Hunt Race

The clearing fell silent.

The leader's smile never wavered.

"So..."

"...why don't we help you carry them?"

Kael looked down at the leather pouch hanging from his waist.

Then back at the four hunters.

A faint smile appeared.

"So this..."

He lightly tapped the pouch with a finger.

"...is what you've been staring at."

The dagger user grinned.

"Now you're catching on."

Kael let out a quiet chuckle.

"I've got to admit..."

"I was expecting something more interesting."

The smile on the dagger user's face faded.

The axeman frowned.

The leader, however, simply folded his arms.

"You don't seem worried."

Kael shrugged.

"Should I be?"

The leader glanced at the wounds covering Kael's clothes.

"You've been fighting all day."

"You're injured."

"And you're alone."

He spread his hands slightly.

"We're offering you the easy way."

"Hand over the cores."

"We all walk away."

Kael looked around the clearing.

The four had spread out without saying a word.

They weren't close enough to attack.

But they had quietly cut off every easy escape.

He nodded to himself.

"Nice."

The leader raised an eyebrow.

"Nice?"

"The way you surrounded me."

"It was subtle."

The dagger user laughed.

"Leader."

"I think he's complimenting us."

The axeman smirked.

"Must've finally realized he's trapped."

Kael smiled again.

"Trapped?"

He scratched the side of his head.

"I don't know..."

He looked at each of them one after another.

"...it kind of feels like the opposite."

The laughter stopped.

The leader's eyes narrowed.

"You've got confidence."

Kael shrugged again.

"I've been told that."

The leader slowly rested a hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Confidence is good."

"It becomes a problem when it turns into arrogance."

Kael nodded thoughtfully.

"That's true."

A brief silence followed.

Then he looked at the leader with the same calm smile.

"I'm just curious."

The leader didn't answer.

Kael continued.

"Which one of you..."

"...plans on taking the pouch?"

The question hung in the air.

The dagger user scoffed.

"Does it matter?"

Kael smiled.

"A little."

"I'd rather know who I'm hitting first."

The axeman slammed the butt of his axe into the ground.

THUD!

"Leader."

"Can I break his legs?"

The leader didn't answer immediately.

His eyes remained fixed on Kael.

For the first time since they met...

The smile on his face disappeared.

"I gave you a peaceful option."

Kael sighed dramatically.

"And I was hoping we'd keep talking."

He looked at the four of them again.

"Guess that's over."

His right hand slowly came to rest on the hilt of his sword.

Not gripping it.

Just resting there.

The playful smile never left his face.

A cool breeze swept through the clearing.

Leaves drifted between the two sides.

No one moved.

But everyone knew...

The next person to make a move...

Would start the fight.

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