The Huntsman:

It was a time of sad submission,

When only the wings of restless ravens

Ruffled the dark and acrid night air,

And plaintive owls hooted their melancholy,

Sitting in solitude, contemplating the planet’s doom.

Dawn began to slink slowly across the ravaged forest,

Showing the slashing wounds which now lacerated the land.

A not too distant horn sounded, accompanied by the howling of wolves,

Marking the start of another fine day’s sport for the Huntsman.

A malevolent, baleful light clawed its route higher, blinking slightly as it flared,

Moving implacably ever deathward, and with this dreadful dawn

More lasers lashed down on the area from high above, and once more fires raged. 

Animals screamed and ran in terror as did those remaining

Sons and daughters of Adam, they who had blindly chosen to remain

Looking inward, returning to some mythical simple life,

When most fled the tearing radiation pouring from their deadly sun,

Reaching for the stars, settling colonies throughout the system.

Thus it was that those who remained, huntsmen of yore were now the hunted.

The wolves came into view, their master astride a great metal steed.

Halting, he tapped in coordinates on his compad and more sharp fingers from his ship

Poked forth, new infernos limiting still further the possible escape of the hunted.

He nodded in satisfaction and moved on, his metallic companions loping beside him.

Suddenly a bubble appeared. He scowled at this intrusion on his licensed hunt

And reigned in his steed.  A portal opened and a uniformed figure appeared.

“You must cease the hunt immediately, quit the planet and leave this system. 

It is now quarantined.  An intelligent life form has been identified,

We are even now in contact and learning from their philosophy.”

The Huntsman’s scowl was replaced by a look of horror. 

“I was assured there was no intelligent species on this planet!”

His tentacles flew once more to his compad and another bubble appeared,

Opening to allow the Huntsman and his hounds to enter.

As he did so he paused and looked back at the Messenger who asked,

“Since you were incorrectly advised, have you seen any signs

Which might point to intelligent species?”  The Huntsman pondered briefly,

Shook his heads, turned and entered his bubble.  Seconds later he was gone.

At his departure the Messenger returned to his craft, highly excited

At the prospect of learning more from the mighty cetaceans who roamed the sea.