Evin and Allovilde stepped out of the village, their packs laden with supplies for their foraging expedition. The sun's warm rays filtered through the lush canopy, casting dappled shadows on the well-worn path. They walked in comfortable silence, the familiarity of their surroundings and each other's presence a soothing balm.

As they reached their favorite foraging spot, a small clearing dotted with an array of plants and herbs, Evin felt a relaxing aura wash over him. He had always found solace in the quiet, methodical work of collecting and cataloging the various flora.

They set to work, carefully selecting the most vibrant specimens and placing them in their packs. For each plant Evin picked, he felt that the symbol from his mark pulsed, despite not being certain if it was his mind playing games with him.

Allovilde, too, seemed engrossed in her task, her brow furrowed in concentration as she examined each leaf and stem. They worked in tandem, their movements fluid and efficient, born of countless hours spent together in the forest.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Evin paused to check his progress. He felt for changes in the traces of his mark, near the symbols representing the skills he was currently focused on developing. To his surprise, he could see a faint change in the symbol representing herbalism, the small increase a testament to his dedication. He glanced over at Allovilde, who had also paused, a small smile playing on her lips.

«Looks like we're both improving,» she said, holding up her wrist to show a similar symbol.

Evin nodded, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. «Every little bit counts,» he said, turning back to his work.

He scanned the clearing, his eyes falling on a particularly vibrant plant, its leaves a deep, rich green. He reached for it, his fingers brushing against the soft petals. As he plucked it from the ground, he could feel a change in his herbalism symbol. “Wait, could you help me here, something just changed, and I’m not sure what it is. It feels like..” he said, as he expanded his mark. “Your mark has a small dot next to it! Could that be the boons Njord was talking about? It’s annoying that we have to guess at these things!”.

«I’m not sure what the boon does, but I can feel a weird sensation now. It feels like we wont find more rare herbs in this clearing, perhaps the boon is related to noticing nearby rare herbs?»

Evin's eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face. He looked up at Allovilde, holding up the plant triumphantly.

Allovilde's eyes sparkled with excitement, her own grin mirroring his. «That's fantastic, Evin! Every little advantage helps, right?»

Evin nodded, tucking the plant carefully into his pack.

They continued their foraging, the rhythmic motions and soft rustling of leaves creating a soothing atmosphere. Evin found himself lost in thought, scanning the area for more herbs to pick.

A soft exclamation from Allovilde drew his attention. She held up a handful of herbs, a broad smile on her face. «I did it! I received a boon too! But unlike yours, my.. dot.. looks to be more star-shaped. I wonder what it means! Any suggestions»

Evin grinned, giving her a high-five. «Well done! And.. Your guess is as good as mine.. Were you doing anything special upon receiving it?».

They continued their conversation, making guesses on what this could mean, but soon landed on paying extra attention for changes compared to earlier.

They finally decided to take a break, finding a comfortable spot beneath a towering oak tree. The rough bark pressed against Evin's back as he leaned against the trunk, the cool shade a welcome respite from the sun's heat.

Allovilde sat cross-legged beside him, her hair glinting in the dappled light. They talked about everything and nothing, their conversation flowing easily as it always had. Evin found himself laughing at Allovilde's jokes, the weight of his earlier worries momentarily lifted.

As the sun began its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, they decided to try their hand at tracking and hunting. Evin had always been fascinated by the art of reading the forest floor, of deciphering the stories left behind by its inhabitants.

He knelt down, his eyes scanning the soft earth for signs of passage. To his surprise, he felt a strange sensation, as if the forest itself was guiding his senses. He could see the faint impressions of tiny paws, could almost feel the direction in which they led.

«Allovilde,» he said, his voice hushed with awe, «I think I can track them. The creatures that passed through here. It's like...like I can sense where they went.»

Allovilde's eyes widened. «Really? Is it different from how you used to track them any other day? Your Pathway must be guiding you.»

Evin nodded, his heart racing. He pointed to a barely visible trail leading deeper into the forest. «A hare, I think. It went that way, not too long ago.»

Allovilde grinned, readying her bow. «Then let's follow it. Our first hunt as Pathwalkers.»

Evin stood, his own excitement mirroring hers. Together, they set off into the deepening shadows of the forest.

Evin moved silently through the forest, his eyes fixed on the ground, tracing the delicate imprints left by the hare. The tracks were fresh, the edges crisp and clear in the soft earth. He felt a surge of excitement as he realized how much easier it was becoming to follow the trail, his senses attuned to the subtle signs.

