A deer stood still in the woods, nibbling on a tender, green spring leaf. Morning light filtered through the trees. It lit the place where the deer stood. It was rather young, still having short stubs of antlers. It would not know that the human above it in the tree was dangerous.
One because it was so young that it most likely never saw a human before. Two, because said human was a rather adept hider. Years spent playing the only game that the children of the village knew, the one where they hid in forts and battled, that had sharpened her hiding skills. She took a deep breath and let it out, slowly. The branches of the trees moved slightly as she shifted her weight.
Leaves rustled. The deer thought nothing of it and continued nibbling. Slowly, ever so slowly, the arm of the human stretched up to grab an arrow. The arrow was placed on the string of the bow. It was pulled tight.
The human aimed at the deer, pausing only to take another deep breath. The cool, refreshing air rushed into her lungs. For a moment, she considered not killing the deer. Something so innocent should perhaps not be killed so soon. But then she let go of the arrow.
And her breath came out. The arrow hit the deer in the back. With a sickening thud, it fell onto the grass. The human took a few more breaths, before leaping down onto the grass, damp with dew. The deer was dead.
“Good job, Lena!” A voice called out. Lena turned to look at the source of the voice. Jonathan her friend, came out from behind a large rock. He had grown well in years.
Constant running and fighting with the mysterious creatures of the woods had only given him tough muscles that showed through his light brown wool shirt. Pants made from deer skin dyed dark blue from crushed flowers. A wolf pelt's belt was around his waist. Black, red, gold, and gray locks hung down to his chin. His trusty crystal halberd that he used everywhere was hanging at his side.
Tanned skin from long days in the sun. Warm, trusting brown eyes that always held sparks of excitement in them were currently focused on her. Lena glanced at herself. She was wearing a light blue shirt that was sleeveless. A leather belt hung over one shoulder, holding multiple powders of poison.
Before Jonathan's aunt had died, she had taught her many things about the herbs around the woods. Which ones healed, and which ones harmed. All arrows were tipped in such deadly substances. A snakeskin belt was at her waist, with a moonstone at the center. Hidden in the belt was a small silver dagger.
Dipped in poison. Black, sleek pants graced her thin legs. Leather black boots tipped with silver and owned jade heels were on her feet. Her skin was tanned, but lighter than Jonathan's. Her hair was brownish tan, with one side shaved to her scalp.
A symbol of the sun was dyed among the short hairs of the shaved spot. The other side was long and reached down to her shoulder. This hairstyle was traditional for archers. Her eyes were a mysterious dark blue. One ear had a string of moonstone beads hanging from it.
Leather bracelets held her wrists. A tight gold ring was on her finger. Argon had given that to her. A tattoo of a crystal blue butterfly edged in black, rising out of purplish smoke was on one arm. It was unique.
Her bow was made from the wood of a rare white black spotted tree that was called an 'aspen.' The woods that were rumored to be called Everfree held only a few of these trees. It had always been the stuff of legends of the land being called 'Equestria.' Or that the sun and the moon were once raised by ponies with a horn and wings. Children were the only ones to believe in such things now.
Her bow was carved with symbols of animals and plants, it had strings of beads hanging from the top and bottom. Feathers of an eagle were on the top, held by an amulet of engraved stone. Such was the look of her bow. She could have bought one with borrowed money from Argon, but felt it better to create one from scratch. It had paid off.
Lena had always been part of the poorer groups of the town. She knew what to do to get a meal, and what to do in case she needed protection from the creatures of the forest. Jonathan almost became a part of that, had it not been for Argon. Argon's family took him in when his aunt had died. In return, Jonathan gathered food for them and kept Argon out of fights.
Lena smiled at Jonathan. “Come on, Halberd boy. Let's get this deer to Argon before the guy gets into another fight.” Jonathan nodded, his gaze suddenly shifting from her to the ground. The two dragged the deer's carcass through the woods, each of them on guard for danger.
The birds of the forest watched them with beady eyes as the light of day became brighter with each passing minute. A very small, colorful frog hopped onto the deer. Lena froze. That frog was poisonous. Jonathan looked at her, snorted, and held his hand above the tiny frog.
He placed his third finger on top of his thumb and held the rest up in the air. With a single motion, he flicked his finger. The frog was sent flying into the trees. Lena looked at him. “I'm glad it's gone.”
