A lone fox wanders through an endless forest. With gentle leaps it dances through the entangling roots that line the leaf laden brown ground. Every few steps it stops, sniffing the air. Ignoring the berry filled shrubbery it continues searching for its prey.

Near yet far. The scent fades in an out. From a nearby bush to behind a tree before vanishing only to appear within the branches above. Closer and farther, swapping every few seconds. As impatience fills the ever hunting fox its body changes.

It's white fur lengthens, it's teeth extending, lines of scarlet gemstone resembling veins sprout across its body. Just as the gentle facade fades a sharp wind follows.

Crack

An arrow flys towards it, failing to hit it's mark and instead snapping as it pierces the dirt below its stomach.

Silence

Carefully a tall human appears from behind the shrubbery. It's covered in mud, wearing a hooded cloak of leaves, dirt, and mud. Still staring at the fox the human places it's bow down, reaching under its coat for something with its bare hands.

It's vulnerable! Now up to the humans waist the previously knee height fox lunges at the human. The vein like gems flowing across its body glow as it's fur explodes outwards. Like a raging cloud it roars forward.

It's fur flows and glows, azure flames sprouting from every strand. In a second a beastly flame stands in front of the human, it's scarlet mouth and ash white teeth ready to snap it's head off! Another successful hunt.

"Another successful hunt."

What? Finally seeing under the hood it finds a smile. An aged and rough bearded face with shining azure eyes. Glowing?

CRACK!!!

Flowers of bone and blood bloom in from the beast's mouth. Standing strong the man continues his assault. From a right handed uppercut to the beast jaw he follows with left kick to the chin. The beast teeth pierce its own flesh as a red hue starts to dye its left eye.

The man's hands. They're different? No longer unprotected! Thick gauntlets of charred wood cover his hands. Veins of blood like light flow down from his heart into his hands, feeding the gauntlets a great energy.

Angered yet calm the beast leaps back, the azure flames that coat it's raging fur devouring the mans coat. Moving forward he tosses it aside. His light leather armor stretches as his grand muscles flex. With every firm step forward his metal tipped boots slam onto the ground.

BOOM!

He's caught up! Panic fills the beast eyes. Still focused the man moves to dig his hands into the beast eyes.

BANG!

Flames explode from the beast head, rushing from its tail to its mouth. It sidesteps, moving to crush the man's legs with its tail. A head of flame burns downwards as the man's sides are blocked by the beast large body.

His dark skin turns a shade redder, even so his mind remains undisturbed. Unhesitating, he immediately moves under the beast. Seeing this it immediately tried to slam its massive body down on the man.

"This seed better be worth it."

Before the fox can even understand what's happening the man grabs its now flame free hind legs at the joint and pulls.

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Snap

The beast brain shuts down as the panic begins to take over. Unfortunately for it the man refuses to let it fight it's last fight. Before the flames can turn everything around the beast to ash the man twist even further, dragging it down onto him. As he slams his head towards the beast chest he grabs its waist with one arm and it's neck with another.

CRACK CRACK CRACK

With his head he breaks the beast's ribs and with his arms he snaps it's spine. The flames start to fade as a red river flows down the beast's mouth. As it's strength leaves it its body begins to shrink.

Seeing it return to its weak facade the man drops the beast and steps away. After the flames recede all that's left is a shivering fox. Through the endless canopies that cover the sky silk thin streams of calming light peer through the shaking leaves. Spots of green and blue light shine on the bloodied brown dirt.

As it breathes its last it sees the man do something odd. He closes his and draws lines from his heart to his head and stomach. The light of combat fades from his hands, the gauntlets separating and splitting. Like wooden serpents they wrap around his wrist and go still.

All that's left after is a lone man and his thoughts.

"May the roots of the all father bless you with the fruit of a sweeter life."

By the withered branches I need rest. I wish that old coot would hurry up and assign me a partner! Then again, it's already a miracle what I've done. Best not to push the new generation too hard.What was I doing again? Ah, I still have to offer the ash bound.

Slowly, I stand up, fresh blood dripping down onto my loose leather grieves. Careful not to trip I grab the beast and walk towards the south. Every few steps I kick a rock or pile of leaves. Not much but it's something to do.

"I wonder if the trees really used to be smaller? It's certainly not impossible."

Holding the shimmering sky of leaves and branches are trees larger than three beastly foxes combined. Their roots dig deep into the ground, occasionally peering out. Within the grand space between each light brown goliath is a clear path capable of fitting a dozen men easily.

Boredy bored bored board. Little spin here and little spin there. It really was a hassle to find this one. Brought me real damn far from the ashbringer.

And so I walk. The closer I get to my goal the emptier the area becomes. The trees wither and the canopies shrink as dull ash replaces the dirt. There it is! A spire of ashen wood and rotten gems pierces through the broken sky.

From the ashen horizon spires fill my sight, reminiscent of the forest I left. Beyond it all is a withered tree. Thicker than the widest mountain and reaching beyond the cracks in the sky it stands strong.

Beyond it's empty branches lies a canvas of blue and purple. Clouds dance and flow and the shimmering stars fill the void around the emerald moon. Heaven and earth stand together connected by the pikes of ashen wood that pierce beyond the veil of reality. As I look up I see not but a sheet of broken glass painted over with the gentlest of colors.

With the fox over my shoulder I walk towards the tower. It's smooth, black veins flowing up towards the sky, mixing with its ashen bark giving it the appearance of a freshly born tree.

"Time to eat partner."

With every step closer my gauntlets start to take shape. The spire starts to glow as flames tear through the dead foxes chest. Light blue flames slowly devour its flesh. First it's organs, then it's bones, and finally it's skin.

With every moment of the flame ashes are born. Gently they float, gathering in between me and the spire. Before long the fox is gone.

A new light comes from my gauntlets. Separate from me. From life itself. The ash splits, some consumed by my gauntlets and some consumed by the spire.

"From beyond the present he sleeps. A beauty bound by neither past nore present. Through him we find solice in life and with him we find hope after death."

The wind starts to roar, forming a ring of ash around the spire.

"From the blood of his withering bark we are born. From the land above the roots that guide our path do we fall. From the fruits born from our sacrifice are we reborn."

The gauntlets change and stir as serpents of charred wood gather around the foxes ashes.

"Seeds of the past and sprouts of the present we bloom towards a future of stability. Children of the all father we are and children of the all father our future shall stay."

Calm

Stillness

Silence

Suddenly the ash falls, caught and consumed by the roots before they disappear into the ground. A door of light opens from the spire. From it a young woman welcomes me. Her golden hair drapes her naked body, the light hiding her expression.

"Well now this is a first. I wonder what'll happen this time?"

Without hesitation I walk through the door, my gauntlets piercing through my flesh before settling into my heart. No matter how difficult I will do whatever I can to fix the cracks in the sky. All so that the all father can wake.

Ah, and so it begins.

The light fades, darkness overtaking my sight as the door closes behind me.