I don’t even remember leaving the tavern. All I could recall was that dwarf telling me that this girl wasn’t the first victim: there were three more bodies found in the wood. Locals first thought that wolves were to blame, but they never heard howling on the murder nights. And then that girl was found in village. I wonder what kind of monster that Huntsman is…

Judging from dwarf’s words, he’s not even a normal Hunter – I’ve never seen any one of them with glowing eyes. Or maybe, that dwarf was exaggerating. Is that Huntsman really from the old days? That means he is stronger than any of my brethren. He may be even stronger than me. But I will not make foolish assumptions until I meet him and see for myself!

It was night already. The sky was covered with black clouds and cold wind was about to turn into a storm. Well, at least there was no rain. I walked empty streets of cobblestone to the verge of village. I guess, that Huntsman should come out to find another victim. And I’ll be waiting for him…

A few hours passed. I neither saw nor heard anyone. However, I had that feeling that someone was not far from here. Somewhere in the forest. Hiding and waiting. Waiting for me, perhaps? Or maybe for defenseless travelers?

This whole hunt wouldn’t be that troubling, if I was supposed to hunt just another monster. Should I move on or wait here? Anyway, that feeling of someone’s presence was luring me into forest. I took a few steps towards the ominous wall of trees. Nothing moved there except for leaves under the wind blows. Alright, maybe I have to investigate further…

In the forest, the air was even more humid and cold. I could hear nothing but rustle of leaves and howling of wind. Nobody was here. I was alone. Maybe, my intuition isn’t perfect after all.

I sat under a tree, hiding between its trunk and a nearby bush, and took a few sips of whiskey I took from that dwarf. This warmed me up a bit. I know that drinking is bad for health and so on, but… Hey! I am 231 years old, as a Hunter I am immortal (unless someone kills me, of course, I have no intention to stop being Hunter and becoming mortal), so who cares? Maybe, a few of my fellow Hunters do care and they never stop telling me to give up on that habit. Guess, I’ll listen to them eventually, but not today…

Slight movement in the dark interrupted my thoughts. I never lose vigilance, even when I seem to be meditating; and this time such alertness payed off. I wasn’t sure who was hiding here, but the presence was menacing. I got down trying not to attract attention. I could see a silhouette of a man standing in the trees. He didn’t move, as if he was listening to something… or waiting for someone.

I tried to get closer and get a better look. He was obviously taller than me, wore an old coat and a wide-brimmed hat and had long grey hair. I guess that was the Huntsman. I felt certain relief, knowing he didn’t notice me. Meeting him head on wasn’t a part of my plan. I had to carefully think over my every move and get him in one precise strike. Otherwise, he’ll get me.

However, while I was trying to figure out the best way to get even closer to Huntsman, he suddenly turned around and gazed right at my hiding place. I stayed still, hoping he was just checking surroundings. That dwarf didn’t lie after all: the Huntsman had unnatural glowing azure eyes. Only monsters – like werewolves, and gwyllgi, and griffins, and many others – have glowing eyes with one difference: their eyes are either red, or orange, or yellow, or green, and never blue. Who… what is he then?

Still, I had no time to reflect on this matter, for the Huntsman started walking towards me.