《Paths Beyond》 Chapter 1 Past the thick birches in a snow-covered forest, a young man sat patiently in the brush of the slumbering bushes. His breath was slow and focused with only the bare wisp of condensed air escaping his lips. His eyes, a steely silver, concentrated on the thin purple line sleeking across the landscape. At its end, a horned, four-legged creature stood, glancing around before lowering its head to resume eating a small rodent it must have recently killed. The beast¡¯s bristled black fur danced on its back, surely keeping it warm through the stiff wind blowing. A tall mass of flesh covered by a thicket of fur, thick muscles bulging out from its legs, and the singular horn protruding from the top of its cranium, made the animal resemble something of a wooly rhinoceros. The young man, now sure the beast was preoccupied with the meal under it, slowly extended his arm back into the quiver behind him and knocked an arrow on his bow. His eyes followed the translucent purple line floating in the air, centering on the creature¡¯s chest. He aimed at that spot, drawing the string far behind his body, and set the arrow loose. A whistling sound came from the arrow as it flew through the air at high speed, and before the wooly creature could react, a piercing sound came from its heart. Its eyes widened for but a moment, resistance on its mind, but unfortunately, all the strength had left its large form as it slumped on the ground, cold enveloping the flesh under the thick matted fur, and finally darkness. The young man exhaled deeply, and great anxiety was released in his breath, with this hunt successful his small family could survive the harsh winter months soon approaching. With relief, he grabbed the small whistle hanging from a leather string around his neck and blew it with great force. A shrill cry pierced the surrounding mountains, and soon the crunching of dried leaves could be heard as quickly approaching figures revealed themselves. The group of men looked frustrated, being called from the hunt could be a disastrous prospect, but whenever the whistle rang, indicating an emergency, they had to come running in case disaster occurred. The tired look on their faces and red fingertips indicated they had been out in the cold for several hours, probably several had even caught on to some tracks only to be interrupted by the signal. However, although troubled by their potential loss of a meal, they all stopped in their tracks seeing the felled monster of an animal before them. ¡°Gods, Grey, did you kill that Hooded Horn? That¡¯ll be enough food for days!¡± A muscular bearded man exclaimed as more hunters began to arrive from the forest. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have called you had it not been an emergency. Figured this would be better than a couple of rodents, and even if I wanted to, I couldn¡¯t keep this for myself. No way to haul it back. Anyway, I am willing to split it, if you all help dismantling and bringing it to the village.¡± The young man Grey responded. The bearded man looked at Grey and put a contemplative hand on his chin, ¡°Charge, Bark, go back to camp and bring two sleds and rope, be quick, nightfall will come in a couple hours; we need to be quick or we¡¯ll have to leave before getting this all done.¡± Two men who had straitened when called quickly began sprinting in the direction of smoke plumes rising high above the forest. ¡°Alright Grey, my men and I are willing to help, but I want the head, pelt, and all the bones. Add in most of the body too.¡± Grey¡¯s gaze fell on the man before responding, ¡°I want to keep all the legs. I also need some rope and smaller pelts when we return, and your men will do most of the hauling. The head and rest of the body are yours if you agree to that. As for the bones, I¡¯ll agree if I get permission to use your smoke room. What you say, Keen?¡± Keen thought for a moment, understanding that this was a rare opportunity to make a powerful polearm from the horn of the large beast. Truthfully, he cared little for the bones, and even less for the pelt. Although the body of the creature tasted foul, at the end of the day, food was food. And if he wanted, with his squad of hunters, he could hunt some small tree rodents with his squad for tasty meat. But a Hooded Horn was a rare beast to be this close to the safe area of the Prowling Forest. The value of the resources it offered, primarily the horn could not be understated. ¡°Alright, you have a deal.¡± Keen did not need to be selfish at this moment, nor did he want to get on Grey¡¯s bad side. Although rare, Grey would create opportunities like this for his squad. According to the village records, Grey would become a member of Keen¡¯s squad upon his coming of age. This would come in one year so as training. he was brought out, but in reality, Grey would always hunt on his own after the first couple weeks, and never take the squad''s spoils unless he directly contributed to them. Keen was keenly aware of Grey¡¯s circumstances in the village, more so than most people, but rather than ridicule Grey he kept a cordial attitude with him even allowing him to join his squad to hunt. ¡°Root, Fleet, let¡¯s start carving now. You better help too Grey. We need to get this done fast.¡± The other two men who had been sitting while their boss discussed the transaction stood and expertly began to butcher the carcass along with Grey and their leader. ¡°Not that I¡¯m complaining, but how did this thing wander so far from the inner region? I¡¯ve only ever seen them when all the squads move together deeper in the woods,¡± Root asked while slicing a leg off the Hooded Horn. This was a question that weighed on all their minds, and although grateful for the bounty they had received, this movement was a sign of something dangerous. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this with Elder when we return to the village. Worst case we will have to have to move up the grand hunt to cull the dangerous beast from the deep woods. For now, though, let us think only of celebrating back at camp.¡± They all nodded at Keen¡¯s response and began to smile thinking of the first fresh meal they could have in days, and with Keen¡¯s word of celebration, perhaps even aged fire water made from fruits that was so covetously hidden away by their squad captain. ¡°I think there may be three or so wandering the area, if I get lucky I¡¯m sure I could bag another one, but we¡¯ll have to convince Brawl to let us go out with him, and knowing his feelings for me, I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t be happy with me taking his¡¯ potential prey¡¯.¡± Grey sarcastically added, thinking of the lost profits of the possible excursion. By the next Waterday, the paths left behind by the Horns would be all but gone, as if they were never there in the first place. ¡°Are you sure you can get one?¡± Keen asked with a serious look on his face. Grey stared back, although he had implied that he would have to be lucky, he was sure. By following the threads of light that would come off certain creatures, he could track another Hooded Horn if only a day had passed. It seemed that Keen was fully aware that his ¡°luck¡± was more than it seemed, and since he often found rare creatures, this was not a surprise to him. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure. If they are in a group, I can find them, and with a good shot, take one out.