The Hunt

The first day of travel passed quickly for Izzy. Her nerves couldn't decide if they were bursting out of sheer excitement or bursting from the nervous energy at the overwhelming prospect of finally participating in her own Hunt. She had been waiting years for her turn to participate, always listening with rapt attention to the regales from mates that returned with hunters to Ellisvale in prior years. The caravan made camp that night halfway to Castle Rouge having escaped an altercation with raiders thus far. They had made their way through the forest and were camping next to a large river, a campground that Ellisvale used each year when they travelled to the Hunt with their hunters and prey. Izzy's excitement had waned slightly, though for having sat on a wagon seat for the last 10 hours, she was still annoyingly chipper. There was no dimming her shine. Kate and Susanna were grumpy and didn't have quite the same outlook as Izzy after 10 hours of jostling on the seat

Tables were packed with plates and cutlery, meats and roasted vegetables, greens and desserts. They were laden with flowers spread among the dishes, decorations gracing the tables. The festival was a show of immense wealth meant to impress the shifters present. The food seemed endless, and staff continued to refill the dishes as they ran low. A constant stream of replenishment streamed from the kitchens to the grounds where the feast was set up. The tables of food were standing throughout the courtyard in the back of the castle. More tables stood in the fields beyond, benches attached for the participants to eat after their day of travel. All of the tribes had arrived and were mingling throughout the grounds, the game of cat and mouse had begun. The hunt brought thousands of guests, which required hundreds of additional tables. The wooden tables were fashioned specifically for the events of The Hunt, having been made years prior and stored in an underground, unused dungeon in betwee

A loud knock woke the four girls the following morning. They had been sleeping peacefully, sprawled across the two beds, hair tangled and mouths open. The festival the night before had been so much fun they collapsed in a heap of exhaustion at the end of the night. The rich food mingled with the exotic scents had been rich and tiring. They had thought they caught the scent of their mates but they weren't able to find them in the crowds. It was a faint smell, lingering around corners and against tables. That, mixed with the hundreds of other bodies mingling around, made it impossible to track the men in question. It was the game of the Hunt. The days leading up to the Hunt were spent trying to figure out who your mate was, or even if you had a mate there, while the hunt itself was spent evading him for the sake of the chase. Or, in the case of Kate, for the sake of winning. Despite the excitement of the festivities, she was still determined to go home alone with her father th

"What do you think?" Izzy held up the skirt she had sewn while Kate and Susanna had napped. "I'm going to make the top with a scoop neck and full sleeves fluttering around the side." "You did all of that while we slept?" Kate asked, a yawn covering her face as she sat up in the bed she shared with Izzy. She covered her mouth with her hand as she let out a loud groan. She was astonished at the progress Izzy had made, despite knowing the excitement that Izzy had for The Hunt and how much work she put into making it perfect. "Oh my goddess, I'm going to need you to help me with mine tomorrow, Iz," Susanna said, yawning after Kate, the sight of one yawn causing a domino effect. "I thought I would wear it tomorrow." Izzy surveyed the skirt as she put it on and tied the ribbons to hold it in place. It flowed gracefully to her feet. It was just the right color to bring out the glow of her blue eyes. "What are you wearing to the feast tonight, Iz?" Susanna a

Izzy watched as the first course was brought out to the tables filled with people. The great hall was so large, she almost couldn't see all of the people in attendance. There were thousands present. The first course of the feast was a delicate salad meant to barely wet the palate. She could see the distaste on the faces of the men surrounding her and she let out a small chuckle. The feast would last hours. By the time the last course was served, it would be well past 10. A meal at the Hunt was more than just for refueling, it was meant to be savored and enjoyed, shared amongst new and old friends. Izzy sat next to Ethan and a Kreil warrior named Ben. Across the table, she saw Kate and Susanna talking with their neighbors. As was etiquette, Izzy turned to the left to converse with Ethan for the first course. "So tell me, Ethan, have you found your mate?" Izzy asked, a twinkle in her eyes. "I have actually," Ethan confirmed as he smiled at Izzy. In the past, Et