Chasing the Prize

Toggvik readied his bow, patiently drawing back the poisoned arrow as he kept his eyes locked on target. The bull's bronze fur glistened in the sunlight as it continued grazing on the prismatic grass of Zedros's fields.

“Are you sure about this Toggvilk?” Rhag asked. “The fury of a god is no trifling matter.”

“You've stuck by me through a lot already, my friend.” Toggvilk replied. “It's not too late for you to leave. You still have your wife, and you've done more than enough to help me reunite with mine.”

“The two of us owe you everything; I'm not going to abandon you now.”

“Good man. Ready the rope.”

Toggvik steadied his breathing, matching the gentle rhythm of the passing breeze. The grass rustled and hissed, warning the stubborn man to cease his foolish pursuit. The breeze stopped, and Toggvik released the arrow. It silently cut through the air and struck its target: a well-practiced shot. The bronze bull reared and bellowed angrily at the sudden injury; but the poison worked quickly and the bull slumped to the ground.

The two hunters jumped from their wooden cart, running across the field to secure their quarry. As they loaded and tied the bull into the cart, Toggvik felt eyes upon him. He turned, looking over his shoulder at a nearby cliff, where he saw a massive golden elk staring down at him. Toggvik locked eyes with the beast, and heard a rough, thunderous voice echo across the fields.

“You will not take my bull, mortal. Leave now, and I will spare your life.”

“This is my prey, Zedros. I will offer it to Qrione.”

“You will do no such thing, mortal!” Zedros bellowed, stomping his hoof on the ground.

“Rhag, take the reins.” Toggvik hissed, drawing his bow and nocking another poisoned arrow. Zedros bellowed: a call to arms from the god of the wilderness. The distant rumbling of hooves, legs and wingbeats signaled the wild's answer. The horses neighed and reared until Rhag cracked the reigns. The horses took off a full speed with the cart in tow. Zedros bellowed again, and charged down the cliff in pursuit.

The two hunters had a sizable lead on the furious god, but his followers lurked everywhere within the wilderness surrounding the fields. One by one, rampaging beasts charged from the dense woodland in pursuit of the fleeing hunters. Oxen, bulls, horses, and elk rampaged across the fields, each felled with a poisoned shot from Toggvik's bow. A deep roar signaled the approach of huge fanged cats, who rapidly closed in the fleeing hunters.

Toggvik reached into his pack, pulled out a glass bottle of the poison, and flung it at the approaching cats. It shattered against the ground, covering the surrounding area in a mist that the pursuing felines charged straight through. The cat's pace slowed, with most of the beasts falling limply to the ground, save for one. The tenacious feline jumped aboard, nearly toppling the cart under its muscular weight. Toggvik drew his poisoned sword, and took a defensive stance.

With a roar, the cat pounced at Toggvik, batting at him with its massive paws. Toggvik deflected each blow, buckling under the cat's strength. The cat recoiled back, and Toggvik pushed the offensive, slashing the beast across its face. The cat roared, and pounced on him. With all his strength, Toggvik pushed back against the cat's jaws. The beast slowly clenched its jaw, fangs piercing into Toggvik's arms, until it succumbed to the poison. The cat stumbled backwards, and ragdolled off the back of the cart.

Toggvik's sigh of relief was interrupted by a heavy rumbling: a mastodon furiously closing in. Toggvik set his bow down, and pulled a spear out of a nearby barrel. He pulled a flask out of his pack, and popped it open.

“Nearly empty” he muttered, as he dipped the tip of his spear in the poison. He rose to a ready stance on one knee, and backhanded the sweat off his forehead. He studied the mastodon's movements as it closed in: looking for an ideal moment to strike.

“What are you doing back there? Bring that beast down!” Rhag howled.

“Patience, my friend. Patience.” Toggvik soothed as he raised his spear-arm. He took a deep breath, and as he exhaled, flung the spear at the charging mastodon. His spear flew straight on target, and a more foolish creature would've been taken down. However, the mastodon knew better and deflected the projectile with one of its tusks. Toggvik recoiled in shock, taking a step backwards.

