Zadar: Ch1. Pt2.- Catalyst

It was a fair bit heavier than her previous bow, but the mechanics were still the same. It was a longbow instead of a shortbow and it fit the length of her arms far better than her previous one had. Aralyn had the feeling that this bow would last her a lifetime.

By the time she slowed her running, she found herself in a thick, lush area, where the leaves overhead covered the sky and let only small rays of sunlight enter the dark forest. With her boots a soft leather material, she could move through the trees quietly as long as she avoided branches and large bunches of fallen leaves. Rocks were the best perch to sit and wait for prey. Aralyn crept through the forest, keeping her eyes trained for deer or Moqis, a close relative of the bear that had a thinner body and a long, fur-covered tail.

As she came upon a large oak tree that was covered in knots and moss, she decided to sit and wait for a while. Settling down in a tiny alcove among the roots, she leaned against the tree and fingered her new bow. Excitement filled her at the very thought that it belonged to her now. She wondered how much better and how much faster it would shoot than her old one.

The gnarled tree trunk protected her from the icy autumn wind that began to blow through the forest. She closed her eyes, breathing in deeply the scent of the forest around her. Aralyn could sense herself growing too relaxed, but no matter how many times she told herself to stay attentive, she fell into the lure of the forest once again. She could smell the dusty aroma of dried leaves that had fallen to the ground. She could taste the fresh threat of rain on the lightening horizon. Opening her eyes once more, she could see green leaves that were beginning to fade to gold.

Aralyn tensed as her ears caught the telltale rustle of wild game making it's way through the trees. Moving her hand ever so slightly to wrap her slender fingers around her bow, Aralyn watched the area around her. Some feet away she spied a small doe, perhaps three feet tall, heading eastward away from her. Long ago, she would have felt sick at the thought of killing the doe, but now it had become the natural way of her world.

She stood silently, lining the arrow up with the doe's neck. A moment before Aralyn released the arrow, the doe glanced up and bolted away as fast as it could. Aralyn gritted her teeth in anger for being too sudden, too loud. In a matter of seconds, she was chasing the doe, stepping lightly as she flew through the trees.

Aralyn could see the creature sprinting forward at an alarming rate. She pushed herself to run faster. Soon, she could feel the adrenaline of the chase rushing through her. The wind in her eyes as she dodged tree trunks made her feel more alive than she had the day before in the square. Aralyn wondered if that was how riding a horse felt. Taking large strides, Aralyn concentrated on both the doe and her own feet, so as to not trip on a rock or slam headfirst into a tree. Her elven senses helped her to avoid these tragedies, though she could not avoid the random twigs that scratched at her arms and cheeks.

Aralyn burst out from beside a bush and barely had time enough to freeze before she saw the human standing before her. Breath labored, Aralyn watched as the distance between her and the doe grew. The human before her said nothing and soon enough she realized that it was the young man from the market. Their eyes locked and Aralyn could not pull herself away. In his eyes she saw an immense sorrow, one that would drown her if she watched it for too long. Bundled beside the sorrow was strength, both of heart and of hand. Gazing into his eyes, it seemed as if they beheld far more than a man of twenty and four summers or so should hold. Aralyn was taken aback by the wisdom she saw nestled there and she could only wonder who this man was and what his story was. After a moment, Aralyn pulled her eyes away and locked sight on the doe once more.

Bursting out of her frozen state, she once again bolted after the doe. It took all of her strength to catch up to the deer. She wondered what the man had seen in her eyes, if anything. Perhaps naivety, perhaps wisdom, who could say but the stranger himself? She now secretly hoped that she would meet him again. The chance meeting with the young man had lost her several seconds on the deer, but soon she closed back in.

