As I was swiftly running through the forest, a dark shape appeared far off in the distance. A voice shouted out in the crisp cool air. “Freeze!” I squinted into the mist. “Don’t worry! I will cause you no harm!” I shouted back to the feminine voice in the mist. A figure appeared out of the mist, a tall, muscular figure. She had deep brown curls and amber eyes. “What do you want?” she growled menacingly. A bow was strung and the arrow was pointed directly at my heart. “All I want is to find what is creating this mist and to stop it!” I answered. “I believe that there is something or someone that is causing this dreaded, never-ending mist! I want to stop it and relieve this land of its misery!” She stalked closer, a mischievous gleam in her eye.
I stalked forward, keeping my arrow aimed at the other girl. "What's your name?" I asked. I wanted to be sure I could trust her before letting my guard down. She seemed harmless enough, but one could never tell. I had dealt with traitors before, so I was always cautious around strangers, especially when traveling on my own.
"Astereniya," she replied.
I aimed my arrow at her shoulder. I didn't need to kill her, after all. Besides, a shot from a longbow at close range would be devastating, no matter what the target was. "Are you traveling with anyone else?" I asked.
I shuddered, and then sighed. “I am alone. I have not seen the face of another human for three years. My parent’s abandoned me when I was still yet a child. I have lived my life alone in a little hollow of a tree. I have taught myself the ways of the land, and how to survive. I need no one and need nothing.” My reply startled me. It was as if my words were not my own. “I travel to the edge of the forest yonder, to search of the source of mist. Shall you stop me on such a noble quest? Or shall we part our separate ways?” I asked her, almost tauntingly. “Do you really wish to fight me?” My last question seemed to aggravate her to some extent. “You have a very smooth tongue, Astereniya.” Her voice was like silk. I quickly began to calculate exactly how much energy and force it would take to fight her. I did not wish for it to come to that, but if it did, I was ready. I could grab the branch just hanging over my head and swing up into the trees. From there I could leap down upon her, perhaps even before she shot her bow. Yes, her bow, now that was quite a large problem. Kick it out of her hands? Maybe. “So, answer my question now, for I do not like being ignored. Do you really wish to fight me?”
"So answer my question now," she said, "for I do not like being ignored. Do you really wish to fight me?"
"Only if you wish to fight me," I replied, lowering my bow a bit. "I am also looking for the source of the mist. If you don't mind a companion, perhaps we should travel together. It's unwise to walk alone in the marshes, after all."
Astereniya regarded me suspiciously for a few moments. Her legs were tensed, as if to leap into the air. I slung my bow over my shoulder and rested my hand on the hilt of my short sword. The blade would be much more useful at this range.
I raised my eyebrows. I could tell that she was dead serious. “I shall not fight you unless you wish to fight. For travelling together, that is another matter that we shall discuss later, after we decide if we are to fight. I you wish, you may make the decision.” I laughed to myself, for if she were to fight me, she was in for a surprise. I had my bow on my back and could draw and shoot all in a matter of a second. Her sword might not be a match for my bow, but if I could shoot before the blow landed, I just might survive. The woman appeared to be in deep thought, trying to evaluate me. I could tell that she thought that she could beat me. “Do you have an answer for me? Or not?”
I regarded the other woman carefully. I could see the tip of a bow poking out behind her shoulder, and a lump under her tunic that looked suspiciously like a knife. It probably wouldn't be smart to fight her--she could be a valuable ally.
"I don't see any need for conflict," I said finally. I stepped closer, but not too close, and extended a hand. "Captain Zea Valerente. I'm sorry for drawing my bow earlier; it's an army reflex."
“I see no reason for conflict.” She replied, and extended a hand in friendship. “Captain Zea Valentre.” I glared down at her hand and continued talking without extending my own hand. “Yes, well, there is another matter we should discuss before we come to friendship. Shall we travel together or not?” She dropped her hand, obviously agreeing with me. “I have to warn you, I’m a very swift traveler, and you may be left behind if you choose to travel with me.” She gave a small chuckle. I could see that she too could travel quickly, but I perhaps was faster. “You decide for it does not matter to me, one way or the other.” She appeared to be in deep thought, weighing her options. She then stepped forward, as if to speak.
I regarded the girl again, mostly for show this time. Despite the veiled threats, I was beginning to like her. She seemed skilled and competent--something we would both need if we were going to succeed.
"I think we should travel together," I said, stepping forward. "I was planning to go ten miles a day, but any pace is fine with me." I frowned before continuing. "It would also be smart considering the...animal life in the marshes. I've had too many soldiers go out on their own and disappear."
Stalking the doe quietly in the treetops, I held my breath. I couldn’t let it hear me. My muscles tensed as I prepared to leap. The doe had walked just below me, underneath the tall branch I was hunkered on. I leapt through the air with a frightening howl. Landing on the doe, I snapped her neck for a quick and painless death. Dragging the doe, I stumbled through the underbrush on the far side of the great forests of Likuyt Jurtdual, in the deep, uncharted marshes. This mist was not my fault. Everyone whom I had overheard talking on the paths that ran from the interior of former Hungdra, to the western border of the mountain kingdoms, had said that some monster was creating and controlling the mist. It’s not true. I should know, being the monster should point to that. Perhaps it was another monster. I let loose a long, lonely howl. I wasn’t that scary, was I? Being under five feet tall, having long, shaggy, gray fur all over my body, and two, yellow eyes that glowed in the dark, I didn’t think I was scary. I rushed home to the side of the mountain, where my little cave lay. The green moss hid the entrance. Sweeping the moss aside, I scrambled in. My four little children rushed up to me. “What for dinner, Papa?” asked the eldest. “A fresh doe, prepared however your Mama chooses.” I grinned as they all crowded around me, asking how I caught it. My darling wife walked into the room and stood by my shoulder. “How about roasted deer and bannock?” she asked in her sweet voice. The children jumped up and down in pleasure. I chuckled. “I guess so! Here, let me help you.” She nodded and we dragged the doe into the kitchen. We started a fire and began roasting the deer. “I’m worried for our children.” I roughly stated. My wife sighed. “I am too. It’s too dangerous out in the mist. There are people searching for us now.” Tears started to form at the base of her deep yellow eyes. “I know dearest.” We embraced in kitchen, tears streaming down her face. “We’ll make it, somehow, we’ll make it.”
Spoiler
There is another monster creating the mist though, just you wait and see.
Suddenly, I heard something snap. I whirled around, an arrow already nocked. I stood motionless, waiting for another noise.
There it was again--the sound of twigs snapping, as if something was trudging through the forest.
I slunk forward silently, drawing my bow halfway. Whatever the thing was, it was big--its footsteps were heavy, getting louder and louder. Through the mist, I could make out a silhouette--a large, hairy silhouette.
Just as I was about to shoot, the thing disappeared into the mist again. I let my draw arm relax. I had one shot to hit this thing--if I missed, it would know we were there. I wasn't about to fire blindly into the mist and give away our position, but I wasn't about to let that thing get away, either.
"Come on," I said to Astereniya. "Let's follow it."
She beckoned me to follow her, deep into the heart of the mist after the shadow of a shadow. I believe now that Zea is crazy, stupid or brave. Most likely, she is a mixture of the three. “All right, but if anything begins to go awry, I’m afraid I may have to kill you, so be on your guard.” “That goes to you as well.” She mumbled as she slowly stalked forward with a mysterious gleam in her eyes.
You must never give into despair. Allow yourself to slip down that road, and you surrender to your lowest instincts. In the darkest times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength. — Uncle Iroh
