Autumn Hunt

“Tired?” A low, husky male voice, still caught in the throes of adolescence, sounded beside her ear. Theresa blinked and turned her head, just in time to see a chestnut horse pass by her side. The rider perched atop the horse hovered somewhere between boyhood and manhood, with silver hair and gray eyes, exuding a coldness that seemed to emanate from his very bones, undiminished even by the sunlight.

This was Pedia Aubrion, the eldest son of Amos and Betty, brother to Archil, fifteen years old. Just as Archil had inherited Betty’s temperament, Pedia’s nature was strikingly similar to Amos’s—calm, level-headed, serious, and equally unapproachable. However, Theresa was a child recognized by the Aubrion family, Pedia’s acknowledged younger sister, and thus exempt from his cold reserve. Though they had only spent a few days together, Theresa had already sensed the gentle care Pedia kept hidden beneath his icy exterior.

Theresa rubbed her eyes and answered with a sweet smile, “Not really tired, it’s just that the sunshine is so comforting, and ‘Beetroot’ walks with such a rhythmic gait, so… heh.”

Beetroot was the name of Theresa’s little mare. Well trained, the horse lifted her head proudly at her mistress’s praise, looking ever more spirited and haughty.

Pedia cast a cool glance at the praised mare and nodded, “A bit further ahead there’s a hunter’s cabin, kept up year-round. We’ll rest there for a while.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary! We’ve only just set out, it’s really not that exhausting,” Theresa quickly refused, waving her hand. Besides the Aubrion family, a few of Archil and Pedia’s classmates had joined this outing. She didn’t want everyone’s fun spoiled on her account.

“It’s not about exhaustion,” Pedia explained. “Archil and the others need to process their game anyway. Stopping at the cabin will be just right.”

With that assurance, Theresa nodded with relief and followed Pedia toward the hunter’s cabin. Before long, two more riders appeared ahead, a boy and a girl, both around fourteen or fifteen. As they drew closer, the girl slowed her horse to ride alongside Pedia and called out, “Pedia, why are you still here? Archil’s already got a fire going. If you don’t hurry, that glutton will eat everything!”

Pedia responded to her enthusiastic greeting with a noncommittal hum, then turned to the boy beside her. “What did you all catch? Why start the fire so soon?”

The boy had chestnut hair, brown eyes, and a gentle, refined smile that made him seem approachable. This was Elvis, Pedia’s classmate and friend. The two were polar opposites—Pedia was aloof, Elvis warm and affable. It was a wonder how they’d ever become such close friends.

Elvis first soothed his sister, who was pouting at Pedia’s indifference, then replied to the question, “Archil had good luck today—he got two rabbits, and a young blue fox. The fox is still alive; it must have just left the den, clumsy and adorable. If Tess likes, she can take it home as a pet.”

“Really?” Theresa’s eyes lit up, emerald eyes brimming with delight.

“Of course—” Elvis had barely begun when Lilian cut in abruptly.

“No way! That blue fox is mine!”

Her exclamation instantly drew everyone’s attention. Elvis, most of all, looked puzzled. “Lilian, didn’t you just say you didn’t want it? Why the change of heart?”

“I never said that!” Lilian pouted. “It’s just that Archil wouldn’t give it to me. That little blue fox is so clever—who wouldn’t like it?”

Elvis rubbed his temple, a little exasperated. “Archil caught it on his own; it’s up to him who gets it.”

“But I want it! I saw it first!” Lilian’s lips quivered with grievance.

Theresa smiled and said, “Since Lilian saw it first and wants it so much, let her have it. Besides, Aunt Betty seems to have an allergy to animal fur, so I shouldn’t keep it.”

At these words, Lilian beamed, riding over to Theresa’s side and chattering away affectionately. Elvis gave Theresa an apologetic smile, while Pedia simply raised an eyebrow, his cold eyes narrowing in silent inquiry—how could he not know his own mother was allergic to animal fur?

