Morning had just come to the Forest of Don’keal. Small animals could be heard chittering their protests at the too early morning light. The still crisp air was proof that even though winter had just passed, it’s icy breath still lingered in the early light of the morning.

The new village of Tauph was also waking and getting ready for their day. Though, calling it a village was being generous since it was only an accumulation of twelve houses. Some more houses were already laid out and in the process of being built. People were still coming to find a safe home and the village was steadily growing.

On the farthest edge of the village, there was a large house that had a forge. Part of the field fenced off for livestock. It was a sturdy log house with beautiful plants all around that were just starting to show their budding flowers.

The door to the house opened slowly and careful so as not to wake the still sleeping occupants. The small boy left his home, trying to make as little noise as possible. Ethan Thaw was smaller than most boys in the village, but he was well built, as would be expected of a noble and the town’s temporary blacksmith’s son. He had brown hair and striking sapphire blue eyes. Eyes that showed a mischievous light, just like his grandfather. Light that was expected of a boy of seven.

Good thing I got everything ready yesterday. He closed the door as quietly as he had opened it, pausing just outside the door listening. Not a sound. Ethan sighed, relieved. Dad said I could go out when winter ended and collect like he does for mom. His parents had been fighting for the last week and they hadn’t mentioned him foraging yet.

The previous day, he had gotten everything ready in secret. Ethan gathered the essentials into a small pack, including the foraging knife from the high shelf. It had been a present from his dad. The blade was forged of white steel. The handle was made of elk horn with a small carving of a forest guardian on it. It was said to be good luck to have a forest guardian on your blade. His dad had had just enough white steel left over from a commissioned smith job from back when they lived in the city. Ethan could still remember the excitement he had felt getting something so special from his dad.

The black tiger wasn’t really a guardian of the forest, but it earned its moniker because the rarely seen creature never hurt higher life and seemingly hunted everything else. Ethan hadn’t seen one, but his dad had while out hunting. He had told Ethan it was nearly as tall as himself but that sounded like the tales of fairies to Ethan. His mother told him fairies didn’t exist.

Taking a deep breath while he smiled to himself, he darted though the open grassy area and looked over at the five small mounds of dirt. In those five places once stood the mighty snowman army that plagued his house all winter long. The battles that he fought against them were fierce and it had only been thanks to sheer luck that he had conquered those beasts.

I’ll have to make them bigger next year. His mind wandered as he neared the tree line. Once Ethan reached the outer edge of the grassy clearing, he took one look back before heading into the forest. Most boys didn’t go into the forest to forage alone until they were nine. His dad, being a former Ranger, had been teaching him the ins and outs of the forest since he could walk. Since his mother was the village herbalist, he had a better understanding of the plants than most in the village.

Ethan was heading South toward the little pond he and his dad had discovered in the forest. It was last year just before the first snow fall. It marked the last days before they couldn’t forage much anymore. It had been a great find, that is, until his dad decided to just toss him in. The pond was extremely deep. They couldn’t even see the bottom. Though Ethan was sure his swimming prowess had got him close to it. His dad had to dive in after him to save his life. Returning home dripping wet had earned his dad the sharp side of his mother’s tongue. Considering they were supposed to have been looking for more night cap mushrooms, she wasn’t in the mood to tolerate their shenanigans. It’s an extremely rare mushroom that seemed to grow quite frequent in this part of the woods. On the plus side, he had learned the basics of swimming.

As he made his way through the forest, he was being careful to watch his surroundings. He knew goblins and other things roamed this forest, so he had to keep alert for anything. Walking along this uncharted path, he came across a fallen tree. Smiling to himself, he ran over to it. Pulling out his knife he couldn’t help but get excited at this first chance to use it. He went to the side of the tree and did a test stab into it. If the tree fell early in the winter or even just before winter, it could be used to grow different plants and fungi as it began to decay. It was still firm. Last year at most. He thought to himself.

