
I remember my earlie$t hunt$ along the $hore. Not for the meat. Not only. The landd₩eller$ ₩ould gather in their little market$ under ¢anva$ and $moke, all teeth and hand$ and bright fal$e laughter. Fi$h for grain. Grain for metal. Metal for favor$. Favor$ for $ilen¢e. None of them ¢alled it hunger. That ₩a$ ₩hat intere$ted me. A bea$t take$ be¢au$e it mu$t. A hunter take$ be¢au$e he ¢an. But the$e ¢reature$ had found a ₩ay to make taking ₱olite. They $miled ₩hile ₩eighing one another’$ throat$ on little bra$$ $¢ale$, then thanked the blade for it$ fairne$$. I ₩at¢hed from the $urf ₩ith blood $till ₩arm beneath my ¢la₩$ and thought, "There i$ art here." Not yet. Not for me. Not ₩hile the hunt ₩a$ $till young and $im₱le. But later. Definitely later.