Jonathan rolled his eyes sheepishly. “You have always been squeamish about frogs, ya know.” Lena stared at him with half-closed eyelids. Then she tapped him on the head. “Right, let's keep moving.”
They continued to drag the deer to the edge of the town. It was in the very beginnings of fall, but leaves were already falling gently from the trees. Lena's eye caught a bush full of colorful berries. They were a very dark purple and owned little bumps all over. Lena picked one.
“Oh, Morus berries! Argon's little sister, Corina loves these!” Morus berries were very popular among the children, its sweet flavor, and chewy texture making it irresistible. Lena looked guiltily at Jonathan, who laughed. “Go right ahead!
I'll drag the deer into town.” He continued to drag the deer, leaving Lena to strip the bush of its berries and fill a leather bag with its contents. The road slowly turned from dirt into stone, and the trees became fewer and fewer in number. The houses came into view. The poorer ones were made of wood, the richer ones made of stone.
All had tile roofing of stone. Chimneys of the richer houses poured smoke, the smell of cooking stew reaching Jonathan's nose. Cats wandered here and there, looking for a mouse to eat. They gave the deer a passing glance as if it wasn't worth their time to look at it. Jonathan knew that it was best to drag the deer through the streets now than to leave it until afternoon.
Then the market would be full of customers. As Jonathan dragged the deer along the street, he watched as people walked around the street. Many of them were gathering in one spot. Shouts were coming from that spot. Jonathan got close enough to hear what was being said.
“Get him, Rayon!” Yeah, you can beat the rich guy!” “Give him a black eye!” “How does it feel now, being the poor one eh?” The voices belonged to Rayon's gang.
The meanest people around town. Jonathan left the deer and came forward. He could hear the sound of fists hitting flesh. Peering over the crowd of heads, Jonathan could see Argon fighting Rayon. Rayon was gray-haired, pale skinned, and full of arrogance and pride.
He was also light-footed, so he was prancing around Argon while he hit him with speedy shots of his fist. Aron kept having to turn around, and rarely did he score a hit. Rayon laughed. “Why isn't the widdle rich kid able to fight? Does he need his mommy to come rescue him from the big bad Rayon Wayon?”
The words were said in a mean teasing note, punches coming onto Argon's back. Argon snarled, and tried to punch Rayon. He missed. The gang members cheered. Jonathan waited till Rayon was close enough to him, then punched him in the nose.
An outcry of pain came from Rayon, and he stumbled to the ground. In a flash, he stood right back up and tried to punch Jonathan in the jaw. But Jonathan was too quick and sidestepped the bully allowing him to trip. Rayon whirled and snarled at him. “Well, well.
If it isn't Argon's protector. Tell me, Jonathan. How much of your pitiful life depends on.” Here Rayon paused while he wiped the blood from his nose. “ Saving rich kids skin?
Ever since your weak aunt died.” That was as far as he got before Argon barreled into him, knocking to the stone ground. The gang members gasped. Argon held Rayon by the shoulders and bellowed into his face. “No one insults my friends!”
Rayon quickly wriggled out and scrambled to his feet. “Alright, alright man. Jeez.” Rayon suddenly spotted Lena come up and a sly grin came onto his face. Rayon stepped right in front of Lena and gave her a winning grin.
Lena blinked. “Lena, my dear! Where ever have you been?” Lena's eyes slid down to half closed. A sure sign that she was bored.
Argon growled at Rayon. “Why that creep is going to try and get a date with Lena, isn't he!” Jonathan's hand went onto his shoulder. “Lena's going to get him for sure now.” They watched as Lena put her hand on her hips.
“Um, trying to survive?” Rayon nodded too eagerly. “Say, how about me and you go out?” Lena's mouth twisted into a sly grin. “Only if you can take this.”
With that, Lena punched him right in the nose. Rayon fell onto the stone road, knocked out cold. Lena's eyes danced with laughter as she helped Argon up. “In another fight I see?” Argon growled again.
“He started it,” Jonathan grinned. “Uh huh. Let's get you home.” The dragging of the deer went much faster now.
They arrived at the archway of Argon's house. Five girls ran out. They all looked alike and were similar in Argon's looks. Each one bounced up and down rapidly. “You're home!
You're home! You're home! You're home! You're home! You're home!”
Argon groaned. “Yes, we are home. Now, settle down before you wake the baby. Again.” The last word was said with a glare.