Putting the knife away, he climbed up on top of his magnificent find to get a better look… and because it’s fun. Walking down the tree, looking it over, something started nagging at him. Stopping, he started to look around. There weren’t any birds or wildlife around. Listening, all he could hear was the slow methodical rhythm of his own breathing. Nothing was around… Its quiet. No birds or small animals could be heard. A slow chill ran up his spine.

**CRACK**

All of a sudden, an explosion of noise thundered just beyond a thicket to his right. The noise caught him completely off guard and he lost his balance, falling off the log. He landed flat on his back, driving all the wind from his lungs. The dread of not having air was coupled with whatever was making that noise. He was sure his life was forfeit. After what seemed to be an eternity, sweet, beautiful air filled his lunges. The ground was still shaking from the force of whatever was going on just on the other side of the fallen tree. Knowing if he didn’t run now, it would be his last moments on Renmin. Looking around, he saw another tree close by. He moved quickly but quietly over to the tree and tucked himself behind it.

A deep guttural roar and another sound made Ethan’s body shiver. He wanted nothing more than to run home and never leave, but something wouldn’t let him. I have to get out of here… but if I run, I could end up leading it to the village. I need to look and see what’s happening.

The forest floor was still shaking as if the very ground feared what was happing just as much as Ethan. He leaned around the tree to look. If any blood had been in his face, it surely was no longer there. Dread filled him as he tried to process what he was seeing. It was a long, dark scaled creature that could have been mistaken for a snake if it wasn’t for the four short legs and that elongated head with two long whiskers poking out its muzzle. It was as thick as a fully grown adult, there was no mistaking it, a leviathan. It was wrapped tightly around a muscular black creature and Ethan knew at once what was fighting this creature of nightmare. A forest guardian.

Standing there, every fiber of his existence screamed for him to run. He wanted to run as fast as his legs could carry him back to the village. He wanted to let someone know about what was happening, but as soon as he was about to move, his eyes saw the forest guardian’s face. It was as if the entire world stood still, and he could see everything with complete clarity. The guardian had just given up fighting and its eyes had just started to close. The Leviathan, with its predatory eyes, had the look of triumph and malice.

Ethan was moving before he even knew it. Leaving now would be consigning the guardian to death. Being this close to the village, this leviathan would find its way there. Pulling his knife from its sheath, he ran and rammed it into the leviathan’s body just behind its head. Instantly, the leviathan roared and slammed into him. The blow sent Ethan sliding on the ground. Getting to his feet quickly, he heard a deep guttural hiss. Good news was the leviathan had released the guardian and it was slowly starting to get up and recover. The bad news was, the leviathan was looking at him and knew that Ethan had just hurt it.

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He bolted deeper into the forest and could hear it start chasing after him. To his surprise, it hadn’t caught him yet. After he dodged left past a tree, he chanced a look back. It was still chasing him but to his surprise the guardian had hold of its tail with its massive jaws and was fighting to hold it back.

He noticed something else . Every time he turned whether there was a tree in the way or not the things head stayed lock on to him like if it looked away for an instant he would disappear. He used this to his advantage and turned just a little every time he ran past a tree and the Leviathan would either slam into or have to go around.

He knew this wasn’t going to last. To be more precise, he knew his stamina wasn’t going to last. Thinking quickly , he happened to see something, and he got a very stupid plan. Looking around ,up ahead he found just what he needed for this plan.

Putting everything he had in to running, he needed a little extra time to get in to place. Running to a tree that split at the base in to a tight ‘V’ shape , he launched himself into the tree climbing about 9 feet up to the lowest branch. Standing on a branch , he waited for it to catch up.

Being it was only about 100 feet away it wasn’t long before it was climbing its way up. He knew his timing had to be near perfect. When it had just started climbing, he acted like he was going to jump. Hesitat ing, so he knew it would know what he was about to do , then h e jumped off his branch to the inside of the “V” shaped tree. Hitting the other side , he jumped out the other side. On his skin , he felt hot breath that stunk of death and decay. **SNAP**.

His feet hit the ground at an awkward angle, and he rolled after hitting the ground. He didn’t let the small pain in his shoulder stop him from springing back to his feet and start sprinting again. After a quick glance back , he stopped 30 feet away. It… Worked?

