Hunting

“So James you know how to hunt? I’m surprised for an “civilised man” I laughed before checking the bow spoke, “I bet you thought I was like all the other the law enforcers; clueless idiots, with no level of intelligence between them and I’m power mad?” “Not completely but yes!” “I see the value in learning how to survive and live off the land; so if I had to I would be prepared” Charles nodding studying my willingness to not hold the reigns as he questioned, “You put a lot of faith in your horse!” “Well I have been with Alice for soo long now!” “A interesting choice... a female war horse. Most of the others would laugh!” “And there lies your gangs idiocy!” “Funny since you joined us!” “I am trying to persuade Dutch to let the civilians go but he won’t! So until then I stay” he nodded before halting his horse spoke tracks, “Deer!” I slid off before nearing down with him joining me started to study them to see what could be revealed.

“A young buck, heading North-Easy quite fresh!” Charles spoke but studying it I challenged with, “Not a buck, it’s a doe!” “I beg to differ!” “Trust me I can tell by the tracks!” “I still say you’re wrong!” “$5 it is!” “Okay $5 it isn’t!” I shook his hand before hitching the horses started to follow the tracks. “Nothing!” Charles spoke calmly walking up to the next area, “Charles!” I called out pointing at the clawed stump and understanding why there was nothing Charles nodded before getting back spoke quietly, “Bears, be weary they can be anywhere. You take the left and I will take the right, keep your rifle loaded and on you just incase you meet one!”

There was an eerie silence apart for the crunching of the leaves before smiling studied the doe who fed off the land. I slowly drew the bow and holding my breath to stop any shaking in my hand let go sending them arrow through its chest and walking up seeing the dying animal crouched down to whisper, “I thank you for this meal, some of them don’t deserve it but not everyone is bad!” before slinging it over my back started to walk back stopped hearing Alice stomp in distress and then a bear growl and a call from Charles, “Shit!” I threw the Doe down and rushing over yelled at the bear who turning around stood on its back legs running towards me.

I tried to draw the bow but throwing it down knew it was too late. The bear charged and meeting it pushed back feeling its weight push down on me, I pushed away and punching the bear dodged a stroke before punching it again hitting it in its face as it lunged again causing me to dodge before kicking it was met by the bear catching me on my chest, Charles started to recover from his dazed state the bear saw this so growling once again felt me jump up and jump on its back and start to **** it out. The bear thrashed around before falling down lay **** in the dirt. Charles stood there in shock as he watched the laying bear before smiling at the respectful way I treated the hunt, “Thank you for this meal. Quick and peaceful!” and in one flick of the wrist slid the knife in its neck twisting the blade and watch the blood drain.

“You okay?” I asked clutching the blooded wound and nodding spoke, “I owe you!” “There’s that doe we were tracking go and fetch it. That reminds me... pay up!” he checked his pocket and handing over the notes retraced my steps smiling amazed again seeing me lift the bear onto my back and slowly return to the horses. I took an breath before hoisting it on the back of Alice who shifted under the newly found weight, “Okay with that?” Charles questioned and nodding I spoke patting Alice’s leg, “Alice? Yeah she has had bears on her before. She will be slower but she won’t mind!” “No I meant your chest!” “Yeah, I can patch it up however...” “Get some sympathy off the ladies is it?” I winked before laughing stated, “After all its just another scratch!”

The camp watched to see the return of Charles with his torn shirt but the concern from the most camp soon shifted to the second man the stranger who dismounting wiped more of the blood from his body, “James?!” Mary cried and smiling he simply pulled the bear from the horse and dumped it on Pearson’s table, “Food for the camp!” he immediately rushed to skin it and James as Charles joked earlier was immediately pulled to a stool and the women rushed to treat the wound. “You silly fool!” Mary spoke tearing at the shirt to access the cuts and laughing he watched her worry and grow flustered trying to think on what she needed to do next, “I’m fine Mary and you all got some food!” “What on earth happened to you?” Arthur queried and being met by Charles who returned from changing his shirt spoke, “He saved my life. A bear caught me off guard and would have killed me if it wasn’t for James!” Arthur nodded before asking, “His cut?” “I didn’t get time to draw a shot with my bow or grabbing my shotgun so I had to fight him with my bare hands!” “You killed an bear with your hands?” Dutch queried and nodding shrugged, “Now imagine what I could do to anyone who pisses me off...”