A swirling blue vortex appeared several feet above the jungle floor. The hunter gracefully rolled and stood for the hunter had done this thousands of times earlier. This time the hunter was only armed with a razor sharp wit - there was no need for any weapons.
The prey looked in the distance and saw the telltale signs that the hunter was near. The prey had a headstart and proceeded toward the bush, making a meandering trail through the undergrowth.
The hunter looked at the foliage, the tracks and then smelled the wind. The hunter knew the prey was close by and followed the prey's trail through the underbrush.
The hunter yelled, stepping into the prey's trap. The prey smiled at the knowledge that the hunter had lost this time. But the prey was sadly mistaken for the hunter had sprung a trap too. With the prey's guard lowered, the prey fell into the hunter's trap - twenty feet down a camouflaged hole.
The hunter looked to the left as the howling wind portended the arrival of another hunter. The red whirlpool of light and sound opened up and dropped its passenger unceremoniously onto the jungle floor. The hunter laughed at the new arrival who had been initiated into the hunter's club. This green hunter had a different style from the rest and learned some of their ways. There were more things this novice had to learn before taking on bigger prey.
“So you have the prey?” asked the novice, peeking into the hole. “Dead yet?”
The hunter laughed at the ridiculousness of the questions. “No. You have a lot to learn. I am tired. Let us celebrate the hunt.”
The hunter was truly tired, mind and soul. Soon, the hunter would leave the game for others to pursue. This novice was showing progress, but still had to learn the ways of those who came before. The novice drank some iced mocha while the hunter drank a concoction known only as “The Drink.” The hunter offered some of the sweet ambrosia to the novice, but the novice refused to drink alcoholic beverages. The hunter chugged more and soon a nice buzz set in.
The novice was finished and looked once again into the pit. The prey was still there, scratching at the walls. The novice said good-bye and slid away, leaving the hunter and the prey alone once again. The hunter walked to the pit and peered down. “Now what do I do with you?” the hunter mumbled.
The red vortex opened up once again. This time the novice landed with the grace of a ballerina. Checking the timer, enough time for the hunt. Looking at the ground for telltale marks, the novice noticed that there were two sets of tracks. One lead to thick underbrush and the other to open ground.
Hmm... which one is the one I am following? thought the novice, checking the tracks once again. The tracks though similar lead to different terrain. One that the novice was accustomed to, the other not. Am I on the trail of my prey or not? The novice looked up at the sky, rain clouds were forming. A decision had to be made quickly or the trail would be lost in the mud that was sure to come soon.
A memory flashed through the novice's mind. One that held deep importance. A gatherer once told the novice to give up this quest to be a hunter for this was not what the novice desired. The memory brought back all the questions that plagued the novice - why am I on this quest, do I want to be a hunter, how long will I last if I do this and is this what I wanted. Now, indecision rocked the novice to the core once again.
The rain began, melting away the trails. The novice didn't move, as the rain became steadily stronger. The decision weighed heavily in the novice's mind. The novice was stuck at the crossroads.
At the crossroads, the novice thought long and hard. Finally, the novice made a decision as the wind howled and the rain whipped around. The hunt was not the path to take. The novice opened a vortex and slid away. There were more worthwhile goals to pursue.
The drenched novice tumbled out of the vortex and fell atop prickly bushes. Rolling off the bushes, the novice mumbled obscenities. The hunter’s path was not what the novice wanted, but if offered something the other path did not. The thrill of the hunt. The adrenaline rush of following the prey. The cat and mouse game the two played. That was what spurred the novice down the path of the hunter. The two paths, the hunter and the gatherer, were close to each other. Wavering a little would place the novice on the other.
Maybe I can make my own path – between the two, thought the novice, changing out of the wet clothes for the dry ones in the backpack. Then the novice looked down and saw two sets of tracks leading to the grove of nearby trees.
“Go after them or not?” wondered the novice aloud as the adrenaline level started rising.
Pulling out the timer from a pocket, the novice checked the time and scowled. Not enough time to hunt both.
Decisions, decisions, thought the novice, putting back the timer into a vest pocket and zippering it shut.
Going back to the tracks, the novice checked the size difference in the prints as well as the time elapsed since the tracks were made. One set of tracks was a few hours old and the other was a day old. The older set of tracks lead north while the fresher tracks went south.
Follow the fresher tracks of a smaller prey or the older tracks of bigger game. The light was now fading, the day was ending, time was running short, a decision needed to be made.
