Hunters - Rising

by David Greer

  Chapter 15

  When the sun lowered itself onto the horizon and the skies began to darken, Grimey strolled away from Port out onto a grassy field. Guided by a flickering orange light in the distance, the hunter made his way to the campsite where he found Leo and Kane. They were seated on smooth logs in front of a crackling fire. Leo was tending to a boiling pot of water while Kane relaxed.Grimey heard the unmistakable sound of rolling waves nearby and realized how close to the beach they were.

  “You know I still don't see why we can't just stay in a room in town.” Grimey said as he took a seat across from Leo and Kane. “I was at the town square and there were plenty of rooms available.”

  “Those rooms are not for sleeping.” Leo said pointedly without lifting his gaze away from the pot.

  “What do you mean?” Grimey asked.

  Leo and Kane gave each other a meaningful glance. “Never mind.” Leo said.

  Grimey felt a heaviness in the air. The two islanders sat quietly, heads down. They hadn't even looked at him since he arrived.

  “Lighten up lads. I didn't know wandering off like that would affect you so much.” Grimey said. He felt that perhaps his sudden departure earlier that day was taken as some sort of dismissal of Leo's thought about a prophecy. Truth was Grimey didn't think it ridiculous at all, nor did he think it to be a serious matter. He didn't really think anything of it, which is why he left in the first place. He would have been of no help to his companions and thought they would be better off on their own.

  “It's not that.” Kane said. It's a rare moment when Kane speaks up and Grimey knew it.

  “We found the prophecy.” Leo said. He raised his eyes to Grimey and for the first time the bearded hunter noticed a book in Leo's hand.

  Leo tossed the book to Grimey. The cover was worn and the edges were tattered. It was an old book. He guessed that Leo kept it with him on all his travels. A ribbon hung from the pages and Grimey opened the book to the page it marked. Several lines were written larger and apart from everything else:

  When mountains fall

  And oceans soar

  Voices will hush

  For ever more.

  A mountain will burst

  With crimson tides,

  And red rain falls

  When the beast flies

  “And what does this mean?” Grimey asked.

  “It seems to fit the events that led to Northern's demise. At least the first passage does.” Leo said. “A mountain fell into the ocean and a large wave silenced everybody on the island.”

  That part made sense, Grimey thought. He also noticed the top of the page was titled Signs of Return.

  Grimey had no clue what the second passage referred to. It just sounded like some kind of beast would arrive. His brow furrowed at a question that popped in his mind. Leo, as if able to read the bearded hunter, chimed in.

  “These words were first written during the time of Orion. More precisely, after he had vanquished the legendary beasts.” Leo said. “The second passage must refer to one of those beasts and its revival.”

  “Oh please. Those monsters are just tales – dead tales at that. And what is this book anyway, more children stories?”

  Leo looked hurt at the comment and Grimey instantly regretted his words. Although Grimey had a hard time believing this passage was some kind of prophecy, he didn't mean to belittle Leo, who now looked utterly deflated. After all, Leo had only been honest and courteous every time he visited Quarry. Despite whatever beliefs Leo had and where they came from, Grimey knew him to be a good man and that was enough for the bearded hunter.

  On the other hand, Leo knew many didn't put as much stock into legends and fairy tales as he did but that didn't make it any easier when somebody dismissed his beliefs. He firmly believed that fairy tales and legends were rooted in historical fact. Just because a story had become a fairy tale didn't mean it was not true at some point. In his studies Leo had noticed common themes throughout many stories and concluded those repeated themes were likely a historical account of events.

  “So what does this mean?” Grimey said apologetically. Leo lifted his head up and looked at Grimey. There was sincerity in the bearded hunter's eyes and the hurt Leo felt dissipated.

  “It means,” Leo said leaning in toward the bearded hunter, “If the prophecy holds true and the recent events are signs. It means one of Orion's great beasts is rising.”

  “How do we know for sure?” Kane said. Again, Grimey found himself surprised at the muscular hunter's addition to the conversation.

