The hunt.

It was shortly into the night sitting in the corner of the tavern drinking a nice warm spiced cider. When a cloaked person came through the door, taking notice as a habit of mine to know who is in the room with me. I did not recognize this small frame, most likely a young girl.  My instinct was confirmed when the hood dropped to reveal the face of a young lady with long blondish hair and by all accounts quite pretty. She headed over to the inn keeper and engaged in a short conversation one that I paid no attention to until he said my name and saw him pointing in my direction. "Great now what" I had no desire for company tonight or most others for that matter. Before I could make my way out she was upon me in a quickness that took even me by surprise. "Are you Garret Thornwood?" she said with a wisp if lightness in her voice and big blue doe like eyes. "Yes, what can I do for you my lady?" "I was sent to find you, we are need of your skill and knowledge of the wilderness". "We have had a dire wolf attacking our sheep but now it has turned it's  hunger  towards the village and we need your help to hunt it down and kill it." "Go see Alfaric down at the forge and tell him to make you some traps, set them up using sheep as bait and that will take care of your problem you will not need me for this." She looked like I just kicked her in the stomach and spoke so softly that I almost couldn't hear her speak "Tis not a normal Dire wolf my lord, he is the biggest we have ever seen and has taken down our best woodsman." What can I say hearing that and seeing those blue eyes on the verge of tears I could not turn her away not when I can help her. "Very well, we will leave in the morning" "really! Thank you, I will see that you will be well rewarded for this I promise." "Reward? I do not need a reward to help someone in trouble." I get her a room at the inn " I will be here at first light be ready to go then."  I was surprised to find her already up and standing in front of the tavern all ready to go and with traps no less, she may prove useful after all.  Once we reached her village the stench of death was in the air and I could tell they were in dire need. She took me to the village elder and we spoke about the beast as they called it. That afternoon I set out into the woods, to set the traps and take this dire wolf down quickly before it could kill again.  Shortly after setting the traps, I set camp nearby.  Near sunrise I heard the wolf's howls, I could tell it was on the hunt and soon I will be to. It did not take long for the wolf to come onto the sheep I was using as bait. It was no exaggeration on the size of this beastly wolf. It was big even for a dire wolf, dirty white fur and easily 200 pounds. "I hope it enjoys it's last meal of sheep." as  I raise my bow and say upon it "swift death to those who oppose me" and let my arrow loose. The arrow flies true and hits it's mark just behind the front legs, right behind the shoulder a perfect shot for a clean kill. The beast takes the arrow like it was thorn in it's side and immediately turns and senses me and charges. I can see him coming right after me mouth full of teeth and drool howling in pain and anger. It jumps onto me knocking me down to the ground with a thud. "Damn this thing is big" as I grab it's jaw to keep it from biting me, my armor taking the brunt of it clawing at me. I reach with my other hand grabbing my dagger from quiver belt and shoving it into it's head. I roll of me and take another dagger from my back and quickly slit it's throat allowing it to bleed out quickly. "I take this life in the name of Ehlonna" and set a side a good sized portion of the hide in offering to the goddess.  I take the head back to prove the beast is dead, and skin the  rest to make a new mantle cloak, after all it will make a great trophy to wear and keep me warm this winter. I leave the head of the wolf at the doorstep of the young lady who came to find me, and head back home. No need to stick around and have people throng over me and have to break her heart when I could not stay.  I am not a city dweller. I am a Ranger,I hear the call of Nature, I maintain the balance, I fight the darkness, I hold the line so others can live.