Xena
1. Regrets that come too late

A man with a bow in his hand was walking quietly, following his game animal. Because they do not want to fail to get their prey, the hunter will not act carelessly like before.

Feeling now was the perfect time, the hunter hurriedly aimed and released one arrow from his bow. Quickly the arrow shot and stuck right in the stomach of its prey. He looked happy, then walked over to the already helpless victim.

"Tonight we'll eat big." He said happily as he lifted the animal with a smile. However, the smile he had on his lips slowly faded, as he realized something. He spread his gaze around the forest, and it turned out that he was alone there. No one followed him, but he was with ten others in the forest. "Where are they? Did they deliberately want to throw me away?." Mumbled.

He, the hunter was the prince Alaric who had been hunting for almost five days in the forest area, with nine bodyguards, and one aide to his trust. Because of his hobby, Prince Alaric did not care about the prohibition of royal advisers or the advice of his parents, not to hunt in the forest. In addition to being very dense and like unspoiled by humans, the forest also has a creepy story.

"Don't hunt in the woods, I won't let you."

"But why dad?. Why won't you let me?."

"You don't know, son, anyone who goes into that forest will never be able to return safely. Many wild animals, and according to the story, the forest was also guarded by a strange creature creepy and sadistic. He would not let the human who had dared to set foot in the forest just come out. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

"Dad just calm down. It's not gonna happen, I promise."

Prince Alaric did not care at all about all the myths or stories he heard. Instead he was very challenged and eager to meet the creature, and determined to defeat and bring it to the palace.

...

Prince Alaric set foot to look for ten of his guards while shouting to call their names. " Uncle Conrad!! Matthews!! Gabriel!! Prince Alaric called his men. His voice sounded so echoed in the middle of a very dense forest and far from where he came from.

It had been almost an hour that he had been searching for a way out of the forest, and looked for ten of his guards, but never found them. Instead, he was getting stuck deep into the forest. "I think I'm lost." He muttered while smiling sideways.

Prince Alaric halted his steps, upon sensing the presence of another person or creature not far from where he was standing now.

At first he thought they might be his bodyguards, but it was not.The one who came to him was a herd of forest wolves that seemed to be starving. Prince Alaric could see it from the gazes of the wolves that were fixed on the hunted animals he brought, as well as to himself. "Arggghhhhh shit." he said.

The blue-colored eye bead belonging to Prince Alaric moved very agilely, staring at one by one the forest wolves that numbered more than ten.

The wolf that seemed to be still starving again howled, and started to move around in the direction of chasing after Prince Alaric who was trying to leave from there. The pack of wolves quickly discovered the whereabouts of prince Alaric, instantly surrounding and starting to attack him.

Prince Alaric raised his bow and slid his arrows one by one towards the wolf, until they all died, and he left. There were so many ferocious beasts that he had encountered, but with his strength and dexterity he could protect himself from the attacks of those beasts, but with his strength and agility he could protect himself from the attacks of those beasts, although there are still small wounds that he got on the hands or other body parts.

Half an hour into the walk, it seemed like Prince Alaric was getting stuck deep into the forest. The atmosphere was getting darker and colder. Only large trees and shrubbery plants could he see. A moment later, Prince Alaric's eyes saw a reflection of light several meters in front of him. He believed the light was coming from the reflection of sunlight falling on the surface of the water.

He walked over there, and as he expected, he saw a very beautiful lake. Prince Alaric hastened his approach to the lake. But suddenly, a pack of wolves came back to him. Damnit. They attacked Prince Alaric, until a fierce fight ensued.

Prince Alaric fought the wolf pack alone with his sword, for the arrows he carried were left with nothing. Prince Alaric was a little overwhelmed, so he let his guard down. One of the wolves attacked from behind and bit him until he was hurt deep enough.

Fresh blood dripped from the bite wound. The smell of Prince Alaric's blood made the wolves even more eager to prey on him. The large number of bites and scratches from wolves made his defense weak. He felt that it was impossible to win against the wolf pack alone. He should be able to escape immediately. But how is it possible?. He was injured and bleeding a lot, those wolves would have easily been able to catch up to him.

As much as possible he defended against the wolf, even though he had to get more injuries on his body.

Prince Alaric was getting overwhelmed by the wolves. He chose to escape, but his efforts were in vain. The wolves chased him, and one of them would even pounce on him. The wolf was now on top of Prince Alaric's body, and was preparing to pounce on his neck. But suddenly, as fast as lightning an arrow shot and stuck right on the wolf's neck, until he collapsed to the ground.

Not only one, but dozens of arrows seemed to fall and stick right in the body of the wolf pack until they all died. Prince Alaric heaved a sigh of relief, having escaped death. The guards came at the right time. I have to give them a very big award. That was what Prince Alaric was thinking at this moment, for the bodyguards who had already saved him from a ridiculous death that would be very embarrassing for the royal family.

Prince Alaric rose up with the pain of the wound on his body. He was a little surprised when he saw that none of his guards were in that place. There was only the carcass of a wolf pack with arrows still stuck in its body. "Where did they go?. Why is it so fast?." Mumbled.

Prince Alaric circulated a look looking for traces of his guards, but he did not find them. And there seems to be no sign of anyone coming there other than him and the wolves.

For a moment, Prince Alaric was stunned, when he saw the body of one of the wolf carcasses that turned a blackish blue. He approached and noticed the arrow to confirm something. It turned out that what he thought was true, the arrow was indeed poisonous. The arrows were not the arrows that he or his bodyguards used. The arrow did not come from or belong to his kingdom.

"Where did the arrow come from?. Who's owner?. Who saved my life? Where is he?." Ask wonder.

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