¡± Keen let out a sharp breath, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Brawl, make sure you''re ready to leave tomorrow¡­ early,¡± seeing the resolution in his eyes, Grey nodded. Time passed slowly now that the conversation had diminished. Each person solely focused on carefully carving the creature, as any mistake could harm the precious materials, and soon the sound of sleds gliding on the snow could be heard. Bark and Charge assisted in loading the now dissected body onto the sleds, and each man tied a rope around the waist and a sled. Bark, and Charge, pulling one with Grey following behind silently, and Fleet, Root, and Keen on the other. ¡°Boss, how are you gonna convince Brawl? There¡¯s no way he won¡¯t go crazy if we bring back a hall like this on an Earthday. He¡¯ll definitely demand us to give up most of it, if not all.¡± Keen considered his answer to Fleet¡¯s complaint before responding, ¡°I¡¯ll give up first rights on the grand hunt this year. With that, even if he gets upset, he won¡¯t say anything in public.¡± Both Root¡¯s and Fleet¡¯s eyes opened wide, the first right was rotated every grand hunt to each squad, and this time, it was their turn. To say this, was to give up a possible chance at a creature''s central organ, a prized treasure that once prepared, could increase the power of a single squad immensely. ¡°Are you sure you want to give something like that up? This is the first grand hunt in decades, who knows if we¡¯ll even be around to enjoy an opportunity like this again!¡± exclaimed Root. ¡°Quiet down,¡± a silent growl coming from Keen sealed any further protest, from Root. ¡°A harvest of at least one more hooded horn would benefit the village more than a small rise in our strength, and with us around we might even get two kills.¡± The group of three contemplated that for a moment. They all had little doubt in their minds about Grey¡¯s forecast of the beast, their experience led them to have great faith in his ability to track. ¡°Even still, are you really ok with this? You may lose your ability to compete for the name of Elder if you can¡¯t stand up to Brawl.¡± Fleet was whispering now, making sure not to alert the other three members dragging the sled a few feet away from them. With the current Elder reaching the latter stage of life, there was no question that he would soon name the next, and tradition held that if one protested the decision, a battle was held, and the winner was named. Brawl suited his name-sake earned at his coming of age well; he was an exceptional melee combat fighter, and any spar he was involved in, ended with his victory. Currently the favorite for Elder was Keen, but if Brawl challenged him, even Fleet and Root, his closest allies were skeptical at best in his victory.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. As they stepped into a clearing, a fence made of sharpened birch logs came into view. Smoke was spewing from the center of the construction, and a large gate sat in front of the group. Before entering Keen hushed, ¡°There is no bad blood between me and him. If he wishes to become Elder he may do so. Ultimately our goal is the same, the good of the village. If I am chosen when the time comes, and he challenges me, I will have no regrets. This coming winter will be hard just like all others, any more food, pelts, and materials we get will only help,¡± With that, he yelled, ¡°Open the gate!¡± and the six people walked into a small settlement filled with the orange glow of the bonfires. Past the thick birches in a snow-covered forest, a young man sat patiently in the brush of the slumbering bushes. His breath was slow and focused with only the bare wisp of condensed air escaping his lips. His eyes, a steely silver, concentrated on the thin purple line sleeking across the landscape. At its end, a horned, four-legged creature stood, glancing around before lowering its head to resume eating a small rodent it must have recently killed. The beast¡¯s bristled black fur danced on its back, surely keeping it warm through the stiff wind blowing. A tall mass of flesh covered by a thicket of fur, thick muscles bulging out from its legs, and the singular horn protruding from the top of its cranium, made the animal resemble something of a wooly rhinoceros. The young man, now sure the beast was preoccupied with the meal under it, slowly extended his arm back into the quiver behind him and knocked an arrow on his bow. His eyes followed the translucent purple line floating in the air, centering on the creature¡¯s chest. He aimed at that spot, drawing the string far behind his body, and set the arrow loose. A whistling sound came from the arrow as it flew through the air at high speed, and before the wooly creature could react, a piercing sound came from its heart. Its eyes widened for but a moment, resistance on its mind, but unfortunately, all the strength had left its large form as it slumped on the ground, cold enveloping the flesh under the thick matted fur, and finally darkness. The young man exhaled deeply, and great anxiety was released in his breath, with this hunt successful his small family could survive the harsh winter months soon approaching. With relief, he grabbed the small whistle hanging from a leather string around his neck and blew it with great force. A shrill cry pierced the surrounding mountains, and soon the crunching of dried leaves could be heard as quickly approaching figures revealed themselves. The group of men looked frustrated, being called from the hunt could be a disastrous prospect, but whenever the whistle rang, indicating an emergency, they had to come running in case disaster occurred. The tired look on their faces and red fingertips indicated they had been out in the cold for several hours, probably several had even caught on to some tracks only to be interrupted by the signal. However, although troubled by their potential loss of a meal, they all stopped in their tracks seeing the felled monster of an animal before them. ¡°Gods, Grey, did you kill that Hooded Horn? That¡¯ll be enough food for days!¡± A muscular bearded man exclaimed as more hunters began to arrive from the forest. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have called you had it not been an emergency. Figured this would be better than a couple of rodents, and even if I wanted to, I couldn¡¯t keep this for myself. No way to haul it back. Anyway, I am willing to split it, if you all help dismantling and bringing it to the village.¡± The young man Grey responded. The bearded man looked at Grey and put a contemplative hand on his chin, ¡°Charge, Bark, go back to camp and bring two sleds and rope, be quick, nightfall will come in a couple hours; we need to be quick or we¡¯ll have to leave before getting this all done.¡± Two men who had straitened when called quickly began sprinting in the direction of smoke plumes rising high above the forest. ¡°Alright Grey, my men and I are willing to help, but I want the head, pelt, and all the bones. Add in most of the body too.¡± Grey¡¯s gaze fell on the man before responding, ¡°I want to keep all the legs. I also need some rope and smaller pelts when we return, and your men will do most of the hauling. The head and rest of the body are yours if you agree to that. As for the bones, I¡¯ll agree if I get permission to use your smoke room. What you say, Keen?