Enoch was a simple hunter, he lived all of his life in the old stone hut, near an ancient forest. His life would have been an ordinary one, but there was one thing that had separated him from most of the other humans.
A blood pact, a very old and severe covenant with the people of the forest, commonly known as Sidhe. Long ago his great, great, great grandfather entered into an agreement with the elder blood, it happened when this land wasn't even developed yet.
All of his male posterity that lived near their home, was allowed to hunt in the forest, and to cut down trees, though only old or sick ones. In exchange they had to throw in a celebration once every year, at the day of calibration, and stay as a guests at Sidhe’s feast.
Because of that, he and his family, were widely known, and were considered spooks by all of the people who lived nearby. This situation of course had its own benefits. No one would ever thought about harming them, even, so called, lord of the land. They didn't even need to pay a tribute. All of the neighbours thought that if they would treat them poorly, they would bring full wrath of the Sidhe on themselves. But nothing is without a price, Enoch and his sons could not leave this land even if they wished to do so.
That day Enoch was coming back from a successful hunt, a hind that rested on his shoulder would feed him and his family for at least a week. By selling some of the meat, sharpening arrowheads and making knives from the bones, he should be able to earn at least four silver coins. He raised his eyes to the sky, admiring setting sun, and letting his mind to wander over more indulging things.
- Maybe this time I will buy something pretty for Rina, a little token of appreciation for my wife - he humored himself.
- And maybe she will return it, "with a little favor", of her own choosing - he added with a sly smile...
Abruptly loud noise interrupted his blissful state, as stream of blue light cut thru the clouds with the loud crackle. It lapsed over his head with devastating speed, then crashed into the deeper parts of forest. Greatly frightened by this event he threw away today's quarry, and started to run in general direction of his house...
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As the cloud of dust subsided, four people emerged on edge of a small steaming crater filled with unusual smell of ozone. Enoch and his sons slowly examined the surroundings, driven by curiosity they draw their weapons, and hesitantly approached center of the crash site...
* * *
When young traveler again regained his consciousness, he found himself lying naked in a fetal position, he was disoriented, and hungry. What's more, people that were approaching him weren't looking friendly at all.
- I need to eat something, I need to sleep - he thought as his fatigue of today journey started to more, and more dull his mind.
He was so tired, so tired, and those people surrounded him. They were aiming at him, aiming at him their weapons, their bows, strung with nasty looking arrows...
This is dangerous - he thought, but he was still so tired, so tired, that he didn't know what to do.
Then the oldest of his adversaries started to speak something to him. First he didn't understand, but then, somehow, he knew.
He knew that he is asking, he heard that tone in his voice. But then felt something deeper, there was something more in his tone, in his eyes.
It was more then just simple curiosity, or fear. There was something more sinister in his tone. There was anticipation of sort, he was waiting, waiting and observing. Calculating all of his actions, waiting for his mistake, or any signs of aggression. Like a hunter observing his prey, aiming his deadly shot...
- Quick, I need to do something, to state him that I'm just an unlucky traveler that came to wrong place in wrong time! Or show something that will state my good will!
What can I do? What to say, no! What to show? How to show? I need to do something, I need to do something, anything. I must to convince, convince him to not kill me, but how?! I need to do...
But just then his deep fatigue, started again its harassment, making him to lose his focus complitly. His mind started to get hazy, and lastly all of that mental exhaustion shortened his systems. Making poor boy to lose his consciousness, and leaving Enoch and his sons stupefied.