Remnant 2 Kill The Doe Or Not Novels & Stories

“So far, we’re thinking of having the ceremony in the late afternoon, then do pictures, a cocktail hour, and then the reception.” “That’ll be really nice.” “We hope so. If only the weather would be nice then, right?” “It can snow in March,” Owen says. “Everything is inside, so we should be fine,” Dean finally speaks for the first time. “I saw the new renovations to the venue on their website,” I say. “It’s so pretty.” “It’s like a fairytale!” Kara agrees. “I forgot to ask you, Quinn,” Mom says and turns the burner off. “Is Jamie coming to the reveal tomorrow?”

As more reinforcements arrive from the surrounding woods, the remaining wolves, sensing their imminent defeat, turn tail and dart into the dense forest, disappearing into the underbrush. I take a moment to catch my breath, scanning the area and feeling a chill wash over me as I realize the cost of our victory. Among the scattered remnants of the fight, I spot the lifeless body of one of our warriors, a brave and steadfast ally who had stood shoulder to shoulder with us in the fray. My heart aches at the sight, and I see Matt and Kim approach him with somber expressions, their eyes filled with sorrow and respect for the fallen.

“For our first-timers—Dominic—here’s your briefing. This beast is bigger than any boar you’ve seen. White as fresh snow, tusks sharp enough to gut a bear, and a bad temper to match. It shows up only on the morning of the Solstice. Kill it, roast its heart over evergreen branches, and you’ll have the strength of ten wolves for the coming year’s battles.” “Sounds charming,” I said dryly. “It’s a sacred tradition,” he corrected, though the gleam in his eyes made me think he cared more about the battle part than the sacred one. “Finding it’s easy. Killing it’s the part that separates the warriors from the corpses.” “Great pep talk.” Without another word, he raised a hand, signaling the start. Th

I took a deep breath and nocked an arrow, my hands trembling slightly. Elyra placed a steadying hand on my arm.“Breathe,” she said. “Focus. Remember what I taught you.”I nodded, forcing myself to calm down. I drew the bowstring back, my fingers brushing against my cheek as I took aim.“Wait for the right moment,” Elyra murmured. “When it’s completely still.”The deer’s ears twitched, and it lifted its head, looking around. My heart raced as I held my breath, waiting. Then, the deer lowered its head again, oblivious to our presence.“Now,” Elyra whispered.I released the arrow. It flew through the air with a soft whoosh and struck the deer’s side. The animal let out a startled cry, stumbling befo

I edged forward until I saw a glimpse of brown hide…a doe, grazing in a small clearing, oblivious to us. Sera raised her crossbow with slow precision. The air was thick with held breath. The shot was clean and quick. The doe dropped instantly, and Sera let out a hushed whoop of triumph. “Excellent shot,” Sylvester praised as we stepped into the clearing. “Clean and humane.” We gathered around as Sera began field dressing the kill. A surprising sense of accomplishment swelled in my chest. I’d never been part of a real pack hunt before, and despite the turmoil in my head, it felt… good.

Odessa guided them from the center, observing for danger, her own reflexes honed from countless previous hunts. As they neared a thick copse, a small herd of deer appeared, cautiously grazing. Rio slowed the group, signaling patience. Adonis drew a thin, silver-tipped spear, moving with fluid precision. One well-placed strike later, they had their first kill. Carefully, they prepared the blood collection, vessels secured to preserve the vital supply. Odessa’s voice was quiet but firm. “Keep moving. We can’t stay in one place long. The shapeshifter could be watching from above.”

Ben dumped the tools he’d just hauled back onto the ground and muttered, “Feels like I just ran all this way for nothing—everyone else stole the show.” Lena didn’t even glance up. “If you’d been two minutes slower, you wouldn’t have even gotten the closing credits.” “Fine, fine,” he grumbled, resigned. “At least I get the tail end.” He sighed and got to work finishing up. Vernon didn’t say a word. He just quietly went about putting away the used gloves and makeshift instruments, and subtly tidied up the area around the doe to minimize any human scent. “Wild moms get jumpy after giving birth,” he said quietly. “Less interference, faster recovery.”

With resolve, I pursued my elusive prey, navigating through the dense foliage, driven by the urgency of the chase. Eventually, I found her again, grazing serenely in a sunlit glade. Taking a deep breath, I steadied my aim and released the arrow, this time striking true. The doe stumbled and fell, a testament to my persistence and skill. Approaching her with reverence, I acknowledged the sacrifice she made for my family's survival. With gratitude, I lifted her onto my shoulders, ready to return to Ferngrove with our bounty. As I trekked homeward, a sense of pride and accomplishment filled me, spurred on by the anticipation of sharing the spoils with my loved ones.

Grim and the others stop midstep and look back at me, waiting for my permission to attack. Observing the doe for a moment, I watch as the creature flits and prances around the grass, ignorant of the danger in its midst. Seconds pass before I nod my head. They pounce instantly. Their claws tearing into flesh and their jaws brutally chomping down on the creature’s stomach. While they feast, I stand back, letting my men enjoy their kill. We are all shirtless, which makes it easier to run. Taking a deep, satisfying breath, I straighten my posture and stretch out my six-foot-five frame.

“If you take the mother, the baby won’t survive.” Her brows furrowed, but then understanding dawned on her face. “So… we only hunt when necessary?” I nodded. “That’s right. Never kill for fun, Laila. We are strong, but strength also means knowing when to show mercy.” We watched quietly as the deer drank their fill before disappearing into the woods. I ruffled her hair. “You did good.” As we turned to head home, a sudden scent hit me—one that made my body go rigid. Rogues.