¡± Keen thought for a moment, understanding that this was a rare opportunity to make a powerful polearm from the horn of the large beast. Truthfully, he cared little for the bones, and even less for the pelt. Although the body of the creature tasted foul, at the end of the day, food was food. And if he wanted, with his squad of hunters, he could hunt some small tree rodents with his squad for tasty meat. But a Hooded Horn was a rare beast to be this close to the safe area of the Prowling Forest. The value of the resources it offered, primarily the horn could not be understated. ¡°Alright, you have a deal.¡± Keen did not need to be selfish at this moment, nor did he want to get on Grey¡¯s bad side. Although rare, Grey would create opportunities like this for his squad. According to the village records, Grey would become a member of Keen¡¯s squad upon his coming of age. This would come in one year so as training. he was brought out, but in reality, Grey would always hunt on his own after the first couple weeks, and never take the squad''s spoils unless he directly contributed to them. Keen was keenly aware of Grey¡¯s circumstances in the village, more so than most people, but rather than ridicule Grey he kept a cordial attitude with him even allowing him to join his squad to hunt. ¡°Root, Fleet, let¡¯s start carving now. You better help too Grey. We need to get this done fast.¡± The other two men who had been sitting while their boss discussed the transaction stood and expertly began to butcher the carcass along with Grey and their leader. ¡°Not that I¡¯m complaining, but how did this thing wander so far from the inner region? I¡¯ve only ever seen them when all the squads move together deeper in the woods,¡± Root asked while slicing a leg off the Hooded Horn. This was a question that weighed on all their minds, and although grateful for the bounty they had received, this movement was a sign of something dangerous. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss this with Elder when we return to the village. Worst case we will have to have to move up the grand hunt to cull the dangerous beast from the deep woods. For now, though, let us think only of celebrating back at camp.¡± They all nodded at Keen¡¯s response and began to smile thinking of the first fresh meal they could have in days, and with Keen¡¯s word of celebration, perhaps even aged fire water made from fruits that was so covetously hidden away by their squad captain. ¡°I think there may be three or so wandering the area, if I get lucky I¡¯m sure I could bag another one, but we¡¯ll have to convince Brawl to let us go out with him, and knowing his feelings for me, I¡¯m sure he won¡¯t be happy with me taking his¡¯ potential prey¡¯.¡± Grey sarcastically added, thinking of the lost profits of the possible excursion. By the next Waterday, the paths left behind by the Horns would be all but gone, as if they were never there in the first place. ¡°Are you sure you can get one?¡± Keen asked with a serious look on his face. Grey stared back, although he had implied that he would have to be lucky, he was sure. By following the threads of light that would come off certain creatures, he could track another Hooded Horn if only a day had passed. It seemed that Keen was fully aware that his ¡°luck¡± was more than it seemed, and since he often found rare creatures, this was not a surprise to him. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure. If they are in a group, I can find them, and with a good shot, take one out.¡± Keen let out a sharp breath, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Brawl, make sure you''re ready to leave tomorrow¡­ early,¡± seeing the resolution in his eyes, Grey nodded. Time passed slowly now that the conversation had diminished. Each person solely focused on carefully carving the creature, as any mistake could harm the precious materials, and soon the sound of sleds gliding on the snow could be heard. Bark and Charge assisted in loading the now dissected body onto the sleds, and each man tied a rope around the waist and a sled. Bark, and Charge, pulling one with Grey following behind silently, and Fleet, Root, and Keen on the other. ¡°Boss, how are you gonna convince Brawl? There¡¯s no way he won¡¯t go crazy if we bring back a hall like this on an Earthday. He¡¯ll definitely demand us to give up most of it, if not all.¡± Keen considered his answer to Fleet¡¯s complaint before responding, ¡°I¡¯ll give up first rights on the grand hunt this year. With that, even if he gets upset, he won¡¯t say anything in public.¡± Both Root¡¯s and Fleet¡¯s eyes opened wide, the first right was rotated every grand hunt to each squad, and this time, it was their turn. To say this, was to give up a possible chance at a creature''s central organ, a prized treasure that once prepared, could increase the power of a single squad immensely. ¡°Are you sure you want to give something like that up? This is the first grand hunt in decades, who knows if we¡¯ll even be around to enjoy an opportunity like this again!¡± exclaimed Root. ¡°Quiet down,¡± a silent growl coming from Keen sealed any further protest, from Root. ¡°A harvest of at least one more hooded horn would benefit the village more than a small rise in our strength, and with us around we might even get two kills.¡± The group of three contemplated that for a moment. They all had little doubt in their minds about Grey¡¯s forecast of the beast, their experience led them to have great faith in his ability to track. ¡°Even still, are you really ok with this? You may lose your ability to compete for the name of Elder if you can¡¯t stand up to Brawl.¡± Fleet was whispering now, making sure not to alert the other three members dragging the sled a few feet away from them. With the current Elder reaching the latter stage of life, there was no question that he would soon name the next, and tradition held that if one protested the decision, a battle was held, and the winner was named. Brawl suited his name-sake earned at his coming of age well; he was an exceptional melee combat fighter, and any spar he was involved in, ended with his victory. Currently the favorite for Elder was Keen, but if Brawl challenged him, even Fleet and Root, his closest allies were skeptical at best in his victory. As they stepped into a clearing, a fence made of sharpened birch logs came into view. Smoke was spewing from the center of the construction, and a large gate sat in front of the group. Before entering Keen hushed, ¡°There is no bad blood between me and him. If he wishes to become Elder he may do so. Ultimately our goal is the same, the good of the village. If I am chosen when the time comes, and he challenges me, I will have no regrets. This coming winter will be hard just like all others, any more food, pelts, and materials we get will only help,¡± With that, he yelled, ¡°Open the gate!¡± and the six people walked into a small settlement filled with the orange glow of the bonfires. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 ¡°I¡¯m back!