Skidding to a stop when she and the deer were a mere five feet apart, Aralyn raised her bow and released her first arrow with her new bow. The shot drummed through her fingers and arm long after the arrow was gone. She heard nothing, then the thump of a body falling to the ground met her ears. Aralyn made her way towards where the doe had fallen and now lay twitching on the forest floor. The arrow stuck out of its stomach, its scarlet blood flowing steadily onto the leaf-strewn dirt. The doe's breathing was labored and its eyes darted around, never straying too long in one place. Aralyn knelt beside the creature and lay her hand on it's neck.

“Here now,” Aralyn whispered as she removed her simple stone dagger from its sheath on her belt. It was an ancient weapon, having been given to her by her father years before. The blade was jagged stone and the hilt was wrapped in black rope.

“Honor be with you my friend, as Lemai frees your soul,” She prayed as she took the dagger and uppercut into the deers throat. “Die in peace.”

Aralyn shut its eyelids to honor its sacrifice to her. The accuracy of the shot amazed her. She had aimed for its heart and she had hit it head on. Her last bow had always gone slightly to the left, but time she had made a perfect hit. She lifted the small body onto her shoulder. From where she stood, Aralyn guessed that she had a long way to go. She would have run almost two miles in her chase, which meant she had two and a half more to walk, with a deer across her back. Sighing, she began her journey towards home.

Halfway home, Aralyn's mind started to wander and the thought about the idea that had blossomed in her head the night before. Aralyn tried to tell herself that it was a crazy idea, leaving home to travel, but it made perfect sense. Her Father had always told her stories of the “World Beyond the Teeth”, but until now Aralyn had thought they were all just stories. What if there really was a world beyond those snow-covered peaks that everyone called the Teeth? Aralyn paused, her hand placed upon a thin tree trunk, her breathing coming heavily. Sweat raced down the side of her face and dripped from her chin to the ground. She noticed that a haze had fallen over the forest. Mist clung to the forest floor, and a sudden crack of thunder woke her from her daze of weariness. She straightened her spine and hurried towards home as the rain began to fall.

By the time she entered the house, she had finally decided on a verdict. She was also soaking wet. Her mother screeched at her to stand still as she grabbed a towel and dabbed her daughter dry. Rolling her eyes, Aralyn lay the body of the doe upon the table. In the corner of her vision, she could see her mother gaping at the animal. Her face brightened with excitement.

“Venison, a lucky kill,” she commented with glee.

“And it sure wasn't easy, but I did it,” Aralyn said, glad to see her mother so happy.

“I should get to work at once!” she snapped into action, heading for the door.

Aralyn grabbed her mother by the shoulder and stopped her in her tracks. Turning to face her daughter, Aralyn's mother frowned. She could tell that something was wrong by the way her daughters eyebrows were tilted. She moved forwards and put her hands on her daughters shoulders.

“Honey, what's wrong?” she inquired.

“Mother,” Aralyn began. “I-”

“Wait,” came her fathers voice from the bedroom. Paisley and his parents were nowhere to be seen. Aralyn saw him lift himself from the bed and leaning on his cane, he made his way to the table. Aralyn's mother helped him into his seat, then asked him what this was about. Aralyn's father beckoned for her to sit as well. Before either of the women could speak, her father voiced his thoughts.

“I know what this is about. I have known since this morning when you spoke of the stranger,” he said. “Tell your mother, and she will understand as well.”

Aralyn nodded and recounted to her the few details she had told her father earlier that morning. She too the chance then to tell them both how she had seen him again during her chase.

“I want to leave. I want to travel. I want to see the World Beyond the Teeth. I know it's there and I want to find it,” Aralyn ended her story.

The room fell silent. Rain could be heard splattering against the roof. The loud voice of a woman could be heard outside and Aralyn wondered whether Paisley's mother was coming home, then the voice passed and it fell quiet once again. With her eyes trained on the soft coals in the fireplace, Aralyn waited for her parents reactions. She honestly had no idea what to expect.

“Aralyn,” her mother said softly. “I've always known this day would come.”

Aralyn's face contorted in relief.