He paused for a moment, feeling for his any changes in his tracking symbol, but no changes had occured yet. «I guess I need to work more with the skill to make any changes,» he murmured to himself, «I’d love to get another boon before the night falls.»

As they continued, Evin noticed other tracks crossing their path—a fox, a deer, even the tiny paw prints of a mouse. Each time, he took a moment to study them, feeling the knowledge settle into his mind like pieces of a puzzle falling into place. But he didn't linger too long, always returning his focus to the hare.

Allovilde moved beside him, her bow at the ready, an arrow nocked but not yet drawn. There was a tension in her stance, a mix of anticipation and nerves. Evin could relate—this was new territory for both of them.

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«I've never actually shot at a living creature before,» Allovilde whispered, her voice tight. «Only practice targets. I didn't think I'd be this nervous.»

Evin gave her a reassuring smile. «It's okay to be nervous, even if it’s just a hare.»

They both chuckled lightly. «I know,» Allovilde sighed. «I just don't want to mess it up, you know? I don't want the animal to suffer because of my inexperience.»

«You won't mess it up,» Evin said confidently. «You're an amazing archer, Allovilde. When the time comes, you'll make a clean shot. I know you will.»

Allovilde returned his smile, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. «Thanks, Evin. That means a lot.»

They fell silent again, creeping forward, the forest seeming to hold its breath around them. The hare's trail was growing fresher with each step, and Evin knew they were getting close. His heart pounded in his chest, a mix of excitement and adrenaline.

Suddenly, he caught a flash of movement ahead, a glimpse of brown fur and long ears. The hare was there, just a few yards away, nibbling on a patch of clover. Evin froze, hardly daring to breathe. Beside him, Allovilde slowly, silently, drew back her bowstring.

The arrow flew true, striking the hare with a dull thud. Evin and Allovilde turned to each other, their faces alight with a mix of shock and elation. They had done it! Their first real hunt as Pathwalkers, and it had been a success.

But their triumph was short-lived. As they turned back to claim their prize, Evin's heart nearly stopped. There, in the bushes just behind the fallen hare, a pair of eyes glinted back at them. They were not alone.

Evin's mind raced, trying to understand how he had missed the signs. He had been so focused on the hare's tracks, so sure of his growing skills, that he hadn't even considered the possibility of another predator.

Beside him, Allovilde was already reaching for another arrow, her movements swift but shaky. But even as she nocked it to her bowstring, the creature burst from the shadows, a blur of fur and fury.

Instinct took over. Evin's hand flew to the dagger at his belt, the one his father had given him, the one that had once belonged to his uncle. He drew it in a flash, leaping forward to meet the creature's charge.

They collided in a tangle of limbs and claws and glinting steel. Evin felt the impact, felt himself falling, Allovilde's scream ringing in his ears. They hit the ground hard, the creature's weight pinning them down.

For a moment, all Evin could see was fur and sky, all he could hear was his own heartbeat and Allovilde's terrified gasps. The forest floor was hard and cold beneath him, littered with twigs and leaves that dug into his back.

Seconds felt like an eternity. Evin waited for the pain, for the tearing of claws and teeth. But it never came. The weight on top of them was heavy, but still. Too still.

Hardly daring to breathe, Evin slowly turned his head. The creature lay across them, its eyes staring sightlessly at the canopy above. Dark blood matted its fur, flowing from a deep gash in its throat. Evin's dagger, still clutched in his white-knuckled grip, was slick with it.

«Allovilde,» he croaked, his voice sounding strange and far away. «Allovilde, are you alright?»

Evin's heart raced as he called out to Allovilde, his voice trembling with fear. But she didn't respond. Panic gripped him as he struggled to free himself from the dead creature's weight. With a burst of strength, he managed to pull himself loose, immediately turning to Allovilde's still form.

He gently pulled her out, his hands shaking. As he let go of her arms, he noticed with a jolt of horror that his hands were stained with blood. His stomach turned as he quickly looked her over, his mind reeling. To his immense relief, he saw that she was still breathing, but his relief was short-lived as he discovered a wound on the back of her head, likely from hitting the ground during the attack.

Evin's mind raced as he dug into his pack, pulling out the herbs they had found earlier. With trembling fingers, he did his best to apply them to Allovilde's wound, praying that they would help. He worked diligently, his focus entirely on his friend's well-being.