¡± Grey shouted as he stepped through an animal skin cloth into a modest wooden hut. A hushed ember was glowing in the center of the room, slightly dug into the earth, giving a warm embrace to him as he laid his quiver and bow down near the entranceway. ¡°Welcome back¡±, a young girl stoking the embers responded with a smile as she turned to meet his gaze. ¡°How did the hunt go? You¡¯re back so late, I was getting worried,¡± she cautiously asked. ¡°I had to stop at Keen¡¯s smokehouse. We had a pretty big haul today,¡± Grey responded. As he explained himself, he brought out a slab of meat from his bag, ¡°The rest of it is gonna take a couple of days so I¡¯ll need ya¡¯ to head over there the next few days and bring it back. I¡¯ll be gone tomorrow early so offer half of one of the legs to the guys there, they''ll help you carry it back here.¡± ¡°You¡¯re leaving again?¡± the young girl pouted. Her pine eyes reflected the amber glow reflected in them, loneliness; her small form huddled further into itself while one delicate hand reached for a couple of onyx-colored rocks. ¡°You just got back, plus you¡¯re not even supposed to be going out there. I¡¯ve been here all day by myself you know?¡±, she lightly grumbled as she began the hit the rocks together on a pile of grass she had placed on the bed of ashes. Grey approached and sat down next to her, grabbing a thin smooth stone as she started the fire back up. He dropped the lightly marbled steak on the stone and spoke, ¡°You didn¡¯t go out to play with the neighbors?¡± ¡°They were busy helping their parents, so no one could come out, plus it¡¯s too cold.¡± She had already started the fire and Grey had put the stone evenly supported by some sticks above it. Their movements were smooth in this, displaying their practiced hands, and as they instinctively began to prepare for cooking, Grey stated, ¡°That''s right, everyone is getting to the age when they start to work under their families. Time sure passes quickly doesn¡¯t it?¡± There was no response to the question, only the crackle of the fire and the pores of the rock sounded in the room. Although it was rare, not all children had to work for their families in the same trade. These exceptions, however, were done only between close friends, exchanging their children in each other''s respective fields. The purpose of these exchanges varied, but often it was simply because the son or daughter was unsuitable for the task their family was in charge of. There was no need to accept strangers into the family just to give them something to do, especially for no benefit, and with no support other than Grey, the young girl was doomed to spend her days and seasons before her naming day finding odd jobs to do as the other children her age learned and grew around her. The meat had started sizzling now, its fragrance sweeping over the two as an idea struck Grey. ¡°Hey, Tear?¡± ¡°Mm?¡± With her silence broken, albeit only slightly Grey continued, ¡°I¡¯ve been getting along pretty well with Keen and the others recently, plus I can offer them a couple of favors to them. He has one of the busiest smokehouses in the village, so I can ask him to let you train as a preserver.¡± ¡°Really! You think you can convince him?¡± Grey felt a little bad about lying to Tear about Keen and his relationship, but Keen had been the only one to let Grey accompany his squad, formally anyway, and only after showing his prowess in hunting the couple of days he had snuck out. And now with the opportunity he was offering to the squad, he believed he could easily bargain a place for Tear to train and spend her days socializing, getting closer to the villagers rather than being alone. Plus seeing her smile brought him more warmth than the fire in front of the two ever could. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s no problem.¡± He said as he bumped her shoulder with his arm. The smoke had been escaping through a tunnel dug through the floor to the outside heating the floor as they spoke. ¡°So what did you end up getting? This doesn¡¯t look like a tree rodent.¡± She asked with a tinge of sarcasm pointing at the sizzling meat. ¡°Are you sure? Maybe it was just a really big one,¡± Grey chuckled. She tried picturing the small bushy-tailed creature in her head as a size large enough to create such a big piece of meat. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that they ate animals the same size as them, the squirrel-like beasts would be quite cute at such a size. Tear smiled wryly, and pushed him, ¡°Come on, stop messing around.¡± ¡°It was a Hooded Horn.¡± Tear stared wide-eyed at Grey, ¡°you mean from the paintings on the Elder¡¯s wall? I thought we could only see those on a Grand Hunt.¡± ¡°Until now I hadn¡¯t ever seen one in person either, but it is even bigger than I imagined¡±, described Grey. Bragging like this to her he found his pride gushing fourth. He expounded on how he had braved the wilderness as they ate. So cold that even the Elms had started to crack from the water freezing inside their bark. The massive tracks were left behind by the colossal beast, how the density of the pelt could keep an entire household warm, and finally the majesty of its colossal horn protruding violently from its skull.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. By the time he was finishing, they had long passed finishing their luxurious meal, and Tear had already begun the steady breathing brought on by sleep. Seeing them like this, it would be easy to mistake the two as siblings. Although only five years separated them, the relationship they shared was not through blood, but instead one of chance. Grey thought back to his 8th cycle, the day he found Tear. ¡ª A young boy, sitting on the porch outside a wooden hovel gazed at his new home. A shack had been given to him on the edge of the village just the month before as a favor from the Elder. He wasn¡¯t sure why but it was apparently due to a service performed by his family in the past. While gazing at the stars, a small mouse scurried from the ancient heating tunnels under the foundation. ¡°There it is again¡±, the boy thought. He had just recently begun to see pale red lights coming from many different living beings. Some even had thin trails they left behind as they walked around the village. The small mouse left no trail but instead was coated in a pale glow as it scurried away. As Grey lost his focus, the lights around him disappeared and resumed their normal appearance. He initially thought he was losing his mind, but with the realization of the pattern the lights followed, that being they stuck to living creatures, he came to sense the immense opportunity this provided. He gazed back up at the hut in front of him when some footsteps sounded from behind. ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t stay longer, I don¡¯t like you living alone here. I gave it to you to fulfill a promise not to kick you out¡±, croaked a horse voice touched by pity. An old man held a walking stick, his figure was hunched over from age, but even still, in what was his later years, there was a touch of his past as the strongest individual in the village. ¡°Elder¡±, the young Grey responded with a nod of his head in greeting. ¡°You have already taken care of me for so long, I want to try living here since you gave it to me. I¡¯m happy to hear I¡¯m welcome though.¡± Grey had truly not wanted to leave, after all, he was so young at the end of the day. Being alone here would be desperately lonely, but with his plans, there would be far too many questions had he decided to stay in the care of Elder. ¡°Hm, if you have made your decision then.¡± The elder thought for a second, ¡°I am concerned about the favor you asked me. You can¡¯t possibly think of going out there, can you? Even I did not go out alone in the Prowling Forest at your age.