The girls stopped bouncing and clapped their hands over their mouths. A muffled 'sorry, big brother' came from each of them. Their rich clothing hung from their youthful bodies. Lena smiled. “Where is little Corina?”
Footsteps sounded, and a smaller girl came out. She was thinner than the others and seemed to resemble a frail butterfly. Her dress was white, with only a red sash tied at the waist. The sleeves reached the ground. Her hair fell down to her waist as well.
Lena gave her almost all the berries. She saved one in order to pop into Argon's mouth. Jonathan left the deer there. He gathered some of the few remaining flowers at the edge of town and went to the graveyard. He walked slowly, allowing the time to slip by quietly.
The wind blew gently across his face. The graveyard was a stone wall surrounding wooden crosses, and stone slabs carved with the names of the dead. An ancient apple tree stood guard over the graveyard, each one holding the body of a deceased one.
Jonathan stopped at a stone slab far off to the right. It was about ten years old now, and the stone was chipping off in some places. Jonathan looked at the inscription:
Angina Hayworth Markson. 2086-3008. The most worthy gift is one's life.
That is what the grave said. Jonathan laid his handful of flowers onto the cold stone. “Hello, aunt. Miss you.” Tears fell down his cheeks, ones that he wiped away. “I hope you are doing well.”
The grave sat there, unresponsive. “I still haven't figured out why you wanted me to have this necklace, but I'll figure out soon.” He touched the necklace that his aunt had given him so long ago. It felt like a dream receiving it. A sudden booming sound resounded from the woods.
Jonathan glanced up to see flocks of birds fly into the sky. “What's going on?” He stared at the tops of the trees where the birds had flown from. Something or someone had caused that noise. But what?
It was unlike any noise he had ever heard before. His gut quivered. Johnathan turned away and walked quickly to Argon’s house.
He took a shortcut in order to go faster, going over the hills that they used to play on as kids. From this angle, he arrived from the back of Argon's house. He paused to catch his breath. Argon's backyard was open and field-like with plenty of space. It was in the middle of the afternoon, so the sky overhead was a beautiful blue color.
Clouds floated lazily in the sky, pushed by a gentle breeze. Argon's mother, Trisha was kneeling in the grass, planting seeds for next spring's flowers and vegetables.
Beside her, sitting on a tray was a cup of iced cider. Whenever she could pause in her work, she took a sip of the juice. Her long, raven black hair flowed down her back, a great contrast to her fair skin. Her dress was made from fine cloth but was plain for the task at hand. Her rich livelihood didn't prevent her from tending to the family garden.
Even though she could hire someone to do it for her, she felt more like doing it herself, having learned how. Merry green eyes scanned the seeds, as one hand rubbed her swollen belly. She was on the verge of giving birth, merely days away. Her husband Felix, was sitting on a stool at a table some distance away. He was shaping a pot with his hands.
The wet clay in his was slowly being shaped into a tall pot. Skillfully, he crafted it, moving it slightly. He owned raven hair too, with sharp green eyes that were focused on his work. A goatee dusted his chin. The five sisters were even farther.
They were in a straight line, each intently watching a butterfly float over their heads. When it got close to one of them, that one would leap up and clap her hands to capture it. But none of them succeeded. The scene placed a smile on Jonathan's lips. Trisha saw him as he got closer.
“Why, hello Jonathan! It is very good to see you again. Thank you for bringing the deer. Felix here.” She waved a hand at her husband.
“Just loves fresh deer meat.” Upon hearing his name, Felix glanced at them, nodded at Jonathan, then got back to work. Jonathan smiled at Trisha and gave a short bow. “Hello, Mrs. Rowshield. It is good to see you as well.
Where are Argon and Lena? They were here a while ago.” Trisha brushed a stray hair from her face, as she squinted in thought. The action left a streak of dirt on her forehead. “Hm, I think they are playing with Corina in the old apple tree on that hill near our house.”
She pointed a finger in the direction. “Say, do you have any idea what that loud boom was? It scared the girls to death. All of them ran to Felix, and crowded around him, hugging him rather tightly. They wouldn't move from Felix's side.
It took some iced cider, and soothing hugs from each of us to calm them down.” Jonathan frowned in thought. “No, madam. I don't. I plan to go and find out, though.”
