Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The Vows We Make
Exhausted and under the cover of night, Ray and Ra finally stopped, seeking refuge deep within the woods, away from any paths that could lead to danger to them. They covered their tracks, ensuring they left no sign of their passage. As they settled into a concealed spot, the weight of their situation and the loss of Sister Althea became undeniable.
Ray broke the silence first, his voice barely a whisper, "I can't believe she's gone, Ra. She was everything... How do we go on without her?"
Ra, his voice steady but heavy with unshed tears, responded, "We have to keep moving, Ray. It's what she would have wanted. We owe her that much."
"But she didn't deserve this, Ra. None of us did," Ray's voice cracked as he struggled with his grief. "She took us in, cared for us like we were her own. And now, she's just... gone."
"I know, I know," Ra replied, his usual resolve softening. "But we can't let her sacrifice be in vain. We have to survive for her. She believed in us, even when we doubted ourselves."
Ray nodded, wiping away tears. "You're right. She always saw the best in us. We can't give up now. For Althea."
As the brothers leaned against each other for support, they could feel the weight of their grief. But in that shared sorrow, they also found a sense of comfort and understanding. The night stretched out before them, dark and uncertain, but they remained steadfast in their determination to honor Sister Althea's memory. And in that determination, they felt a glimmer of hope, a small flame burning brightly amidst the shadows.
Ray saw no point to sleep; he tossed and turned and found no comfort. His brother was already fast asleep. The forest was quiet now. The creatures of the night were dancing to the tunes of their hunt. It was a calm game of prey and predator.
He stood up quietly so as not to wake up his brother and walked deeper into the Zayma Forest. He remembered this area very well. He had come here before hunting a deer a few months back.
Restless and unable to sleep, Ray walked deeper into the Zayma Forest, a place he knew well from past hunts. The quiet of the night surrounded him, filled with the sounds of the forest's nocturnal creatures. He thought back to a deer hunt from months before, remembering the thrill of the chase.
As he walked, Ray spotted signs of a deer nearby. Driven by the need to provide food for the journey, he followed the tracks with the skill of an experienced hunter. The thought of securing a meal for himself and Ra gave him a purpose, a brief distraction from the weight of their loss.
Creeping, Ray tracked the deer, his movements careful and calculated. The hunt reminded him of simpler times, focusing his mind on the task. He knew that a successful kill would offer sustenance and a slight sense of accomplishment amid their current despair.
As Ray stalked his prey, every muscle in his body tensed with anticipation. His eyes were fixed on the target, his mind focused on making the perfect kill. With every step, he felt his heart racing with excitement, knowing that success would mean a feast for him and his brother. This could also be a boost of morale for their long journey ahead.
As Ray crept closer to the deer, his heart pounded, not just with the thrill of the hunt but with a heavy dread for what he knew must come next. He watched the deer for a moment, admiring its grace and the simple act of it grazing. Then, with a deep breath, he launched himself forward, using every bit of his strength and speed. The deer tried to bolt, but Ray was quicker, grappling it to the ground in a desperate struggle. He locked his arms around it, the deer's wild heartbeat thundering against his chest, its warm breath mixing with the cool night air. The physical fight was grueling, but the emotional battle raging within Ray was agonizing.
As he finally snapped the neck of the deer, Ray's mind was a torrent of conflicting emotions. "This is wrong," a voice in his head whispered, even as another countered, "But necessary." As he ended the deer's life, tears blurred his vision, not just for the deer but for the innocence he felt slipping from his grasp. In that moment, Ray's inner monologue churned with a harsh lesson.
"I hate this... taking life," he thought, his hands trembling as he released the deer. "But to protect Ra and those around me who can not protect themselves, to survive, I must accept this harsh truth. Yet, if this act of taking life becomes easy, if I ever stop feeling this weight, this sorrow... that's when I truly lose myself."
Ray knelt beside the deer, his heart heavy. "Every life has value, even those who seek to harm us. This deer... it did nothing wrong. And yet, here we are." Ray touched the deer's forehead. He realized the importance of respecting the lives taken, not just for sustenance but in all aspects of survival. "To live, sometimes others must die. It's a cruel balance," Ray admitted to himself, standing up with a newfound resolve tinged with sorrow.