The novice had tracked bigger game, but there was more time. With the short amount of time, going after the bigger prey might be a lost cause since the slide window might open before the hunt was over. Hunting the smaller game would be easier, but the adrenaline rush wouldn't be as great as one after bigger prey. The novice looked at the grove of trees once again.
The novice made a decision – off to the south after the smaller game. A hunt was a hunt no matter the size of the game. Following the tracks to the grove of trees, the novice noticed the humidity rising.
Another rain and no dry clothes. I better hurry then, thought the novice, dodging trees limbs and roots.
Fading sunlight filtered by the enormous tree canopy, made the trail harder to see. This made the novice more wary of the surroundings. A snap of a twig here and there. A hooting of an owl. The songs of unseen birds. All the comforting forest sounds that the novice had heard before.
The novice bent low to the ground and studied the tracks in the fading sunlight. The prey was up ahead, deeper in the forest. The tracks were just a few minutes old – the prey was close by. Retrieving a bow and a quiver of arrows from the backpack, the novice cautiously approached as the adrenaline started climbing once again.
The novice followed the tracks to a small group of trees with thick underbrush. Bow and arrow at the ready, the novice stepped through underbrush – unprepared for what was there. Shocked and feet frozen in the ground, the large game charged at the unsuspecting hunter. I am so dead raced through the mind of the novice, lowering the bow.
The novice braced for the impact, eyes closed. None came as the novice was wrenched away to safety at the last moment. Tumbling backwards though the whirlpool of light and sound, the novice breathed a sigh of relief. I’m alive.
Unprepared for the landing, the novice crashed down onto a field of mint, back first. Through the swirl of darkness and pain, the novice heard riotous laughter nearby. Now I wish I were dead.
Mountains provided an awe-inspiring backdrop as the gatherer walked between a recently harvested wheat field and the mint field. A whirlpool made a hasty deposit upon the mint field, making the gatherer laugh upon the realization of who dropped in.
Making way to the now flattened mint plants, the gatherer thought, Well, well, the novice has returned once again. I wonder what adventures will be spun today.
As the gatherer neared the fallen heap, mumbled obscenities emanated from the novice's mouth. The gatherer laughed even more, sitting next to the novice. Waves of hysterical laughter doubled over the gatherer.
“This isn't funny,” spat out the novice, still reeling from the surprise of finding the larger prey coupled with the fact that death was imminent.
Through hazy vision, the novice saw tears streaming down the gatherer's face. This angered the novice even more, prompting several seconds of vociferous clamoring. The novice came to the sudden realization that death was cheated once again. Laughter finally broke through the wall of anger and pain as the novice began to giggle and smile.
After half an hour, the novice finally told the gatherer of the tale of the previous hunt. The gatherer wasn't surprised by what had happened.
“Do you know why I'm not surprised or what to do now?” asked the gatherer, picking off the leaves of a mint plant and eating them.
The novice began to think, lapsing once again into a trance state. The gatherer patiently waited and watched the novice's barely perceptible movements, but they gave no clue as to the answer that was desired. After a few minutes, the gatherer took a nap, knowing that this was going to take a while.
After an hour of contemplation, the novice came out of the trance with a decision. The novice pulled up several mint plants and threw them at the gatherer. Soon the smell of mint awakened the gatherer.
“About time, I was getting worried. I thought you fell asleep like the last time,” replied the gatherer, rubbing the sleep away.
“Not this time,” answered the now refreshed novice.
“So which question do you want answered?” inquired the gatherer, sitting up.
“I want to know why you aren’t surprised.”
The gatherer replied, “Because the hunter is always someone else’s prey. There are some things that are simply reflections or part of the same whole. Some things are too similar to be truly different.”
“What exactly does that mean? You always speak in riddles and in philosophical terms. Speak plainly for once.”
An enigmatic smile appeared on the gatherer's face to the annoyance of the novice.
The novice followed the gatherer through the barely noticeable pathway near the base of the mountainside. The novice had never noticed the pathway before even though the novice had been here many times.
Where is the gatherer taking me now? I've never seen this side of the mountainside before. Why was it made a secret? thought the novice.
The sound of splashing water was heard around the bend.
“Come on it's just around here,” urged the gatherer, waving the novice forward.
As the novice rounded the bend, the awesome sight of a waterfall cascading to a small lake appeared amidst the mist. A small stream trickled and disappeared into the whiteness in the distance.
“Wow, you brought me to the lake to reflect on what you told me. It's beautiful here.”
"No. Look deeper.”
“Huh?” questioned the novice, eyes scanning the area. “Don't see anything. Wait the mist is lifting a little. I didn't notice that wooden bridge spanning the lake. It looks like it goes on forever.”
