To the untrained eye it would appear as though a shooting star soared across the skies of Rosilir. Instead, it was a pod that escaped from the moon above. The pod descended upon the planet until it was crashed, leaving a scar in the earth.

When the goo was gone and the door to the pod finally opened, Pluto climbed out. He found himself in a glade right on the treeline of the woods. It was late into the night on the planet and there was a slight chill in the air. Pluto looked up at the glow of the moon that he had just came from. His heart broke as he was finally able to process what had taken place.

He took a deep breath and scanned his surroundings. Voices of various animals echoed from the woods that surrounded him. The scent of his fear grew stronger as he heard the snap of a branch. He twisted his head in the direction of the sound, frozen with fear. Leaves started to rustle and Pluto tried to pour all of his will into his feet, but they just wouldn’t budge.

A large creature leaped from the brush. It stood before him stooped on its knuckles, snarling, and white foam covering the corners of its mouth. The creatures yellow eyes were fixed on Pluto. It beat its chest, let out a primitive roar, and dashed at him. Internally, Pluto screamed at his feet to move and at the last second they obeyed. He dashed out of the way and tripped over his feet. The creature skidded to a halt, changed direction, and went after the boy again.

Pluto struggled for a moment then fled behind the damaged pod. The creature followed him around and around until a flash of cleverness came over Pluto and he hopped inside the pod. The scheme however did not yield the results that he wanted as the creature quickly climbed atop the pod and gazed down the boy with eyes shut sending his last prayer to the Maker.

The creature raised its arms for the final strike, when it grunted, and fell backwards to the ground. Pluto waited for a moment and then peeked his head out and saw the creature lying dead with an arrow sticking out of the top of its head.

“That was almost a brilliant idea.” A voice called out.

The voice sounded feminine, but Pluto couldn’t make out any defining features for the stranger was dressed in a cloak with their hood up.

“Although everyone knows Dahrakas have an incredible sense of smell. That is unless you have these.” And the figure pulled into view a necklace of red berries.

“Figgiberries.; dahrakas can’t pick up their scent for some reason. You should be carrying some with you if you you’re out in these parts. Although...” Her voice trailed as her eyes set on the crashed pod. “It doesn’t seem like you’re from around here. What’s your name?”

Pluto held his tongue.

“I won’t bite.” She joked.

The figure came closer to where Pluto could make out her red and black cloak. She pulled back her hood. The girl had a fair, soft face with shoulder length blue hair. She had small pointed ears and freckles that dotted her small nose. There was one gold ring that hung from her left ear She was wearing a dark shirt, pants, and boots. She carried a bow in her hand and a quiver full of arrows on her back. A plethora accessories adorned her neck. She had one made of feathers, one of some animal’s teeth, and the figgiberries. There was dirt on the knees of pants and on her gloves; she looked like she had been sleeping outside for, at least, a couple of days.

“My name is Xera.” She said with a pause.

“I’m Pluto.” He said sheepishly, climbing out of the pod.

As he climbed out, his pants got caught on the edge and ripped his pocket open. The make-shift bag fell out, spilling the stones on the ground. Except that the didn’t touch the ground, yet instead hovered ever so slightly. Pluto rushed to collect them.

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“By the stars!” Xera exclaimed.

“I’ve heard about stones such as these, but believed they were myth. How did you come across them?”

Pluto hesitated. His thoughts ran wild as he tried to understand how this forager could possibly have knowledge about the stones. She had saved his life, so he felt he owed it to her the truth in return.

He told her everything from the choosing ceremony to the attack on the temple, then concluding with his narrow escape. She listened, paused for a moment, then offered her hand in friendship.

“There is a city called Nevus beyond these woods. There is a library that was built ages ago, when the city first began to breathe its first breaths. I think you should bring the stones to the librarian there. If anyone will know what to do with them, he would.” Xera said.

“Umm...” Pluto stalled.

“I’ll guide you; the way is familiar. Do you know how to fight?”

“Not really. My family were farmers; there was never really a reason for fighting on Nix Berdra.”

