Rise of The Fallen

–Elazar–

I almost couldn’t believe what I was seeing; a strange female hunting in the forest alone. If she had been accompanied by a male, this wouldn’t have been shocking, nor concerning, but aside from the lack of chaperone, something was off about her.

Her eyes were dark in color, much darker than I had ever seen. Everyone had different shades of silver eyes, but these were…different. I couldn’t tell if it was because of the lack of light around us, or if it was something else. She had a short stature that sparked my curiosity as well.

Females could be smaller than us males, but this one was barely taller than a youngling who could finally initiate their first hunt. But she wasn’t a youngling based on the maturity of her body and the fact that she lacked any kind of traditional hairpieces signifying she was still under the protection of her sire.

However, she did wear some strange clothes that I didn’t recognize, indicating she wasn’t from any of the nearby tribes. She was quite intriguing, and her hunting skills were impressive.

As soon as she spotted me, she looked…scared. How didn’t she notice my presence beforehand? And why did she seem so desperate to claim her kill? She had no way to carry a venshal back to her tribe, she was far too small to offset its large body, so why was she hunting this creature by herself?

Her posture became defensive the longer I stared at her, and I didn’t dare move as she looked ready to bolt at any second.

I inspected her closely, noticing something else about her. Her hair was let down and there wasn’t a single braid or tie.

She had no mate… and yet she was wandering the forest unattended? What if she were attacked by a creature or someone from a dangerous tribe?

She took a few hesitant steps back and, on instinct, I stepped forward.

I know I’m scaring her but I can’t help it. There’s something about her. I feel the strangest urge to calm her, to speak with her. If she’s lost, maybe I can help her find her way to her tribe. I can protect her…

My tail flicked in excitement, but the movement seemed to make her more nervous, and she crouched down, staring at me in confusion and fear.

Why was she so frightened?

“I am a friend.” I said quietly, standing to my full height to show more confidence and dropping my weapon.

Once she realized I wasn’t an enemy then I could escort her back to her tribe with the venshal in tow. I could learn her name, her interests, and all about her life.

I squinted as she shifted on the balls of her feet, eyes widening as I realized what had seemed off about her.

Where is her tail?

Before I could speak again, rough granules flew into my face, getting in my mouth and eyes. Startled, I stumbled back, quickly trying to clear my vision. My eyes stung, and I spit out chunks of debris.

What–? Dirt!

I barely managed to crack one eye open, just in time to see the female sprinting headlong into the forest.

She’s running away?!

Immediately, I chased after her, swiping at my eyes to cleanse the last of the dirt away. I called out to her again, hoping to calm her. Instead, her pace quickened. She wasn’t as fast as me, but her small size made it easier for her to weave through thick foliage and underneath obstacles that were in the way.

Suddenly, she took a sharp turn towards the river, and my pulse spiked with fear. She couldn’t be thinking of crossing?! Sure enough, she found a shallow part of the river, and rushed headlong into the water, splashing loudly as she made it to the other side. Finally, she stopped, twisting back to face me.

“Don’t move! It’s dangerous!” I bellowed in panic, taking a hesitant step toward the riverbank. Was she crazy!? That part of the forest was forbidden for a reason. Should she come across the Drakov scouts, she would be in peril.

Instead of heeding my warning, she rushed toward the treeline, no doubt looking for an area to maneuver through. Desperate to protect her from harm, I quickly went after her, much more mindful of my noises as I traveled through the water. Just as I made it out of the river, she found a small burrow that must have been dug out by animals, and crawled inside.

Faux! She’s going to get herself killed!

Throwing my body down onto the ground, I reached into the burrow, barely able to fit my arm and head through the small space, and grabbed her foot before she could flee. She flailed wildly, struggling to break free of my hold. “Please, I mean no harm!”

She didn’t answer, struggling harder. Did she not understand me? Some tribes used different dialects, but I had assumed she would at least know the language of the territory she was in.

As I started pulling her back towards me, she twisted in my hold. My eyes widened in surprise as her foot coverings came into view. They slammed into the top of my head, right against my horn. The blow sent a major jolt of pain through my head, and my grip on the female’s foot was lost as I reared back, nearly jerking out of the burrow.

I grunted in pain, clutching my tender horn and squeezing my eyes shut, lips peeling back in a snarl. Faux, that hurt!

I opened my eyes in time to watch the female crawl away, moving deeper into the tunnel.

Cursing, I pulled myself out of the hole, glancing at the high wall of tree roots blocking off the main treeline of the forest. Without wasting another second, I started climbing. It took much longer than I hoped to get over the blockade. Finally, I cleared the other side and found the other entrance to the tunnel.

Crouching down, I peered inside the burrow, but saw no signs of the female. She had already fled. Just outside the hole, I found a few prints left behind by her coverings. I followed the tail further into the forest but soon stopped as I came across the Drakov borders.

Markers lined the large trees, with ropes of bones, feathers, and beads wrapped around the trunks. It was a warning that if anyone tresspasses then their life would be forfeit. And she’d ventured right into their territory.

Faux! Why would she come here? If the Drakov finds her she’ll be killed…or worse.

I took a few steps back from the border. I shouldn’t have come to this side of the river. If I was found, I’d be used as one of their grotesque sacrifices. My tail whipped around anxiously, and I rubbed my bruised horn, grateful that at least the pounding in my head had dulled.

So many questions wracked my mind about the strange female. I just wanted to speak with her. I would rather break off my own horns than cause the strange female harm, so why…

Why did she flee me?

Growling, I turned back to the river and began traveling home, thoughts of the female keeping me company.

Why was she running into Drakov territory? Why was she hunting alone? What were those strange clothes she wore? They didn’t match any of the traditional clothing of the nearby tribes. And the most perplexing question of all; where was her tail?

I initially thought it was just small or hidden in the dark. But as I had chased her, I realized it was missing as were her horns–

Suddenly, everything came grinding to a halt, one thought overshadowing the rest.

Is she an exile?

I glanced back, brow furrowing in thought.

If she was banished from her tribe, it would explain a few things, like her fear of me, why she was hunting alone and her unusual garments.

Perhaps she had a shelter nearby the Drakov territory. But why would a female be banished? Because she was deformed? What if the deformity wasn’t natural, but due to mistreatment? Had someone mutilated the female?

The thought made my blood boil. Cutting the horns and tail off someone was the most painful, and extreme, punishment imaginable. To think someone could do such a thing to a female. And now it appeared she was on her own. Forsaken.

How much had she suffered through? Without a tribe or a home. Without a mate to care for her…

I looked down in defeat, frowning as I noticed a powdery black substance on my palm and fingers. Had it come from the female as I’d tried to pull her from the burrow? I brought my palm to my nose and inhaled. Surprisingly, I detected charcoal mixed with the strange, sweet scent of the female.

I’ll remember this scent…next time we meet, I won’t let you run away.

Reluctantly, I crossed the river, returning to my own side of the forest.