The Leviathan was stuck clawing and scraping at the tree , still almost mindlessly trying to get at him. It had followed him through the ‘V’ and with all its speed and strength it had tried to grab him out of the air , but just as it was about to, it got stuck. It was unable to get free for the moment.

Ethan was about to smile when from behind the tree came the black tiger. Moving quickly and taking little notice of Ethan , i t moved in front of the creature. After taking only a second it leapt and grabbed hold of its head. It was with claws and teeth the guardian pulled this monstrous creature deeper into the crevasse. Suddenly , its head bent sharply at a n odd angle. Its clawing and scraping stopped.

The tiger ignored the leviathan as it swung its body out, around and down. After the 3rd pull ,Ethan watch ed as the skin ripped from where his dagger had pierced it and its head came off with a sickening sound. It fountained blood on the ground and on Ethan. It smelled worse than the brief whiff Ethan got of the thing’s mouth. I t was like nothing Ethan had ever smelled and it was almost an inky black.

Dropping the leviathan’s head to the forest floor ,the guardian was now heading for him slowly. It stood four and a half feet tall at the shoulder. Its fur was the color of the moonless night sky. Even with blood smeared on them , the stripes made Ethan think of the lonely white clouds in the bright summer sun.

Stopping just before him , it looked into his eyes… Well, it would have been if Ethan hadn’t chosen that moment to start cowering and looking down. It sniffed him curiously. Then there was a warmth that seemed to touch and pass through his head, gently cascading down his body.

After ward , Ethan felt better and more calm. He just had the feeling everything was going to be ok ay and that the guardian wouldn’t hurt him. He stopped cowering and braved to look into the tiger ’ s grey eyes.

It collapsed then and Ethan seemed to snap out of his revelry and really notice the tiger. Blood was slowly spreading on the dust covered ground, leaking out of the many wounds that were spread across the guardian.

“No! You can’t die. You wait here, I’ll… I’ll get you some help . ”

Ethan left , moving as fast as he could back toward his house. It didn’t take me long to get to that tree walking , if I hurry maybe mom can help it. Sure enough , it only took 10 mins to get back to the clearing.

Entering into the clearing , Ethan saw just ahead of him a man exiting his house. He was taller than average with a muscular build from his time being the town ’ s temporary blacksmith. His father had dark brown hair and emerald-green eyes. Their usual happiness and calm was now replace d with cool displeasure.

Bolting forward , he started yelling “DAD, DAD, I NEED MOM… IT… NEEDS OUR HELP ! ” He grabbed his dad’s hand and started pulling him toward the woods.

“What? What’s wrong, ? W here have you been?!”

“DAD THERE ’ S NO TIME! I NEED MOM AND HER HERBS . IT ’ S HURT BAD!”

The combination of his son’s words and his appearance, Daton knew this was an emergency. Turning , he rushed into their house, grabbing the herbs, medicines, and bandages. “Teela! It’s urgent! Something’s happened in the woods.”

A light blue eyed woman with delicate features and fire red hair looked startled for a moment, then was moving to follow her husband. She stopped only to ask her father to watch their youngest who was still sleeping.

All three of them rushed back to the Guardian. It took them a little longer to get back there, but when Ethan found the fallen tree he remember edwhich way it was.

Upon reaching the spot , his father pulled him back. “Watch out, it could be dangerous. Teela, hold him.”

“Dad, no, the guardian is the one we are here to help. MOM, please help him. PLEASE.”

After getting to the guardian’s head , Daton let out a deep sigh. Looking back at his wife he shook his head.

They were too late. The Guardian had passed.

It felt like all the strength was pulled from Ethan’s legs. If his mother hadn’t been holding him, he would have hit the ground as waves of shock, anger, and grief hit him.

“no… Why… I ran as—” his words were cut off as his mother pulled him to her, right as he lost the fight with grief. His mother smelled of herbs, and it was almost a calming smell to him.

“ Shhhh, it’s not your fault.” Her hand gently rubbing his back as she kept whispering those same four words.

