“A monster like that is a plague on the balance of the forest and an affront to nature. If it is indeed and ogre, everything I’ve heard about them suggests that they will devour the wildlife and throw the woods into chaos. It needs to be eliminated. It needs to be killed.”
“We’re going to kill it?” Durbar asked voice filled with excitement.
“No son. I’m going to kill it. It is too dangerous for you to face. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.”
“But, father! I’m skilled with a bow and have become a good hunter already. You said so yourself.”
Adar turned to his son, eyes soft, and saw the confidence in his face and the resolve in his eyes. “While that is true, son, it isn’t worth the risk. I don’t know how deadly or dangerous this creature is but the stories suggest that an ogre is a massive beast and very strong. The wounds on that buck support those stories. I’m not even sure that I will be able to kill such a monster. I don’t know what I’m even up against.”
“Then what will you do?”
Adar sighed deeply. “I will track the beast from the pond where we found the buck and try to learn more about it.”
“Can I at least help you track it, father? A second set of eyes may be helpful.”
Adar smiled; his heart warmed. “Sure, son, I would appreciate your help tracking the beast. But, I will not allow you to get near the beast. I do not want you to get hurt.”
“Don’t worry, father, you’ve trained me well and I’ll be safe.”
“Fair enough,” Adar beamed, “For now, let’s clean up and get some rest. We’ll leave at sunrise and head back to the pond. From there perhaps we can track back to the beast that attacked it.”
The Sureshot 