Prelude to The Last Hunt

In The Last Hunt, Grade 10 learner Mohammed Docrat offers a striking tale set in the frozen world of Aruva, where survival depends on courage, loyalty, and the fragile trust between humans and the beasts they fear. Through clean, cinematic storytelling, he imagines a landscape shaped by ice and conflict, and a young hunter whose destiny unfolds in the shadow of a legendary creature.

This story lends itself beautifully to visual interpretation: moonlit snowfields, firelit companionship, the tense taming of a wounded saber‑toothed cat, and the final, heroic sacrifice that transforms a feared predator into a symbol of loyalty. Its themes—friendship, resilience, and the possibility of finding allies in unexpected places—invite rich illustration and creative presentation.

As you enter Aruva, let the cold wind, the distant roar, and the quiet bravery of Kalen guide you into a world where myth and memory meet. The journey begins with a single line that captures the heart of the tale:

“The cold had covered Aruva for as long as Kalen could remember.

• I was left speechless when Mohammed said to me that he wrote a short story because he was inspired by the stories written by the Grade 9s i.e., those that he read. In what was heart to heart discussion, he emailed me his story and asked if I would kindly publish it on my website. I hope you enjoy his story and indulge yourself in his moment of inspiration too.

– Abdullah Sujee

THE LAST HUNT

The Great Land of Aruva — Eastern Asia, around 10,000 B.C.E.

The cold had covered Aruva for as long as Kalen could remember. Beyond the mountains stretched endless forests and frozen valleys, where enormous beasts wandered beneath the pale winter sky.

This was the age of stone, a time when humans depended on their strength, their weapons, and their ability to survive the harsh world around them. The final Ice Age had covered much of the land in bitter cold, and every day was a struggle for survival.

But the freezing winter was not the only enemy of the people of Aruva.

About ten kilometers from the settlement of the Aruk lived a rival tribe known as the Varkai. The Varkai were feared throughout the region. Their warriors were strong, fearless, and willing to fight anyone who threatened their land or resources. For generations, the Aruk and Varkai had been enemies.

Yet there was something the Aruk feared even more than the Varkai.

A creature that rested during the day and came out to hunt at night.

The infamous saber-toothed cat.

It was said to be one of the fastest and most dangerous predators in all of Aruva. The enormous beast possessed powerful legs, razor-sharp claws, and long fangs that emerged from either side of its mouth. Once it caught its prey, very few creatures could escape.

The Aruk had given the beast a name.

Blood Fang.

Among the Aruk lived a young man named Kalen. He was strong, determined, and becoming an excellent hunter. His closest friend was Rokan, a young warrior who had grown up alongside him.

The two friends often hunted together, tracking goats, yaks, and other animals that provided food for their families. At night, they would sit around the fire with the rest of the tribe, listening to the elders tell stories about the world outside their village.

One night, an elder gathered Kalen, Rokan, and several other young men around the fire.

His face was covered with wrinkles, and his voice was low and rough.

“I was once a young warrior like you,” he began. “And there was a night I will never forget.”

The young men leaned closer.

The elder explained that many years earlier, the Aruk had been attacked during the night. While everyone slept, a terrifying roar had come from the forest.

The warriors immediately grabbed their weapons.

Then Blood Fang entered the village.

The enormous saber-toothed cat attacked anything that stood in its way. Its claws tore through warriors, and its massive fangs struck fear into everyone who saw them.

The warriors tried to fight back with spears, clubs, and bows, but the beast was too powerful.

Many of the tribespeople fled into the darkness.

Those who survived eventually settled in the place where the Aruk lived now.

The elder looked around the fire.

“We still believe Blood Fang is out there,” he said. “And we never know when it will return.”

Kalen looked at Rokan.

The two friends exchanged a determined glance.

“When we grow stronger,” Kalen said, “we will find that beast.”

“And we will kill it,” Rokan replied.

Neither of them knew how much those words would change their lives.

One cold and windy night, the people of Aruk heard something coming from the forest.

At first, it sounded like the wind.

