Riku, Mighty Hunter of Rumiko Village

The darkness was giving way to daylight in the Southern Woods. The wind rustled the trees and cooled the face of Rumiko Village's mightiest Hunter. Riku stood at five feet ten inches tall with long black hair that fell about his waist, and green eyes that glowed menacingly in the early morning light as he stared down the path waiting for his victim.

The wind was in his favor blowing his scent in the opposite direction away from his prey. By Riku's estimate, he would say she was less than a quarter of a mile away.

Sure enough, after several more minutes of waiting, he heard it; a grunt. It was light and faint, but it was a grunt to be certain. Silent as a shadow, Riku slowly reached behind him, pulled an arrow out of his quiver and fitted it to his bow.

Finally, his prey came into view; a seven-hundred-pound Brown Bear. She was making her way up the path where Riku was lurking just behind a tree about twenty yards away. Riku adjusted his shot for wind and distance and fired. The arrow pierced the Bear straight through her right eye socket. The bear reared up; and began flailing and thrashing about. Riku, fired a second arrow but missed. The bear saw the arrow go sailing past her and looked to where it had come from. She saw Riku.

“Damn it.” Riku said, under his breath. He threw down his bow and unsheathed his hunting knife. He charged at the bear. As he approached, the bear swiped at Riku with one of her massive paws. Riku dodged it and plunged his knife into her arm. The bear attempted to bite Riku but missed. Riku slashed at the bear’s face but failed to notice her paw coming towards him again. Riku’s slash caused the bear to lose her balance. To Riku’s surprise, she recovered quicker than he thought, and she attempted to bite him again; his time she succeeded. Riku cried out in pain as her sharp fangs dug into his right side. Riku pulled away and then lashed out again with his knife, this time he managed to stab her in her one remaining eye. Completely blinded, the bear roared in pain. Taking advantage of her weakness, he managed to plunge his knife into her chest, piercing her through the heart. The bear slowly toppled to the ground.

Exhausted, Riku walked back to his pack and pulled out a small medical pack and dressed his wound. Then he went back over to the bear and began tying her up. As he did so, he heard a twig snap. He jumped to his feet, knife ready. Two small bear cubs were backing away from him, clearly frightened. Riku sheathed his knife.

"I'll be seeing you two in a couple of years." Riku said with a smile while sheathing his knife and resuming his work. "Try not to die before then."

He grabbed the rope and dragged their mother away.