those people running are my friends... how could I have known a normal day would turn into a disaster...maybe if I was stronger I could've protected them...I promise ill get revenge

But if I come out now

...ill surely die

Chapter 1:

The world was dark and harsh and full of mysteries and treasure. That's what my grandfather and the old people of the village told me. The name I was given at birth was Aki Oron; sometimes I wonder if what they say about the world being a dark and mysterious place is true or not since nothing happens here.

We're just a small hunting outpost on the safe side of the canyon from the great forest. Right now, I'm in the forest on the left side of the village; the air is fresh and free here, the leaves are vibrant green and its somewhat silent.

Last week I was tasked with hunting and haven't seen anything since but today I guess i'm the lucky guy because in front of me is a Ohi, a large, furry 6 foot beast with two Horns coming out of its head, they come close to the end of spring when their fur turns reddish brown. The merchants should be coming soon and the fresh meat should go for a good price, I'm sure my family will be happy when they find out.

Ohi's are one of the few beasts that are seen around here, they're relatively docile but are extremely fast and alert. I saw this one by chance as I went to get drink of water, I took my bow and watched it as I hid at the base of a large tree.

My heart started racing as I pulled the bow string back and when I exhaled. the arrow flew and reached the Ohi's heart;

hearing the creature scream always makes me a little sad but it had to be done. I rushed towards it to confirm and I made sure to give thanks for the taken life, I cleaned the meat to take it with me.

A few hours passed, and it was getting dark, so I decided to leave the meat in a small hiding spot nearby. Sometimes, when I came with my father, we would store the meat there. It was a underground large cave with a small entrance hidden inside the body of a tree trunk near the crevice of the canyon, rarely anyone came here and creatures never got close for some reason so It was safe to leave it there.

The village was half a days walk away, and when I arrived, it was completely dark. the people of the village were outside talking to themselves... we've been together basically all of our lives they felt like extended family.

the lights from the fires inside the houses could be seen from afar. This is all I've ever really seen, I've never left the village and neither has anyone from my family. Even if I did want to leave I have to help out, life here is hard and the ohi's leave for part of the year so we have nothing to sell to the merchants, we try to make as much money as we can while they're here to survive the winter.

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when I got home, my mother hugged me and took me to the dinner table. But anyways what I most looked forward to was seeing my little brother's face running towards me; his face still held traces of baby fat and he was still so chubby. They named him Ann, he still couldn't talk and it was so cute seeing him fall as he tried to walk.

"I have something to tell you," I heard my dad say.

"Aki tomorrow they're coming in early to pick up, well have to sell the ohi meat we were saving for winter"

"why are they coming so early" I asked

"I don't know but they usually wouldn't do something like this unless it was in demand well most likely get a better price for it, go to bed early to help me make preparations in the morning"

My dad was already entering his old age but he looked extremely young...in his youth he had jet black hair but age was taking its toll and there were strands of white in his hair.

On the other hand my mother kept her youthful appearance you would be amazed if you knew her age, She had big eyes and auburn hair like my little brother.

When I woke up in the morning, I could hear the voices of the villagers talking and preparing their products.

as I was coming out the door I heard a voice say

"Its been a while"

"You really thought I would say something like that, you left me hangin again" the girl continued with a angry face

"Calm down Irene " I laughed

"You're gonna have to make up for leaving me hangin again"

"It was for a good cause... guess what I got a ohi yesterday... and when I got home it was already too late" I told her

"Hey, as payment let's go to the forest and try to find something else, we still have a couple hours before the merchants get here, you can invite me to dinner if we get somehting"

"Will that be enough" I chuckled

Irene was a friend, one of those troublemaker kids who just wanted to have fun all the time but she was a good friend. This was a good opportunity I could make up with Irene and surprise my parents with the money from the ohi I hunted.

I probably shouldn't have went, but it would be alright. Later, I'd tell them I couldn't help because I was looking for the meat.

"You know one day ill save up a lot of money and get out of this place" I told Irene as we walked through the forest

"You always talk like that Aki" she said as she looked down

"I want to see what's out there you know.. but I can't leave my family...they would struggle even more without me, what about you .. what do you want to do in the future"

"Why are you asking that now all of the sudden, I don't know maybe ill raise a family or something" she said as she blushed

"Even then the forest here is so beautiful i'm not sure if I want to leave, we have everything we need here" she continued

The forest was quiet

"Why do feel so uneasy" I thought

" Hey lets go check out the cliff we went to when we were kids" said irene as she grabbed my hand

Thats when I saw it... it was the beginning of a nightmare

"The village.. the village is burning" said irene with a horrified face

"We need to go now" I told her

"BOOM"

What was that? My ears hurt, and my body started shaking; it felt strange, and those sounds never happened here. My first instinct was to run towards the village. I had a bad feeling.

"HEY, LET'S QUICKLY SEE WHAT HAPPENED," I shouted as I ran

That feeling grew stronger, like swimming against the current. I remembered my grandfather telling me that if I ever felt like that, I should flee; it was my survival instinct telling me to get out of there as soon as possible. there were creatures that created that atmosphere, and they were dangerous.

"it feels like the temperature is rising and the ground is shaking this could be really bad" yelled Irene as we ran down the mountain

"Were still about 15 minutes away, well be there soon" I told her