Then came the footsteps.

Hundreds of them.

It sounded as though an army was marching through the trees.

The tribal overseers quickly alerted the villagers.

“The Varkai are here!” one of them shouted. “They are going to attack!”

The warriors rushed to gather their weapons.

Kalen grabbed his bow and arrows while Rokan picked up his stone-tipped spear.

Moments later, the Varkai appeared.

They rushed into the village and began firing flaming arrows. Burning pieces of wood flew through the night sky and struck the huts, setting parts of the village on fire.

The Aruk warriors charged.

Stone-tipped spears clashed against wooden shields.

Clubs smashed against armor.

The Aruk fought with everything they had.

But the Varkai were too numerous.

Slowly, the Aruk began to lose ground.

The Varkai overpowered them and destroyed the village. Many Aruk warriors were killed, while others fled into the surrounding forests.

Kalen was separated from Rokan during the chaos.

He searched through the burning village, calling his friend’s name.

“Rokan!”

There was no answer.

The Varkai began taking whatever possessions they could find before leaving.

Kalen finally emerged from his hiding place and continued searching.

Then he noticed an old warrior leaning against the side of a damaged hut.

Kalen rushed toward him.

“Do you know where Rokan is?”

The old warrior struggled to breathe. His wounds were severe, and he knew he did not have much time.

Instead of answering, he grabbed Kalen’s arm.

“Find Blood Fang,” he whispered.

Kalen stared at him.

“What?”

“Tame him.”

The old warrior coughed.

“Use him as an ally. When the time is right… destroy the Varkai… and take back what is ours.”

Kalen looked toward the forest.

He knew Rokan might have escaped with the other villagers.

He had to find him.

Kalen ran.

But exhaustion eventually overcame him.

He found a small cave and rested there for the night.

Early the next morning, Kalen awoke.

The sun shone brightly over the frozen land, reflecting off the snow-covered mountains.

He stepped outside the cave and remembered the old warrior’s final words.

Find Blood Fang. Tame him.

Kalen had always believed that wild beasts could never become allies.

Now he wasn’t so sure.

He gathered raw meat from a goat he had hunted and created a simple piece of bait.

As he walked through the forest, something moved between the trees.

A white wolf emerged.

Kalen slowly reached for his bow.

The wolf stared at him.

Instead of attacking, Kalen threw the meat onto the ground.

The wolf sniffed it before cautiously approaching.

Kalen remained still.

He didn’t want the animal to see him as an enemy.

Slowly, the wolf came closer.

Kalen reached out his hand.

The wolf sniffed it.

Then, surprisingly, it allowed him to touch its fur.

Kalen smiled.

“You’re with me now.”

He named the wolf Ruk.

For the first time since the destruction of his village, Kalen felt that he was no longer alone.

By late afternoon, hunger began to overcome him.

Kalen spotted a huge animal in the distance—a tall elk.

He carefully raised his bow.

He pulled the string back.

Then released.

The arrow struck the animal.

Kalen signalled Ruk to attack.

The wolf rushed forward and helped bring the animal down.

Kalen thanked his companion before skinning the elk.

He built a small fire and cooked the meat.

He and Ruk ate together.

That night, Kalen fell asleep beside the fire.

Then suddenly—

GRRRR! GRRR!

Ruk began barking.

Kalen immediately woke and grabbed his bow.

He looked toward the darkness.

“What’s wrong?”

Then someone stepped out from behind the bushes.

“Kalen?”

Kalen froze.

“Rokan?”

The two friends stared at each other for a moment before rushing together.

They were alive.

They had found each other.

Kalen gave Rokan some cooked meat while his friend explained what had happened.

Rokan had escaped during the attack and had been searching for Kalen ever since.

“There are still many of our people out there,” Rokan said. “We need to find them.”

Kalen nodded.

“We also need to find Blood Fang.”

Rokan remembered the old warrior’s final words.

The two friends knew what they had to do.

They would find their people.

They would rebuild the Aruk.

And when the time came, they would face the Varkai.

