CREATIVE WRITING: EP 3- THE HUNT
Hey everyone,
This is Rae. This is the 3rd chapter of the story I am currently writing. Hope you all like it!
CHAPTER 3- THE HUNT
Peter woke the next morning to find everybody in a frantic state of mind. The head butler was running hither and thither and shouting out orders for the Prince’s birthday celebration while the other servants scurried here and there, helping out wherever it was required. “All arrangements had to be perfect for the Prince’s birthday and the Hunt”- the king had ordered so all the palace attendants were rushing about fixing everything. As Peter got out of bed, a number of attendants entered with the butler in front. “Would you like some tea and cake, your Highness?’ the butler asked, bowing deeply. “Uh..actually I would prefer to just have some toast. I’m not feeling particularly hungry,” replied Peter. The butler glanced at the other attendants and they seemed to have a silent conversation. Then they all bowed. “As you wish, your Highness,” the butler said and they all left, leaving Peter alone in his room. He sighed deeply and for a split second, if anyone could have glanced upon his face, they would have noticed how afraid he was. But then the moment passed and any sign of doubt was erased from his face.
Peter changed into his hunting outfit and headed down to the courtroom where his father wanted to meet him. Possibly the last conversation he would ever have if we failed his mission. Great, now I am sad. Anyway, when he reached the courtroom, he found it to be almost empty except for his father seated on the throne. From a distance, he looked calm and regal- just like a proper king but upon close inspection, once could see worry lines etched on his face.
“Ah Peter, come in son,” King Rupert greeted his son as Peter entered. “I assume you know what you have to do on the Hunt?’ Peter nodded. “Good, now I asked to meet you because I wanted to tell you something very important. This is crucial so you have to listen very carefully because I will only say this once. At the Hunt, when you are in the forest, at no cost should you injure the white wolf. Even if it is right in front of your eyes, you shall not kill it.” Peter looked astonished. “Wait what?” Yeah thats, right, what is the king going on about? “Father, if I do not catch the wolf, I will be killed-” he said urgently. The king held up a hand to silence him. “I know you might think I have gone crazy and this is ridiculous but I know the dangers lurking in that forest. Something is not right in there and I do not want something to happen to you, Peter. You are the future of this nation,” the king said and looked directly into Peter’s eyes. Peter had never known his father to lie. In those eyes, he saw seriousness and a hint of terror and he knew then that his father was speaking the truth. “Al-Alright Father. As you wish. But I would like to know exactly what dangers are in there.” “I’m sorry, my son but I cannot tell you everything because now is not the appropriate place or time.
When you come back from your Hunt, I promise to tell you the truth,” said the king. Peter did not say anything. For a while, there was silence between them then Peter turned and left. The king turned as well and walked slowly, his heart heavy with guilt and secrets. Soon after was the grand banquet. Plenty of people turned up to wish Peter good luck and he received them gratefully. However, his Father’s words remained at the back of his mind. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remove the memory. When it was time for him to get ready for the Hunt, his mother slipped him a note. “For good luck. Your grandmother did it when your father was going for the Hunt too. You will succeed. Happy birthday Peter and know that we all stand by you,” his mother said, hugging him. Peter allowed himself to stay in his mother’s embrace for a little while, relaxing in the familiar warmth before he pulled away.
He put on his armour and took his sword and bow with the quiver full of arrows. Then he saddled his horse and got on it, the general and a few other soldiers accompanying him. As he stood at the entrance of that dense jungle, he could not shake the feeling that something was wrong but he had no time for that. His top priority was to avoid the white wolf and return back to Devon to hear the entire story from his father. Peter’s horse slowly started walking into the forest, the others close behind. They had travelled for almost an hour when there was a howl pierced the air. Peter’s head whipped around to the direction from where the sound had originated. “The white wolf, your Highness,” said one of the soldiers. Peter and the others dismounted. They slowly tiptoed towards the oak tree located to the the left of the main forest path. That’s when the general tapped Peter and pointed straight ahead. Right in front of a clump of bushes was a wolf. Its coat was white as snow and its amber eyes were luminescent. It stood stock still and seemed to be looking elsewhere but Peter somehow felt that the wolf’s eyes were piercing straight through his soul and it wanted to tell him something.
Peter felt oddly connected to the wolf as if he knew it. He seemed transfixed and slowly Peter got up from his crouching position. The general tried to warn him to sit down but it was too late. Peter only saw the wolf and nothing else. He put two fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill whistle. The wolf’s ears perked up. It turned its head and looked at Peter. It seemed to be moving towards him when two things happened suddenly. Firstly, as the wolf was about to move, an arrow shot out of nowhere and buried itself deep in the wolf’s body. It let out an ear-piercing howl and collapsed to the ground-its snowy white coat stained a blood red. Seeing the wolf collapse seemed to rouse Peter from his transfixed state. He started to run towards the wolf- to save it at any cost but he was unable to. Another arrow flew from the oak tree and tore through his armour and entered his gut. Peter stopped. He looked straight down at his arrow wound which was now gushing blood. He started to gurgle and foam at the mouth. The entire world was spinning around him and he felt dizzy. As his knees buckled, he saw a faint shadow from the oak tree – a man most probably but what did that matter? Peter’s eyes closed shut and his head hit the ground Beside him, lay the bodies of all the other soldiers- arrows piercing their bodies too.
If the king had been worried about his son not returning and had sent the guards to go and check what was wrong in the forest, they would have seen a number of bodies littering the ground in a circle and in the midst of them all- six arrows stained with blood, each bearing the falcon mark on the fletching…
Well, this was the 3rd chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. I would love to know what you all thought of this story and guess what happened to Peter Petrov- let me know in the comments below. Stay safe and happy! More later…
Ciao,
~RAE
Musings of Rae 