An acrid stench invades my world, piercing the comforting veil of numbness, forcefully ripping me from my dreams and back into cruel reality. I groan in displeasure, trying to resist its intrusion, but the odor is relentless in its assault, refusing to grant me a reprieve. In the end, the battle is futile. The combined forces of ammonia and sulfur laying siege to the fortress of my sinuses prove themselves far too formidable for me to fend off with simple defenses of nostril flaring and throat clearing.
My eyes snap open as my conscious mind joins the fray, forcing them to assess the situation and search for the source of this noxious attack, while my body fights against the urge to throw up from the foul mixture permeating the air. Once fully awake, I realize that the origin of this cocktail of death is none other than Lucienne, or rather a small glass bottle she is now hastily screwing the lid back on, before returning it to a satchel strapped to her waist.
The nausea subsides a few seconds later as I fight my gag reflex by gulping down lungfuls of fresh air, each subsequent inhale easier to handle than the previous. This is by far the most despicable form of chemical warfare I have ever encountered, and that includes the time some of my friends tried to use powdered auvelwood resin to get high on my sixteenth birthday. That one turned out to be a horrendous, vomit-inducing mess, with poor Aria almost choking on her tongue because she couldn’t breathe fast enough in between retches. It was definitely not one of our finer moments.
Speaking of which, this is probably not an appropriate time to reminisce fondly about past events, is it? Memories of what has transpired are coming back to me, and with it a sobering dose of fear that cuts through the fog of sleep with all the grace of a dagger sliding between ribs. Or at least, it feels exactly like that. The conversation I had with my parents and brother plays back in my mind, the implications sinking in one after another.
I can’t believe he drugged me! What kind of person drugs his own daughter for trying to do the right thing? What happened to the good old convincing people to accept your point of view, or talking it through like adults do? Okay, maybe the trust in my actions is strained a bit after my latest escapade, but still!
Despite my righteous indignation, the rivers of tears flow freely down my face, accompanied by choked sobs as I struggle to hold myself together. I will never see him again. Never see the way his face lights up whenever he teaches me something new, feel the warmth of his embrace that chased all the monsters away during countless nights spent shivering in bed from nightmares. Never hear his stories about past hunts or adventures he went through when he was my age, all laced with exaggerated details he used to embellish his heroic exploits. I was even denied this last farewell, the opportunity to thank him for all the care and affection he has shown me over the years, to show him how much it meant to me.
A fluffy paw reaches over to wipe the sorrow off my cheeks, interrupting the rush of my emotions with a tender caress, reminding me I am not alone. Through the blur of tears, I see a pair of concerned red eyes staring back at me. I want to express my gratitude, to tell her how sorry I am for dragging her into this mess, but words elude me, trapped in my throat as they struggle to find a way out.
“I said we shouldn’t wake her up yet.” Mother’s reproachful voice penetrates the blanket of pain wrapped around my thoughts.
“You can’t carry her the entire night, Aelara. It’s better she has time to gather herself and walk on her own two feet.“
“I’m perfectly capable...” Her retort gets cut off mid-sentence as the third person joins in on the argument.
“We need you to be in the peak condition, Aelara. The night is coming.”
As the voices move away from us, I wipe away my tears with the back of my hand and let my eyes wander around, finally taking in the surroundings. The sun is hanging just above the horizon, setting the sky ablaze in its brilliant golden hues. Wherever we have stopped, we are still in Silverwood Clusters, surrounded by thick forest as far as the eye can see, though I can’t tell how far we have traveled from Elziheir.
Luci is crouching beside me, her long ears twitching as she glances between me and the heated argument nearby. Following her gaze, I find the three hunters engaged in a tense dispute. My mother is standing with her arms crossed, glaring at Mica and Elder Rani.
This is my first time seeing her wear her battle armor outside of tribe ceremonies and diplomatic events. Verdant basilisk scales lined with alternating patterns of crimson wyvern hide interlock into sturdy protection, providing decent maneuverability while keeping her lightly protected, allowing her to strike and evade with the greatest of ease. Well, lightly for her, as the entire thing weighs about as much as me and Nael put together.
