Chapter 1.
The morning fog was heavy in the woods, as I listen intensely for any noises. Then it happens the crunching of dead branches, the thudding of something heavy striking the ground, all I knew to do was jump to one side and let an arrow fly through the air at the creature that sprang its ambush. I stood there listening for what seemed like ages then the solid thud of arrow hitting muscle sounded not 50 yards in front of me. A creature let loose a horrific growl and charged again and lays a painful slash on my arm. Looking down stunned as I felt the warm blood run down my arm I see three individual claw marks. At that moment i knew i was dealing with Greystone a massive 400 pound gray grizzly bear. He was notorious for killing hunters that stalked these woods, and I was not about to let him kill me. I let loose another arrow as I see a gray blur charge my way, as I turn to jump out of his path he rips my quiver with my arrows in it off my back and taking some flesh with him.
Lying on my stomach I drop my bow knowing it was useless and pull out my knife. Knowing I would have no chance of survival on the ground I climbed into the nearest tree waiting for my chance. After a while I thought he was gone and I was getting ready to leave when the fog started to lift and he stumbled into the clearing and sniffed my bow. At that moment I knew this was my only chance, I held the hilt of my blade so tight my knuckles turned white and I jumped. The blade freshly sharpened sliced into the back of his neck with ease, and I quickly pulled the blade out, rolled off of him as he reared up and I slashed at his throat as he slashed at me. My vision went red feeling weak. I knew at that moment it was bad. My vision went black and I collapsed.
The pain screaming in my arm, my back, and my chest wakes me up and was unbearable. I let loose a horrible scream. Jennifer ran up the stairs pushing other people aside who were running to help me. As Jennifer entered the room I was out of the bed running for the door; she picked me up like a pillow and set me in the bed and tied me down.
"Boy you need to stop trying to take on things a man should handle," she said with a half smart alack tone.
"What happened, where am I, where's Greystone?"
"Well first you are in the house of Vinson under my care Mr. John. Second you decided to attack Greystone, a mighty but costly feat." Jennifer said.
"What happened to Greystone?"
"First of all a hunter in the area heard the commotion and ran to your aid but thought he was too late, by the time he reached you Greystone was laying on top of you. He thought the bear was resting, and then noticed the bow on the ground, the broken arrows, and then your arm under the bear. He came back to the village and got the Walter twins, the sons of Willow, and me to come help him get you out from under the bear," she explained.
"Keep going what else happened," I asked.
She replied, "Do not get pushy with me boy! The men got the dead bear off."
"I KILLED GREYSTONE!!!!!!" I yelled surprised at the thought of a young man like me killing a bear so few have even tried and even fewer returned from attempting.
She looked at me with a red glow in her eyes then she slapped me, leaving a red mark, and it burned and stung on my cheek.
"Let me finish! Yes you killed Greystone and almost killing yourself in the process. They brought the bear back to town while i did a little healing on you. When they got back i told them to bring you here were i could heal you even better than i could in the field." she smiled and cut the ropes that bounded me to the bed.
Finally for the first time i looked up to notice my uncle Travis looking at me eyes wide and bags under his eyes as if he had not slept for days.
"Uncle how long was i out and how long has it been since you slept?"
"John you have been asleep for 3 days and i haven't slept for 3 days."
Jennifer butts in, " He sat by your bed waiting and talking to you every day, sometimes i had to kick him out just so i could perform some spells to help you."
Then I noticed Dallas he was the town butcher, I smiled and gave him a nod.
"Son that bear had some of the best meat on them I have ever seen. I gave the meat to your uncle here and the skin to Ben so he could make you some warm clothes, to replace the ones you lost."
I replied "Thank you Mr. Dallas I'll be sure to thank Ben when I see them too."
Then i saw the Walters, they walked over and shook my hand, I said thanks. They said there good lucks and they left without another word. The Walters were known for getting straight to the point, not saying more than what was needed to be said. Then Gary, Jay, and the rest of the Willows stepped forward. We shook hands talked for almost an hour about what had happened when I was hunting Graystone then Eragon, their pa, said it was time for them to go.
Two people were left standing in the room one was my mother Betty she ran to the bed crying and telling me I was never allowed to leave to go hunting again because I would get myself killed. After what seemed like forever, I calmed her down and told her to go back to the house and stay with Uncle Travis for the next couple of days. So she left, and with a turn before she left told me she loved me and that was all she said. Last but not least was Robyn. She was not from around these parts and had no family; she looked to be around my age 15 or so, but never said what her age was. She was tall, and beautiful to say at the least. She had firm cheek bones and tight skin to show it. Crystal blue eyes, that shined like shimmering mountain lakes, long dark brown hair strait as could be, which always covered her ears, and framed her face. She was tall for a girl our age; she was stronger than most women. That had everybody talking and her tongue, she spoke and it was music to everybody, every word flowed from her mouth like a gentle breeze. I have to admit I had a thing for her, she found a way to make me smile and laugh no matter the time or occasion. She walked up to the bed and sat down as I scooted over to make room for her.
"Now tell me something John, why in the world do you have to go and find the biggest bear in the country and challenge it to the death?" I laughed at the way she explained it, and she continued, "When i found out you were being brought to Jennifer I came as soon as possible to help with your healing. What she didn't do, i waited till after she left the room to finish it for her."
She stopped and i looked at her funny
"What do you mean you help with my healing?"
"John I am more than i seem" she pushed her hair behind her ear and i saw it, her ear was pointed.
I gasped and whispered "You are an elf?"
She replied not with her mouth but with her mind, she spoke inside my head and when she did i felt naked as if she could find out anything she wanted without me knowing. "Yes John i am an elf from the elf country Alba and i was sent here to look after you."
Looking at her puzzled I was getting ready to speak.
She interrupted me, "Do not ask me why do not ask me how do not ask me anything. Ask your mother if you are her child and you will receive an answer when you know that answer come back to me and we will talk but no more you need your rest."
She left without another word and I was alone.
