Her Vision

[years before the present]

'I spent years honing my skills, my eyes unmatched,' 

Vagnis sat up in a tree, his eyes narrowing as he knocked his arrow onto the bow, pulling back with all his might, letting go in a quick shot.

The arrow whizzed through the trees in a precise shot, weaving through the branches, landing in the eyes of a boar, killing it over four hundred meters away.

"Got it," He panted with a soft sigh, falling out of the tree, before making his way towards the Lunarian boar. He kneeled by its side, grabbing his knife about to tear into it.

"You're here too?" He heard someone call out to him, his head snapping behind him to see Belk standing behind him, planks of wood between his arms. 

Vagnis let out a soft grunt, standing to his full height and holding the bloodied knife loosely in his hand.

 "What are you doing out here–" he asked, his tone more annoyed than curious, his gaze drifting to the planks the young scientist carried.

Belk adjusted his grip on the wood, unfazed by Vagnis's irritation. "Building a test platform," he replied matter-of-factly, stepping closer. "The soil near the ridge here is perfect for stabilizing—"

His voice trailed off as he saw Vagnis's disinterest, a soft sigh escaping his lips as he turned to leave.

"Hey wait," Vagnis called out, watching as Belk stopped, his back to him, slowly turning to look at him.

"Let's have a match! You know, like we used to!" He urged, his hands balled into a fist with excitement at the idea. 

"A match?" Belk chuckled softly, turning to see the excitement drained out of Vagnis's eyes as he spoke, "Sorry, but I don't fight as much anymore," 

"What…" Vagnis murmured in disbelief , his eyes falling to his feet, processing what he just said.

"I said I quit—" Belk repeated, oblivious to Vagnis's distraught "Isn't that a good thing? You always said how you wanted to surpass me–" 

"I have to dedicate my life to science," 

'science…I grew to hate that word,'

"Is that why you won't return to the village?" Vagnis spoke up, the silence growing deafening between the two as Belk stared back at him.

"My father doesn't want a man who can't at least wield a sword," Belk groaned, his free hand reaching to rub the nape of his neck. "Unless I change my ways, i'm forbidden from coming back, or be chief,"

"Besides, didn't you used to enjoy my little party tricks," He joked, watching as Vagnis grew more and more annoyed.

 "We were kids then!" He argued, pointing towards Belk accusingly, "I have responsibilities now! And you do too! We can't waste our time on dumb tricks!"

"I know, but my responsibility, isn't to become chief," Belk explained, "As far as I'm concerned, it's to see my late mother's wish through to the end,"

"Again with this!" Vagnis groaned, his hands clawing at his face in pure frustration, "Don't you understand?! This world is all there is!"

"Do you have any proof?" Belk said bluntly, his arms tightening around the planks of wood as he awaited a response, his eyes laced with annoyance. 

"Proof?" Vagnis's knuckles whitened around his knife. Blood from the boar dripped onto his boots, pooling in the dirt like a rusted oath. 

"The proof is in the stories that kept our people alive. The proof is this—" He gestured to the dead boar, its glassy eyes reflecting the canopy above.

 "You think your 'platform' will feed us when the storms come? Save us when the neo wolves return?" Vagnis argued, demanding an answer. "Matter of fact aren't those 'humans' the ones who killed her! The ones who brought those wolves here!?"

"True, but if this planet is all there is, where do you think they came from—" Belk retorted, leaving Vagnis speechless and out of reason 

"Besides…" he muttered, "This platform isn't for hunting. It's for—"

"I don't care what it's here for!" Vagnis snapped, his fingers digging into palm as hard as it could. "Are you really going to betray the village?! To be known as a heretic of a prince!"

"I feel sorry for you, your training didn't work at all…" Belk sighed, disappointed in his words, turning on his heel to walk away. "All that time training those eyes of yours,"

"And you still cant see,"

'I'll show you…The ways taught to us shouldn't just be forgotten!!'

Vagnis looked down on a tired Belk with eyes of indifference, his fingers digging in the hair of the young scientist. Belk's teeth gritted in effort, grunting in pain as his hair got pulled by the roots.

"I never thought you'd turn out like this," Vagnis sighed, his hands letting go of his stands, watching the young scientist fall to his knees, his head hanging to the floor. Body battered and trembled from fatigue.

"Do you see now," He urged, watching as his opponent struggled to stand, the wind picking up around them, carrying the metallic scent of blood. "Your father blames you for encouraging her madness…"

"Madness?" Belk coughed, crimson trickling down his lips as he gained his footing once. "You call it madness to be curious?"

"You're just as blind as ever, Vagnis," He chuckled, the back of his hand wiping the crimson off his lips, "I'll show you the power of science,"

"I'll reach out, and shatter your cage," He declared, his words catching Vagnis off guard, clicking his tongue in annoyance at his stubbornness.

"You're speaking nonsense…" He spat, his tail whipping the air in annoyance, though no more words were exchanged, both of them charging towards each other, exchanging vicious blows.

"You always go on and on about wanting to escape! Your 'cage' keeps us alive, dumbass!!" Vagnis growled, grabbing Belk's hair, and driving his face into his knee. His nose burst with blood onto the floor, but he didn't let up.

"Alive?" He coughed, a wet, raw sound before driving his face deep into Vagnis's jaw. "Or just breathing!"

His sudden surge of strength left Vagnis staggering, the two of them left panting. Their fight was witnessed by a wolf from a distance.

"I'll show you,"

"I'll show you all, her vision…"