The long hunt [Supporting characters challenge]

by Ridcully Calvert

N’kwaxgu had had enough of this. He had been running down game over the golden sands of the Kalahari since he was a hundred moons of age, and would continue to do so until he became to weak. Then he would be left behind by the tribe, with an ostrich egg full of water and a poisoned knife for when the thirst got too bad.

Everything that he shot with his little poison arrows died within at most two days of him hitting it, but this beast was different. It was some kind of conjoined buck that dragged a strange square appendage behind it.

He had shot it from cover three days ago, and could still see his little dart sticking in its rear appendage. Day after day he followed, but the beast was tireless.

After the fifth day he realised what was going on. This was a challenge by the gods. He had to be tested in the cooking pot of the searing desert, have all of the weakness burnt out of him by a beast that could never be caught.

He gritted his teeth, tightened his stomach band and took up the challenge with gusto.

Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. The long hunt [Supporting characters challenge]

    THX 0477's Buddy Icon THX 0477

    Posted 3 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Really neat story with a mysterious beast. Not sure I’d call the guy a supporting character though.

  2. The long hunt [Supporting characters challenge]

    PyroPunk 51 (PPP LoA)'s Buddy Icon PyroPunk 51 (PPP LoA)

    Posted 3 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    just a small little correction: “deer” don’t live in Africa! I would use the word “buck”

  3. The long hunt [Supporting characters challenge]

    John Perkins' Buddy Icon John Perkins

    Posted 3 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    I loved “cooking pot of the searing desert.” Very nice image there. Reminds me of this horrible wasteland I currently live in (Phoenix, AZ).

  4. The long hunt [Supporting characters challenge]

    thebetweenspace's Buddy Icon thebetweenspace

    Posted 3 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    I like how the mystical creature takes on life as a kind of supporting character. Poor guy getting setup by the gods with the uncatchable creature to pursue.

  5. The long hunt [Supporting characters challenge]

    Ridcully Calvert's Buddy Icon Ridcully Calvert

    Posted 3 months ago

    @pyro – Thanks! I just learned something knew. I thought that deer meant any sort of antelope.

    O well, I guess that I do have the excuse that english is my second language :-D

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