“How long?” I whisper to Lucienne, not wanting to interrupt the elders.
“About eight hours. The sedative knocked you out good.“
“And where...”
“North. Probably a few hundred miles. That’s all I can tell. They’ve been running with barely any rest the whole time, carrying us all. This is the first longer break since we’ve left,” the lapine responds before I can even finish my question. “And they are not even exhausted yet. We’ve only stopped because the wolves couldn’t keep up anymore.” She nods behind me, prompting me to turn my head.
Sure enough, a trio of panting howlers lay nearby, sprawled out on the soft grass with tongues lolling out of their mouths, as they rest after the arduous journey. I have never seen any of Mica’s tamed beasts in this state before, which attests to how grueling the trek through the forest has been for them.
Next to the animals, a group of elves sits on the ground in a loose circle, chatting quietly amongst themselves. The tension is palpable in the air even where I’m seated, dozens of paces away from them. From a quick look, it seems our group comprises almost everyone who awakened in the past few years, with me being the youngest and Nael the oldest of the bunch.
“Are we the only ones? Who left, I mean.”
“I don’t know. If there was anyone else, they must have departed after us.“
It’s hard to imagine our glorious tribe reduced to barely a dozen young adults fleeing for their lives. A part of me still refuses to acknowledge what is happening, convinced this is just a nightmare from which I will soon awaken. Or a mean-spirited prank played by my parents, who are just taking us away for a training trip to the mountains, while the masked maniacs are only hallucinations of my sleep-deprived mind, manifestations of my overactive imagination brought to life by stress.
Maybe, if I pray enough, divine intervention will descend to correct all the wrongs plaguing me today. But to whom should I pray, when our God is the one inflicting punishment on us in the first place? Would asking for help from one of the other deities cause the situation to deteriorate further, perhaps angering our patron beyond the point of salvation? Or have we passed it already? Who should...
Something salty lands on my tongue, tearing me away from the sacrilegious thoughts before they can spiral out of control. Luci has taken advantage of my distracted state to stick a bit of jerky between my parted lips. My hunger rises to the surface at the slightest hint of food, demanding attention and fulfillment, taking the lead over the whirling storm of my emotions. The smell of meat alone is enough to prompt my mouth to drool uncontrollably. I can’t remember when was the last time I ate. I look up to the bunny girl with gratefulness, flashing her a wide smile, and she winks in return with a satisfied expression.
“Please eat. I can’t risk having hungry you near my ears again anytime soon. It’s too traumatic.”
Before I get a chance to defend myself from this slanderous accusation, another morsel is shoved into my mouth, effectively silencing any protests. With the insistent grumbling of my stomach and my mouth full, I settle for expressing my disapproval with a glare, which Lucienne completely ignores in favor of focusing on her self-appointed task of feeding me.
One after another, tasty bits enter my maw as my stomach sings in delight. By the time my hunger is sated, the argument between my mother, Elder Rani, and Mica is still going strong with no end in sight, though they have switched the topic to something related to the map in mother’s hand and the destination.
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“Oh no, he’s coming over,” Lucienne whispers, the alarm apparent in her voice as she slides close to me, curling her arms around my waist, and hiding her head under my armpit. “Pretend I’m asleep.”
“What the heck are you doing?” I whisper back, trying to push her away, but she only clutches me tighter, refusing to budge an inch. I look back up to see what prompted this sudden shift in mood, and I instantly spot the culprit. My brother has noticed I have woken up, and he has chosen to approach, to check on me.
The bunny girl is letting out fake snoring noises, pretending she is fast asleep, but that isn’t fooling anybody. With her fluffy fur standing on end, she looks like a startled animal, prepared to bolt at a moment’s notice. Wow, bro, I’m honestly impressed with the effect you have on ladies. It’s been what, eight hours since you two met? Is it your charming personality or did you...
“Lucienne, I have some more questions about the distillation method you described for the nightcrisp extract... Oh.”
And there it is. The murder tool. Case solved. I should have probably warned her about mentioning anything related to alchemy to Nael. He probably didn’t shut up the entire way here. In my defense, there were bigger things to worry about.
