Ryan didn't rush into the competition like the rest, or charged into the forest blindly. He had no interest in running alongside the crowd, competing for the first animal kill like some desperate amateur. His mind was clear from the start "Animals don't matter, humans are the real targets, if I want to survive until the end, I need to remove the biggest threats first".
He moved with long, measured strides, conserving his stamina as he searched for a water source. Water was a necessity. No matter how strong or cautious, everyone would have to drink. Because in mountains the enviroment is humid, and the more you sweat the thirstier you get.
The first stream he found was too narrow, filled with thick trees and tangled vines. Too many blind spots. "A place like this is perfect for an ambush… but not for him. "I need open space, I need control".
So he moved on. Hours passed as he scouted. He rejected one source after another, Too rocky, Too shallow, Too closed off. Ryan wasn't desperate so he kept on searching.
Finally, he found it.
A broad river spread before him, its water deep and glistening under the sun. The banks were wide and flat, the trees further back, giving clear visibility in all directions. It was a natural clearing a stage where each and every move could be noticed.
Ryan's lips curled slightly it was perfect because the opening makes you feel safer from ambushes and as you sit still to drink water it was game over because for a archer what can be better than a still target.
Ryan didn't want to gamble with a ground level cover, too many angles, too many risks and easy to get targeted from back.
Ryan needed height, concealment, and a vantage point no one could approach unseen.
After checking through all the trees, nothing seemed reliable until his eyes caught a jagged ridge. Its stone face was almost vertical, intimidating even at a glance. The ledge near the top looked uneven, narrow, but perhaps just large enough for one man to flatten himself against it. Climbing it would be brutal, and if he slipped he would break a bone or two and worst he will disqualify himself. Still, it was his best option.
Ryan fixed his hook on the rope and threw hard on his second try it got struck Ryan yanked hard, testing its hold, with controlled breaths, he began the climb he moved steadily. At last, he hauled himself onto the ledge and lay still, chest heaving, his body drenched with sweat and his muscles burning.
The space was cramped and jagged, but workable. Concealed from below, with a clear line of sight over the pool, it was exactly what he needed.
He set his base. A bow at his side, arrows lined neatly within reach. He scattered loose dust and leaves to erase signs of his climb. From this base, he could see everything inside wide clearing, the gleaming pool of water, the faint trails leading to it. A perfect kill zone with no blind spots.
Time crawled, but Ryan waited. Patience was a hunter's greatest weapon.
AND soon came his first target
A boy came into the clearing, and as he was walking towards the lake he stumbled . His movements were clumsy, he hadn't even checked the surroundings before kneeling down to drink water from the river. Ryan pulled back the string, the arrow aimed cleanly at the boy, his breath steady but then Ryan slowly eased his grip and let the arrow rest. As the boy slowly got up, he looked towards his direction for sometime then scratched the back of his head and went back the way he came from.
Too weak, he won't last till the second round anyway. No need to waste an arrow.
He leaned back, as he saw the boy vanish into the forest.
Hours passed in silence, only the whisper of the wind in the branches above him as he kept laying there suddenly a movement occurred through the tall grass at the edge of the clearing. His eyes narrowed. it was not a human, its moments low and smooth. When the spotted hide flashed between the grass blades, his chest tightened.
A leopard.
It slipped into the clearing like a shadow came to life, its fur rippling gold under the fractured sunlight. Each step was silent, deliberate, Its tail flicked lazily behind it, but its eyes sharply scanned the area as it approached the river to drink water.
Ryan swallowed his breathe then quickly knelt down and pulled back the string at its fullest, steadied his aim and the string snapped.
The arrow cut through the air, It soared just above the leopard's shoulder, vanishing into the river .
Ryan cursed silently, fumbling for another arrow.
The leopard stiffened, Its ears twitched, tail freezing mid swing. It turned its head slowly, and for a heartbeat, it felt as though those golden eyes looked straight at him but then it's face turned to another direction.
He was not found yet "One more time".
He shot again. This one went perfectly but lacked power. It nicked the leopard's foreleg, slicing a thin line of crimson across its fur.
The beast jumped with a snarl, muscles coiling like springs.
Ryan's breath caught as he hid himself because this was no man, this was a predator. After sometime he got up slowly to check the situation below and as he rose he eyes meet with leopard eyes, he ducked but it was too late, it had found him.
With terrifying speed, the leopard ran toward the ridge, claws scratching against stone as it began to climb. Ryan's blood ran cold. He scrambled backward his back touching the mountain with no where to run, eyes wide as he watched the beast scale the wall with frightening ease.
Too fast, Too strong he thought he was a dead man.
But then it stopped. Just below the ridge there were no stepping stones , the gap too wide, even for the leopard. Ryan had only made it up here with a hooked rope. The beast crouched, snarling, its muscles trembling as it judged the distance.
It leapt.
For a single, terrifying heartbeat, Ryan thought it might make it.
But the leopard's claws only scraped stone, failed to catch. With a vicious snarl, it plummeted back down, twisting as it landed hard on its feet.
Without hesitating anymore Ryan started shooting arrows again one after another flashing down at the beast. Because if he didn't kill it he will be killed "what if it makes the jump next time" but the beast was fast so he stopped shooting and held one arrow in his string staring straight at the beast.
The predator hesitated, growled, then deciding the fight wasn't worth it, spun and jumped back into the forest, melting into the trees as swiftly as it had appeared.
Ryan stayed frozen for a long moment, chest heaving. Then, slowly, he let his bow drop to his side.
A long, shaky breath escaped him as he felt the fear of death for the first time.
He leaned back against the stone, eyes on the tree line, his lips curling into the faintest grin despite the sweat on his brow.
At least now I know… this base is worth it.
Soon came the third target his left hand bleeding maybe from a duel with someone and he must have won , the boy sat there resting his back on tree slowly he calmed his breath his face towards Ryan, so Ryan kept laying still because if he moved he will get noticed after some time the boy got up and moved towards the river, knelt down as the boy leaned down to drink, Ryan didn't hesitate. He drew, aimed low, and released. The arrow drove clean into the boy's left hip. The boy screamed, dropping to the ground, clutching his hip. Before he could recover, the second arrow struck his right calf, his cries echoed across the clearing, desperate and painful.
Ryan didn't feel guilty nor any sense of pleasure
And slowly he laid down again waiting for another target and soon there were moments again but these were members of hunter squad they came running took out the arrows from the boys body quickly stooped his bleeding then one member put the boy on his shoulders and sprinted downwards.
Evening crept in, the sun sinking into molten colors behind the treetops. Ryan left his perch to hunt for food so he slowly came down checking his surroundings . It didn't take him long before he managed to spot a goat grazing near the cliffs. The shot was swift and clean, the animal dropping without a sound. He butchered the meat quickly, and cooked only enough to sate his hunger. The rest he wrapped in leaves, storing it carefully for the next day.
As night fell, he returned to his perch, bow at his side, watching the clearing below.
This was his hunting ground now.