first hunt: part 2

Phase 1: STALKING

The bounty hunters quickly gathered around the small stone houses of the village, slowly surrounding the pale demon in a skillful dance-like motion, an ominous dance as if to conjure death itself.

They waited maliciously, like vultures stalking a wounded wolf, it was an ugly sight to behold, the hunters seemed sneaky and cowardly, they lost their moral high ground and ''were reduced to a group of filthy scavengers'', the thought disgusted his very core, for he had an entirely different conception of what was happening and how it should happen.

For him, the hunt began from the moment he saw it, he saw those maleficent fangs and that striped scythe and knew instantly that he will not turn back, almost like a high of some sort, a surge of hot blood, this was a mission for him, a sacred promise, a prayer, he will kill that beast and he will absolutely not die doing it, and it was this state of mind that made him fearsome, and the beast was yet to discover that.

In a game of chase, patience overweighs any other merit, indeed, hunting is a long long action, and most hunters find the wait to be the most tiresome part of a mission, even more, tiring than actual combat -if that was to ensue. In fact, most licensed  professionals pay ''legerfeet'' to perform this task

and to beckon them when the distance starts to tighten on the prey and the heat rises.

He liked the stalking, loved it, like a fine wine he savored it, every minute of it, most hunters didn't understand this, for them, it was a cumbersome obligation that they liked to finish as soon as possible and go back home, to their wives and children, to the warmth of family and the taste of hot squirrel stew, they didn't see it as he did, as a way of life, a path. For him, hunting was like eating, and the stalking was the appetizers, like fore-playing with a mermaid, it was sweet and filled with excitement, he had a weird attraction to his prey, and the more he waits the more his spirit stirs.

The beast was going south, taking the central road of the town that passes by the giant windmill, the oldest landmark in town and a patrimonial building that was not to get caught in this mélée, there will be no pay then, so waiting was actually even more to their advantage, the beast did not seem concerned with the obvious containment tactic that they followed, he had something else in mind that kept him occupied.

The tactic the hunters followed was very basic, used by most group predators, basically, they surround the prey from all directions in a slow -almost unrecognizable- motion, with a very wide initial diameter in order to keep the prey ignorant, then once all corners are covered they start to move towards the prey, tightening the diameter as the go and closing in the gaps, and they continue until the prey feels the pressure and makes the first move, and they respond with full force, it is a very simple technique devised to prevent escape and limit the damage to the surroundings, ''still that doesn't make it any less cowardly'' he thought sourly.

They closed on him, a diameter of 140 meters, and up to this point the operation was running smoothly, the beast continued on his trajectory, unhinged by the vultures, he crossed the center and went on, his objectives were not really clear to the group, ''something smells fishy'' said the first time hunter in a murmur, close to him hanged a crow-man from a tree branch, he heard,

-''what do you mean?'' asked the crow.

-''something feels wrong'' replied the hunter loudly enough.

-''He still hasn't noticed us, true'' said the crow, '' maybe he is just dumb''

-''it's not that, do we know his objectives?''

-''No, but our mission stays the same regardless'' said the crow firmly

-''True, but he doesn't look the kind to wander out of territory aimlessly''

-''He looks the kind to be killed when he does'' retorted the crow, '' and I will kill him''

-'' He will be killed regardless that's true'' said the first time hunter to crow, '' but I will be doing the honors crow''. and a somewhat hostile look climbed on his face, the crow man smiled and moved slowly to keep up with the rhythm.

''This is going to be a full day'' thought the hunter to himself, and a smile crept to his face as the clock hand slowly hit 12.