head downwards.

An audible sigh of relief came from Hunter as he watched the Griffin bow. Perhaps the kid had just come on a little too quickly.

“Well done Will.” Hunter said as he finally took his eyes off the creature. “I reckon she might let you pat her now.”

“What?” Will said. That was more than he had bargained for.

“Yeah. Walk towards her. Keep it nice and slow.” Hunter said as he slowly walked towards the Griffin. “And keep eye contact.”

Will clearly wanted to make a break for it, Hunter could tell that just from looking at him. But he agreed and began walking forwards.

The Griffin watched this new movement with its haughty stare. But as Will picked up the pace, the Griffin once more became spooked, and snapped its beak at the kid.

“Not so fast Will.” Hunter said quickly, holding out his arm to slow Will down slightly. After Will managed to comply, he once again began to advance, until once again being stopped by Hunter. “Stay still kid.” Hunter said once the kid was a few meters away from the Griffin. “Slowly hold out your hand, and let her come to you.”

Will paused, and slowly raised his arm, allowing his hand to extend out towards the Griffin, which for her part, stared for a moment, and then walked forward. Will’s hand shook slightly as the Griffin reached out with its beak, then it slowly began scrape Wills hand with the sharp beak.

This only lasted a few moments, then the Griffin turned around quickly, and returned back towards the hills.

The Griffin was only the first part of the tour. Hunter dragged Will around his home, making sure that he was introduced to what seemed like a hundred different species of creatures. Most didn’t require much, and were content to ignore him.

Some however, did come up for a closer look at the newcomer in their lives.

A large Sabrecat with four massive fangs came within two inches of taking Will’s leg off before Hunter sent a loud blast from his wand that drove the creature away mewling.

A large salamander came out of an enchanted fire that was burning openly against a large brick wall, the creature unlike the Sabrecat didn’t try to take a bite out of him, in fact it seemed more like a lost puppy that wanted Will to come and play with his fire.

What did shoot fire at him was a gigantic crablike creature, that blasted a solid fireball directly at Will when he entered the pen. He only got out when Hunter deflected the fiery projectile and sent a jet of water at the crab.

“One more Will.” Hunter said as he dragged a slightly wet Will towards the final pen. It was small, and directly outside it was a metal box with the biggest lock that he had ever seen. The box didn’t seem to bother Hunter as he took off a ring and bracelet with an emerald inlaid into it. “Do you have any valuables Will?” Hunter asked turning to him.

“Err.” Will didn’t want to tell Hunter about the necklace. It was his. His one connection to his real family. And sharing it made him feel less connected in a way.

“Cause if you do.” Hunter said offering the box to Will. “I’ll need you to put it inside. Else they’ll have it off you.”

“They?” Will gently fumbled at his necklace.

“Aphills.” Hunter said waiting for Will to give him what he asked for. “Treasure hunters. They don’t know though that we’re off limits.”

Slowly, Will reached around his neck, and took off the necklace, before depositing it into the metal box. Hunter took out his wand and tapped the lock, which gave an audible click as it secured their treasures.

“Okay.” Hunter said as he opened the pen door and Will stepped inside.

Within an instant. What looked like a large rat came out from the trees. About a foot long, not including the tail which seemed to double its size. The Aphill scurried over to where Will was standing, and began sniffing at his trousers.

The Aphill, then began climbing up Will’s trouser legs, using its tail as a sort of fifth leg in its ascent, and it was soon on his shoulder, the claws gently digging into his collarbone. It wasn’t a hard grip, but enough to let Will know that it was still there. It’s pointy nose pressing against his face, sniffing for any sign of treasure that it thought Will might have hidden.

That was when the Aphill, having found nothing on Will’s face, began burying its snout into Will’s ear, shifting around in there for the merest chance of a reward.

Will couldn’t help himself and laughed like a little kid as the Aphill continued its examination. He tried his best not to cry with laughter, it was hard, it tickled.

Finally deciding that Will really had nothing to offer him. The Aphill pulled out of Will’s ear, and leapt off his shoulder, scampering off back towards the safety of the trees.

Will stood still trying to relocate the little creature, until he felt Hunter’s hand on his arm, leading him back out of the pen.

“Can you have an Aphill as a pet?” Will asked looking up. If he could, then he’d be rich beyond his wildest dreams.

“You’d hate it Will.” Hunter said, magically unsealing the metal box and taking out the valuables. “They’ll destroy anything you’d own to get to treasure.”

“Still.” Will said longingly as he grabbed his necklace and put it back under his tunic.

That evening, after eating what felt like the first proper meal that Will could remember having. He sat against one of the support beams that was holding the enchanted roof up, staring at the stars above his head. The house was mostly quiet, aside from the small sounds coming from Hearthfast winding down his forge, and Hunter finishing his own meal.

