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The Chase

The hunter stared in wonder and awe at the humanoid form that had just bloomed from the arrow impregnating the Earth. It rippled with power and seemed to pulsate in tune with nature itself.

It shifted and shimmered in front of him, turning its eyes intently to the hunter, hair billowing in the breeze like willows.

He allowed his eyes to trail over its form, devouring it visually. The curious curves of its body stirring something akin to lust, but far more powerful. It was like his very soul would starve if he did not possess and consume it entirely.

He raised his hand into his quiver slowly, pulling down the second arrow, steadily staring back into the face of the ethereal creature.

He watched it... No, her... turn away and give chase. She flitted and shook, almost jumping and shuttering through time, always three moves ahead. Her limber and otherworldly body disappearing right in front of him only to reappear in the distance, or off to the side of him in the trees.

The hunter should have been exhausted, but stronger than the draw of the hunt, he felt the draw of her. It was the pursuit of a prey unlike any other that has ever existed. It was a tether tugging him through the forest, over rises, and down into ravines.

They flew through the woods. Dodging, quickening and slowing, leaping from boulders and skidding down mossy banks. His heaving breaths coming with steady determination while he watched the beautiful embodiment fly from his pursuit.

As he crested a hill, he notched his arrow into the string of his bow and slowed his pace. Creeping over the ridge, he looked down into a valley, scanning for his prey. At the bottom of the gentle slope, there was a glittering lake. In the lake, there was a small island. Standing prone on that island... was her.

The hunter had her in his sights, but as he steadied the bow and alined his arrow he couldn't bring his arm back to draw. She was looking right at him with an unwavering air of confidence and calm. She beckoned to him without making a motion, that pull of capturing her transformed into something... new.

In a state near hypnosis, he moved down the steep slope, stumbling and sliding down to the lake below, drawn by her magnetic pull. He could hear the hammering of his heart and the whooshing roar of his steady breath, his entire body moving only for her will and her's alone.

The hunter strode across the bank and with blind obedience, tossed aside his bow, he stepped into the water. He walked into the chill until his feet no longer touched stone, sand, and branches. And then he swam. His eyes locked upon the goddess that held him enthralled, that bid him to her side, demanded he come to her and lay himself bare at her feet.

He crawled onto the soft clay of the shore, the earth shifting in muddy troughs as he clawed his way to her, humbling himself. Prostrating himself. Tossing away his desire to tame and eradicate, and refilling the hole left there with a desire to love. To worship.

The angelic voice of Her washed over him like ripples in the lake. An organic static that filled the dead spaces in the calm of nature, like the hum of the Earth. It felt like a sound that was always present in him but never fully heard.

Until now.

And it was wordless but all-encompassing.

The clearest message he had ever received.

"I will protect you."

To be continued

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Me and my ghost writing companion had a great time creating this piece for you!

I hope you have a fantastic day and look forward to your feedback regarding the story we have lovingly crafted from idea to submission to the chain. I hope you find it worthy and again look forward to your comments in the section below.

Much love, @sammosk and Co. <3

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