Xera sighed. She reached into her cloak and pulled out a small, metal rod. She pressed a button on the rod and it extended into a sharp-edge spear. She gave it to Pluto and gave him a crash course on how to defend himself should the need arise. She put her hood back up and led him into the woods.

Xera showed Pluto hidden paths to avoid making noises, awakening any beasts. He was clumsy at first (there were a plethora of lizards that give him funny looks), but he quickly got the hang of it.

As they neared the end of the woods, Erxa suddenly stopped; a frozen terror on her face. A sound like a chainsaw switching on and off the echoed through the trees. Pluto tiptoed to her and she pointed past a few trees.

Pluto saw what looked at first like a boulder covered in brown, shaggy fur. It had four short legs, thick as stumps. It had a flat nose and four ivory tusks. The tusks protruded from each side of the creature’s nose and from it’s bottom lip. It’s eyes were closed, as it lay upon the ground, and it’s mouth would switch between open and closed; the chainsaw-sound coming from within.

“A Wrathogg.” Xera whispered. “They’re the most dangerous creatures on this side of the Bladedge Mountains; if it wasn’t sleeping we’d already be dead.”

Xera produced a rope from underneath her cloak, threw it up onto a nearby branch, and used it to climb into a tree. When she was perched on a thick branch, she lowered the rope for Pluto. He grabbed hold and tried to mimic Xera’s movements, although he was less graceful.

As he went to reach for Xera’s hand, to be pulled up, he slipped and fell. The impact was enough to disturb the beast. The Wrathogg smacked it lips as it came to and fixed his blinking eyes on Pluto. Frantically he climbed the rope again as Xera nocked an arrow and shot the creature. It roared in pain, even though it looked to them like the arrow had little effect.

When Pluto was close enough, Xera grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him up.

“Luckily Wrathoggs can’t climb trees.” She sighed.

Then, as if on cue, the Wrathogg rammed its tusks into the tree. The tree tilted slightly due to the creature’s strength. Xera hastily pulled up the rope, pulled a metal hook from her cloak, and combined the two together. She swung the hooked rope and let it fly. It soared through the air until it wrapped around the branch of an adjacent tree. She pulled Pluto close to her and then she launched off the branch and swung to another tree. They did this until they landed at the very edge of the woods.

The rampaging Wrathogg pursued them, taking out trees in its wake. They weren’t much further ahead, but they took the lead as a miracle and didn’t waste any time coming down from the tree and fleeing the woods.

On the other side of the woods was an immense plain. Xera looked around for one breathe, taking in the surroundings, and when she seemed to know the right direction she sprinted that way with Pluto in tow. They felt their lungs catch fire and felt as if another step would make them burst. Pluto stopped to take a breath, he just couldn’t handle it.

As the Wrathogg, who was surprisingly fast, ran towards him. He tried to take another step, but his legs screamed with refusal. He fell over and sent a plea to the Maker. Then he felt the earth shake. The air filled with the sound of thunder as an army of horses raced in opposition of the beast. The riders loosed a volley of arrows and soon overtook the creature to its last breath.

Then the riders circled Pluto (Xera was nowhere to be found). The riders, atop various colors of steeds, were dressed with silver breastplates. Each of them carried a bow and quiver across their backs, except one carrying a banner. On the banner was the image of a long-winged bird, with three long tail-feathers, appearing as though it were flying upwards. There was one with an elongated feather sticking out from the top of her helmet.

“It’s dangerous business walking the fields alone.” She said. “You’re either very brave or very foolish; which is it?”

“How about very lost?” He replied. “I was traveling someone, but I don’t know what happened to her. We were heading to the city of Nevus.”

“You’re in luck, once again. We are returning to Nevus from our patrols. You’re welcome to come along.”

She extended her hand to him and for a moment he hesitated.

“It’s best not to keep the Lady of the Riders waiting.” One of the Riders said.

Pluto nodded and swiftly took her hand. She pulled him up behind her and with a yup rode off to the city of Nevus.