The snap and crackle of Holden’s campfire broke the eerie silence in the woods. It was as if even the nocturnal creatures were watching him, waiting for him to make a move with baited breath. Next to the fire was the remains of a rabbit. Unfortunately for it, it was the only animal Holden had spotted. Even less in the creature’s favor was that Holden’s accuracy was quite decent. His father had taught him how to gut animals should the need arise, be it that the farm would not be capable of feeding his family, or that there was no other way to satiate his hunger.
The fire illuminated Holden’s surroundings, repelling the darkness that he would have drowned in otherwise. Never before had he felt so utterly alone. Yet, he did not panic. Though his vulnerability and the certainty that he was on his own should have been a prime source of anxiety, he felt little more than isolated. It was partially due to his inflated pride, swollen so by how well he was managing on his own. When the sun rose, he would just navigate through the woods and find Tamef’s camp.
Holden’s train of thought was broken by a rustling in the nearby brush. Quick to react, Holden drew Tamef’s bow, readying an arrow. Placing the fire between what lurks in the woods and himself, he felt the false security he had slip away. He was still in the forest, which made him the woodland creature and a great number of beasts the hunter. Suddenly, the brush gave way to a speeding bulk of fur, the firelight shining off of a pair of black, beady eyes that stayed close to the ground. Holden let an arrow free, but its stopping power did not even hinder the beast’s rush. He felt his legs take the impact of the charge, sending him to the ground, the wind knocked from his lungs. Scrambling to get up, Holden felt a pain shoot through his leg. Liquid heat soaked the area of impact, and the agony made it near impossible to stand up. He glanced over to what had rammed him; a boar, and no small one either. Protruding from its back was the wooden shaft of his arrow. At least he returned the blow. The boar retreated back into the wilderness, leaving Holden on the ground.
Groaning out loud, he tried moving his leg. Fortunately, it did not appear to be broken, spare the skin. Holden crawled towards the pack Tamef left for him, and rummaged through the supplies. Finding a roll of cloth, he bandaged his leg up, and watched as the cloth turned crimson. He tried to get up and pursue the boar, but the pain ensured that he would remain subdued. Crawling over to a nearby tree -- to have his back protected by the trunk -- Holden kept the bow and a few arrows right beside himself. He wanted to be ready in case the boar -- or something worse -- came into his camp.
To take his mind off of the pain, Holden reflected over all that happened as of recent. Only a few months ago, he was a farmer’s boy, and now here he was. He could have been an archer, could have gone into the service and done his part from behind the battling forces. But, he wanted glory, honor, and all the other idealistic things that drive a man. He remembered the stories his father would tell, of glorious battles and highly honored people he met in his service, like the Three Generals, and Saul. Those stories were the reasons that pushed him into this life, in pursuit of his own stories. Holden could not help but grin. His father wanted him to take up archery for survival, and here he was, using it to train for the worst possible occupation in terms of survival.
Then, there was Saul. Holden watched the flames flicker, and folded his arms over his chest. Saul was not only a comrade of his father, but a dear friend as well. Saul was a dedicated veteran, but the only thing that could defeat him was his love for gambling. That took away every scrap his distinguished service had earned him, including his home in Okeluiso. But, what business was he involved in that would have him work with people like Tamef?
Holden’s brow furrowed. People like Tamef. Those who live out in the woods, out of view. Those who sought Saul’s teachings as a scout, but intend to use it for other reasons than to serve the nation. Then, Saul’s words resurfaced in his mind.
People who believe our homeland is not as it should be.
***
The grey glow of early dawn settled into the forest, accompanied by a profound chill in the air and a light fog. The blackened remains of the campfire were still smoking when Holden awoke. His body shivered involuntarily from the brisk temperature, and he was also welcomed with the pain in his leg. It was no longer crippling, but rather annoying. Slinging the bow over his chest, Holden pulled himself back onto his feet with only a little difficulty, and started to gather his belongings. It was then that he noticed a trail of blood leading off into the wilderness; the boar. Following the trail, it led Holden quite a ways from the camp. Then, as he pulled open a bush, Holden grimaced and turned away. He had almost forgotten that he was not the only dangerous predator lurking in the forest, like whatever had torn the boar apart and left a mess after its feast.
When he returned to his camp, Holden investigated the area with care. Tamef never mentioned where his camp was, which left Holden to find out on his own. Looking around where Tamef had disappeared, Holden was pleased with himself when he found bootprints. After clearing out his camp, Holden followed the prints off into the woods. He kept his bow drawn, just in case there was something looking to turn him into the boar. It would be something a scout must deal with atop everything else, he supposed. Predators, the elements, and his own necessities would be just a few of the problems he would need to solve. Perhaps that was the purpose of Tamef abandoning him, to show how difficult it was to be a scout.
A loud growl snapped Holden out of his thoughts. It came from somewhere out of sight, concealed by the thick brush. Scanning his surroundings, Holden readied an arrow. A thread of dread weaved into his mind reminded him that there were creatures -- like bears -- that only grew enraged at pain. But, other than run -- with his leg as it was, that was not an option -- he had nothing else to keep him alive other than to fight. Then, the rustling stopped, though the tension of the moment only kept rising. Holden could feel the eyes of the hidden beast watching, waiting patiently for his next move.
Holden was not going to stand being stalked, much less being hunted. He kept looking around, until he saw a pair of vibrant, yellow eyes, staring at him. Without hesitation, he released his arrows, just as the eyes disappeared. Listening to the unknown creature bound away, Holden relaxed for the moment. Whatever manner of creature it was, at least it appeared to be vulnerable to fear. When Holden looked for the footprints, he frowned. His worry over the beast had led him astray from the path. However, he was not left without a trail for long. The smell of smoke wafted out of a thin passage ahead, where a tremendous rock has split in two ages ago.
It must be Tamef’s camp. If not, the way forward would at least reduce the risk of the predator that stalks him finding a way to flank him. Holden slowed his pace, taking care with each step. Any injury inflicted by being reckless was an assurance of death when he would be on the field, after all. Voices bounded through the canyon, as it widened out the deeper that Holden went. He felt relieved, as it meant that he made it to the camp, after all. What came into view, though, was anything but.
Holden did not recognize any of the men and women at this camp, and could not spot Tamef amongst them, either. For that, he remained wary. The odor of cooking meat hit him with nearly overwhelming force, though nobody seemed to partake in eating. Crouched, he drew closer to the camp, and listened in on the strangers.
“This is a bad idea, Leucis. This isn’t sacking some small lookout in the woods; and officer, for Arade Herself’s sake!” The worried voice was met by a low chuckle, one that sounded like stones grinding, and the actual voice was far more discomforting, even with its tell-tale airy tone.
“You wear yourself over nothing, Delisar,” it said, in complete contrast to its worried counterpart. “The harder we push, the faster this oak will fall. This is what His Majesty, King Daewanex wanted, is it not?”
“This is the wrong enemy to start an empire on; they would sink our ships, and cleave our military strength in twain before His Majesty can give the first order!”
“You underestimate our fellow Watchmen.”
“Arade blessed us to defend our homeland. What if that blessing ceases to exist when we go out to war?”
“We already have, Delisar. Now, tell the others to burn the rest of the bodies. We have plenty of work to do before nightfall.”
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