Sashan was in the forest, thank god. They might just have enough time to escape. The other beasts hunkered and shivered in their cages of impure and partially weak metals. Most of the humans were knocked out on the ground form the last night celebratory party in honour of the General’s new born son. The camp has received a snow signal from the castle were his wife had given birth a few Kekalions away. The red smoke has been awaited for quite a few weeks as the date of predicted birth approached. After the Spotter has yelled out, then fallen from his high perch, resulting in an immediate visit to the medical centre, the soldiers ran straight to the general’s dark green tent. Then they feasted and drank till they fell into their noses like stuffed plums. All except for Sasha. The exceptional hunter in the soldiers ranks. He had sat at the giant table the whole evening without even touching the brimming wine glass that had been placed in-front off him. He simply dipped his water and nibbled surreptitiously at his food. He was in his early thirties with a slight tinge of grey in his beard that crept along as the years went by. Sashan always smelled like the forest and tree after scent of blood. The beasts only really feared him. Their captor. Their hunter. They retreated from the bars at any sign of his figure. If he glowered at a beast and it did not look away, they might just disappear the next day. Into the forest or to the lake.