A/N: For those who are lost with H'aanit's middle english accent, here's some grammar for helping you:

Thou = You (Subject)      Thee = You (Object)    Thy = Your      Thine = Yours    Thyself = Yourself

Ye = You (plural)        Dost = Do       Does = Doth        Hast = Have       Hath = Has    Art = Are

~Travis's POV~

Hmmm.... That's so good to sleep... away from problems... getting warm... I would like so much to stay on my bed...

"Roar...", growled something.

What's that noise ?...

I was peacefully sleeping, when I slowly opened my eyes, and I was quite surprised to see what was waking me up.

"Roar..."

It was a tiger, a white tiger, which was facing me closely with its sharp eyes and its mustache.

"Aaaah !"

I quickly sat down on my bed in fear, being surprised to be waken up by a tiger.

It was H'aanit's tiger sitting on my bed, right a front of me.

"Roar...", it growled again.

It was quite scaring me, by standing right a front of me, but he seemed quite calm.

What is he doing here ?! In my bedroom ?!

I then reminded something.

"Oh yeah ! The hunt !", I said to myself.

I watched at the window, wide opened, where it was already the morning. The tiger must had taken this way, as the door was closed. But I was more concerned by the first light of the day.

Oh... yeah ! I have to go in the forest with H'aanit !

I remembered I've accepted her proposition last night. She said that she wanted to bring me in the forest, and to learn how to hunt, if I wanted to know more about this world. That's right I was quite curious about how they hunt animals and what kind of beasts we could meet.

I have to hurry ! She must be waiting for me !

I started to put on my small boots, when I saw the tiger going down from the bed like a regular cat, and staring at me.

"Rooarr !...", he growled at me.

I didn't understand what this tiger wanted to say. However, I was sure he wanted to show me something, but what ?

What does he want to show me ?

The big cat moved behind my bed, so I followed him, when I noticed a few particular clothes put on the ground.

"Roaar !...", he growled at me.

There was a well folded light brown and white coat, made with a fluffy animal skin. A brown pair of pants was present, alongside with a pair of dark brown leather boots. They seemed to be at my size...

Are those clothes for me ?

"Do... do I have to put those clothes on ?", I said calmly, in a curious way.

"Roaaar...", growled calmly H'aanit's tiger, just like he wanted to tell me "yes".

I think this big cat was really smart: he wasn't only very obeying to his master, but he even knew how to bring clothes at me and to wake me up. What an amazing animal !

I was wondering first why he wanted me to wear them, when I observed that they were quite similar to the uniforms worn by the inhabitants, which were all almost hunters, so maybe I'll look like a true hunter ! Indeed, I noticed that my clothes were in a bad mood, after all I've been through since I wore them...

~H'aanit's POV~

Waiting for the tired little one, I was training a little at the edge of the woods, checking out the effectiveness of the new models of arrows I've made this morning.

According to the new fabric and how I disposed the arrowhead, I deduce that it will have a slightly faster air speed, but it could risk to be less penetrated into my target's flesh, reducing its killing probability. So, I must adopt a different way to aim...

I also profited to check on the states of the traps I made today. It's been an hour I was ready to hunt, but it's also been half an hour I was waiting for Travis.

"Hmm... he's late."

I had the permission of Van'Rah to bring Travis in one of my hunting session, as I wanted to teach him more about the nature of the law. He was very trustful towards me, and because I was Z'aanta's apprentice, he even considered as one of the best hunters of the village, but I wasn't still completely ready to have an apprentice of mine, especially with one who had never practiced a single hunt during his whole life.

What an annoying thought... But see how ignorant he was, I deduced it must be better if he could learn more about the principles of hunting as soon as possible. Indeed, because he was now considered like a sapphire eyed by most of the townfolk, they should calm down if Travis isn't nearby.

"H'aanit !", called a voice.

It was Travis, running towards me, and followed by Linde. I see that he had the time to put on the new clothes the chief have always in stock for the youngest apprentices.

He stopped in place, taking his breath, when I told him.

"Morning Travis. Thou art half an hour late."

"Sorry H'aanit... I have never noticed... it was already the time... And... I didn't have any watc... Ah ! I mean... I'm sorry !", he apologized to me, feeling quite epuised after the run.

I believed he wanted to say something which could explain why he was late, but he suddenly interrupted himself. What was he talking about ?...

Whatever. The importance is that he finally came, and he seemed well ready despite his eyes seemed still tired.

I answered him.

"'tis alright. After all, this is not everyday that thou must wakest up at this time of the day. Thanksfully I sent Linde to waken thee up."

"Roaar !....", growled Linde while hearing her name.

She was just sitting right next to Travis, as she was slightly taller than him.

Travis seemed concerned after I mentioned her.

"Linde ?... Is that the name of your cat ?"

He seemed quite interested, and I enjoyed his question.

"Yes. To be exact, she is a snowy panther, a rare specie from the northern Frostlands, and a very close friend of mine since I was a child."

The boy stared at her and waved to her in a friendly way.

"H-hello Linde !"

"Rooaaar...", she calmly growled, enjoying the boy's company.

"Can I... pet her ?", he asked me nicely, with a small smile adorning his face as he seemed excited in his mind to see such an animal.

"Of course. If thou wanteth to.", I answered him calmly.

He then slowly patted her forehead, making her purring as she enjoyed the caress.