“Good. Your answer lies across the bridge. Good-bye friend. I hope that answer is what you seek.” The gatherer turned around and began to walk back.
The novice stared at the wooden bridge for several seconds, noticing that it looked dangerous to cross. Meanwhile, the cool mist's tendrils had already reached the unsuspecting novice.
“Wait. I don't understand. Cross the bridge?” called out the novice, but the gatherer had already disappeared into the whiteness.
The novice shrugged and walked down the worn path to the lake, watching the bridge with fascination and wondering what was on the other side.
Arriving at the edge of the lake, the novice was correct in assessing the condition of the bridge that was suspended more than fifty feet above the lake. Climbing up the weather worn ladder to the top, the novice noticed that there were several areas where the worn wood had splintered and fallen away.
“That gatherer is testing my sanity by telling me to cross this bridge. Well, I'm not insane yet and I'm getting across it.”
After testing the first few boards by throwing rocks then stepping on it, the novice deemed it safe enough to cross.
Carefully making way, stepping over and leaping over the gaping holes in the bridge, the novice finally rested at what looked like the center of the bridge. Wiping away the sweat, the novice noticed that the mist had covered the area behind.
Suddenly the mist disappeared and the bridge was gone. Alarm rushed through the novice's mind as the novice spun around and looked forward.
“What's happening to the bridge!”
The stunned novice was horrified as the bridge was quickly disappearing. Within seconds, the only part of the bridge that was left was where the novice was standing.
“What am I going to do!” screamed the immobile novice. “Two more seconds and there's nothing here.”
Falling onto the bridge and grabbing onto the precious piece of wood, the novice muttered, “Can’t go forward or back… no past, no future… not black nor white…”
The gatherer’s words flashed through the novice’s mind. Look deeper.
Only gray! The novice decided and took a leap of faith into the mist. Death here I come, come and catch me.
The gatherer looked through the mist and saw the novice diving. "Rookie."
Why not ask for hope? Perception? Little deaths are to help us grow and change -- cause real change is never easy.
The novice's mind snapped to attention at the gatherer's words. Hope? Ask for hope? I hope I don't die!!!!
The novice woke up, confused. Looking up, seeing an awning above. “What the...”
Looking around, mouth open, rubbing eyes in awe. “A bed in the desert?”
Sometimes it's just about putting one foot in front of the other to see where you land. It's about enjoying the walk.
Startled, the novice yelped and fell off the bed.
Where do you dream? asked the voice, echoing in the novice’s mind.
Looking under the bed and seeing four furry feet, muttering incredulously, “A cat? In the desert? I must be delirious.”
The novice stood up as the cat licked its left paw. Well, don't just stare at me, I'm waiting for your answer.
Staring at the cat in disbelief, muttering, “I'm dead and I'm in hell?”
Unimpressed, the cat stared at the novice. Are you surprised? I've been waiting for you.
The novice was speechless at this revelation.
The cat stretched out onto the desert floor, unaffected by the heat the novice felt.
Humans. Come. The cat sauntered into the desert, tail twitching in mock amusement.
The vision broke the novice’s stunned silence. “I'm in hell. It's hot here! HEY! WAIT!”
Desperate for answers, the novice broke into a run after the cat.
Suddenly they are at the beach. Cliffs replaced the desert and bed.
“If I'm not dead, I'm dreaming. SOMEONE WAKE ME UP! WAKE ME UP!! GATHERER!!!!”
“Rrrreeeeeoooooow” hissed the cat, turning around.
Quiet down, you'll scare the stars with all that racket.
“Will you get out of my mind!?!?! I don't want to hear voices again!”
The cat twitched its tail. Maybe you should ask for the nurse.
“Hey cat, am I dead? Are you my guide to hell?”
Were you dropped on your head as a child?
Looking downward, the novice humbly answered, “Several times.”
Mwahahahahaha A slight flicker of amusement flashed across the cat’s face.
Looking up, voice rising, the novice was furious. “That's not funny!”
The cat continued to dig into the novice. One of your eyes glass?
Indignation filled the novice’s voice. “I HAVE REAL EYES!”
I just want to know what jokes I can't use.
“Prrrrrrrrr...”
“EVIL CAT!” retorted the novice.
I can leave. The cat began to disappear.
“NO!!! WAIT!!! I'm sorry!!!! Come back!!”
The mocking purring was all that remained of the mysterious cat.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
To be continued
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Disclaimer: The concept of sliding belongs to St. Clare Entertainment and Universal Studios. Used without permission.
©2000-2004 by Missing Slider Ryan