Shadows Awakening

Chapter 4

My first hunt with Sebastian, and we were tracking elk. I couldn't contain my excitement, even though he had warned me it would be an easy one for my first time. But at the mention of "easy", his words fell on deaf ears as I was too focused on quenching the thirst that consumed me. A dry, burning sensation lingered in my throat, consuming all my thoughts. My mouth felt like a barren desert in Egypt, desperate for any drop of water. "Where?" I asked impatiently, scanning the surrounding trees. Sebastian placed his hands gently on my shoulders, sensing my urgency. His touch momentarily eased the desperation for water. "Just wait," he said calmly. "Now close your eyes." I followed his instructions and closed my eyes, trying to tune out the insistent voice in my head begging for water. "Listen," he whispered softly. "What do you hear?" My ears perked up, focusing on every sound around us as he guided me to listen closely for our prey.

I found myself immersed in a symphony of sound - the gentle cadence of his voice, the rhythmic rise and fall of his breath, the subtle movements of his lips as he spoke. In the distance, I could hear the chirping and fluttering of birds in the treetops, their heartbeats pulsing with life. The rustling leaves created a soothing melody as they brushed against each other, while the faint clicking of ants marching up a nearby tree trunk added a percussive element to the orchestra of nature.

But amidst this serene soundtrack, I knew there was something specific that he was referring to. So I focused my ears, honing in on a different sound amidst the constant hum of life. And then I heard it - an open space nearby where the wind sounded different as it blew across the exposed grass. I could also hear a small creek nearby, its bed filled with rocks that created a soothing trickle of water. Near the water's edge, I could make out the splash of animals drinking and the loud thumping of their hearts pumping thick streams of blood through their bodies.

As I tuned into these natural sounds around me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of constriction in my throat, as if every breath required effort. But despite this physical sensation, I remained captivated by the symphony playing out before me, lost in its intricate melodies and harmonies.

With my eyes still closed, I posed the question, voice filled with curiosity. "By the creek, to the northeast?"

"Yes." His response was tinged with satisfaction. "Now...wait for the breeze again and...what can you detect with your sense of smell?"

The first scent that hit me was overwhelmingly him and his peculiar cologne. But as I delved deeper with my olfactory senses, other smells registered. The musky odor of decomposing matter and damp moss mingled in the air, reminiscent of a forest floor after a heavy rain. The sharp piney aroma of evergreens added to the natural perfume of the surroundings, along with the warm, almost nutty scent of tiny rodents scurrying beneath the tree roots. As I extended my awareness further, I caught a whiff of clean water nearby, though it lacked the appeal I had hoped for despite my thirst. Zeroing in on the water source, another smell joined in with the calming sound of lapping waves and racing heartbeat. It was a warm and pungent odor, stronger than the others but still less alluring than I expected from a fresh body of water. My nose crinkled in displeasure at the discovery.

A soft chuckle escaped his lips, the sound echoing through the dense forest. "I can see how this might be overwhelming for someone new to these parts," he remarked with amusement.

"Three?" I tentatively asked, my eyes scanning the five towering trees in front of me.

"Close, but there are actually two more hidden in the shadows behind them," he revealed, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes.

My mind raced as I tried to process this new information. What was I supposed to do now? My heart thumped loudly against my chest as I awaited his next instructions, unsure of what other surprises awaited me in this mystical place.