“Eh, I’ll ask later. It can wait,” he mutters under his breath. “Anyway, are you alright, Alice?“
Focus on the mana inside your body, feel it coursing through your veins, and follow its trail to the core of your existence. Concentrate. Visualize the might of flame dancing in your palms. Extend your arm and unleash it upon the target. Use the momentum of your movement to direct it at his grinning face, the dumb idiot, the utter moron, the bane of my existence.
Send it flying right between his stupid eyes!
The tiny ember flies forth from the palm of my outstretched hand, blazing a bright crimson as it races toward my annoying sibling’s face. It streaks through the air, ready to fulfill its holy mission and teach the insufferable scumbag a lesson he will never forget. For all eternity, he shall be cursed to ponder his transgressions against the innocent little sister whose benevolence he...
And he dodged it. The bastard has the gall to dodge my magnificent fireball.
“Hey!” Nael exclaims in protest, throwing his hands up into the air to show that he means no harm, which is ruined by the smug grin plastered all over his face. “Why the hostility, little sis? You have woken up after being knocked out for half a day, and what do you do? Attack the older brother who is worried sick about his precious sister.”
“Who gave father the sedative?”
A nervous chuckle escapes his mouth as he rubs the back of his head with his hand and looks away. “Well, umm, maybe he found it in the medicine cabinet? Or I could have forgotten to put it away.“
A second sun emerges into existence, scorching all life within its proximity, rending flesh from bone with its searing heat, dissolving the very ground it stands upon, and annihilating all resistance. It hungers. The heavens are bathed in flames, its divine light piercing the veil of night and illuminating the path ahead, calling for blood and destruction.
One day, I promise myself, looking at the tiny spark resting on the tip of my finger as it dances in tune with my thoughts. One day you will become a glorious star, and there will no longer be a place where the sun doesn’t shine on that bastard’s body.
With a wave of my hand, the newborn inferno dissipates without a trace, leaving only a wave of exhaustion in its wake. Every drop of my mana reserves has been consumed, leaving me drained of strength and barely able to sit straight. And for what? A little light show, easily shrugged off by someone with a low level. This is so embarrassing. Two meager attacks and I am already incapacitated. Damn it. Why am I so weak, so pathetic? I grit my teeth, swallowing the bitterness and disappointment.
The pain of Lucienne sinking her teeth into my armpit shatters the numbness of my misery, bringing me back to my senses. An outraged squeal bursts out of my lungs before I can suppress it, earning me a mocking laugh from my dear brother.
“What was that for?!”
“I think I need to remind you we are on a run. Not only are you squandering all your energy, when we could be ordered to resume our trek at any moment. But also going into another spiral of negativity right after. Yes, it is that obvious.” She glares at me, shaking her head slowly in disapproval.
Ehh, I know she’s right. But at the same time, it’s hard to take her seriously when she’s still holding onto me with her face pressed tightly into my side. Be it as it may, she has a point. However, wouldn’t a light shake work just as well? Is it a payback for the ear incident? We need to have a discussion about what is a fair punishment and what is overkill. I can’t have my dignity trampled upon like this!
Especially considering how amusing Nael finds the whole scene, judging from the way he’s biting his fist, desperately suppressing his laughter, lest he draw more ire upon himself. “Well, I, erm, gotta go,” he stammers out, barely maintaining his composure. “You guys will be okay here, yeah?”
After making sure he is out of earshot, Lucienne lifts her head to face me, and gives me a questioning stare. “What has soured your mood this time?”
“Okay, so... uh,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck and avoiding eye contact. “I just feel so useless...“. I don’t make it even halfway through my sentence before a smack lands on my cheek and leaves me gaping at my aggressor like a fish out of water.
“Alice, remind me, please. How long has it been since your awakening?”
“But...”
Another slap, on the other side this time, cutting me off before I have time to argue.
“How many hours?”
“Not sure, forty?” I flinch instinctively, raising my arms to block the incoming attack, but to my surprise, no hits come.
“Mhm. Have you heard of anyone who wouldn’t be useless in the face of God’s punishment not even two days into adulthood?” When no response comes, she continues, “Alice, please, we have so many real problems already. Don’t go making up new ones that are entirely in your head.”