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry Eder¡±, Grey smiled, ¡°I just want to practice for the future, I¡¯ll just try to hit anything that comes near the village.¡± Elder sighed, he took from his back a small bow and some long stone-tipped arrows and held out his hand, ¡°I¡¯ll ask Bark to bring a pelt so you can practice, but I¡¯ll handle your food. I forbid you from going out to hunt. I also expect you to visit me personally to receive your share of meals.¡± Perhaps sensing the young boy''s deadly ideas, he enforced a strict restriction. ¡°Thank you, I promise I¡¯ll stay in the village.¡± Grey knew Elder was only protecting him, but he lied knowing Elder was far too busy to keep an eye on him all night. He hated to lie to him, the man who raised him alone, but he was done feeling the eyes of all the villagers who saw him as nothing but a burden. In truth they were not wrong, even when in a few more seasons he would be old enough to train, there would be no time to show him, an outsider when everyone had their own families to worry about. Grey received the bow and arrows from the elder. The ash color of the boy matched him quite well, at least it did his eyes. The wood was quite dense making the bow heavier than he first expected, but it was smooth to the touch. Elder nodded at dwelling, ¡°There is already a fire pit built in, I asked Keen to leave some pelts and an axe for wood in there. There is already a bit of firewood, but it won¡¯t last more than a couple nights.¡± The sun was already setting, and soon the full moon would illuminate the earth with its clear glow. Elder patted Grey on the shoulder, ¡°I need to head back now, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow for dinner alright.¡± ¡°Alright, thank you for everything.¡± Grey¡¯s clear eyes stared at the back of the old man as he limbered away. He walked from the porch to the pelt entrance, pushing aside the coarse leather, he stepped into his own home for the first time. The fire pit was cleaned out, but there was some tinder, wood, and a fire starter next to the hole in the ground. Grey quickly started a fire to warm up the place and sat down on the animal pelt left behind for him. He began to focus his thoughts on the sensations of his body, the radiating heat of the fire, and the cold seeping through the floor to the pelt, and finally to himself. The sounds of the wind rustling the decaying leaves outside, and the buzzing and scurrying of insects and small rodents. When he closed his eyes, suddenly these sensations became less clear, and in his mind small orbs of light appeared around him, all differing in color and intensity. Time passed and his breathing steadied, these orbs becoming more intense as he continued to focus his thoughts on them. He started this process when he noticed the lights becoming more intense after he slept. As he became more active, it grew more difficult to notice and comprehend the trails that occasionally popped up around him. When he made his plans to become a solo hunter, he tried to imitate his mind right before sleep, removing all his thoughts away from the world, and focusing them only on his personal senses then removing even those thoughts. With practice, he became more and more proficient in clearing his thoughts. Suddenly he opened his eyes and the world was unlike what was there before. The patches of grass sticking out from the floor had an ever so faint red tinge to them only really appearing for a moment when glanced at. He could already see several thin dimly lit red lines trailing the surface of the home, no doubt the mouse before had not been the only one frequenting the place. Following one direction led to the wilderness, while the other, a small crack in the wall. ¡°I guess I have a few roommates¡±, Grey thought sarcastically. Enough time has passed and the fire had only a few embers still imbued with their orange light. With his time spent reviving his strange sight, he stood up, grabbed the axe leaning on a wall, and walked outside. It was dark now, but the moon lit up the surroundings well. Even without it, the world was tinged with a red hue, the grass, trees, and dormant flowers all emitting a trace of color. Grey walked behind the house to a secluded part of the fence surrounding the village and plunged the axe into the coarse dirt. Due to his small size, it did not take long the burrow a hole deep enough for him to squeeze through the gap he excavated, and soon a red-tinged forest full of Elms waited in front of him. Already several thicker light-red lines appeared in front of him. He gripped his axe in one hand and with the bow and quiver on his back, he took one step forward into the darkness. Chapter 3 ¡°It should be somewhere past here,¡± the young Grey hushedly thought aloud. He had been following the fluorescent green path for a while already and its color was becoming more vibrant. He knew very little about hunting or tracking, but it was obvious to him that he was getting closer as the color grew in intensity. He had never seen this kind of color or brightness before with his power, so he wanted to follow it. Although one could say Grey might be more mature than others of his age, he was ultimately still a boy, and curiosity has grasped his reason by its feet. Thankfully he still had enough sense to mark the trees with his axe in order to return safely. Without knowing, Grey had already begun to approach the fearsome outer region of the Prowling woods. The vegetation inhabiting the area had changed now. The grass that had been silently slumbering under the snow and only occasionally containing the strength to peak out now spread far and wide. Trees had not yet lost their leaves although their colors had changed to a variety of reds, yellows, and browns. Going further into the clearing, a light crackling sound was heard in the distance. This halted Grey, there had been very few sounds other than the scurrying of tree rodents, and the humming of insects, but this, this sounded like the light roar of thunder before a storm. The sky, however, although dark, was clear, the moon still shining brightly down from the heavens illuminating all existence under it. Still, his mind was made, Grey proceeded forward still keeping an eye on the light, which had slightly faded from his waning concentration. Now there were no leaves to step on, all of them nestled safely in the trees. There were even golden flowers with centers full of seeds, their aromas filling his nostrils with pleasant scents that he had never experienced before. The clearing was now behind him, and Grey had fully embarked into the outer regions of the Prowling Forest. It almost seemed as if this place was humming, even the fauna seemed to be oscillating with some sort of energy. Grey had only remembered the world as a blur of white, a canvas filled with snow ever falling as if the earth had never known a spring. There were of course four seasons the villagers kept track of, but it hardly affected the temperature in any significant way. They primarily used it to know what crops to grow and what animals to hunt. Suddenly an explosion sounded, this time much closer, as if there was some sort of barrier preventing him from clearly noticing it before. Like the fury of nature, the explosion reverberated through the