Kalen and Rokan travelled through forests, jungles, frozen valleys, and open grasslands.

Along the way, they found many surviving Aruk.

One by one, they brought them together.

Eventually, they found a large open grassland surrounded by forests and mountains.

There, they began building a new village.

As the settlement grew, so did their strength.

The warriors made new spears, clubs, and bows. The hunters became more skilled, and the people began to believe that the Aruk could survive.

Then one day, Kalen and Rokan discovered something unexpected.

A young cave lion was trapped beneath a fallen branch.

The animal was injured and frightened.

Kalen and Rokan used all their strength to lift the branch.

The lion crawled free.

At first, it growled.

But Kalen did not attack.

Instead, he gave it food.

Over time, the cave lion began to trust them.

The Aruk had discovered that some of the wild beasts of Aruva could become their allies.

The village grew stronger.

But Blood Fang was still out there.

One night, Kalen and Rokan were travelling through the forest when they heard a terrifying roar.

Both men immediately drew their spears.

A few steps ahead, something enormous moved between the trees.

Then they saw it.

Blood Fang.

The saber-toothed cat slowly approached.

Kalen prepared to throw his spear.

But then he noticed something.

The beast was injured.

Its face was covered in cuts, and one of its legs was badly wounded.

Kalen lowered his weapon.

“Wait.”

Rokan stared at him.

“Kalen, that’s Blood Fang.”

“I know.”

Instead of attacking, they slowly approached the animal.

They guided it toward a safe place near the village.

The Aruk treated its wounds and fed it raw meat.

At first, everyone was terrified.

But slowly, the people realized that Blood Fang was not attacking them.

They built a small enclosure where the beast could rest, and they continued feeding it and giving it water.

Weeks passed.

Blood Fang grew stronger.

Eventually, the enormous cat was as powerful as it had been before its injury.

The Aruk had done something they had once believed impossible.

They had tamed the beast they feared most.

Blood Fang had become their greatest ally.

When the time finally came, Kalen gathered the Aruk warriors.

Their bows were ready.

Their spears were sharpened.

Their clubs were in their hands.

Beside them stood the animals they had tamed.

The wolves.

The cave lions.

And Blood Fang.

They marched toward the Varkai settlement.

The battle began at night.

The Aruk charged.

Their arrows flew through the darkness.

Spears clashed.

Clubs struck.

The wolves rushed forward alongside the warriors, while the cave lions attacked the Varkai from the sides.

Then Blood Fang entered the battle.

The Varkai warriors panicked.

The beast they had feared for generations was now fighting beside the Aruk.

The Varkai slowly began to lose.

Their warriors were overpowered.

Their leader watched as his tribe was pushed back.

Then he spotted Kalen.

He raised his spear and charged.

Kalen turned.

The Varkai leader aimed directly at him.

Before Kalen could react, Blood Fang saw what was happening.

 

The great saber-toothed cat leaped between them.

The spear pierced Blood Fang’s stomach.

The beast collapsed heavily into the snow.

“BLOOD FANG!”

Kalen screamed.

Filled with anger, Kalen raised his bow.

He released an arrow.

It struck the Varkai leader, killing him.

The remaining Varkai warriors fled.

The Aruk had won.

But Kalen did not celebrate.

Neither did Rokan.

They rushed toward Blood Fang.

The great beast was dying.

Kalen knelt beside him and placed his hand against his head.

“You saved me.”

Blood Fang slowly closed his eyes.

Then he took his final breath.

Kalen and Rokan were devastated.

The Aruk carried Blood Fang into the mountains and buried him beneath the snow.

The entire tribe stood silently as they said goodbye to the creature that had once been their greatest fear.

From that day forward, whenever the cold wind swept across the mountains of Aruva, the elders would gather the children around the fire.

They would tell them about the great saber-toothed cat.

The beast known as Blood Fang.

The creature that had once terrified the Aruk.

The creature that had become their greatest ally.

And the creature that sacrificed its life to save them.

Blood Fang was no longer remembered as a monster.

He was remembered as one of the Aruk.