Dawn had approached the village. The villagers started their daily rituals. Setting up shops, working on their craft. Warriors patrolling the area. Liveliness spreading from one area to another. In the distance, in the Warrior’s camp of the village, many young folks were training, sparring. Going through the grueling work necessary to protect the village from threats in the forest and out.

Kai was training too, doing his morning exercises with his new hammer. Alone in their room. He’d typically run to the camp to train with his brother or Teira. Or any of the warriors available. But for the past week, he didn’t feel like going. He would rather practice here, going through his motions, adjusting to his new weapon. He finally figured he’d procrastinated enough and started to go down the stairs. He could hear the bustling of his parents getting their respective workplaces set up for the day.

‘Another day, another day of anxiety. Why am I like this?’ He sighed.

Kahn noticed his son standing still in the kitchen. He hated to admit it, but this son was a little bit more difficult to handle. At least for him, as he noticed his partner moving towards the boy and covering Kai in a hug.

“You know, you used to cry a lot more before Koh.” Prea said, right near the boy’s face staring directly into his eyes. “Sure you were practically a baby, but after, you never really cried that much. He’ll be ok, and if he isn’t, then the spirits will be with him.”

Kai looked back into his mother’s eyes. He never really was that far apart from his brother. At least for a long time. This was the longest he’d gone without seeing him. Maybe he cared too much, the village strongly believed death was only the beginning. And he’d seen the spirits. Spoke to them. They were very much alive to him as any other villager. No, Koh wasn’t dead, and if he was...

‘Maybe I need to grow up, become an adult,’ he thought as he watched his mother’s hair sway. Maybe the spirits would answer him, it hadn’t failed him before.

“Yes, maybe -” before he could finish his sentence, there was a commotion in the village. The Rak family ran out the door. They could hear sounds, loud sounds from the north. Color vanished from their faces, fearing the worst.

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Sana felt a stir. A spirit whispered in her soul. She immediately ran out of her home. Well, the training room inside the Grand Elder’s home. Her shadow followed. And she commanded him to bring the village’s best healer, to the north. And the shadow disappeared.

In half the time for an incense stick to burn, she made it to the northern entrance. Seeing the ragged individual walking through, slowly. His clothes, torn and ripped. A large bite mark on his left shoulder and a line across his right. His pale skin even paler, and red smattering across his body. Yet his eyes, those eyes. Confident.

The boy’s deep brown eyes stared right at her and he kept walking. Inching closer towards her. Her heart, beating faster and faster. And then the boy stopped right in front of her. A big grin on his face.

“Hey Sunshine”, the boy said before collapsing onto her. Her, the eventually-will-be Benevolent Grand Elder of the entire village. And him, the boy she loved. But she couldn’t indulge in this feeling for long. An audience had started to form.

Her shadow appeared with another in tow.

“Take Beast Hunter Koh to a healing quarter. And bring him some food and water. Inform the Raks. GO!” she ordered. She wanted to stay by his side but there was work to be done. The villagers were concerned, fearful. She had to do her part. She was Sana, daughter to the Grand Elder.

----------------------

Koh opened his eyes and saw a different ceiling than he was used to. It wasn’t the sky of the forest and it wasn’t the sight of his room. He reached his hand toward it. And he felt pain.

“Hoho, careful young Rak. I was able to heal you with Nature’s Embrace but there are still some side effects. And it couldn’t completely heal everything. You’ve lost a lot of blood and the scars will remain - a sign of the Hunt. Though they might diminish, especially as you get older and as you advance through the stages. You know back when I was your age, hoho, I had scars, scratches, marks from everything. My whole body was covered with them. You wouldn’t believe -.”

“I think that’s enough Tamar.” Beast Hunter Mur said to a man covered in tattoos. This man probably had almost as many tattoos as Warrior Dra. And yet Koh didn’t ever remember seeing him. There was no way he’d never seen a man with this much prestige. A bald, older looking man. At least his face looked older, his body was still rippling with power and his tattoos seemed almost alive. His robe was brown in color and there was a feeling of earthiness emanating from his persons.

“Oh, right right, sometimes I do go on. Forgive me young Beast Hunter. You just need some rest and you'll be better than ever.” Tamar said before he walked away, not waiting for a response.

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“Who is he?” asked Koh.

“He was an Elder, a long time ago. But he wanted to get away from management and focus on something else. What it is, I do not know. Just know he is the village’s best healer, so you may have incurred some debt.” Mur answered before continuing.

“Though that’s not important right now. Congratulations, young Beast Hunter. Though you may call yourself that now, you will be under my tutelage for the foreseeable future until you are truly ready. Revel in this new title, celebrate your status. You have two days before you need to report to me. Do you understand?”