Trisha nodded at him, then turned back to her work, as Jonathan walked away. He headed in the direction Trisha gave him. Ancient apple trees were here and there over the town. No one got rid of them, as the apples picked from their branches were more tasty and long lasting than any other apple. The trees all had scars, from some sort of fire, that had harmed them long ago.
The tree sat lonely on top of the hill. Corina was sitting at the bottom of the tree. An apple was in her hands. Hanging from her sash was the bag of berries given to her by Lena. She was staring at the forest, and the few quickly fleeing birds that still flew from the treetops.
“Corina?” Jonathan asked. She turned and stared at him. “Greetings Jonathan.” Jonathan nodded at her.
“Corina, do you know where Lena and your brother, Argon are?” Corina blinked, then looked up into the branches of the apple tree. Jonathan followed her gaze and saw Lena's grinning face peering at him through the branches. “Argon's visiting Elder Onyx Ashstone. Wanted some advice.
I can go get him.” Jonathan nodded at her. “Did you hear that loud bang?” Lena nodded. “Sounded like some sort of gunpowder to me.”
He then glanced at Corina who was tugging at his shirt. “Jonathan, I have a question for you.” Jonathan keeled on the dirt, as Lena ran off to find Argon. “Yes, Corina?” Corina reached out a very pale hand and pulled out Jonathan's necklace.
She held it in her thin hand. “Was…did…” She paused as if the topic was painful. “Your aunt. When she died, was it painful?”
Jonathan winced. He took a deep breath. This question wasn't only painful, it was hard. He didn't know if it was painful. All he knew was that performing the ritual on him took all her remaining strength and that soon after, she died.
If there had been any pain, she had hidden it from him. Jonathan had never gotten over that day. Even the mention of his aunt brought a feeling of great shame that he had run out from her death bed. “I…do not think there was any pain. Why such a question?”
Corina looked sadly at her thin hands. They were much too pale. Her hair was no longer raven black but was turning a sickly silver. “That disease. The town Healer thinks I have it too.”
Jonathan drew in a sharp breath, and his heart sank within his chest. “I have all the signs. The Healer pointed this out months ago. Father and Mother have tried everything, to no avail. They told me that he is wrong.
So has Big brother. I know that they are lying to me. I can see Mother's face when she sees me unable to eat. Father has to carry me when I get too exhausted and fall onto the ground. Big brother…”
Here a few tears fell from her eyes, ones that she quickly brushed away. “He gets…” Her head cocked slightly as she searched for the word. “Temperamental? Is that the right grown-up word?”
Jonathan placed a comforting hand on her head. “It will be fine. If it will hurt, the Healer will make it better.” Corina nodded at him, her eyes watery. Jonathan felt a pang in his heart as he was painfully reminded of his own loss.
"Oh, Corina..." He thought.
Lena ran through the town street, dodging past people that were in the way. Rayon was still knocked out from the punch she had given him a while ago. The place where Elder Onyx Ashstone lived at was at the village center. There, an old well stood, its original builder having been long gone. The well's stones were burnt black, yet the water was crystal clear.
Elder Onyx Ashstone was sitting at the front of the well, legs crossed. His hands rested on top of his knees. A blue mat with symbols on it cushioned it from dirt. The elder was dressed in a blue and brown tunic with wide blue shoulder crest reaching above his head. A brown hood with a blue mask covered his face.
His feet were covered in blue boots with metal at the bottom. The Elder had a very odd way of speaking. He would say one thing, then another higher voice would agree with him. No one could figure it out how he spoke like that. Argon was sitting in front of him, in the same manner.
He was talking to him. “You see, Elder. John said that.” Elder Onyx Ashstone cut him off with a raised finger. Argon fell silent.
His normal voice rang out, deep and melodic. “Jonathan's heart is in pain. The loss of his auntie still remains. But he shall grow stronger in the end. If he trusts his dearests and his friends.”
The last of the sentence was punctuated with a glance at Argon and Lena who had just arrived. Argon glanced at her. “Lena?” Lena panted slightly. “Johnathan, Johnathan needs us.”
She placed her hands on her knees as she gasped for breath. Argon got up. “I suppose it's for that large booming sound?” Lena nodded. Elder Onyx Ashstone looked at the forest and shook his head.
“The forest is not a place to understand. (You would do well to stay away.)” Lena glanced at him. “Be that as it may, Jonathan still needs our help. Come on, Argon, let's go.”
