被捕猎的猎人 The Hunter Hunted

作者： Leslee Sullivant

丛林不会原谅盲目与无知。每根断枝都在讲述着故事。

The jungle does not forgive blindness. Every broken branch tells a story.

我已经猎遍了这个丛林里的所有生物。我确信，这儿已经没剩下什么挑战了，但现在，这儿有了新来客。它的脚印和长牙领主一般大小；它的爪子就像弯刀。它能把人撕成两半。总算碰到有价值的猎物了。

I've hunted every creature this jungle has to offer. I was certain there were no challenges left here, but now there is something new. Each track is the size of a tusklord; its claws like scimitars. It could rend a man in half. Finally, worthy prey.

在我穿越丛林追踪我的猎物时，我开始看到这家伙所造成的破坏。我踏进了一个由破裂的树木们形成的怪异圆环。这些巨大的木质哨卫们已经在这片土地上矗立了无数岁月，它们铁一般的树皮，曾让那些手拿破斧又想砍伐它们的蠢货们无可奈何。这家伙拨开它们就和拨开小枝桠一样。

As I stalk my prize through the jungle, I begin to see the damage this thing has wrought. I step into a misshapen circle of splintered trees. These giant wooden sentinels have stood over this land for countless ages, their iron-like hides untouched by the flimsy axes of anyone foolish enough to attempt to cut them down. This thing brushed them aside like they were twigs.

这个力量等级的生物怎么能如此轻易地消失不见呢？可是，即使它留下了这个显眼的毁灭之径，我仍然看不到它在哪。它怎么能做到像飓风一样出现，然后又像晨雾一样消散在丛林里的呢？

How can a creature with this level of strength disappear so easily? And yet, even though it has left this unmistakable trail of destruction, I have been unable to lay my eye upon it. How can it appear like a hurricane then fade into the jungle like the morning mist?

我兴奋地期待着最终站在这个生物面前的场面。它将成为一个巨大的藏品。

I thrill in anticipation of finally standing before this creature. It will make a tremendous trophy.

穿过空地的同时，我循着一条小溪的声音来再次辨认我的方位。然后我看到了一个有着橙色毛皮的小东西在蜷缩着，等待着。我隔着一段距离暗中打量它。一条小鱼跃出小溪，然后这个生物朝它扑了过去，兴高采烈地潜入了湍流中。让我高兴的是，我意识到它是个约德尔人。还是个猎人，就这样！

Passing through the clearing, I follow the sound of a stream to get my bearings once more. There I see a small shock of orange fur, crouching, waiting. I spy on it from a distance. A tiny fish splashes out of the stream and the creature scrambles for it, diving gleefully into the rushing water. To my joy, I realize it's a yordle. And a hunter, at that!

这是一次美妙的奇遇。那个野兽会被找到的。没有什么可以逃过我的捕猎。

This is a good omen. The beast will be found. Nothing will escape me.

约德尔人的大耳朵竖了起来，然后面朝我。他手脚并用地奔跑着，手中还拿着一个骨制回力标，很快地停在我的面前。他含糊不清地说着话。

The yordle's large ears perk up and face toward me. He runs on all fours with a bone boomerang in hand, quickly stopping in front of me. He babbles.

我赞赏地朝这个年轻的约德尔人点了点头，然后继续探险。我轻松地穿过了不同的地形，尝试着捕获我的猎物的任何踪迹。在我尝试捕获它的气味时，我的注意力被干扰了。我被奇怪的鸣叫声给吓了一跳。那个约德尔人在跟着我。我不能让他来干扰我的捕猎。我面向他，并指了指远方。他疑惑地看着我。我要更加直接点儿，管他什么美妙的奇遇。

I nod in appreciation at the young yordle and venture onward. I traverse the difficult terrain with ease, trying to pick up any sign of my quarry. As I try to pick up his scent, a distraction. I'm startled by strange chittering. The yordle followed me. I cannot allow him to disrupt my hunt. I face him and point into the distance. He looks at me quizzically. I need to be more insistent, good omen or no.

我耸起后背，然后发出一声怒吼，风儿抽打着这个约德尔人的毛皮，并且脚下的大地也在震颤着。过了几秒后，他转过头去，然后带着一丝我认为是微笑的表情，他举起了他的回力标。不能再拖下去了。我从他的手上夺过武器，然后熟练地将它扔到树上，把它钉在了高高的树枝上。他转身想拿回它，疯狂地跳跃着。

I rear back and let out a roar, the wind whipping the yordle's fur and the ground rumbling beneath us. After a few short seconds, he turns his head and, with what I think could be a smile, he holds up his small boomerang. There can be no further delay. I snatch the weapon out of his hand and expertly throw it into a tree, impaling it high amongst the branches. He turns and scrambles for it, jumping frantically.

我不过走了十步远，就听到一声怒吼，震得我的脊椎乱颤。石头和木头那震耳欲聋的碎裂声在四处回响着。前方，一棵巨树拦住了我的道路。那个约德尔人的骨制武器刚好从树干上掉出来。

I barely get ten paces when a roar shakes me to my very spine. The deafening crack of stone and wood echoes all around. Ahead, a giant tree crashes across my path. The bone weapon of the yordle juts out from its trunk.

我的身后响起了一声怪异的低吼。

An unearthly growl rises behind me.

我犯了一个可怕的错误。

I've made a terrible mistake.