An Enigma That Knows No End.

In the midst of a highly dense vegetation, a beautiful gazelle could be seen munching competently on its meal. Its ears twitched, as it raised its head up vigilantly. Upon perceiving no threat, it bent Its slender neck once more to continue its occupation. But it was unaware of an even greater danger, a sharp arrow which was aimed at it. The hand it was in was perfectly calculating the appropriate timing to release it. Just as the arrow was about to fulfill its reason for exsistence... "Don't kill it!" A voice suddenly exclaimed, clear and loud, so loud that even the birds that nestled on the tree rose into the air, squawking in confusion and disarray. This made the arrow to get launched into the air suddenly, missing its target by a few miles and getting stuck on the trunk of a tree instead. The gazelle, who heard the commotion, immediately scampered away, despite not knowing the source of the danger. "Diane." Diego who was standing at the top of a thick tree branch began."This is the third time that you are intercepting Me. If you keep this up, We won't get any spoils to bring home before the sun sets." He said to the woman, who was sitting on a Boulder below him. "Yes but.." She began. "Listen, I know you love animals. But that affection of yours is of a great disadvantage to me right now. If you can't bear the sight of them being slaughtered, just look away, okay?" He said, as he athletically descended from the tree. "Why are you doing this anyway? We have plenty of meat in the kitchen." Diane told him. "Who told you that it is for the kitchen?" Diego asked, as he raised a brow at her. "You don't kill them, yet you can stuff your mouth with meat at any point in time." He began, as he walked over to where his arrow was stuck, trying to pull it out. "That is why I came up with a decision." Diane said, as she stood up, placing her hand on her waist. "From now On, Diane Raymond will strictly become a vegetarian." She said, as she puffed her chest out in pride. Diego ignored her childish tactics, as he placed the arrow to where it rightfully belonged. "I wish you good luck on becoming an herbivore, then." He began, as he turned around to leave. "Hey! Wait for me, you bully!" Diane exclaimed, as she ran after him. "If I was the owner of this place, I won't let just anyone to venture into this place." She said, as she

Looked around her. "It is not necessarily owned by anyone, although it is still under the protection of the imperial crown." Diego explained, as he placed his weaponry on the ground. "Besides, we humans are also keeping the ecological system of this place alive. Some hunt down the herbivores, others the carnivores. So there can neither be too much excess of deficit In both categories of animals." Diego explained. "So, anyone can go in?" Diane asked once more. "Not just anyone." Diego replied as he turned to her. "Only members of high ruling aristocratic families are permitted to enter. What did you think the man that came to us was doing?" He added, as Diane's eyes widened in realization. "You keep on talking about Carnivores, yet you made us to leave the horses behind!" Diane complained, as she sat down on the bare ground. "There are no carnivores there, so you don't have to worry." Diego explained. "Besides, they have easy access to forage and water, and plenty of space to frolick around." He added, as he drew out an arrow. "What are you doing?" Diane, who had supported her head with both of her hands, suddenly inquired when he saw that Diego had aimed it towards a small bush. "Shh, be quiet." He told her gently. Diane gazed closer, the middle of her forehead getting wrinkled due to her scowl. She saw the small bush swaying gently, as though an animal was trying to pass through. There was a moment of silence, which was characterised by two brown ears sticking up, before the full rabbit came into view. It stood, its back facing Diane and Diego, so it couldn't see the menace around it. Diego stealthily and slowly Drew back his string. He was about to release it when he suddenly felt a weight being thrown at it, accompanied by a voice screaming at him to let it go. In that one moment of distortion, he accidentally released the arrow, which suddenly soared high in the sky, before plunging towards goodness knows where. "Diane!" Diego called out, as he gazed at the woman who laid in pain beside him. "What Is wrong with you?! What If you had hurt yourself?!" Diego exclaiming, as he held her by both shoulders. Diane looked up at him, feeling a bit guilty, and she could sense his worry, no, she could see the worry hidden behind the fury in his eyes. And it was genuine. 'Wait, is that the smell of blood?' She thought to herself. Had she hurt herself? Her right sleeve felt.. wet. She turned her head towards her right, only to find Diego's blood seeping further into her clothes. Because the arrow got released so suddenly, and also due to the fact that Diane disabled him, the head of the arrow had grazed his right hand slightly before declaring itself enemies with the sky above. "You are hurt!" Diane exclaimed, as she saw the wound on his hand. "It is just a small wound." Diego calmly stated. "Just a small wound?!" Diane asked, staring at him a angrily, as she quickly tore a piece of her trouser, tying it around the wound. Fortunately, it was black, so no one would notice a red blotch soon afterwards no matter how much blood had seeped onto it. If only it was truly 'a small wound' It would have clotted by now. The one that caused it all on the other hand, had long scampered away in fright. "I am sorry." Diane said, after which she had nursed his hand. "It's alright." Diego said. "It is quite normal for one to hurt themselves when they are hunting, alright?" He said, as he patted her head. "What a touching moment." A voice said. They immediately looked up, in time to see Thaniel, who was holding a struggling bunny at the scruff of its neck. The poor creature kicked and squirmed, but that only made Thaniel to grip it harder. "Ah, what are you doing here?" Diane asked with a smile, before looking at the bunny which was in his hand. "Please let it go." She said, but Thaniel unexpectedly thrust it at her. "You take it. But don't let it cross my line of sight. I might make a soup out of it." He said, as he walked over to where Diego was. "Are you alright?" He said, as he extended his arm. "It is very unlike you to actually show some concern." Diego said as he grabbed it, while Thaniel pulled him up to his feet. They both glanced at the young lady, who was cradling the bunny as though it were a baby. "Will you let that thing go? We already have one back at home, that is good enough." Diego told her. "Fine." She pouted, as she reluctantly released it. "How did you know where to find us?" Diego said, as he turned back to Thaniel. "Well, I did call over at your place, but Natasha informed me that I could find the both of you here." Thaniel explained. "You saw Natasha?" Diego asked. "You seem surprised." Thaniel said, with a smirk, but Diego shook his head. "This arrogant fool never admits anything." Thaniel thought.

 "So why did you seek our presence?" Diego asked, as they began to walk over to where the horses where. "Remember that thing that you told Me to look into?" Thaniel asked. Diego nodded. Thaniel then brought out a small piece of contraption, which was circular, with several magical inscriptions engraved at its sides. At the centre was an orb, which glowed blue in color. "I don't feel anything from it, though. Tried my powers before it, mine still works though." Thaniel explained. "Let's take a break, then we can test it on Diane." He explained. Diane who had walked far ahead of them both, was currently stroking both horses. "You really have a thing with animals." Thaniel observed, but his eyes shone when he took a closer look at one of them. "Hey, Diego isn't this your mad horse?" He asked, turning to the man who was seated on the ground. "He is not mad." Diane said, snapping at Thaniel. "Sorry, my apologies." Thaniel awkwardly apologized, seeing the ferocity In her eyes. "Diane, leave those non-ruminants for now and come here." Diego ordered. Diane unhesitatingly went to his side. "So Thaniel infiltrated your manor and.." "You infiltrated my manor?" Diane asked, as she turned back to the man who was standing there. "Only because I had to!" Thaniel redeemed himself immediately. "Just listen to me for now." Diego said, as he made her focus her attention on him. "Remember how Thaniel said there was something he found which obstructed your flow of magic?" Diego asked, of which Diane nodded. He then proceeded to reveal the piece of contraption. "This is.." Diane began. "It is indeed what you think it is." Diego said. "Does it look familiar to you?" He asked. Diane peered closer. But all of a sudden, and without warning, the blue orb suddenly turned red, while vibrating in Diego's hand. "Ah.." Diane groaned, as she held her head with the both of her hands. "Are you okay?" Thaniel quickly ran over to her side. "Yes, I am fine, just a bit dizzy." Diane explained, as she looked up at him. Thaniel pondered for a while. "Diane, why don't you try demonstrating your powers for a bit?" He inquired. "Okay?" Diane replied as she stood up, wondering why he would suddenly ask her to do that. She tried to envision a flowing river, and in no time, water began to rush out of her hands. But they dispersed as quickly as they arrived. "Huh?" Diane muttered in surprise. She tried once more, but it was even worse, there was no reaction whatsoever. "My powers." She muttered as she glanced at her palm. "Did you see that, Diego?" Thaniel asked, as he glanced behind him. "I did." Diego said, as he stood up. "It reacted only to her, which means the person designed it with her in mind." He explained. "Things just keep getting more complicated." Thaniel mused. "Give me that, I will try decrypting it when I get back. It is not going to be easy though." He said, as Diego gave it to him. "Another sleepless night, I guess." He added, with a sigh. Diane felt a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, your powers should be back in no time." Diego said, before picking up his bow and arrows. "Now, let us Continue what we were doing.." "Hold on! You still want to continue hunting?" Diane asked, surprised. "With that hand?" She added, gazing at the hand that was crudely tied with a piece of black cloth. "Well what can I do? I wouldn't like to face some annoying questions when I get back." He explained. "Will you be joining us, Thaniel?" Diane inquired, turning to the latter. "Yes." "No." Both Thaniel and Diego said at the same time. Diane gazed at both men, who were currently fighting each other with their eyes. "But you don't have any weapons." Diego said, with a slight smirk. "Then I could simply use yours- I hope you don't mind sharing." Thaniel replied, as he crossed his hands in front of his chest. "Your clothing is inappropriate.." Diego began, when he felt a small tug on his shirt. He looked down, only to see Diane staring up at him with watery eyes. "What is it?" He inquired. Diane beckoned for him to Bow his head, which he did, although she was still standing on tip toes. "Just let Thaniel stay." She began. "Think about it, he can still help us with the spoils as well." She added. Diego sighed. "Fine. But we are taking the horses with us." Diego said, as he walked towards Orion. "By the way, Thaniel, where is your horse?" She asked, as she climbed on to Sapphire. "I didn't come with one." He stated. "Oh, carraige then?" She pressed on, but Thaniel shook his head. "I.. teleported here." He said, scratching his head awkwardly. "Well then, maybe you can ride with Diego.." Diane began. "Absolutely Not." Diego stunned her to silence, before she could even finish her sentence. Diane sighed. "Why don't you ride with me then?" She stated. "No he can't. Yah!" Diego yelled, using the harness to whip the horse, stimulating it into a run. "Hey, wait up." Diane called out, while repeating his actions. "At least tell me the coordinates first..." Theodore began, but it was too late.

