The Last Hunt: The Deer Meat Deluge

In the wake of the Great Deluge, the world had changed beyond recognition. A virus had swept through the population, mutating the human body into twisted, ravenous creatures. Those who survived were scattered, seeking refuge in the remnants of what was once civilization. Among the few who had managed to avoid the virus was a man named Eben. His life had been a solitary struggle, foraging for food and water, living off the land, and avoiding the remnants of society that had descended into chaos.

Eben had always been a hunter, but the world had changed. The animals that once roamed freely were now scarce, and the forests were filled with the eerie silence of their absence. The one thing that Eben held onto was the hope of finding deer meat, a protein-rich food that could keep him alive in this new world. Deer meat was the currency of survival, the only thing that could trade for the essentials he needed to stay alive.

One cold, misty morning, Eben stumbled upon a clearing where a small group of survivors had gathered. They were young, restless, and hungry. Their leader, a woman named Lila, had a look in her eyes that told Eben they were not to be trusted. As he approached, he noticed the deer meat they were sharing, its rich aroma filling the air, a stark contrast to the meager ration he had eaten the night before.

Eben's hand reached out, and he offered a piece of his meager provisions. "I have more," he said, his voice steady despite the trembling in his hands. "I can share."

Lila's eyes narrowed, and she took the meat, her fingers lingering on Eben's. "We've been sharing," she said, her tone a mix of curiosity and warning. "But you're different."

Eben nodded. "I'm alone. I've had to be."

The group watched him warily, and it was then that Eben noticed something odd. The deer meat they were eating seemed to have a strange, almost supernatural quality to it. It was too red, too moist, and it seemed to glow faintly in the dim light.

"Where did you get this?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lila glanced at him, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and defiance. "We found it," she said. "It's special."

Eben's mind raced. The deer meat was a sign, a beacon of hope in a world where hope was scarce. He knew he had to have it, but the cost was high. He had to trust these strangers, to rely on them in a world where trust was a luxury.

As the days passed, Eben and Lila's group became closer. They shared stories, fears, and hopes. Eben learned about the virus, how it had spread, and the desperate measures people had taken to survive. He also learned about the deer meat, how it had been found by accident and how it seemed to have a protective effect against the virus.

But as the days turned into weeks, Eben noticed that the deer meat was having an unexpected effect on the group. They seemed healthier, their strength returning, their wounds healing faster. It was as if the meat was not just food, but a cure.

One night, as they sat around a fire, Eben couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "What is this meat really doing to us?" he asked.

Lila looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of respect and sorrow. "It's a gift," she said. "But it comes with a price."

Eben's heart raced. "What price?"

Lila sighed, her eyes meeting his. "The meat is infected with the virus," she said. "It's a trap. We're all infected."

Eben's world shattered. He had trusted them, shared his last provisions, and now he was facing a grim fate. But he also realized that Lila had been honest with him from the start. She had known the truth, and she had kept it from him out of a sense of duty.

"Then why share it?" Eben asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lila looked at him, her eyes filled with determination. "Because I believed in you," she said. "I believed you were the one who could stop this."

Eben's mind raced. He had to do something, to save not only himself but everyone else. He had to find a way to break the cycle of infection, to find a cure for the virus.

That night, as the group slept, Eben set out on a perilous journey. He had to find a way to stop the spread of the virus, to find a way to protect himself and others. He had to hunt the last deer, the one that had been the source of the meat, and he had to kill it.

As he approached the clearing where the deer had been found, Eben's heart pounded in his chest. He had never faced such a challenge before, but he knew he had no choice. He had to do this for Lila, for the group, for everyone who had been infected.

The deer was there, standing in the clearing, its eyes filled with a mixture of fear and curiosity. Eben raised his bow, his breath held tight in his chest. He aimed, and released the arrow.

The deer fell, its body twitching as it died. Eben approached, his heart heavy with the weight of his actions. He had done it, he had stopped the spread of the virus, but at what cost?

As he knelt beside the deer, Eben felt a strange sensation. The air around him seemed to hum, and he felt a warmth spread through his body. He looked down at his hands, and saw that they were glowing faintly.

He had done it, he had found a cure. The deer meat was not just food, but a vaccine, a way to protect against the virus. Eben smiled, a mixture of relief and triumph filling his heart.

He had won, but at a cost. The group had paid with their lives, but their sacrifice had not been in vain. Eben had found a way to protect others, to ensure that the virus would not claim more lives.

As he stood, the world seemed different. The darkness of the Great Deluge had lifted, and a new dawn was on the horizon. Eben was a survivor, a hero, and he knew that he had a long journey ahead of him. But he was ready, for he had found the strength in the deer meat, the strength to face whatever came next.

And so, the legend of Eben and the Deer Meat Deluge was born, a tale of survival, sacrifice, and hope in a world where hope was scarce.