Terra: Daughter of shadows

Chapter 1

The tracks were fresh as I followed them deeper into the forest. The sun had set a few hours earlier, but I knew that was not the reason for the forest having taken on a cloak of mist and quiet. Creatures had been following me ever since I had begun my hunt, as if sensing a strangeness to the cloaked figure slithering through the shadows amongst them and hoping to catch a glimpse of what I could possibly be. As the forest had grown denser, the creatures had become bigger and even more curious. It had not taken more than a look to make them retreat back to lurking from the shadows whenever one had become too curious, even though they never stopped prawling between the bare trees. 

But now, as the tracks I had been following for days on end were becoming clearer, I could feel a small smile tugging my lips as I slowed my pace and pulled the thick wool hood off my head. When I had entered the forest, it had still been full of life, but now an emptiness reigned, in a way that not even the brutal winter could have brought with it. I drew my left hand and lifted my bow off of my shoulder, easily balancing it at my side as my other hand reached for an arrow. The quiver on my back was still fairly filled since I had not needed many to hunt, it had been almost too easy. But this one was different, different from any of the other animals that roamed this forest. After placing the arrow on the bowstring I closed my eyes and focused on the beast I knew had to be close. At first, there was only a strange void of life, so contradicting to the normal whirlwind of colours I had grown accustomed to, but then I sensed it. I could sense the calm green surrounding the animal even though it was at least a few hundred meters away. The security provided by its deep slumber was mesmerizing and I felt myself being drawn into that green sea of comfort. I dug my nails into my palm as I lifted the bow to my chin, stretching the weapon to its full extend. As I felt the string on my chin I opened my eyes and fired. I flung the bow back to its place and ran in the same direction as my arrow. I ran fast, ducking under branches, forcing myself to focus on the beast that had now been awakened. Its mighty roar filled the forest, but I kept running, covering the last few meters until I made it into the clearing were the Timore was now standing, awake and angry. A deep furious red now replaced the beautiful green colour that had been surrounding it only a few seconds ago. The arrow I had fired was buried deep within its side, a brownish liquid flowing out of the wound. As I stopped in front of it, I lifted my dagger from my belt, the metal hilt cool and comforting in my palm as I waited for the Timore to face me. Despite being injured, bending its body in an agonized arch, the Timore was still at least twice my size. It had the shape of a massive lion with a thick metallic looking fur and I could see the three rows of razor-sharp teeth grinding together as the beast turned and its intelligent eyes locked upon mine. It growled as it slowly moved towards me, expecting me to do something. But I stood my ground, restraining myself to remain motionless despite its red colour becoming darker, making every muscle and nerve in my body tense, alarming me that it was going to attack. A moment went by with nothing, and then it pounced.

Its jaws tore apart and came down for my throat. I threw myself forward and only at the last moment did I force my body to go down and role under the massive creature. As soon as I was on the other side of it I stood and turned. The Timore was coming towards me again, the brown liquid still flowing fast. As it came at me, I lifted my dagger and instead of going down I went left, aiming my dagger as high as I could, digging it deep into the side of the Timore as it ran past and flung myself onto its back, grabbing a hold of its thick fur to keep myself steady. The Timore slowed for a second, confused. Pulling another dagger from my belt, dipped in the same poison as my arrow had been, I flung myself at the Timore's neck, placing the dagger deep within its throat. My nails dug into its fur as the Timore's roar once again bellowed through the forest. It tried to shake me of, but its movements were clumsy and weak. As it took another step back its paw hit the stem of a giant oak tree and then it just, stopped. Pulling the dagger from its throat I jumped of the Timore's back as its body fell to the ground. After wiping the blade of my dagger clean in the thick grass I approached the Timore's sunken body. Its colours were barely visible, but even so, I could see the bright black colour of pain that surrounded its entire body. It would still be hours before either the poison or the blood loss finished it off, hours of intense pain and helplessness. It had done nothing more than it's instincts, it's nature, had demanded of it and yet here it was, dying at the hands of a mercenary send by cowards. When I was close enough to touch it I kneeled down looking it in the eyes. I didn't have to see its colours to know what it was begging me to do, I could see it in its eyes. Death.

"I'm sorry." I said as I once again plunged my dagger into the Timore, this time into its heart. I gave it a hard twist and almost immediately, it's entire body went limp. As the colours disappeared all that was left was my own reflection in it's cold, void eyes. 

"May you find peace in the unknown." I whispered, to no one in particular, before pulling the dagger out and standing back on my feet. After brushing the dirt of my trousers, I walked to its mouth and cut out its upper canines. I put them into an empty leather bag tied to my belt and threw a last glance at the Timore, now barely visible in the weak moonlight, before I began my journey back to Pago.