I was so surprised I thought that my heart would jump right from my throat. He put his hand on my shoulder firmly. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to escape, so I did what any moderately intelligent youth would do in a situation that he knew he could not get out of…I fainted.
The next thing I knew I was laying next to a fire in the middle of the woods. I had never really been out of the city, so I was both scared, and helpless. Greyson finally spoke in a low gruff voice, “You owe me boy. You are going to help me in what ever way I command, and in return, I will teach you to survive on your own - without stealing.” I rolled over and looked to the sky; before that moment the stars never seemed as bright as they did that night. I thought to myself, what did I have to lose?
The next day the work began; Greyson was impressed with my already honed skills for prowling and sneaking. Initially, he wanted me to do nothing besides look for hazards and scout ahead looking for deer and the like. However, each day he showed me that there was always more for me to learn. He taught me how to look for the most brittle of twigs that could make a noise, and how to move with the breeze to disguise my noise.
Greyson also taught me how to fire a bow. I must admit, I was a natural. However, he would not ever let me stop practicing. I was required to fire two hundred shots before breakfast. My arms and back would be on fire, but I am now glad that he put me through that agony. Greyson never talked much, which suited me just fine. I tend to prefer silence over mindless chatter, but since he never talked much I did learn to pick up on non-verbal cues much better. A couple of years passed, in which I was purely a scout for Greyson. I would look for game to hunt and sneak up close enough to find the weakest or the oldest, and then I was forced to allow either Dorian or Greyson to get dinner. We would visit small town and large during our travels, but only at night, and only to re-supply or to sell animal skins. Greyson was always sure to be out of town by day break when he would do is morning meditation.
This was the time in my life where I began to seek purpose. Greyson taught me in the ways that Obad-Hai wishes his disciples to behave. Obad-Hai teaches that one should live in harmony with nature, and that those who would damage the natural balance deserve swift vengeance. This was a concept that I could get behind. There are other deities that are also protectors of nature such as Ehlonna’s, but Obad-Hai's faith is colder and less compassionate than Ehlonna's. We believe that death should be in balance with life. As such, when followers of the Shalm hunt, we target the weak and sickly first.
A year past, and I had truly become a follower of Obad-Hai. My place was not in a chapel preaching to men, but in the wilderness and the shadows…looking for evil to quell. One day Greyson came to me and told me that I would be allowed to go on my first solo hunt. Dorian seemed like he did not approve. I was filled with excitement. I set out immediately. I wish I had stayed to listen what he wanted to tell me, but the mission…for me it’s always the mission.
I prowled through the forest for hours trying to find the perfect trophy kill to impress my mentor, but a strange feeling came over me. Something was not right within the forest, I felt as though the area was tainted some way. At that moment, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed an animal, alone with a crippled leg. It was a beautiful buck, a 14 point, I would be a hero. It was fleeing, but would not last more than a day or two in those woods. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, the leaves were shuddering in the wind, the cool breeze was blowing, and the sounds of the forest went silent. I tried to clear my mind, preparing to put the animal out of its misery, but a small image entered my mind. It was an unusual track that I had noticed and let slip by. I couldn’t flush the image, and I decided to go back to find it. Something within me was compelled to leave the perfect kill and investigate the tracks.
After a few moments I located the tracks, and I cautiously followed the tracks, making sure that I did not leave tracks of my own, I remained stealth, and I did not want to be surprised. I came to a small clearing and saw two strange creatures surrounding an old doe. They were unlike anything I had ever seen. The bodies were a tangle of twigs, branches, and small bits of wood. Two arms jut out from their stunted, wooden bodies, each one ended in a three-fingered claw. Each had a pair of red glowing eyes that radiated from within their lifeless sockets. Initially, I wanted to just watch as these creatures cornered this weak and feeble prey, however, it just felt wrong, unnatural.
I fired an arrow and split one in twain. I moved forward and fired another arrow. The second shrugged off the attack. The old doe remained still, paralyzed with fright. Within moments, a half dozen of these creatures sprang forth from the woods and began to surround me. I fought valiantly, however each time I was scratched by one of those creatures I felt heavier and heavier, until I was unable to move. I could feel the poison coursing through my veins as I hit my back. I tragic way to end an eventful life is to be a hero. I suppose I knew better, but the heart sometimes gets the better of the mind.
As I looked up and saw the eerie red eyes surrounding me…knowing that my last moments were the ones I was living at that moment, something amazing happened. What appeared to be an elven woman, but unfathomably perfect and beautiful stepped forth from nothing. She was so physically that my first glance at her stunned me. The next thing I remember was her kissing my forehead before I fell unconscious.
When I awoke, it felt like déjà vu. Dorian was panting above my face, and Greyson was tending to the fire. Greyson said I was out of luck in my life time. He had spared my life, a nymph had given me her favor, and I was still breathing. At the time, I wasn’t really sure what that meant, but I know now that every second of my life is lived liked it could be my last.
Time passed as it does and I noticed little things about myself that were different. I was happier, I was more receptive to learning, but most unusual of all I could talk to animals, and even the trees from time to time. This was a secret I kept from Greyson, but in retrospect, I had a feeling he knew.
One beautiful day I was in my favorite tree enjoying the sunset, when a squirrel came to join me. The small creature was anxious, so I tried giving it some food too calm it, yet it refused. I looked deeply into its eyes and tried to talk to it, but only two words came through…GREYSON…HELP. I leapt from the branch to the ground and began running to our camp. I could see the flames in the distance and began to panic. I forgot everything I had been taught, my master, my mentor…my father, was in danger. As I approached the camp, I saw a figure in horridly arcane garb. His skin was pale, and his eyes were lifeless. He stood over Greysons limp body with an evil smirk on his face…
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