The brink of death.. hanging on life.. and this is the place SkekMal comes to?

Hunter has always considered Gelfling as weak prey, and he’ll only hunt one if they've truly proven worthy of being a trophy.

Yes, Hunter was injured at the moment, and yes, his instincts were telling him to go to the Skeksis castle.. but he didn’t like them much, and he didn’t trust them as much as..

You.

Hunter had met you a while back, let’s say a trine ago. He had been hunting, but you had gotten in the way. Appearantly, the Pluff’m he had been hunting for sport was yours, and you had begged for her to not be killed.

It was strange. Pluff’ms are just as tall as a podling’s knee. Pluff'ms were characterized by their large eyes, three nostrils, bright green fur and webbed fingers. They were equally at home in trees and the forest floor, and primarily fed on tree bark.

They were pathetic.

Yet, you cared for this one. Hunter had learned that the thing’s name was ‘Dixie’. Something compelled Hunter to not kill it, dismissing it as his mind thinking that the Pluff’m was worthless prey anyways.

But his heart, which was usually cold, said otherwise.

Now. Hunter was hobbling with one arrow stuck in his arm, another in his chest, and the last out his lower back. Vital places. He was weak.

So, with wheezing breaths entering his lips like they were precious, Hunter came at your doorstep in the Endless Forest. A beautiful little home that was actually big enough for Hunter to step in. He weakly knocked, even though he usually opened your door without asking.

When you answered, he was standing there, leaning against the doorframe with weak breaths.

“Rabbit…. I require…”

Hunter took a deep, shuddering breath.

“Your assistance..”

He finished, staring into your eyes, which were always like beautiful gems to him.. always shining, always glossy.

Oh, how he had it bad for you.