The kid opened his eyes for the fifth time in that week since he had been abandoned on the edge if the forest. Thick trees and plentiful of greenery surrounded him as he awoke, slowly rising his eyes darted around. The kid had learned what carelessness would give him.
The second day he had been in his little clearing he had been ambushed by a wild jaguar, the only reason he survived was the passing tiger that had stalked the jaguar and killed it in front of him. Needless to say the kid had shit his loincloth and hid for a solid hour before he poked his head out of the fallen tree he called his home. For the next days he was way more cautious and always scanned his immediate surroundings. His food consisted of a few wild berries and a root plant that he stumbled upon, foul and most likely a but poisonous he ate them nonetheless.
After confirming no threats were currently out to eat him he went to the edge of the clearing to gather his breakfast. The berries were quick to grow, abnormally so, as two days after his first harvest they had already re-grown. The berries were blue and looked like big strawberries, the taste was nothing great but satisfying and very filling. After eating a few he had to sit down and wait for it to be digested before continuing his foraging.
The early hours of the evening flew by as he got the idea that some of these vines really were flexible and that by combining them he made a basket to hold his earnings. An hour to figure out the method to use and two hours gathering the materials and actually creating the damn thing later and he had the finished product. The basket was nothing special but it could hold more than his hands. Gathering speed was significantly better with his new trusted basket, the berries were already showing their buds. Surprised and grateful for the mysterious berries he gave them a small thanks before he skipped off to his fallen tree to rest for abit before planning the rest of the day.
Meanwhile in the trees a small speck of light was floating quickly towards the clearing the boy was cheerfully eating another helping of berries. The light pulsed and picked up its speed, the leaves rustling behind it and from the bushes a giant white tiger leaped into the air. The floating light swerved off to the right and barely dodging the gaping maw of the tiger. The light continued on its path to the clearing, somehow sensing a small sliver of hope in that area, and judging it to be the best choice.
The chase went on as the light each time just got away from the leaping maw of the tiger. The light dimmed with every minute passed and its speed was slowly but surely dropping, the tiger was just about to swallow it as the light broke into the small clearing. The light of the sun touched a fallen tree and on it sat a small creature no larger than a tiger pup, yet the light felt oddly connected to the young man. Speeding towards him the ball of light powered on and gained a little distance from the white tiger.
The boy startled from his peaceful meal jumped up from the fallen tree and went for a large stone by the bed of the tree. The light that startled him to action paled in front of the entrance of the large tiger as it roared, weary from the long chase. The boy raised the stone above his head and ushered a small hiss to the approaching 'things'. The light was unfazed by the action and headed straight for the boys chest, as it passed into his chest the boy felt the sluggishness that usually accompanied the berries leave him. In his mind he felt a sudden influx of memories and with them an urgent danger that was the tiger. The light offered him a chance at survival, and he took it
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Wiping the fright and and confusion from his mind he directed his thoughts to the memory that seemed the most important. The scenery changed and suddenly he was at the bottom of a waterfall, the trees all around him were wrong. Not thick and brown with moss growing on them but thin, lean and with barely any colour in them.
He heard a sound behind him and saw a gathering mass of glowing balls of light, the balls had different sizes and colours and they were moving toward him. When they came close enough they stopped and his vision shifted slightly, no longer did he see balls of light but people, warriors, workers, healers and leaders. The lights were all different, some more elaborate than others, some were a single weapon, other a full set of armor. The lights all lowered their heads to him as best as they could and he felt their devotion to him.
Along with the memory came a new sensation, euphoric and relieving it told him the next step on his road. Purpose filled him to the brim with the determination to do what the memories said. As he resolved himself the small white light felt relieved as it had found the best possible answer to the tiger, a master.
The boy started to chant and he felt his energy drain as a connection appeared between him and the small light, the light too felt the connection and complied to the chants purpose. As the bond was formed the light morphed into a glowing white dagger with a simple design but a sharp edge. The boy grabbed the dagger and crouched into a low stance, the pose coming from their bond. Charging, the tiger opened its mouth and roared a challenge to the newcomer in its hunt, sensing the light still here but could not see it.
The tiger lunged at the young boy ready to tear his head from his body and claim its prize from this thieving little paws. Dodging the blow the young boy stepped in and swiped his new dagger at the second front leg scoring a shallow cut and drawing blood. Backing off the boy readied himself for another attack and was met with the open mouth and glistening teeth. Going under the tiger was too risky and jumping back was too late so the boy went the only way he could, forward. The tiger was startled but could not react in time as the dagger slipped into the bottom of its mouth and into the brain. The shock of the blow was never even transmitted as it died too fast.
Even with his first successful battle done he did not go unscathed as blood dripped from his arm, a tooth sticking out from it. The adrenaline from the battle passing the pain and exhaustion came rushing into him and he blacked out