Chapter 5: Trails and Tribulations part 1
The moon hung low, casting a silvery glow upon the forest floor. Amidst the oaks, a deer lay panting, her sides heaving. Beside her stood her mate—a proud stag with antlers that scraped the sky. His eyes were wide. The moment was sacred—the birth of their fawn.
But fate is a cruel weaver, and the threads of life and death entwined in the same breath. As the doe strained, her hooves digging into the damp earth, a shadow slithered from the underbrush. Wolfs—creatures of hunger and instinct—had no reverence for life's delicate tapestry.
The stag's nostrils flared, catching the scent of danger. He turned, muscles coiled, ready to defend his family. But the wolfs was swift—a blur of fur and teeth. With a guttural snarl, it lunged at the stag, fangs seeking the soft flesh of his throat.
The stag's eyes met the doe's, a silent plea passing between them. He bolted, hooves pounding the forest floor. But the wolf was relentless, nipping at his heels. The stag's breaths came in ragged bursts, and then—like a wisp of smoke—the stag vanished into the night, leaving his mate alone.
The doe staggered, her newborn fawn still slick with birth. She tried to rise, but her legs betrayed her. The wolfs circled, eyes gleaming yellow. The doe's maternal instincts screamed: Run! But her body was spent, and the predator closed in.
Alone and exhausted, the doe struggled to her feet, her newborn fawn still wobbly on its legs. She tried to flee, but her strength had been spent. The wolves, sensing their prey's weakness, began to circle, their eyes glinting with hunger.
Suddenly, two figures emerged from the shadows – a tall, armored knight and a young boy. The knight's gaze fixed on the cowering doe, and he turned to the boy, his voice firm.
"Alrick, that's our dinner. Take your sword and get it."
Alrick trembled. He didn't want to appear a coward again, but those wolves were daunting. He glanced back at the knight, his voice wavering. "Ser, this forest belongs to Lord Fell. It's a crime to hunt here."
Alrick could see the sheer disappointment forming in the knight's eyes. Shutting his mouth, he held the heavy sword of the late ser Mason, gripping it clumsily. This sword alone was worth tens, if not hundreds, of gold coins.
The knight's brow furrowed as he regarded the boy. "The law matters little when survival is at stake, Alrick. That doe will feed your village for days. Now, take your sword and do what must be done."
Alrick's heart pounded in his chest as the wolves closed in, their yellow eyes gleaming with hunger. Gripping the unfamiliar sword, he took a tentative step forward, his legs trembling.
Alrick's heart pounded as he realized the knight had no intention of engaging the wolves. The burden fell squarely on his own shoulders.
The wolves circled menacingly, their yellow eyes fixed unmoving knight in the distance. Alrick gripped the heavy sword, his knuckles turning white. He knew he had to act, but the weight of the blade and the ferocity of the wolves filled him with dread.
Steeling his nerves, Alrick stepped forward, raising the sword. The nearest wolf lunged, its jaws snapping. Alrick swung the blade with all his might, the steel colliding with the creature's flank. The wolf let out a yelp and retreated.
The other wolves, sensing weakness, converged on him. Alrick's arms trembled as he fought to keep the sword raised, his gaze darting between the circling beasts.
The beasts snapped and snarled, their fur flying as Alrick's blade found its mark. But the young man's strength was waning, and he knew he couldn't keep up the relentless assault for long.
Casting a desperate glance at the silent knight, Alrick silently pleaded for aid. But the armored figure remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the unfolding battle.
Alrick's arms burned with exhaustion as he swung the heavy sword again and again, but the wolves continued to press their attack. The knight stood by, unmoving, his eyes fixed on the young man's struggle. Sweat beaded on his brow, and his heart threatened to leap from his chest.
The wolves circled closer, their yellow eyes gleaming with hunger. Alrick's grip on the sword was slipping, and he knew he couldn't keep this up for much longer. Still, he refused to give in, his determination fueling each swing of the blade.
As the wolves closed in, Alrick felt his energy ebbing. His movements became sluggish, and the sword grew heavier in his hands. The beasts sensed his waning strength and pressed their attack, their jaws snapping at his flesh.
Alrick's heart pounded in his chest as he realized he was nearing the brink of collapse. The knight's training was pushing him to his limits.
Suddenly, a blur of movement erupted from the shadows. The knight, his sword flashing in the moonlight, swept into the fray. With a series of precise, lightning-fast strikes, he dispatched two of the wolves, their lifeless bodies crumpling to the forest floor.
The remaining wolf, injured but undaunted, turned its attention to the knight. It lunged, its jaws snapping, but the armored figure parried the attack with ease. In a deft motion, he thrust his blade forward, burying it deep in the wolf's skull.
The last wolf howled and retreated, its tail tucked between its legs. The knight stood tall, his sword dripping with crimson, his gaze fixed on the fleeing predator.
Alrick stared in awe, his heart pounding in his chest. He really felt that ser daemon would have left him to die. He got up and followed him to their prey the doe and the fawn.
The doe lay beside her baby, her strength depleted. She had accepted her fate as the figures approached. Daemon drew out his dagger and handed it to Alrick. "Kill them, Alrick. Make it quick."
Alrick took the dagger, exhausted mentally and physically from his battle against the wolves. He raised the blade above his head, but a hand caught his wrist and another slapped the back of his head.
"What are you doing, you idiot?" Daemon berated. "Who kills an animal like that?"
"Sorry, ser," Alrick said sheepishly. "I got a little excited, and I've never killed a deer before."
"When you kill an animal, you do it quickly, to not prolong its suffering," Daemon said, guiding Alrick's hand to the doe's heart. "The doe's heart is directly in line with the middle of its front legs, with the top of the heart sitting at the midpoint between its back and belly." He then pushed Alrick's hand, holding the dagger, into the doe's heart.
Alrick felt the dagger pierce the doe's heart, ending her suffering quickly. Daemon nodded approvingly.
"Now, the fawn," Daemon said, gesturing to the baby deer. "Do the same. Make it swift."
Alrick approached the fawn, his heart heavy. But he remembered Daemon's words - to end the animal's suffering quickly. He raised the dagger and plunged it into the fawn's heart. It let out a soft bleat before falling silent.
"Now, gather all the corpses and carry them back to the village," said Daemon before getting up and preparing to head back to the village.
Alrick's eyes widened. "All of them? There's no way I'd be able to do that!" he protested.
Daemon fixed him with a stern gaze. "Whether you can or cannot, you will do as I say. Make sure you don't damage the wolf carcasses - I need their furs." He gestured to the bodies around them. "Now, get to it."
Alrick hesitated, overwhelmed by the task. Carrying the large deer and wolf bodies would be an immense challenge. But he knew better than to argue further with Daemon.
Steeling himself, Alrick bent down and hoisted the doe's body over his shoulders, straining under the weight. He moved to the fawn next, carefully picking it up and cradling it in his arms.
Turning his attention to the wolves, Alrick dragged the first one by its hind legs, wincing as the coarse fur rubbed against his skin. One by one, he gathered the wolf carcasses, making sure not to rip or damage the pelts as Daemon had instructed.
Sweat poured down Alrick's brow as he worked, his muscles aching from the exertion. But he knew he had to complete this task if he was to prove himself worthy in Daemon's eyes.
With a final huff, Alrick stood amidst the gathered bodies, waiting for Daemon's signal to begin the long trek back to the village.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone