forest - lost

there's still the urge to shoot something. but no target yet.

the hunter got lost in the forest. his immediate call was to find the way out, not so much as to hunt.

yet he did not want to miss the chance of shooting something, if he found his game.

along the way, he saw a deer near the bush. he raised his bow, and aimed at it.

the deer noticed him, said, "wait, i know you are lost. but don't tell me you're so lost that you don't know you are lost and your job is to find the way out."

"you are right. perhaps i should not waste my time in hunting, instead, looking for a way out." so he let the deer go.

after wandering the forest for another hour, he saw a trail of tiger paws on the ground, he toed behind them and saw the beast resting under a tree. instinctly, he readied his bow and arrow, and was about to shoot. the tiger turned around, gazed at him, said, "young man, you must be lost to find yourself in the deep forest.... you shoot me, you still lost.... perhaps i could find you the way out"

but he shot it anyway. he reminded himself, threatening adversaries always presented themselves as threats, must be eliminated.

he moved on.... still lost as ever.

then the sound of the wild buffalo attracted him. he saw one near the river bank drinking water. and the buffalo saw him also. it said, "hunting chap, you look like you have been lost for quite sometime. you need some water?"

"yes. but i also need some food." he shot it and got a good steak out of its meat.

and nite fell. the forest took on its own life... creatures and creepy crawlies, big and small had a field nite, foraging, preying and looking for mates.... the hunter put himself in the mercy of the nite.

he lit up a fire. and without a shut-eye, was in full alert of any imminent menace around him.

then a big snake hanging from a tree caught his attention.

its aggressive hissings prompted him to aim his arrow in its direction.

it stopped hissing and said, "oh, your arrow would not hurt me, with my thick skin..... and i see, you are a hunter, a lost hunter and soon will be my sumptious supper."

he gave it a shot anyway.....

marathon man is very much that lost hunter..... would he have survived the ordeal, and found his way out of the forest or ended up finding his way into the snake's tummy?