"This shouldn't be easy. It should hurt every time as a reminder of the value of life," Ray concluded, his inner monologue settling into a sad acceptance of his new reality. With a silent apology to the deer, he prepared to carry it back, the lesson of respect and the heavy cost of survival etched into his Alma.
As Ray ventured off, Ra took a moment to lay on his back and gaze up at the sky. The forest's canopy was a marvel to behold, revealing sporadic openings that acted as windows to the vast expanse above. Ra couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder as he lay there, taking in the beauty of the natural world around him.
As he layed there, unable to sleep. The darkness of the forest surrounded him, with only the faint light of the stars above to guide his gaze. Feeling restless, he opened his eyes and looked up at the sparkling sky. The stars seemed to twinkle above him, casting a quiet glow over the forest. Despite the beauty of the night, he couldn't shake his restlessness. He shifted his position, trying to get more comfortable on the hard ground, but it was no use. As he lay there, he couldn't help but wonder how long his brother would be gone, and if he would be able to get any sleep at all before he returned. He did hope Ray would bring back food. He had always felt his brother was a better hunter if he could being him self to finish a kill.
"I am going to find who did this," he said quietly. His words carried a weight of fury that he had never felt before. The anger simmered beneath his calm exterior, threatening to boil over at any moment. He was determined to track down the person responsible for the heinous act that had been committed and bring them to justice. His justice, not the same justice that he had seen the city bring about to criminals in the past. No, he would serve as judge an executioner. There was no doubt in his mind that he would succeed, no matter what.
Ray returned from his hunt carrying the deer on his back. He tried to move quietly but Ra had already stood up and began to motion for him to lay it down. He took out a small knife and began to field dress the animal. Skinning it was easy. The hard part would be cooking it without bringing it too much attention.
"Where did you find that?" Ra asked, his gaze fixed on the knife Ray was holding, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"I picked it up before we left. One of them must have dropped it," Ray responded, skillfully slicing through the meat before offering a piece to Ra. The dim light of the campfire flickered across the blade, revealing notches and imperfections, a testament to its violent past.
Ra gave a slight chuckle, the sound carrying a mix of irony and amusement in the quiet night. He reached into his own pocket and pulled out his very own knife, holding it up so the firelight caught its edge. "Looks like we both had the same idea," he said, a wry smile playing on his lips.
"Where did you find that?" Ra asked, his gaze fixed on the knife Ray was holding, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"I picked it up before we left. One of them must have dropped it," Ray responded, skillfully slicing through the meat before offering a piece to Ra. The dim light of the campfire flickered across the blade, revealing notches and imperfections—a silent testament to its violent past.
Ra gave a slight chuckle, the sound carrying a mix of irony and camaraderie in the quiet night. He reached into his own belongings and pulled out his very own knife, holding it up so the firelight caught its edge. "Looks like we both had the same idea," he said, a wry smile playing on his lips. The knives, though different in make and story, now shared a new purpose: survival and a bond between brothers, forged in the heat of adversity.
The dense forest enveloped Ray and Ra, casting a shadow that made the night seem even darker. The only light came from the stars that twinkled above, peeking through the branches of the trees. The leaves rustled in the soft breeze as the two brothers lay side by side on the forest floor.
"I can't believe you killed a deer without me," Ra said, his voice echoing through the trees. He turned to face his brother, his expression a mix of surprise and disappointment.
Ray shot him a sour look. "What are you trying to say? That I can't hunt without you?"
Ra shook his head. "No, not at all. You're an amazing hunter. It's just that you struggle with taking lives."
Ray sighed. "I know. And I'm sorry. But I promise you, I'm going to do everything in my power to get stronger, to be able to protect you and anyone else I care about. I'll become stronger than any dream I've ever had."
Ra smiled at his brother's words. "Then I vow the same, Ray. We'll become the strongest in all of Alos." His voice was soft, barely audible over the rustling of the leaves. The night had taken them, and sleep had finally claimed them both.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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