world, as if a god''s fist had impacted the earth. Even the ground had shook, temporarily halting the gentle humming of the nature around him. Grey now stopped permanently frozen in place due to the earth-shattering cataclysms he had just felt. The green path had now vanished completely, and a cold shiver ran down his spine. In the sky above him, he could see it, a man, that even now when the path had vanished, radiated an eerie green glow. With a roar that shattered the sky above, the man soared through the canopy, his hand coated with plasma as dozens of bolts stretched out towards the abomination that had frozen Grey in his place. It loomed above, its molten scales emitting a blinding viridescent aura, its vast and leathery wings stretched wide, as it cast its arrogant gaze at the creature resembling an ant before its towering snake-like figure. When the bolts dripping with energy finally struck it, a deafening howl screamed through the forest. The demonic beast did not fall but instead charged at the man like a torpedo, its cylindrical body allowing its body to reach speeds incomprehensible to most men. However, a quiet tranquility showed in the man¡¯s eyes. He stood resolute, his body shimmering with a fierce, electric glow, crackling energy swirling around him like a living creature, causing the air to boil around him. A yell came from his core, and the world stood still, a flash flooded the forest and Grey was forced to close his eyes. There was an incorruptible silence momentarily that enveloped the woods, and in the next moment, the light was gone. When Grey opened his eyes and looked back up, his gaze widened in disbelief. The man who was dwarfed by the gargantuan beasts was left in the air and the vile serpent was nowhere to be seen, all traces of its existence wiped from the world. Then as if a commit trailing an otherworldly light, he plummeted to the forest floor. However, no sound came from his landing. Grey had now regained some of his senses and instinctively ran in the direction of the fallen warrior. After a few breaths of time, Grey could sense a heat and he quickly crouched down but still, he continued approaching the center of the heat. After several minutes, past a couple of bushes, leaning against a tree was the old man, serene in his composure, his eyes shown with a wisdom not found in these areas. A long beard flowed down his chest, lightly singed from his battle. His weathered hands gently browsed a ring placed on his right pointer finger. With a soft shimmering light, the space around the man''s hand warped, and from the center of its glow, a small toddler emerged, wrapped in a thick cloth. She could not have been more than three years old. Her eyes sparkled with a pine green depth, contrasting beautifully with her short turquoise hair which reached just past her ears, giving her an otherworldly presence. Grey couldn¡¯t help but gasp, a human had appeared from literally nowhere, and one with such an odd appearance. Not that he was one to talk with hair that closely resembled the old man''s beard in color rather than the brown and black most people had in the village.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Who''s there!¡± The old man exclaimed. ¡°Ah.¡± Grey tried to get up to run, but with a wave of the old man¡¯s hand, the air shifted around Grey and he was helplessly lifted from the dirt, his body floating towards the old man as if being pulled by an invisible force. Grey arrived in front of the old man who had forced himself to stand up. ¡°What clan have you come from, Why can¡¯t you leave us in peace!¡± The old man shouted at Grey, who could only look in fear back. ¡°Speak!¡± commanded the man. A pressure lifted off Grey who forced himself through the terror to cry out, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean, I live here in the woods with my village.¡± ¡°Lies!¡± The old man grabbed Grey by the head with one hand, containing immeasurable force, and forced Grey to look him in the eyes. A brutal invasive force pierced through Gray¡¯s mind, all memories and secrets forcefully snatched and dragged to the surface, leaving his head in agony as if his consciousness was being shattered open with a hammer. ¡°Aahh! Please stop, I¡¯m sorry, please just stop!¡± Tears were cascading down from his eyes, facing such unbearable pain was truly impossible for such a child. Then suddenly, the pain ceased and Grey slumped to the ground, curling into a ball and sobbing. ¡°How can such a place exist out here,¡± the man exclaimed with disbelief, disregarding Grey¡¯s present condition. He glanced down at Grey and finally revealed pity and a hint of regret in his eyes. ¡°You may not understand, but I had to do this. There are too many dangers chasing us for me to be merciful just based on your appearance.¡± While he gave his reasons to Grey who had calmed to a light sniffle now, he responded through a short occasional gasp, ¡°You¡¯re going to let me go?¡± ¡°I will,¡± the man nodded. ¡°But I need something from you.¡± He removed his ring placing it in the bundle with the girl and held his arm out with the sleeping girl who had not stirred awake all this time. ¡°Take her and protect her, in your village, she will be safe. If you do, I will send you safely back, and give you my ring.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand, why do you need me to take her, and what do you mean ¡®send me back?¡¯ I can just walk. Just leave me here alone please, I don¡¯t want anything.¡± Fear had taken its hold on Grey, his only goal was to get away from this man as soon as he could. ¡°No, it is already a miracle you arrived through these woods safely. Had I not been battling the Serpent King, other beasts would have been present and certainly devoured you. If you head back now, you will die without a doubt.¡± There was no deceit in his eyes as he stared holes into Grey. Grey had still not yet realized how far he had wandered, but seeing the grave look in the eyes gazing at him, a shiver ran down his spine. The old man suddenly stumbled a bit and fell to his knees. ¡°There is no time. Do as I say and protect her. I beg of you.¡± With that, he shoved the girl into the chest of Grey. The man stared at her lovingly for the last time, then stood back up. He lifted his arms and began moving them in strange formations. Grey watched stunned as the air violently cycled around him, bending to the old man¡¯s will, and then a force once again grabbed Grey and lifted him. ¡°Hold onto her well!¡± The man shouted at Grey. Grey held onto the bundled child closely on instinct and was then launched backward. His consciousness faded more and more as he hurtled through the forest at high speed, twisting and turning through the path he had taken on his way here. The cold wind whistled through his ears, biting at his skin, and finally, just as he couldn¡¯t take anymore, he slowed then halted. He stood and looked around, ¡°No way.¡± With great shock, Grey realized he had returned to the clearing separating the border between the inner forest and outer woods. He looked behind him and shivered, then ran back towards the village. It only took some minutes to hear shouting from a few men. ¡°Grey! Where are you?¡± It was Bark¡¯s voice, Grey recognized it from the visits Bark frequently made to Elder¡¯s home. ¡°Here, I¡¯m over here!