“You're a elf, dear. A Nomad, not a human. You're not meant to stay here and we never meant for you to. I know you have only stayed this long because of us. With this new family moving in, we understand why you have chosen now to come to us,” she chuckled a little. “You've never liked big changes.

Aralyn felt graciousness sweep over her at her mother's words. A smile flitted across her relaxed face. Her parents understood, and to think she had been so petrified to speak about it with them.

“I personally don't want to linger,” Aralyn said slowly. She could not tell if it was pride or prejudice that filled their faces. Perhaps it was a little of each.

Her father motioned to her mother and she retrieved a small box from under their bed. She placed it on the table between the three of them. Aralyn wondered what was inside the simple oak chest. Her father lifted the lid and inside the chest sat seven gold pieces, a folded cloth square and a small bag.

“We saved this money for you, dear. For when this day came,” her father said, placing the money upon the table.

Tears instantly sprang to Aralyn's eyes. She had never felt so thankful in all her life. Her mother lifted the single square of cloth. The square unfolded to reveal a blanket, hand-knit by her mother. Aralyn covered her mouth with her hand, amazed at the time her mother must have spent working on the blanket.

“It's so beautiful!” she exclaimed, hugging her mother tightly as a few tears escaped past the corners of her eyes.

The last thing her father lifted from the chest was a tiny bag, one that could hang from her waist. It was black velvet, with a beautiful azure compass stitched into it. Her father placed it in her hands carefully.

“This is a very special bag. It has magical qualities,” he began, removing his hands from the bag. “When you flip it inside out...go ahead.”

Aralyn did as her father said and found that when she flipped the bag inside out, various items appeared on the floor in front of her. A pile of her clothes sat to one side, folded neatly. Bread and butter sat beside the clothes, wrapped in paper, alongside a slab of salted pork. Last was a bar of soap, a comb for her hair, and a simple black cloak. Aralyn stared at it all, wide-eyed and once again close to tears. It was too much for her to handle.

“The contents appear before you. And when you flip it back...” her father said, waiting for her to follow his instructions. Aralyn did as he instructed, and all of the items vanished.

“All of it disappears. Understand?” he asked.

Aralyn nodded. Her mother stood above her and told for her to take the quilt and money and place them inside the bag. Aralyn did as she was told and was surprised when the two objects fell from her grasp once they entered the bag. She frowned and flipped the bag inside out. In front of her, with the clothes and food, was the quilt from her mother and the pile of money. Her mind was boggled, and she felt felt as if a trick was being played on her.

“How does this work?” she pondered, amazed by the craziness of the bag.

Her father smiled. “It stores anything you place in it inside an extra-dimensional space. This space is hidden from view. It is here, and yet not here. That's what the merchant told me when I bought it.”

Aralyn had little idea what he was talking about. The only magic she had ever come into contact with was the obscured magic in her Father's stories. All she knew was that she loved it. She laughed and embraced her father, with fresh tears streaming down her cheeks. After a moment of surprise, he hugged her back.

“Thank you, father. Thank you so much!” she sobbed.

“I love you, Aralyn. Don't you ever forget that.”

“I won't. I promise,” she grinned, stepping back from him and turning to her mother.

Aralyn could tell that she was close to tears as well. Aralyn smiled sadly, wiping away the single tear that fell from her mother's eye.

“Don't cry,” Aralyn whispered.

Her mother sighed, gingerly stroking her daughters cheek.

“I miss the years when you would run around the house, wrecking havoc wherever you went. I miss the days when you would lay in bed with me and listen to my lullabies. I miss the nights when you would cry in my arms because the thunder scared you,” she said softly, lips quivering.

“I still wreck havoc and I still hum your lullabies when I'm alone. And I still fear the darkness the thunderclouds bring.”

“You're so grown up now,” her Mother said.

Aralyn took her mother in her arms. With their embrace, she felt as if her world was finally going to change for the better. Her mother was right when she said Aralyn was grown up, but her mother was also forgetting the most important thing.

“I'm still your little girl,” she whispered into her mothers ear.