It was some time before Ethan’s mother let him pull away. The cool air felt nice on his face. He felt his dad get up and cough a little. Ethan hadn’t even known he’d come over.

“You did what you could Son. Some things are out of our hands. I know you aren’t feeling up to it now, but I need to know everything that happened.” Daton’s tone made it clear he was trying to be sympathetic but there was something else there as well.

Pulling the rest of himself up to a kneeling position, he recounted what had transpired from the moment he had left the house to when he left the guardian. Daton asked questions now and then but was mostly just listening.

“Come , I’ll walk you guys back.” Daton said after Ethan finished.

They walked back in silence. It wasn’t until their house was close that Daton broke the silent march.

“Teela, go inside. I want to talk to him alone for a minute.”

Teela gave Ethan one sympathetic look back before heading in.

Daton walked over to a tube coming out of the well and touched a crystalline stone on the back. After a moment , water started coming out. Washing the blood from his hands, he made sure nothing else was on him. Ethan had followed and was waiting for him to finish.

All of a sudden, ice-cold water was washing over his head, neck, and clothes. The foul black blood that Ethan had gotten use to and forgotten was even there. It came off almost turning every drop of water that came off him the same dark inky color.

Daton had unceremoniously grabbed him and was scrubbing him off, none too gently. Had the water always been this cold? Ethan thought as his dad scrubbed him off.

After what seemed like worst shower ever, and his dad had gotten some of his frustration out, he pushed him toward the fence. Not in the least bit gentle, he helped Ethan out of his clothes to hang them over the fence.

“Do you know how lucky you are?” Daton’s voice was soft but firm.

“Da—”

“NO… I’m talking, you’re listening. ” taking a deep breath, Daton continued. “Why did you leave the HOUSE this morning and not wait for permission? Have you not heard me and your mom talking this past week?”

What’s he talking about? Ethan was truly confused by this. Every time he heard them arguing it was about boundaries, older kids, and stuff to do around the house.

Daton having both arms on the fence dropped his head. “ Oh you… You’re almost as good as me at reading the forest and tracking. Yet you can’t even tell what’s happening in your own home. I don’t know if I should laugh or cry. We have been talking about you going out on your own to forage for your mother so I could do the Irion work at home, help with your sister and grandfather. Yesterday I had finally convinced your mother that you could go out and I was going to let you go today after checking you over.”

Ethan felt cold, like he had truly messed everything up. He should have waited. His love for the forest and everything in it had blinded his better judgement this time.

There was a long silence while he slowly finished getting dry clothes on.

“I’m sorry dad, I shouldn’t have gone out.”

“You’re right, you shouldn’t have.” Daton’s voice made Ethan flinch a little.

“ There’s no real excuse for what I’ve done, but I am sorry about it all the same.”

Taking another long moment, Daton threw him a line and grabbed his shoulder, softly squeezing it.

Drawing him a little closer, he said, “I want to look at it this way, for now… If it hadn’t been for you , that thing might have found the village ,and I’m sure things would have come out a lot worse. Even though you snuck out, you handled a situation most adults would have had a hard time coming out of. You’re still stuck at home for two weeks, but after, you can go out foraging.”

Daton’s words pushed at that cold feeling , but it hadn’t quite gone away. A broad smile spread across Ethan’s face , and he hugged his dad.

“Thank you, dad, and again I’m sorry. I’ll do better from now on.”

“See that you do. ” Daton held him for a moment longer and then pushed back him back.

“Dad, are you going to try and follow the Leviathans tracks?”

“Yes, and I have to report this to the capital.”

Why wouldn’t that cold feeling go away? Looking over at h is dripping pouches, he realized something. “I left my knife out there in that… thing.”

“ I’ll get it for you don’t worry. I’m planning on skinning it and getting the material.”

A mischievous glint sparked in Ethan’s eyes ,and he smiled. “Thanks Dad. I wouldn’t want to go back out Leviathan hunting without it.”

*Slap*

The last thing Ethan felt before the ground came up to meet him, was his dads hand smacking the back of his head and then… darkness.