¡± Grey stopped moving so that Bark could reach him without having to adjust, and soon he did just that. The hulking figure of Bark came through some trees as he called with great relief, ¡°Gods, you know how much trouble you¡¯re in, the elder is fur-¡± He stopped as he saw the bundle in Grey¡¯s arms. He stared stunned for a moment, before picking them both up, ¡°Let¡¯s head to grandfather quickly.¡± ¡ª ¡°To see such a place right before my end is truly great fortune.¡± The old man stared in the distance towards the direction he sent Grey. However, he could not see past the strange barrier separating the village and the dangerous woods. This was a place of no return, and yet, he found sanctuary here. ¡°Please live your life here in peace, this world despises us for what we are, but they will never find you here.¡± The old man¡¯s fingers had turned a charcoal black as he spoke. With a soft noise, his skin began to crumble, and from his fingertips, the first wisps of ash escaped, spreading slowly until his entire form dissolved into the wind, leaving nothing behind but his robes which soon were swept away. Chapter 4 ¡°I¡¯m leaving now, remember to head to the smokehouse at midday to get the rest of the meat.¡± Grey slightly nudged the sleeping Tear, who merely grunted in response. He lightly chuckled, before placing the animal skin he was using on top of hers, now layering her in a thick layer of pelts. He grabbed his bow and quiver and jogged through the village. In the dim light before dawn, the primitive village, built from roughly processed lumber and draped in animal pelts, stood silent and still, the cold morning air thick with the scent of smoke from the dying fires. Now arriving at the center of the village, Grey could see the billowing smoke of the various smokehouses around. Keen¡¯s was not too far from where he was now, and after some time passed, he could see a stone smoke hut exhaling thin tendrils of gray into the crisp winter air, its rugged walls decorated with delicate icy patterns made from the morning frost. ¡°Keen, you ready?¡± Grey shouted out. ¡°Yeah, give me a moment,¡± sounded a hushed voice from inside the building. Grey could hear some rustling sounds from inside, no doubt, he had come a bit early seeing as no one else had arrived at Keen¡¯s place yet. Soon Keen¡¯s fit figure revealed itself, his hair was still messy, like untamed brown foliage draping down to his shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re eager today aren¡¯t you,¡± grumbled Keen. Grey smiled, ¡°We should leave soon, I came early so I could prepare. I don¡¯t want anyone else to see.¡± Keen sighed, ¡°Alright, go inside, just be quiet, my family is sleeping. I¡¯ll run over and get my brother.¡± ¡°What about Root and Fleet? Aren¡¯t they coming?¡± Grey asked with trepidation. They would certainly need as much manpower as they could get, even if they could only find one Hooded horn. ¡°Brawl wouldn¡¯t have it, ¡®so many going out would scare the animal away¡¯,¡± mimicked Keen sarcastically. ¡°As if him lumbering around with that frame of his could move as stealthily as Fleet. Anyway, it¡¯ll just be us three. I¡¯ll only be gone a moment so hurry up and do your thing.¡± With a nod, Grey tiptoed into the hut attached to the smokehouse. It was warm and the air was filled with the scents of animal fats and wood ash each breath tickling Grey¡¯s nose. A couple of figures were covered in fur blankets on a lifted wooden bed in the corner, Keen¡¯s wife and daughter. Without disturbing them, Grey moved through the next curtain separating the home from the smoke hut and sat down in the warmth. With an aptitude that came after years of dedicated practice, Grey sat in serene stillness, effortlessly letting go of every thought, his mind becoming empty as clear as an unbroken sky. In the expanse of his mind, innumerable lights bloomed like living constellations, shimmering in every imaginable shade, color, and intensity, a radiant dance of infinite prisms of light. Suddenly a figure appeared, made from a blinding light, resembling Grey¡¯s form only without the details normally accompanying the human form. He was only a pale red form here surrounded by radiances he could hardly have imagined before he first ventured into the realm in his mind. In his immediate vicinity, there were thousands of red specs surrounding him like wheat flour floating in the air. Ignoring these he walked forward until he felt some pressure. He could not tell, but his body in the breathing world had beads of sweat pouring down his forehead and his body was heavily trembling. But at last, here just in front of him existed two deep orange illuminations. He reached out his hand, the light making up its form oscillating between bright and dim as if it would be extinguished at any moment. With a roar, he finally reached one with the tip of his middle finger and his eyes snapped open. The world was now filled with the red hue, but it was much less focused; not as distracting compared to his first experiences focusing his ability like this. He had connected with the orange, allowing them to become more vibrant in the real world. He could still see the other shades, but now, they would not stand out so much. ¡°Grey, is that you?¡± A gentle voice sounded. ¡°Are you okay?¡± A young girl walked into the smokehouse quietly, her short black hair framing a face both fierce and innocent, while her dress of stitched animal pelts draped her slender frame, each furred seam a testament to her wild, untamed world. Resembling an age matching Tear¡¯s, she moved through the world with a gentle stillness fitting of her name, and she would be a capable tracker in the future. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it Stilra, I¡¯m fine. Did I wake you, sorry about that.¡± Grey apologetically responded. Stilra shook her head gently, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Dad actually woke me up, I was only pretending when you came in. Here, have some breakfast.¡± Smiling brightly, seeming almost holy with the deep-red glow emanating from her, she held out her delicate hand with a thin strip of dried meat. ¡°Thanks.¡± Grey thankfully accepted the meal as she sat down next to him basking in the warmth of the working smoker. ¡°Have you started your training already? Tear said she¡¯s been lonely recently.¡± Stilra looked down at her feet, ¡°I wanted to go out, but mom forced me to stay in. Both her and Dad are teaching me so I don¡¯t have any time in the evening or day. Morning and evening Dad teaches me how to use a bow and to track the small mice around the village, then during the day I have to work in the preserving house.¡± She sighed exhaustedly. Grey chuckled, ¡°Not everyone gets such a good education you know, you¡¯re really lucky. Most kids will only be able to ever do one thing, you can choose.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel so lucky,¡± she grumbled. ¡°I just want to see my friends sometime.¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Well you will soon, I am going to ask your dad to have Tear train under your mother. Since you¡¯re already so experienced, keep an eye out for her yeah?¡± She immediately brightened, and even her aura became a shade brighter, ¡°Really! I¡¯m so glad you finally asked Dad for something, he won¡¯t stop talking about you, you know? Especially when Elder comes over.