 The couple proceeded on foot once more, after leaving the horse's somewhere safe, a few miles behind, where the predators wouldn't get to them. "I don't see that fool anywhere. Maybe he went home?" Diego asked, after looking around for some time. He then gazed at Diane. "Wait here. I will be back soon." He said, as he began to climb the thick tree which was beside him. Well, climbing a tree with a wounded hand wasn't easy at all to say the slightest. Many a time, he ended up pushing the hand against the rough parts of the tree, which made him to groan on pain. "Are you alright?" Diane called out worriedly, from below. "Yes, I am fine." Diego replied, as he stood at the top of the tree. From afar, he could spot a herd of Impalas. "Let's go." He said, after sliding down from the tree, grabbing her by her hand. "But Thaniel.." Diane began, looking back, for a trace of him. "He will join us if he is fortunate enough."

 Diego was currently a few yards away from the Impala herd. Diane was seated next to him, sulking about the fact that they Lost Thaniel. Diego saw her countenance, and sighed. "Are you really that upset that we lost him?" Diego asked. "What do you think?" Diane retorted, looking at him angrily. "You seem to have become terribly fond of him." Diego said, feeling somewhat weird on the inside as he said that. "Well of course, he is my friend." Diane explained. As though responding to her wish, the space in front of them warped, and Thaniel suddenly appeared. "Huh?!" Thaniel called out in shock, as he felt a slender body suddenly wrap itself against him. "Oh, snap." Thaniel said inwardly, upon beholding Diego's face, a face of one ready to kill. "W-what is the matter, Diane?"He asked as he created some space between them. "I thought you left." Diane frankly said, her eyes shimmering. "Oh." Thaniel said, before smiling. "I can't just leave like that without saying goodbye, my lady. Although it took quite some time to find you both." Thaniel explained to her. "I told you to send me co-ordinates!" He said, as he turned to Diego. "Coordinates? Do I seem like a geographer to you?" He said, giving Thaniel a mocking look. "And even If I knew, what medium do I possibly have?" He added. "You..." Thaniel began. "Shush." Diego said "You are making too much noise." He added, while picking up his bow and arrow. Thaniel rolled his eyes, before picking up an arrow as well. "So you intend to throw it like a javelin? Aren't you afraid that you might miss your target?" Diego interrogated. "That Is my problem to bother about." Thaniel replied coldly. "And besides, the both of us knows that I don't miss my target" He added with a smile, revealing his sharp and white canines. Diego wanted to pull back the string, but a sharp pain which assaulted his hand made him groan out loud. "Are you okay?" Diane said, as she walked up to him. "I am fine." Diego assured her. "I am just bothered about whether or not I will still be able to hunt." He added, as he looked down at his wounded hand. "Um, I have never held a bow and arrow before but.. why don't you show me?" Diane asked. Diego could pratically feel himself getting lost in that innocent blue eyes of hers. "No, it is too dangerous." He said, as he regained his senses. "Just teach her already." Thaniel, who was standing by the side lines quipped in. "Besides, you won't be able to protect her all the time." He added. Diego sighed. "Fine." He said, as he gave the Bow and arrow to Diane, whose eyes glittered in delight. "I will let you guys have the first assault." Thaniel said, as he relaxed himself. "Now listen carefully." Diego said, as he stood behind his wife, while guiding her. "You see that impala herd over there? Take a closer look and tell me your observation." Diego instructed. "There is an Impala that Is isolated from the rest." Diane said, after a long while. "Very good. Now, as a first time hunter, you should learn to know the limits of your capabilities. For these animals, their strength lies In their herd. So that one enjoying its solitude, is going to be our key target." Diego explained. "Focus." Diego said, as he adjusted her hand. "I have adjusted your range. You see the arrow is directly pointed at the Impala now? All you have left is to shoot the arrow out, that is all." Diego explained. "Pull the string back.." Digeo said, as he gradually aided Diane "Release." He ordered. But the arrow never struck thetarget, rather it veered of course, landing on the ground a few meters away. Fortunately, the Impala didn't notice. "I am sorry." Diane said, with a slightly red face. "Let's try again".

Good evening, dear readers.

This is to inform you that I, the author of The Hollow Within, will be going on a brief hiatus due to my upcoming college exams.

I would really appreciate if you write reviews, and comment, and if you have any ideas on how to make the plot of the story better, don't hesitate to share your opinions.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding. I will commence my occupation as quickly as possible

From the Author, Oliviana Peterson.

PS:Don't miss me too much.. ❤