  “A mountain will explode. There should be an eruption somewhere soon. That's where the beast will emerge from.”

  “Okay, which mountain?” Grimey asked.

  Leo thought for a moment, “Far north. The Iyre Mountain. The prophecy mentions a mountain bursting on crimson tides. Iyre Mountain is composed of a unique type of rock and dirt that gives it a red appearance, or so the stories say.”

  “That's quite a journey for you two lads.” Grimey said.

  “I agree. And a great beast may be waiting there for us. Something like that would be beyond Kane and I.” Leo's eyes met Grimey's. The bearded hunter shifted in his seat.

  “It's been a long day.” Grimey said. “Think I'll get me some sleep.”

  That night Grimey laid restless with an uneasy feeling. He couldn't shake the thoughts of aggressive banshees, the new monster in Woodlawn Village, Northern Isle wiped out, and the prophecy Leo believed in. It was a lot for the bearded hunter to think about. He preferred things simple. A monster threatens his town, he kills it. Simple. But all of these extra things weighed heavy on the hunter's thoughts. Something tugged at the back of his mind hinting that it could all be connected but that just didn't make sense to Grimey. What happens on an island happens on an island, it doesn't affect things elsewhere. Does it? Eventually all the thoughts wore the hunter down. His eyelids quickly grew heavy and the hunter drifted away into sleep.

  The next thing Grimey was aware of was being on a white sandy beach. Crystal blue water kissed his bare feet and gently massaged his ankles. The sky was clear, the sun was bright and warm. He wasn't in Port anymore, that was for sure. Nice place though, he thought, a paradise for many but the bearded hunter would take a mountain wood over a sandy beach any day. Sand in the beard brings about a tortuous itch.

  Grimey looked around and saw nothing on the horizon ahead. Just an endless blue sea. Then he felt the water at his feet grow warmer. Suddenly the sand grew moist and thick like a wet clay. It clamped down on his feet with a powerful grip. He struggled to break free but was stuck. The water continued to heat up and began to burn his legs. Something moved on the horizon and Grimey spotted a face far in the distance peering out of the water. Whatever it was only rose high enough so its eyes broke the surface. The thing must have been miles out but Grimey could see its green, narrow, and cunning eyes clearly. It glared at Grimey and the hunter got the impression it was laughing with a sneer. The water grew hotter.

  The sky above turned from clear blue to deep red and the sun burned a ferocious crimson. Everything was getting hotter. The water began to boil and and the air became a furnace. Sweat poured out of the hunter who helplessly struggled to get free but the sand wouldn't let go. Then a large shadow passed over and everything was dim like dusk. He glanced up and saw the sun had taken on a leathery appearance. It opened to reveal a ruby-red eye. At the eye's center was a black, narrow slit. It looked like the kind of eye found on a cat or lizard, Grimey thought, with the exception that it was red and wreathed in flame. It blinked and looked down at the hunter trapped in the sand. The eye burned more fiercely and red rain began to fall from the sky. And the rain was hotter than the ocean. Grimey felt the heat of each drop burn into his skin. What was going on, Grimey thought.

  There was a tug at his feet and the next thing Grimey knew he was swept into the boiling sea. Laughter echoed all around him. Must have been that thing with the green eyes. Currents whirled violently
and shook the hunter every which way. The laughter became deafening and pounded on his entire body. His limbs flailed wildly against the currents but to no avail. Grimey's breath was choked and his world became dark. The hunter felt utterly trapped. He tried to cry out but no sound came.

  With a jolt Grimey's eyes shot open. He sat up with a shiver, covered in a cold sweat. He actually found the cold to be quite a relief from the intense heat of his dream. Such heat, it felt so real. Grimey took a moment to catch his breath and remember where he was. The air was cool and trees whispered in the breeze. He was back at the campsite outside of Port. A faint glow on the horizon signaled sunrise was near. No point in going back to sleep. The dream shook up the bearded hunter too much for that anyway.

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