¡± Grey smiled, he knew of Keen¡¯s kindness, but he did not want to live off of someone else¡¯s kindness his entire life, otherwise, he would have just stayed with Elder his whole life. Asking for a favor and giving nothing in return was strictly forbidden to him. Why should he, when no one else in the village does, receive special treatment for nothing? ¡°I haven¡¯t asked just yet, but tonight it is certain, she will be an apprentice with you.¡± Before they could talk more, Keen rushed into the building passing through the curtains. ¡°You ready Gre-,¡± Seeing his daughter up he paused before patting her head. Come on, enough fooling around, if you¡¯re up, go out to the village center and try to catch a mouse, by now you should be able to.¡± He was obviously trying to sound commanding, but it wasn¡¯t very convincing as he was rustling her hair under his hands and speaking so happily. ¡°Alright alright, I¡¯m going, quit it already. Bye Grey!¡± and with that she bolted off before grabbing a small bow with some arrows. ¡°Always a farewell to you, but not me,¡± grumbled Keen. Grey stood up and bumped his shoulder, ¡°it¡¯s ¡®cause you¡¯re too clingy. If Bark is out there, let go before it gets too late, we¡¯ll need to haul back two Hooded horns.¡± He had already heard Grey say it before but still, it sounded ridiculous to him, ¡°Are you sure we can get another two? I have never seen them other than once during the Grand Hunt when I was a kid.¡± ¡°I am certain I can find them, and even more, they are still in the inner woods. We won¡¯t even have to go near the boundary.¡± ¡°Alright let¡¯s go then.¡± Keen resolutely remarked. They both walked out together meeting up with Bark outside. Then proceeded to the gate. Although guarded, the gates would never be opened before daylight and after nightfall, so they had to climb up the tower, nodding at one of the guards before dropping down on the snow. Outside the group grabbed two large sleds big enough to carry their prospective prey. ¡°When will you know where to go?¡± asked Bark. He knew nothing about Grey¡¯s ability other than his ability to remarkably locate anything they were hunting any particular season. ¡°We need to go further, I can get any scent or tracks from here obviously,¡± Grey responded. Even Keen, who was more familiar with Grey, knew little in truth about his mysterious power. He figured Grey had some remarkably powerful senses which he strengthened through focused meditation. This even tracked as when the day became longer, Grey would lose his isolated focus, and his abilities would wane in effectiveness. The group of men moved silently through the snowy elm forest, their fur-clad figures blending with the winter-draped landscape. Frost clung to the bare branches above, and the faint crunch of snow and leaves beneath their boots was muffled by the whisper of the biting wind. Their breath rose in soft clouds, vanishing into the cold air as their sharp eyes scanned the shadows between the towering trunks. Grey carried his bow made from wood, made stronger by bone and tendon, while Bark and Keen carried their bone polearms, their grips steady despite the biting chill, their movements purposeful, like ghosts in the white stillness, ever-watchful for any sign of danger as they moved deeper and deeper in the forest. Keen¡¯s large spear was made of new powerful ivory taken from the beast the night before, and Bark was using Keen¡¯s previous. ¡°Wait, I see them,¡± Grey paused, as he saw a trace of two deep orange trails skittering across the blanket of snow in the distance. ¡°I think they are moving together,¡± he stated with both delight and nervousness. This would mean they could catch the two animals together, but one mistake could spell fatal results. ¡°Alright!¡± Bark excitedly whispered. ¡°You lead the way Grey, when we get close enough to see tracks, let Keen and I lead. Just correct us if we go the wrong way. Our strength is higher than yours, so we have a higher chance of taking them down in one shot. If one doesn¡¯t go down, you finish it off with the bow.¡± Grey nodded, and proceeded forward, although he took down one alone last time, he could not consider himself to be an expert, and in truth, it was an enormous risk with thankfully great profit. Now with the two more powerful and experienced hunters with him, he was far more confident than before. Soon they arrived at the tracks, Bark and Keen moved ahead of Grey, and their experience clearly depicted, needing no correction from Grey. They left their sleds here as well, and soon they arrived at their target. The hunters crouched low behind a thicket of snow-laden brush, their breaths shallow as they watched the two Hooded Horns in the clearing ahead. The massive beasts, their shaggy fur crusted with frost, pawed at the frozen ground, revealing patches of buried grass and leaves. Their singular curved, deadly horn gleamed faintly in the pale winter morning light, a testament to their power. The hunters remained utterly still, their figures cloaked in furs that blended seamlessly with the snowy forest. Tension crackled in the air like the faint creak of distant ice. The brothers knocked their polearms in atlatl, spear launchers that would increase their power and speed significantly while Grey knocked a massive bone-tipped arrow in his bow. All silently aiming before Keen took a sharp breath in and signaled to release. With a sharp whistle, one beast collapsed to the snowy ground, one polearm jutting from its shaggy flank piercing far enough to have struck the heart, while the other creature, its side impaled and bleeding, charged wildly in a frenzy of pain, toward the direction of the group, but before it could get even three steps in its last death throes, an arrow pierced just below the spear thrown by Bark, felling the Hooded Horn pair in totality. They all let out a relieved breath before, ¡°Ha¡­ Ha-ha-ha!¡± It was unknown who started it, but soon the men were all laughing uproariously. It rang out, deep and unrestrained, catching on a breath before spilling over into a chuckle. "Oh, you¡¯ve got to be kidding me!" they managed between gasps, their eyes glinting with relief, fear, and amusement. ¡°We did it! Ah-ha-ha. I¡¯m sorry I ever doubted you.¡± Bark joyously yelled at Grey while slapping his back¡­ hard. ¡°Keen and I will get the sleds. Stay here, we¡¯ll be back real soon.¡± As they left you could still hear their cries of happiness from quite a distance. Time passed without incident and after several minutes the men arrived with the sleds. Without bothering to carve the animals, they hauled their massive bodies up and efficiently tied them down with rope. ¡°Alright let¡¯s head back, it won¡¯t be ¡®till nightfall when we arrive so no breaks. Bark you and I will switch between helping Grey and dragging one alone. Falling behind is not an option, or else we will have to leave one behind.¡± Keen seriously instructed. This process passed for several hours, the group celebrated, chatting the whole way, and just as they were reaching the midpoint, the world went silent. The air itself vibrated, a deep, resonant hum that shook the ground. Trees trembled, their branches trembling as if caught in a heavy wind, and the earth beneath shifted uneasily. A shockwave rippled outward, distorting the very fabric of reality, and with it accompanied a mighty wolf''s howl piercing the night, a haunting cry that echoed through the frozen wilderness, commanding both fear and reverence.