Catching his unspoken question, Theresa could only give a sheepish grin in return.

With the matter of the blue fox settled, Lilian quickly recovered her usual lively self, chattering the rest of the way about their hunting spoils, ensuring the journey was far from dull.

Before they even reached the hunter’s cabin, the aroma of roasting meat wafted toward them. Lilian whooped and spurred her horse ahead, while the others followed at a more leisurely pace. Arriving at the cabin, they found Lilian already tussling with Archil for food. Two plump rabbits had been butchered and skewered, roasting perfectly over a makeshift grill. A small black pot simmered with milky fish soup, the rich scent enough to make anyone’s mouth water.

“Archil, you’re amazing!” Theresa couldn’t help but exclaim, edging closer for a bite of roast rabbit and a sip of hot fish soup. The flavors were so delicious she nearly swallowed her tongue along with the meal.

Theresa’s praise left Archil speechless and sent the others into laughter. But seeing her enjoyment, Archil simply tapped her on the head and let her be.

They had spent the morning riding at a gentle pace, so Theresa was soon full after a few bites of meat and two bowls of soup. She leaned against a tree stump, nibbling on wild berries Archie had washed, and listened as the three boys chatted while they ate. As for Lilian, now the proud owner of the blue fox, she was completely absorbed in playing with her new pet, ignoring everything else.

“In ten days, it’s the Autumn Sunset Festival. Brother, Elvis, are you ready?” Archil’s round eyes darted left and right.

“It’s the same every year. Why ask?” Elvis shrugged, clearly unwilling to elaborate. Pedia, upholding the principle of ‘no talking at the table,’ simply kept his head down and ate.

“It’s not the same this year!” Archil burst out, nearly dropping his roasted rabbit leg. Pedia, quick as ever, caught it and began eating it himself, unbothered.

“Eat first, worry later,” Elvis said with a laugh, pulling Archil back down. “Every year there’s competition, every year there’s noise, but nothing ever changes.”

Before Archil could object, Elvis stuffed a piece of rabbit into his mouth, leaving him no choice but to chew out his frustration. Theresa, puzzled by their conversation, edged over to Archil and tugged on his sleeve. When he glanced her way, she whispered, “Archil, what are you talking about?”

Hearing this, Archil’s face lit up, his earlier irritation forgotten. He crooked a finger at her. “Want to know? Call me ‘big brother’ and I’ll tell you.”

Theresa rolled her eyes inwardly but sweetly obliged, “Big brother, please tell me, Tess wants to know.”

One “big brother” was all it took to make Archil beam with delight. “The Autumn Sunset Festival is a harvest celebration, but over time, all sorts of events have been added. We were talking about the annual citywide student tournament. For the past three years, big brother’s taken first place, Elvis is usually second or third, and this Joans fellow, while talented, has never beaten big brother. He’s got quite the grudge.”

Archil spoke of Pedia’s victories with pride. Theresa glanced at his face, then at Pedia’s calm expression, and tugged Archil’s sleeve again. “What about you, Archil? What place did you get?”

“Me? Well…” Archil grinned sheepishly. “I just turned twelve this year, so I wasn’t eligible before.”

“Oh?” Theresa replied, drawing out the syllable with an unreadable tone.

Flustered, Archil hurried to defend himself. “Don’t be fooled by my age! I’m already mid-level, second rank. I’m not weaker than most people—maybe I’ll even place in the top three this year!”

Seeing him so worked up, Theresa patted his shoulder and solemnly nodded, “Yes, Archil will definitely beat most people!”

Such vague comfort left Archil speechless. With a sigh, he decided to focus on his food and leave the banter behind.

Their exchange left Elvis in stitches. “Archil, looks like you’ve met your match at last!” he teased. Archil shot the two gloating boys a glare and chomped down on his meat with extra fervor, as if each bite was revenge. Theresa, meanwhile, wore a look of pure innocence, making Pedia and Elvis all the more amused.