Chapter 3: ??? Awakens
Chapter 3: ??? Awakens
Beware of the forest by the bay
Do not make the mistake
Of shedding blood on its grass
The trees house an arrow
That never misses
Out in a forest somewhere, at a time, there was a hunter that had her arrow notched in her bow. She stalked through the forest, looking for her prey. A lone cart was traveling through the dirt path. A cloaked figure was manning the cart. Glimpsing through the few visible parts of their skin, it had a rather greenish hue to it. The figure’s size looked beyond that of a human, perhaps, it was an orc.
The forest was still. The hunter listened through her pointed ears, a brown tint to her watchful eyes. The crisp crinkle of the leaves was one of the few sounds in this hauntingly quiet domain. She could feel her heartbeat resonate with a force, a force she knew to be the forest. She felt the small streams rush through the rivers as if it were the blood coursing through her veins. The wind softly blew. She could hear the songs of the birds that perched on the trees, the lizards that sneaked about on the forest floor, and the small mammals that skittered about. All of it and more.
Escape is not in the mountains
The arrow can climb
With bated breath, she sneaked through the trees. She breathed in and out. It was as if she could hear the flapping of the birds’ wings. It seemed to still for her.
In and out
In
She drew her bow. She felt the wind tickle the skin of her cheeks.
And out
It fired, piercing through the air. Her eyes glowed a big and bright green as if to signal a connection.
None can escape
The eyes of the trees
The arrow pierced the cart’s wheel as if imbued with a magical glow. It may as well be magical for it was enough to damage the wooden wheel sending the cart in a fury. The driver tried to maintain his trek to no avail. He soon lost control as it became unbalanced. He panicked and stirred blindly, causing the horses to panic and run. Another arrow whizzed quickly, piercing through the horses’ reins, freeing the animals. They ran off into the forest. Without the steeds the cart soon crashed into a tree, the driver caught in the wreckage.
She looked around first, to see if there were any signs of possible intrusions. When there was none, she went to the cart. It seemed like she glided through the forest with her movements. The confidence that emanated from her was the kind that would only be achieved through familiarity, the familiarity of her trade. She examined the driver first, rustling through their stuff. She examined the cloth that covered the object in the cart. She grasped it and tugged. Underneath the ratty cloth was a beast, a large mongrel trapped in a cage. It growled at her but she hummed to it a tune, a sweet comforting tune. The canine settled down, entranced by the green in her eyes. It spoke to her in her mind.
“You are Laelaps Terallion. Wife of the champion of the Wild.”
“That I am.” She replied, outstretching her hand through the cage. The canine hesitated, but closed its eyes and nuzzled its furry cheek on her hand. “My reputation precedes me. But I didn’t work hard to only be known as the Champion’s wife.”
“Forgive me.” It chuckled. “Laelaps Terallion, The Arrow of the Trees.”
“Good.”
She freed the beast swiftly, destroying the lock that held it. It happily hopped off and followed her as she trekked to the driver. The beast growled in anger at his transporter. The woman held her arm in front of the hound, showing that she’s got this. The beast settled down with a snarl. The driver moaned in pain and hazily looked at his attacker. He gasped and whimpered upon seeing the beast and Laelaps. She drew her bow and aimed at the attacker.
“Who do you work for? People know better than to smuggle beasts in the Goddess’ domain.” She proclaimed, her face hard and eyes calculating. The driver whimpered.
“I do not know. They only offered me a sizable sum of gold.” His voice spoke with clear traces of weakness. She pressed her lips together unconvinced.
“Know better than to lie to me,” She repeated. The driver whimpered again. Astonishing, the beast thought, the man should be almost twice her size but she still strikes fear into his heart. That piercing gaze, the beast thought. She is the exact oxymoron of her father.
“I swear! I don’t know their names! They wore red cloaks and hid their faces!” Her eyes widened.
“They’re back.” She whispered under her breath. The canine looked at her.
“Who?” It asked.
“The harbingers of the disaster from decades ago.” She gulped. She felt sweat trickle down her forehead. “The holders of the mementos.”
“Those fools from decades ago?” The beast snarled. “They should know better than to resurface once more.”
“Perhaps they don’t.” Laelaps pointed out. “You see, this could be the work of copycats.”
“That is plausible.” The beast replied. “ But like with what happened to your father, these people are durable. Sometimes it would take a miracle to get rid of them.”
“You know what happened in my father’s adventure?” Laelaps questioned. The beast nodded.
“It was not only his adventure, remember? He had companions with him.” The beast said.
“Of course. I will not discount the prowess of my godmothers and godfathers.” The woman replied, thinking back to the adventurers who attended her wedding. “It’s best I discuss it with him back in Lucus. It would be clearer that way.”
The beast nodded. “Not everyone can call the adventurers of High Fantasy like that.”
A drop in the ocean
Lost in the waters
With only the memory
Of the permanence of rain
“They have such a dumb name.” she chuckled.