Through thick clouds, small rays of golden light dusted the tops of trees littering sharp pine needles on the snow. The small sun offered some respite from the piercing cold that had covered the forest. Snow slowly drifted to the ground, covering deep footprints. The hunter continued his wait on a snowy hill, scanning the frozen terrain.
He spotted a fox among the trees, sniffing at the snow. The hunter pulled one arrow from his quiver and nocked it, resting it lightly against the string. Both the hunter and bow were taught with anticipation. The hunter released and the arrow flew towards its target. Before the hunter could see his success, the small fox dashed through the trees.
Pushing himself up, the hunter grumbled and tread towards the clearing he fired at, hoping to find his lost arrow.
As he descended the hill, a flash of fur dashed over the snow, barely leaving any prints. Silver eyes crowded with gray fur met the hunter’s. The creature’s fluffy white tail hugged its stomach, and heavy, crimson blood, dripping from an open wound, weighed down a patch of matted hair. A single wooden arrow pierced the circle of blood. Matching arrows rested in The Hunter’s deerskin case, slung from his back. The bow hung loosely at his hip, tapping against his leg as he stalked forward, a satisfied grin slipping on his face.
The fox began to stumble towards a nearby cave leaving a trail of rubies in its path. All too quickly, its legs gave out. The hunter’s fur boots stopped mere inches away.
He waited for life to escape the fox’s frail skeleton, but as he stood there, a flurry of light churned around the pile of fur. The surrounding snow picked up, whipping The hunter’s hair and eyes. Momentarily blinded, the large man stumbled in the wind. Then, abruptly, the dancing snowflakes landed delicately on the figure at the hunter’s feet.
The hunter’s skin was now the color of the surrounding snow. In place of the fox was a young boy. Hidden by a massive gray cloak hugging him from head to toe, the boy’s features were shrouded in shadows. His pail frame shivered in the snow as every bony angle poked through the gray fabric.
The hunter knelt on his knee and examined the boy further, shaking slightly. A small gasp escaped the hunter’s purple lips when he turned the child onto his back. A glowing arrow pierced the child’s heart, and gold dripped from the tip.
The hunter began to pull away when a hand snapped out and grabbed the hunter’s coat sleeve with a strength greater than one would expect of a small child. The hunter leaned into the boy, his sense of kindness overcoming his fear. Only two words escaped the boy’s lips, his silver eyes sliding in and out of consciousness, “Thank…you…”
The hunter stumbled back, ending deep in the snow. With wide eyes, he stared onward as a ghostly silver fox emerged from the young boy’s body and slowly climbed through the ghost-quiet, dusky light, into the hidden stars.