The Hunt — Chapter VI: Girls Can’t Hunt

This is a serial story told over many chapters. To see the first chapter click here. To see the previous chapter click here.

Kirill inspected his fingers, which had turned bright red. Gently blowing warm air, he slowly rubbed his hands together. When he could freely move each of his fingers, he cracked his knuckles and quietly chuckled to himself.

After he had turned back around to face Fedir, Kirill squinted and momentarily covered his eyes. The sun was out, and its harsh glare glistened in the endless sea of white. Kirill patiently massaged his eyes with his palms before recommencing the deliberate march towards the forest.

Confused, Alena chased after them and shouted:

- I’m serious. I’m going with you.

Fedir shook his head and replied without a backward glance:

- Are you kidding? Why would we let you come along? You’re a girl.

Alena paused as she quickly shifted her eyes from Kirill to Fedir to the ground and then back again.

- What’s wrong with being a girl?

-Where do I start? Girls are weak, stupid, ugly, annoying, dumb… and they smell bad! We couldn’t even use you as bait for the tig–

Alena stopped Fedir before he could finish, clocking him square in the jaw with a clenched fist. Fedir toppled over onto his back. Startled, Alena stammered a muffled apology and hastily bowed to both boys in turn.

Kirill, meanwhile, had collapsed in the snow he was laughing so hard. Finally, he ambled back to Fedir, who was violently scraping at the frozen earth with his sword, and helped him up. Then Kirill calmly turned to Alena and taking her aside, quietly told her:

- Don’t worry about it. In spite of his golden locks and his delicate frame, he is a lot tougher than he appears. All the whining and moaning is just his way of showing his respect for you.

Nodding, Alena bowed to Kirill again and softly replied:

- Thank you!

- As for our little hunt, you are welcome to come along if you want. Just don’t expect a fun carefree adventure. My father, after all, was considered the fiercest and bravest of all the hunters in our village before the tiger killed him. It’s possible that we might not make it back home again.

To be continued…

- Carlos de la Gringa

The Hunt – Chapter IV: Marks in the Snow

This is a serial story told over many chapters. To see the first chapter click here. To see the previous chapter click here.

Bending down briefly, Fedir grabbed a handful of snow and packed it together in his hands. As he massaged the icy mass, he quietly crept towards Kirill. When Fedir had almost caught up, he shouted:

- Hey, Kirill, you dropped something!

Kirill turned around in time to catch a mound of snow in his face. Fedir erupted in laughter that reverberated throughout the raw frigid air.

Calmly brushing the snow from his eyes, Kirill smiled at his companion. Fedir continued laughing as Kirill lowered his shoulder and ran straight into him, knocking him over. They rolled around in the snow for a while grabbing each others’ coats and trading punches and shouts. Finally soaked and exhausted, they both lifted themselves up and renewed their trek towards the forest.

Fedir glanced at Kirill from time to time. At last he muttered:

- That wasn’t bad for such a short chubby guy. But I was going easy on you. A Cossack never takes advantage of the weak and defenseless.

Kirill shook his head and chuckled:

- Is that what you were trying to say when I had my arm on your throat?

Fedir impatiently fidgeted with his belt before starting to relate an encounter his grandfather had with a vicious man-slaying boar.

As they were walking, they noticed a girl sitting on the ground. She was deep in concentration, studying an intricate flower pattern in the snow. Using a stick, she carefully drew petal after petal in ever widening rings. Underneath she had sketched several large broad leaves connected by a long thin stalk.

Kirill stopped and watched her for a moment. Finally, he asked:

- What are you doing out here all by yourself?”

Startled, the girl dropped her stick and let out a muffled shriek. Kirill furrowed his brow.

- What’s wrong?

The girl remained silent.

- Sorry, I should have introduced myself. My name is Kirill and this is my friend Fedir.

Without moving her eyes from the ground, the girl bowed awkwardly and mumbled.

- I’m Alena Baek.

To see the next chapter click here. 

- Carlos de la Gringa