LESSON LEARNED FROM BRITAIN
The teleporter was nothing that she was in the mood to question. Rather, she decided to travel on.
For months she walked and hunted her way across Britannia. She traveled the jungle, then followed a range
of mountains, and kept in the same direction until she hit a quiet wooded area. Birds, deer, bears, and
goats all grazed and played peacefully around the area. The hunting game was on again. Zhelavar grew happier
and healthier as time went on. She learned to expertly fashion bows. She became quite good at fishing and
cooking. A lot of times she would tease and pester the healers. She got a chuckle out of such defenseless
people wandering the forests. The healers taught Zhelavar to read a write. They taught her healing and
other arts useful to a person of the woods. Mayhaps the healers knew that an active mind and body have
no time for idle mischief. It is possible they tried to bury the monster within the girl.
Years pass by, and Zhelavar lived in the tranquility of the forest. All walks played their 'hunting game'...
the panthers, Zhelavar, the orcs, everything... it was part of nature and part of fun.
While wandering just west of a maze of hedges, Zhelavar stopped dead in her tracks, a look of horror
on her face. Her worst nightmare had come true. Before her, on the road, was a caravan of lumber and
stone heading west along the dirt path. Wlby, a nearby healer, saw her expression and tried to calm her.
'Zhel, a small village they wish to build is all. Just a few shops and markets along the path. Naught
to fret about.'
But it was too late... the monster had resurfaced, and Zhelavar cared not who they were or why they
were there. 'Wilby, I will no longer run,' she stated calmly, 'Nor am I mad. This has happened before,
but I was too young and foolish to realize how to handle it. My home has not been taken away, rather,
new terrain and a new prey has been given to me. I will hunt the nobles. I will hunt the rangers.
I will take advantage of the new hunting game, Wlby. I will hunt the mages, even though it is POINTLESS
because they have that damned 'runaway' spell. I will lay to rest each and every human that tosses
the skin of animals about and leaves the ribs strewn across the grasses.'
'See, Wlby? I am handling it quite well.' Zhelavar smiled evilly.
'Zhel, I shant tell you what you can and cannot do, but I ask one thing of you: remember the game. The day
that you begin to enjoy the kill more than the hunt, is the day that you become like those nobles you despise.
Hunt not those that do not run or fight. There is no victory in killing a cowering and motionless prey.
Fight not those that do not hunt. A logger is oft not a hunter, and would make not for decent game.'
'Today we go our separate ways, Wlby. I thank you for everything you have said and done and taught. I will
use it all to my advantage.... the new game begins today.
