the Huntress

All the while she couldn't get out of her head the recent events of her life: her strange travels in the Calamari Desert, the Doctor who prefered to be called Vincent, and poor, poor Fred. She shuddered as she recalled his pseudo-scientific deformations - who could have ever imagined a man with hands of scissors and blades?

Her reverie was broken as her foot fell upon a stick that lay across the forest path. Even as it snapped Astra realized the trap for what it was - but, too late. The thin rope shot backward, the stones fell downward and the netting flung the girl up and high. Astra hung, suspended above the brush ensnared by some hunter's trick.

Astra supposed it could have been a lot worse; she could've been turned to mush by another purple ape, or perhaps been accosted by the infamous Duke Zular, or even been trampled upon by the hideous Circus Freak from the steppes of the principality of Canadia. Yes, things could've been worse. The velvet gown, only ripped up to her knees, kept the ropes from chaffing her skin, yet she knew waiting for the hunter was not the greatest idea. Once again, and surely not for the last time, she wished that she had a weapon.

For forty-three minutes she attempted an escape, but to no avail. She would've continued except that the hunter finally did arrive, and what a hunter it was.

"You..." said Astra. "You are the one who trapped me?"

The hunter eyed her and nodded. "Aye. Twas I yet never in my wildest imaginings did I ever think to catch a fox like you."

"And never in my imaginings did I ever see myself being caught by one as yourself."

Astra marveled at the beauty of a woman who stood, square-footed, below her. The young woman appeared to be nothing more than an imp, some three and four feet in height with short sandy hair, a plump exterior carried by some fine legs. Her head was held high, even regally, her aquiline nose suited her deep dark eyes that seemed to shine with warmth and strength. Astra's heart rose in her breast, for this was a fine specimen of a woman.

"What is your name," asked the huntress.

"I am known as Astra. And you?"

"I have many titles and many names. Most call me the Lady Alicia."

With that the Lady Alicia let Astra out of the trap and soon brought her to a forest hide-away. They spoke of many things for many long hours while dining on the flesh of worthog and drinking fresh goat's milk. As the full moon rose high into the summer's heavens they drank a toast.

"To new-found friends!" cheered Astra.

"To a sister strong in valor," said the Lady Alicia.

Before bedding for the night, the Lady Alicia gated the entrance to the hide-away with strong iron bars. The Amazonian warrior couldn't help but be curious. "Are there many pirates or vagabonds here?"

"No," said the Lady with a hint of sadness. "We guard against wolves, bears and other vile creatures."

"Bears?! Vile?? From where I come the Bear is honored as a great Mother; the bear is the silent one who contemplates upon the lives of others and feeds and protects. How can you defame such an honorable creature?!?"

"Honorable???" responded the Lady. "What is honor in one land is anathema in another. What gives life in your territory, takes away life in mine."

And with that the conversation was closed, leaving Astra with much to ponder.

1. While they slept, miles distant and continents apart, Fred began his trek as the man with scissored hands.....
2. As they slept, a gruesome development took place in the woods not far from the hide-away, a development which would have diabolical results by morning's dawn.

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