I bury my face in my hands and let out a long, drawn-out sigh. She is right; I know that. But that doesn’t make things any easier. Being aware of the foolishness of my actions isn’t the same as ridding myself of them. No matter how many times I remind myself of the current situation, my mind keeps wandering back to the unpleasant feelings gnawing at the corners of my soul, waiting for an opportunity to resurface once more. It’s exhausting dealing with all of this. The weight of anxiety constantly looming over my shoulders, crushing me under its mass, is threatening to drag me down and drown me.
A gentle poke to my forehead interrupts my contemplation. “Yeah, this isn’t gonna work,”. Lucienne mutters under her breath, her eyes scanning my slumped figure with increasing worry.
“Alright, we are gonna change plans, and you are not gonna like it. Though neither will I, to be honest.”
“Uh, what?”
She points at the group of elves huddled to the side, their animated voices carrying through the air. “You are gonna introduce me to all of your friends and tell me funny anecdotes about each of them and the shenanigans you got up to with them.”
“You are right. I hate this already.”
----------------------------------------
“And finally, meet Aria and Eumelia, the black sheep of our great tribe. Oww!” A swift kick to my ankle ends my introductions before I can begin my snide commentary. Between Aria and Lucienne, I wonder who would take the top spot in using violence as a communication tool. Maybe a tie?
Luci shoots me a questioning look, tilting her head to the side and waiting patiently for me to continue. A sigh of resignation escapes me, but I start speaking, keeping the content as factual and as free of snarky remarks as possible, for the sake of survival of my poor leg. “What I meant to say is that as twins, they took part in the ceremony together. And when choosing a class, they both picked Muse independently of each other. In a moment our tribe went from never having had a bard to gaining two at once. “
“Aren’t bards a very useful support class, though? Two at once sounds like a great blessing to me,” Lucienne comments, glancing at the twins in question with curiosity.
“Luci... We are hunters. We live in a forest. The last thing you need when tracking prey is loud music ruining your stealth,” Nael explains, and immediately gets a jab in the ribs from Aria as retribution. He mumbles a quiet apology while rubbing the spot with a pained expression.
The conversation flows from one topic to another, shifting between past shenanigans and shared memories, skirting around the edge of the actual subject, all to avoid discussing the elephant in the room. But that works just fine for me, as it provides the distraction I desperately need. My heart fills with warmth as I listen to the lively banter, thankful for the efforts they are making to keep my spirits high, and hoping it helps them cope with their own emotions as well.
But our small bubble of joy doesn’t last long. With every minute that passes, the tension grows, weighing heavily on all of us. Even the most trivial of subjects become difficult to maintain, conversations gradually dying out, replaced by the nervous glances stolen at the still-bickering elders.
As soon as the last rays of sunlight disappear behind the horizon and the darkness of the night descends upon us, the atmosphere becomes unbearable. Tense silence hangs in the air as if the world itself has taken a deep breath and is now holding it in. Nobody moves, nobody dares to speak a word, almost as if afraid the slightest of sounds may break whatever fragile enchantment has placed this unnatural peace upon us.
The world breathes out, and the forest comes alive with a cacophony, unlike anything I have ever experienced in my life. A primal melody echoes throughout the trees, sending shivers down my spine, awakening the instincts that scream at me to run, to hide, to flee the danger that lurks amidst the shadows.
“The time has come!“ My mother’s voice resounds through the surroundings, breaking the spell of dread cast upon the minds of those gathered here. “To take part in the most sacred tradition of our tribe — the hunt!”
She raises her swords high into the sky and I watch, transfixed, as they glimmer in the moonlight, the runes engraved upon the blades flaring up with blinding brightness.
“But this is not the night of heroic deeds, of glorious chase and grand battles, no!“
The full moon behind her back seems larger than ever before, bathing the night in its cold silver glow, and for a split second, I swear the outline of a monstrous wolf flickers across its surface, leering at me with eyes that contain nothing but infinite depths of hunger.
“Tonight, we are the prey! Tonight, we run!”