Sander was out on a hunt with the other noblemen's sons, which was something they did frequently during their free time. It made them feel manly, which many of them deep down needed, since they were so often scolded by their fathers like children when learning their respective businesses. On these days, they were their own men, hunting down beasts that they would feast on later in the day, and drink until they could no longer feel the misery of being trapped in their family businesses.
The sun was high, which wasn't the perfect time for hunting, but the men who acted as boys found enjoyment in chasing after their prey. They sat on horse back and would gallop into a herd of elk causing them to disperse in many different directions. Each man would charge after which one the deemed the largest of them all. Sometimes the boys would fight over them, but it was the man who struck the animal with an arrow first that claimed it as their kill. Sander often didn't care, but the others liked the competition. As they trotted towards their usual hunting field the other men were teasing him, making their snarky comments.
"Oh Sander, perhaps today you will be able to chase down something worth while," one snickered.
Another teased, "Oh please, did you see what he brought back last week? There was only enough meat for one person on that elk."
"Yeah, I could have picked my teeth with it's skinny bones."
Sander rolled his eyes at them. "Oh please, just because I've never won your simpleminded competition, does not mean I couldn't if I tried."
"Oh yeah? Then lets see it," one of them tested him.
He turned a bit on his horse to face the group of them. "Oh, you will all see, and I'm not going to share any of it with the likes of you."
They all laughed and he smiled along with them. As they came upon their usual hunting grounds, Sander automatically began scanning the herd for the elk he thought looked the largest, there were a few sizable ones on the right but two larger ones on the left. That's the direction he would go.
As the men cheered they ran into the field. The elk disbanded, sprinting for their lives. Some hastened for coverage in the nearby woods. Sander targeted one of the two he had spotted on the left side of the herd. It was quite massive, but it fled into the woods. He was determined and raced into the woods after it. He lost track of the other men; they were probably off going after their own elk.
His target leaped over fallen trunks and darted around trees causing Sander to lose sight of him. The best idea would be to go on foot, which was what he did. He slid off the back of his horse and wrapped the bridle around a branch. His hand gripped his bow with a bit of intensity and determination. The elk was his; it was his and with it he would make his taunting friends eat their own words.
After stepping quietly through the dead leaves he finally spotted it. It had calmed down, but was still a bit alert. Sander quickly notched an arrow and brought the bow up to shoot.
The animal went down, an arrow through the head, a bit of blood spattered out the other side. Wait a minute… He looked as his own bow and the notched arrow. That wasn't his arrow. Was another one of the men stalking his same prey? He put his bow down and the arrow back in the case on his back and began to walk towards the dead animal.
Sander was stopped by the sighting of a hooded figure walking towards the remains. That wasn't one of his companions, the body was much too frail and little. His body shifted behind a near by tree as he watched intently. The hooded figured revealed themselves as they kneeled. An elf? What was an elf doing out here? With no master by her side? And a female nonetheless. The female elves were not mean't or hunting. His curiosity was killing him, and drew him towards her. He moved closer and closer, ducking behind trees.
When he was close enough, he came out from behind the tree and leaned against it slyly. "So, care to share what an elf is doing alone so deep in the woods?"