Toggvik reached for another spear and scraped it against the dregs at the bottom of his poison flask. He locked eyes with the massive beast and was struck with inspiration. Toggvik reached into his pack, and pulled out a polished steel bracer. He admired the engraving for a second: a ship sailing over the ocean.

“I'll give this to you soon, Eynhylde.” Toggvik whispered as he clamped the bracer to his arm. He rose into his ready stance, and aimed his spear toward the mastodon. The beast closed in, poised to deflect. Toggvik raised his other arm up, and angled the bracer so the sunlight reflected off of it. With a twist of his arm he redirected the sunlight into the mastodon's eye, and as it flinched away, he threw the spear with his other arm.

The spear met no resistance this time, and struck the charging beast at the top of it's leg. The mastodon trumpeted in pain, and veered off, slowing it's charge. With a baleful trumpet, the beast crumpled to the ground with a victorious thud. Rhag raised a triumphant fist; a gesture Toggvik returned in kind. Toggvik turned around, looking forward toward their destination. He could see it: the deep azure of the ocean.

“We're nearly there my friend!” Rhag whooped, pointing excitedly toward the ocean.

“Yes. After all these weeks of-”

“Cease this impudence, mortal!” Zedros thundered. The golden elk himself was closing in at an alarming pace with a savage menagerie in tow. Toggvik grabbed his bow, and pulled the last arrow out of his quiver.

“Do you really believe you can trust Qrione? Every word she utters is a lie more vile and devious than the last!”

“Your words wound me, Zedros.” A sultry voice interjected. As the hunters rode onto a cliff looking over the ocean, a wall of water cut it's way up from under the rock; walling off Zedros and his followers. Qrione's aquatic visage rose from the ocean's depths and towered over the two hunters.

“I can see you've brought me Zedros's beloved Avaere; alive and well I hope...”

“Yes, Qrione. As agreed, I have brought you the bronze bull.” Toggvik shouted, cutting the sleeping bull's restraints. The tranquilized beast stirred, and slowly raised it's head, trying to make sense of it's new surroundings. “Now, where is Eynhylde?”

“Such a devoted husband!” Qrione teased. “Very well mortal. I, Qrione, goddess of the sea, accept your offer.” With a wave of her arm, Qrione summoned a stream of ocean water, which whisked the confused bull away toward the sea. “Avaere, in exchange for your thieving wife.” With another wave, Qrione summoned a sea stack from the ocean's depths. Eynhylde sat at the top of the stack, her arms shackled by chains of water. The chains relinquished their form, splashing onto the rock as another stream of water brought Eynhylde to the cliffside below.

“I'm sorry” Eynhylde sobbed as she and Toggvik embraced. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-

“It's all right, my love” Toggvik replied. “We're together again, that's all that matters.”

“You'll be together forever in the underworld!” Zedros bellowed. “Qrione won't protect you from my wrath!”

“True” Qrione replied. With a dismissive wave, Qrione lowered the wall of water. “I already have everything I wanted from you three mortals. Your deaths might entertain me for a moment longer, however.” As Zedros and his beasts closed in, Toggvik and Rhag drew their swords, and stepped back to the edge of the cliff.

“Wait!” Eynhylde cried, rushing between Zedros and the hunters. “I have an offer for you, Zedros.”

“What could you have that would-”

“Qrione's sapphire starfish, for your mercy” Eynhylde replied, pulling the prize from her tunic. With an outstretched hand, she offered the blue, star-shaped jewel to Zedros. A falcon swooped down from above, plucking the jewel from her hand before roosting on one of Zedros's antlers.

“Now I see why Qrione had you imprisoned” Zedros mused. “This is an acceptable offering, seeing as your husband brought no lasting harm to my beasts. I, Zedros, god of the wilderness, accept your offer.” Zedros turned toward Qrione, a wide human-like grin spreading across his elk face. “Perhaps we can strike a new deal, sea-hag.”

“I should have known” Qrione chuckled irritably. “You mortals never cease to amuse me. Begone! Your presence is trying my patience.” Rhag climbed into the back of the cart, while Toggvik and Eynhylde sat in the front. Toggvik grabbed the reins and drove the cart away from the bickering gods. Coveted creatures and rare jewels were but petty trinkets compared to the prize sitting next to him.