The Hunter

A successful hunter, Nehmen quickly depletes the rodent population at the forest edge. With each hunt, she ventures further and further into the prairie. The Tribe now depends on the meat. Nearly half an hour’s walk from the forest edge, she tracks and spears a jarbridi—a sort of mutated jackrabbit—skinny, but with ample, stubby legs.

She binds up the jarbridi’s legs. Slinging it over her shoulder, she suddenly hears a rustle in the tall grass behind her. Instinctively drawing her bow and waiting in silence, eyes fixed on the spot. A tell-tale tuft of blond hair peaks out of the grass … the Elder’s granddaughter! How did she get here? Since saving her life, the young girl had become quite attached to Nehmen.

The animals are not the only ones who hunt in the twilight.


Angry and frustrated, Nehmen quickly ushers the girl back toward the forest. They walk in silence. Just at the edge, Nehmen’s ears detect a low hum. Of course. Before Nehmen can even think, the brummen bursts out of the forest, straight toward them. She grabs the girl just as it swoops down for an attack.

They run in lock step as the brummen ascends to gather its bearings for a second attack. Spotting a patch of brush to her left, Nehmen shoves the girl to the ground, covering the girl with her body as she draws her bow. The brummen flies straight toward them, Nehmen tracking it all the way.

She lets the arrow fly, as the brummen doesn’t even change course. To Nehmen’s utter shock, her arrow strikes the brummen just off-center and splinters of wood spray out in all directions as the arrow fractures in half, before falling harmlessly to the ground. Nehmen and the girl are now defenseless as the brummen barely slows.

Out of options, she grabs the girl as they retreat into the forest. The horrible humming follows them, darting through the trees as it picks up speed and heads them off. Trying to change course, Nehmen puts herself between the brummen and the young girl, running at full speed until WHAM! The brummen barrels into Nehmen, crashing her head first into a massive tree, knocking her out cold.