Koh looked at the man in front of him. He wasn’t old, but he wasn’t necessarily young. Younger than his father he supposed. Tanner than him too. The Beast Hunter was skinnier, lithe even. His purple hair, short. Precise. Sharp. His aura alternated between calm and danger. His eyes, blue. An enigma. Supposedly one of the strongest Beast Hunters, and going to be his mentor. They were similar now. They shared the same title.

“Yes.”

“Good. Your family is outside and will be let in momentarily. I just need you to answer some questions and go over what happened during your hunt. I’ve collected the canine in your pack and confirmed your kill. But I want your report so I can write it down.”

Koh got up from his lying position to better speak to the Beast Hunter. It was a little bit difficult but not painful. There was a slight discomfort but he could handle that. And then he began telling the Beast Hunter everything about his experience.

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Kai was pacing outside the healing quarters. The building was right in the middle of town and could be reached quickly from any region. There weren’t a lot of healers, the warriors were strong enough that only a few would get injured every trip. Each villager was also trained in basic healing methods because in the forest, injuries could become certain death. That wasn’t his worry though. His brother returned alive and if what he was told was true, going to be fine. Better, even. He breathed out.

‘Didn’t realize I was holding my breath.’

He looked at his parents next to him, relief shown on their faces. They were almost deciding to fight life and death against the barbarians. Against an invasion. And to realize that it was actually their son coming home as a Beast Hunter. Truly observing the changing of the seasons in a single leaf.

He wondered how he looked, with all of his worries gone as the door opened and a purple-haired man walked out.

“He’s fine and you can go in. I took his report and will send you all the information soon. Decide on his tattoos. Goodbye.” And like that he disappeared.

‘Oh, he just walked away. Sometimes, these elites liked to vanish. Elder Sha said it was because they just wanted to show off. What an embarrassing thought.’ His parents walked in, looking back at him in wonderment.

“Well, hello there, little Beast Hunter.” Prea giggled out that last word, as she went and hugged her son. Kissing him all over his face.

“Mooom!” Koh yelled, face blushing slower than his mom’s kisses.

“We knew you could do it, son.” Kahn said, his face bleaming.

‘All the guys are going to be so jealous, haha.’ Kahn started really laughing out loud, patting his recently heavily injured son’s back.

“Yes, brother, I wasn’t at all worried.” Kai murmured.

“Not even a little bit. Doesn’t sound like you.” Koh retorted back.

“Get in here”

And Koh, Kai, Prea, and Kahn enjoyed the closeness of the family. It was warm. It was right. It wouldn’t last.

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The Rak family held a celebration. Everyone was invited. Their son had just joined the most elite group of warriors in the village - the Beast Hunters. Food was plenty as everyone brought some kind of meat, drinks, and merriment. They rejoiced as Koh regaled them with the story of his hunt. Other Beast Hunters joined, telling their own stories. Warriors told of their experiences with the other inhabitants of the forest. It was a grand time.

Sana was in a meeting with the council as well as Beast Hunter Mur, and the healer Tamar. They were going over the report from Koh’s hunt. She could see Warrior Dra’s face scrunch over the news.

“So, the boy encountered a spirit who looked like the barbarians? What does that mean? Sha?”

“The spirits typically do not send messages like this unless it is important. The necklace the spirit showed him has to be the key. I cannot commune with that particular spirit as I do not have enough information.”

The council continued debating the ramifications of such a significant event. Until Beast Hunter Mur spoke.

“The young Beast Hunter felt the necklace was familiar. It could explain his origins and the Raks have not told us everything about the circumstances leading to his adoption. We could interrogate them.”

Sana felt rage. The spirits started reacting wildly to her emotions. They scattered all over the place bringing a chill to everyone in the room.

The Grand Elder opened her eyes and a light shined. The spirits stopped moving and the room became quiet and warmer.

“We do not ‘interrogate’ our people who have clearly not done anything wrong.” The Grand Elder said, staring at the Beast Hunter.

“However, this information could be vital for the safety of the village and the southern region. If the young hunter has told his parents about his experience, then it is likely the parents may even reach out to us about any information. In the meantime, Beast Hunter Mur, you may ask them for any information on the necklace, politely. Do not press them on it. You are dismissed”

Mur nodded his head and looked over to Sana. Then he vanished.

“And Sana, take Tamar to the Grove, his help with the boy must have been expensive. You may ask him about the gift he bestowed upon your fiance. I approve. You are also dismissed”

Sana felt her mind jump, completely different than the rage she was feeling.

Elation, excitement. Her mother had given her blessing. They could finally be engaged.