“So, how long has your pet Dwarf been spying on me for?” Will asked, still half gazing at the night sky.

“What that tongue boy.” Hearthfast grumbled as he strode past them.

“Since we delivered you to that town.” Hunter replied, biting into a carrot and beginning to munch down on it.

“Wait what?” Will said looking at the man.

“You heard me.” Hunter replied curtly, then at the look on Will’s face, which was mutinous he elaborated. “The Magi and I delivered you to the residence of a Mr Edward Shephard about twelve years ago. It was hoped that being there would keep you from Witchfinders attention.”

“Didn’t work did it.” Will mumbled. But Hunter ignored him.

“Afterwards, I had Hearthfast keep tabs on you to make sure that you were still there. I never trusted the bloke we left you with to tell you the truth. And that is what he should have done.” Hunter gave an angry glare at the Dwarf who chose to ignore it, instead choosing to continuing ripping into some meat. “But The Magi insisted it had to be there.”

“Why?” Will asked.

“You’ll have to ask him when I escort you to Bergtrost next week.” Hunter replied gruffly.

Will sat there, annoyed at the rebuttal. But a more important question came to him at that moment.

“Did you know my parents?” Will had wanted information on them for as long as he could remember. All he had was the silver necklace, and that was it. The Shepherds never talked about them, and any mention of the subject usually ended with him in the cupboard for the night. But if what Hunter was saying was true. Then this man must have known them.

“I did.” Hunter said, his teeth grinding together.

“And?” Will asked impatiently, ignoring the warning signs.

“Your mother was a sorcerer, like you. Your father, well I didn’t know the man that well. In truth the only time I even saw the man was when I came to collect you.” Hunter said, rather quickly. Like each word was painful to say.

“Are they dead?” Will asked. He didn’t know why he was asking. He almost certainly knew the answer. But whilst that almost was still in that sentence, he could still hold onto that little sliver of hope.

“Yeah kid.” Hunter said, sounding almost human himself now. “The Emperor publicly executed your mother, along with another sorcerer that was caught with her. Your father, well there was no public execution for him. But the odds that he survived are non-existent. No-one who goes into The Witchfinders temple ever come out.”

Will sat there, letting this information settle on him. His opinions of the Emperor were non-existent up to now. He was some far-off figure, and he had always been more pre-occupied with more important stuff to think on the ruler.

Now though, a wave of hatred of the man came over him. This man, for whatever reason had killed his family, for what. For a little bit of magic that they had.

“You okay, laddie?” Hearthfast asked nervously stepping forward.

“I’m fine.” Will said, though he felt anything but. But if it stopped him from blowing this place up too, which he probably thought might happen if he told the Dwarf how he really felt. So, telling both them and himself that lie was worth it.

They sat in silence after that for what felt like a long time. That was until Will saw something out of the corner of his eye.

The view out from the window was no longer as peaceful as before. A small black dot was hidden in the horizon.

“Hunter?” Will said, running up nervously to the window seat and jumped onto it for a better view.

“What?” Hunter replied, the growl was once more back in full force.

The man thought that he must have had another question.

“There’s someone outside your house?” Will murmured.

Hunter looked up at this, drawing his wand as he did so. Hearthfast also came over, the stout Dwarf taking out a large pair of binoculars.

“Alarm wasn’t set off sir.” Hearthfast said as he limped towards the window and peered out. “Can’t make a proper guess in this light.”

“Hunter?” Will said.

But Hunter’s full attention was fixed on the horizon. And as he continued to stare out the window, Will knew what this all meant. They’d been found. The Witchfinders had tracked them from Harthpoint all the way here.

“Come on kid.” Hunter said as he took hold of Will’s arm, and dragged him into the centre of the room.

“What are we doing?” Will asked looking around.

“Getting outa here.” Hunter said as he gave what appeared to be one final look around his home. “I don’t know if that thing was a Witchfinder or not. But better to be safe rather than sorry.”

Hunter began drawing the teleportation spell in mid-air. As Will looked around. The outside was deathly quiet. Too quiet. It was only now that he realised that the animal noises he’d heard all day were gone.

“I thought you said it wasn’t safe though.” Will said as Hunter continued the spell. Hearthfast, who’d gotten his things and now joined them in the centre of the room, aged around just as cautiously as Hunter. The Dwarf now looked like a small steel shell. He was covered head to foot in armour, and slung across his arm, was a large axe that was cruelly sharpened.

“No time to worry ‘bout that now.” Hearthfast said as Hunter finished the spell. The window through space completed, and the Dwarf was the first one through, disappearing into thin air as he clambered through the window.

“You’re next, William.” Hunter said as he herded Will towards the window.

Keen not to have another experience like before, Will didn’t need to be shoved through the portal. Instead going in willingly and re-appearing in a large valley, surrounded in every direction by mountains.