A Brief Prelude

A lone deer walked through the forest, its footsteps crunching lightly on the fallen leaves. The animal comes upon a small clearing, stopping to graze on the little vegetation that poked through the layer of red leaves. It munched quietly on the grass, blinking slowly as it began to tire. The sun shone just barely over the horizon, casting a deep red glow over the already crimson forest. Far away, its stalker stepped quietly, stringing an arrow upon her bow.

The deer perked its head up, standing perfectly still as it looked out into the trees. Did it hear something? Or was it simply another animal? After a moment, the deer lowered its head again, not smelling anything to alert it to the growing danger. Its hunger satisfied for the moment, it picked it head up and began to slowly walk out of the clearing, hoping to find somewhere to sleep for the night.

The arrow streaked from the hunter's bow.

The deer turned its head, hearing a strange twang come from the trees. Its head only just made it around before it felt a fierce pain in its chest. The animal's knees buckled and it fell to the ground in a heap. Footsteps now raced through the forest, coming ever closer to the striken animal.

It thrashed its legs out, trying desperately to stand, but it failed, succeeding only in rustling the leaves it now lay atop. It stopped struggling, overcome with a sudden exhaustion. Its eyes slowly closed as its heart spasmed one final time before coming softly to rest. The huntress entered the clearing, slinging her bow around her body. Her red hair swayed a little in the light breeze as she looked down on the slain animal.

She pulled out a short skinning knife and knelt down beside the animal. She bowed to it, "Ch'ígháh yaak'os, bįįh." She whispered in her native language, "You were a beautiful animal." She proceeded to skin the deer, packing the valuable hide and meat in a large pack that she strapped to her back. She stood, placing the small knife back in its small sheathe at her waist. She bowed from the waist again, "Thank you." She whispered before turning back the way she had come, her footsteps crunching softly as she disappeared back into the forest.