The two ran off toward the forest while Elder Onyx Ashstone looked on. With a slow sigh, he withdrew a staff from behind him. The staff was made from wood and owned a large, blue, glowing crystal on top. “What would I give, in order not to have this happen. (Many lives shall be lost.
Many friendships shall be tested…” With that spoken, the elder placed the staff back in its place. Far enough to be out of sight. But close enough to use when needed.
Jonathan walked in the forest, with Argon and Lena at his side. The animals were oddly quiet as if they were afraid of something. Johnathan could almost smell the scent of fear as they walked on. Despite the fear, it seemed as if there was also a strange, almost respectful, silence of the forest as if something was there that demanded that respect.
Besides these things, nothing else seemed to be out of the ordinary, and they were just about to head back when Argon noticed something. “Hang on…What is that over there?” He pointed a finger at some beaten down pieces of wood. Johnathan took a closer look.
They seemed to be made for a set of wheels to run down but were very ancient. Moss and plants had grown over the tracks. Jonathan looked as they led to an unknown destination. “Let's see where they take us.” Lena shook her head as the trio walked forward.
“Oh no, here we go on another adventure,” Argon grinned. "Since when has any of our adventures got us into trouble?" Lena snorted. "Right, how about the one where we climbed this very tall, dead tree in which you got stuck at the top and I had to go get Felix to help us get you down?"
Jonathan laughed. "Oh right! I remember that one! Boy, Felix gave us all a big scolding for climbing that tree. According to him, we could have died."
Argon snorted, and shrugged, grinning. " Well I'm still alive, aren't I?" Lena nudged his shoulder with her elbow. "That is slightly debatable." Argon chuckled.
"Oh yeah? How fast do you think a dead guy can run?" Lena giggled. "Not very fast, as he is just lying there like this." She spread out her arms, crossed her eyes, and stuck out her tongue. Argon snorted with laughter and tapped her gently on the head.
"Well then, my dead friend, let's see if you can keep up." Argon took off running. Lena ran after him. "Hey! Get back here!"
Jonathan shook his head as he watched his to friends chase each other. "Don't go too far, guys!" He called. He turned his gaze back to the tracks.
They were leading them through the forest, through an area, none of them had ever been in before. No animal track was left near the tracks as if they didn't dare to step near it. Pieces of wood and stone began to appear among the dead leaves. Jonathan glanced around as Argon and Lena arrived behind him.
Ruins of what seemed to have once been houses appeared here and there. All of them were very old and were burnt badly. A skeleton lay near one such ruin. It seemed like a miniature horse, except there was a horn on the skull. The bones were not burnt, but the foreleg had been smashed, and the chest had an arrow through it.
Lena snorted, breaking the silence. “That pair of bones looks like what the old legends described the original inhabitants of the land were. It claimed that the sun and moon were once lifted by them.” Argon raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Yeah, right.
How did they do it? Lift it with their hooves?” The two broke into giggles while Jonathan chewed the inside of his lip. “What's going on here?” He took a closer look at the bones.
“Guys…this animal looks a lot like my necklace.” He lifted the necklace in front of his face. “Except there are no wings.” Lena glanced at the bones.
“Hm, it does. Odd.” Argon looked at the necklace, then at the bones. “Eh, whatever it is, it's long dead. Best not to disturb those that are no longer in the world of the living, or so Elder Onyx Ashstone says.”
Lena nodded. “He would know, he buries each dead person.” Jonathan winced, remembering his aunt's burial. Elder Onyx Ashstone had led that, sending her off into the afterlife. He had read the words needed to send each soul and had thrown seven flowers into the grave.
Jonathan felt a tear slid down his cheek. He roughly brushed it away. They continued to follow the tracks, to see where they led. The tracks ended after a while. On top of the end was a burnt cart, its wheels made of metal.
Lena kicked the metal wheel. “Why are the wheels made of metal? Wouldn't that be heavy?” Argon shrugged. The cart was obviously useless since one it was damaged, and two the wheels would have made it rather heavy anyway.
Jonathan's eyes followed a barely visible trail in the dirt. It led to a pathway that none had taken in years. That pathway led to an enormous ruined building made from stone. A gateway led the way inside. Argon and Lena blinked in surprise.
“What in the name of the lands is that?” Asked Argon.