"Use your brain, they said!!
That's easy to say when you're not the one dealing with those damn homicidal hunters!!" Thought Storm in irritation.
He was currently flying through the air towards the location where the hags said he would find the hunters.
While he was still traveling to the site, he was trying to figure out what he was going to do when he got there.
"Whatever I choose to do, I can't risk a fight at the site!" Thought Storm.
Storm's strength was a liability here.
Even if Storm limited the strength of his blows, he could easily still break bones, or cut someone by accident with one of the many spines or spikes across his body and tail.
He also needed to consider the poachers.
They would not respect the unwritten rules of a Haven.
If they managed to wound Storm in any way, then the Haven would be tainted by his own blood.
When Storm saw the smoke rising ahead, he decided to land on the ground to avoid detection and proceed on foot.
He crawled through the undergrowth until he had a better view of the camp.
A group of 5 hunters were sitting around a small campfire.
2 tents had been set up on different sides of the campfire beside a large pond of fresh water.
The waters of the pond was crystal clear and seemed to even have a dull glow.
An effect of the magic the Haven drew in.
Near the back of the camp were several cages that contained an entire herd of unicorns.
As well as a single black furred panther that looked suspiciously out of place in the area.
Unlike the last group Storm dealt with, this group had no armored knights and only a single mage, that helped the men contain and catalog the captured creatures.
The rest were equipped with either bows, or spears.
"How am I going to handle this!!" Thought Storm.
If it weren't for the rules of the Haven, Storm could have easily dispatched this group by himself.
He eyed their equipment, they were pristine and showed no signs of wear.
"They don't even leave to hunt!! They just wait here, and their prey comes to them!!" Thought Storm.
His best option was to wait until they loaded up their cargo and left.
He studied the wagon located near the unicorn enclosure.
It was small.
Not a lot of space for cargo or passengers.
So they were highly unlikely to all leave at once with a shipment.
Instead, they would send a single driver to deliver the cargo, while the rest guarded the camp until he returned.
It's what Storm would have done in their position.
"Damn it!! They'll be harder to uproot than a 1000 year old oak!!" Thought Storm in irritation.
His eyes fell upon the unicorns again.
"They're here for the magical creatures!
Using the attraction of the site as a way to lure prey to them!" Thought Storm.
An idea began to form.
Dragons are a highly prized commodity.
Their bodies were an absolute treasure trove to the greedy hunters.
A living adult dragon was even more valuable as a near limitless source of magical reagents that could be harvested from regularly.
Storm had no doubt that if they saw him, they would pursue him.
He could lead them away from the Haven, then dispose of them.
Problem was, were they aware of the protective aura of the Haven?
If they were, then it was very unlikely that they would risk moving out of range.
Storm studied their movements.
They didn't seem to be veterans.
Just young hunters that had only recently taken up the profession.
"They must have thought they hit the jackpot with this place!!" Thought Storm.
They appeared confident , smug even. The fact that no creature or predator has attacked them seems to have inflated their ego.
Made them believe they're untouchable.
"They might not be aware!!" Thought Storm.
It was just blind luck or fate that the humans hadn't accidentally tainted the site with their acts.
Few creatures, both human or magical, would have survived if the spirits inhabiting the site decided to rampage.
Storm understood why the hags were so desperate to expel the poachers now.
Every minute they spent there increased the risks.
Storm slowly approached the clear water of the pond, pretending to be at ease as if the hunter's presence didn't bother him at all.
He took a long draught of the cool refreshing water, while keeping an eye on the poachers.
As expected, they noticed him immediately.
They slowly got up and began to creep up on him.
He lifted his head and bared his fangs, causing them to halt their movements while slowly reaching for their weapons.
Storm suddenly spun around and bolted into the forest.
The shouts of the hunters indicated that they were in pursuit.
Storm made sure not to run too fast,so that they'd give up the pursuit, but not so slow that they would catch him.
After several minutes of running, Storm stopped in a large clearing and turned to face his pursuers.
"This should be far enough from the Haven!"
A moment later the poachers rushed into the clearing.
They were suprised to find Storm waiting for them, but after a moment's hesitation, began to advance on him.
Storm took a single step forward, but before he could do anything else, the sky darkened and the wind picked up.
A large flock of crows flew through the air overhead, with harsh caws, they circled the clearing ominously.
"What's happening?! Did the Haven get tainted?!!" Thought Storm.
The humans were just as suprised as Storm.
Over the sound of the wind, Storm heard what sounded like chanting.
"Let roles be reversed!!"
"By order of this Curse!!"
"The Hunters become the prey!!"
"Feel the Dread of Beast and Fey!!"
The hunters all screamed and fell to the ground while clutching their heads.
Their eyes remained open, but their pupils dissappeared completely, leaving just the whites in their eyes.
Their faces were frozen into expressions of extreme terror.
They showed no other reaction, even when touched.
Storm thought them dead, but an quick inspection revealed that they were still breathing.
"What manner of dark magic is this?!!" Thought Storm.
With the poachers now incapacitated, the unnatural storm died down and the sun once again returned.