After what felt like an eternity, Allovilde stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, but they were unfocused, and she looked shaken. Evin helped her sit up, supporting her weight as she leaned against him.

«What... what happened?» she asked, her voice weak.

Evin swallowed hard, the memory of the attack still vivid in his mind. «It was a hog,» he explained, his voice shaking slightly. «It must have been tracking the same hare. I... I think my tracking skill wasn't high enough to notice its tracks, the thought didnt strike me at all – that I would not be able to track all types of creatures yet.»

Allovilde nodded slowly, wincing as the movement aggravated her head. They sat in silence for a moment, both trying to process the terrifying ordeal they had just survived.

Suddenly, Evin felt a strange sensation, like his mark was calling to him. He glanced at Allovilde, noticing a similar look of confusion on her face. «Do you feel that too?» he asked.

She nodded, her hand moving to her own mark. They both quickly checked their marks.

«They.. are more vibrant?», the marks were glowing a faint hue for a short moment, before turning the old dull color again. «What happened?», Evin looked at Allovilde. «I’ve got no idea, we should ask Njord about this. Whatever happened, I feel stronger from it, my head doesnt feel like it want to split in two halfs anymore.»

Evin glanced at the fallen creatures. «We can't just leave them here,» he said thoughtfully.

Allovilde nodded. «Let's make a stretcher to carry them.»

They gathered nearby branches and twigs, using their survival skills to craft a sturdy stretcher. Working together, they carefully loaded the hog and hare onto it, each taking an end to distribute the weight.

As they made their way through the darkening forest, Evin reflected on the day's events. «I should have been more careful with my tracking,» he said, his voice heavy with regret.

Allovilde squeezed his arm reassuringly. «It's not your fault. We're both learning.»

They discussed what they could have done differently, their conversation punctuated by the crunch of leaves beneath their feet. At one point, they had to navigate a fallen tree, Evin holding the stretcher steady while Allovilde climbed over, then switching roles.

When they reached a stream, Evin waded through confidently, the cool water a shock against their skin. They worked in tandem, each supporting the other, until they finally emerged from the forest, exhausted and dirty. Their clothes were torn, and sweat mixed with dirt streaked their faces. They still carried the makeshift wooden stretcher between them.

As they approached their homes, Allovilde's father noticed them from the garden, his eyes widening at his daughter's injured state and their bedraggled appearance. He was cleaning up from his work, but immediately dropped everything and rushed over.

“Allovilde! Evin! What happened to you?” he exclaimed, concern etched on his weathered face. He quickly took in their torn clothes, the stretcher, and the bloodstains.

Allovilde winced, feeling the pain in her head. «We ran into some trouble in the forest» she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Her mother, hearing the commotion, hurried outside. She gasped when she saw Allovilde's injury and the state they were in. “Oh my goodness, Allovilde! Are you alright?” she asked, her voice trembling with worry as she rushed to her daughter's side.

“We’re okay, Mother,” Allovilde reassured her, though she still looked pale. “Just a bit shaken.”

Evin’s parents, alerted by the noises from the neighbor's garden, rushed out to learn what had occurred. They quickly assessed the situation, their expressions mirroring the concern of Allovilde’s parents.

“Evin, what happened?” his father demanded.

Evin, still catching his breath, began explaining. “We had a successful hunt, but we were attacked by a hog. It caught us by surprise,” he said, glancing at the stretcher. “We managed to fend it off, but not without some close calls.”

“You were lucky,” Thorne said gravely, placing a firm hand on Evin’s shoulder. “Evin, this was reckless! You need to be more careful while adventuring, did you not understand that from our story earlier today?”

Elara nodded, her eyes filled with concern as she looked at both Evin and Allovilde. “Please, both of you, be careful out there. We don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Evin assured them they would, his mind already turning to the mysteries of the mark glowing and what it might mean for their future as Pathwalkers. Despite the day's hardships, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment and curiosity about the skills they were developing.

“Let’s get you both cleaned up,” Allovilde’s mother said, guiding her daughter towards their home. “You need rest and proper care.”

Evin’s parents helped him with the stretcher, their expressions softening as they looked at the young hunters. “For what it’s worth, it is actually fairly impressive what you’ve managed to do today,” Thorne said quietly. “But remember, you wont always be as lucky as you were today.”

With those words, Evin felt a renewed sense of determination. He knew the path ahead was filled with challenges, but he was ready to face them, alongside Allovilde.