"She is so fluffy...", said Travis, who looked not very scared to interact with a panther, as he was enjoying to caress her, when he continued. "I found her really amazing !"

"Thankenee. She liketh to meeten new people.", I answered him calmly, when I spoke again."She will cometh with us during our hunt. Even if she seemeth nice and calm, lete me tell thee she is also a deadly predator."

"Really ?! Does she ?!", he asked me, quite impressed, as he calmly stopped to caress her.

I nodded to him.

This young boy still liked Linde, despite she was scaring him a little, especially when he observed her yesterday biting a wolf's neck when he has been attacked.

Garrgle...

I heard his stomach growling, as he seemed quite bothered.

"Oh no ! I've forgotten to take a breakfast ! H'aanit, please, could you take me somewhere where I could eat a little before we go ? I couldn't do anything with an empty stomach !", Travis told me, feeling quite embarassed.

I sighted calmly, feeling annoyed that for him his stomach must be a priority compared to all I was about to teach him about the principles of a hunt.

Thanksfully I thought about it.

"No need to. I hast just the thing.", I told him, while taking something from my bag.

I gave him a treat, made of crust and wild strawberry jam, when he watched curiously at the meal, before he started to eat it.

"Mmmh... That's good. What is it ?", asked me Travis with an empty mouth, as he enjoyed the treat.

"Sweetdough. 'tis a popular treat in mine home village."

I waited patiently that he will finish it, as we've a long way to go.

After he finished his treat, he told me nicely.

"Thanks Han ! Err... That doesn't bother you if I call you "Han" ?"

I was thinking a little, while staying quite serious, before I answered him.

"If thou wantest... Sparky."

"Why did you call me "Sparky" ?!", he exclamed, seemed quite surprised.

We've talked too much, and I've spent already a lot of time waiting for him. I think Travis was really a little friendlier than the others kids of my village, maybe too much friendly, like the those from foreign towns. It was bothering me to think that I was about to teach a kid like him the hunting basics, as he was sometimes reckless and too much curious. However, despite all those defaults, I think he seemed motived for his ambitions, and he was quite smart for a kid like him. Indeed, his bravery seemed to be really impressive, much more than the majority of hunters living in those woods. That's annoying me to say that, but by seeing that cheerful personnality, he really reminded me of master Z'aanta at some points...

I then checked one more time the hardness of my bow's thread, and counted how many arrows I had.

7 arrows... That's might be enough.

I think I'll profit to look for feathers, in order to make new arrows. I must be careful while hunting, especially when I have to protect Travis from hostilities. But I think he should learn how to protect himself too, just in case.

So, I took my dagger made of bones, and handled it to him.

"Taken that."

"What is that ?", he asked me at the sight of the weapon.

"My dagger. I give it to thee during our hunt, if thou wantest to stayen alive. So, dost not damage it, please.", I answered him in a cold way, before adding. "Usen it just to defend thyself, am I right ?"

"O-okay !... Thanks !", he told me calmly, before stowing it next to his hip.

"Very well.", I started to walk alongside with Linde, as he followed me, before I pointed my arm in a direction. "We will make our way at the Whisperwoods, so we could be alone for a moment. So, followe me no matter the situation, and listene to my orders. Okay ?"

"Okay !", he answered me.

"Alright ! Now, let's go !", I exclamed calmly, as we started to make our way in the deep forest.

~15 minutes later~

~Travis's POV~

We were walking through the Whisperwoods, as I recognized the way backwards we made yesterday. This forest looked less scarier without that mist: we could notice how vast it was with all those trees covered by a dark green leave. However, there was still a feeling of mystery when we continued to go through the big trees. Those woods weren't the same than the other woods I've visited with Alfyn: I was scared and impressed at the same time.

Thanskfully, I was much less afraid with H'aanit's presence, who remained fearless and quiet. She had such a cold behavior, no matter the situation, and I could see she must be a very skilled hunter if she was used to hang out in those woods. Even Linde seemed attentive at everything around us.

I was curious about what she was about to teach me about hunting: she said that I'll learn the true principles. Were they related to the law of nature she told me about yesterday ? And will she also teach me how to hunt animals too ? Maybe. After all, she didn't gave me this dagger for nothing, but she told me to use it only to defend myself. After all, I didn't really wanted to kill every animal I see.

H'aanit was such a devoted woman about this law of nature: she might be someone who kills animal, but I was sure she had an heart for all animals living in that forest. She reminded me of Alfyn with her interest on nature: while Alfyn loved plants and flowers, she loved animals.

We remained silent since we left the village, passing through the way back where we came from when we arrived in the village yesterday at the morning. There was such a quiet but natural ambiance with the leaves shaking a little from the blew of the wind, and the birds singing. H'aanit just remained quiet: I noticed her hand was tightly holding something which was around her neck. I could observe that it was a necklace with a pair of rings. What were those rings ?

For a moment, I think we were only walking in a direction which was unknown to me. I wanted to talk with her a little.

"Err... H'aanit ?"

"Silence.", she answered me directly, in a call but cold way.

"Wha..."

"Silence is one of the best hunter's allies. If he dost
not keepen it, that could cost his life."

Her answer scared me a little: that's right it wasn't very discreet from me to speak to her.

I shushed to her.

"It's for not scaring off the animals, right ?.."

She didn't answer me directly, still focused to watch around us, as there was still not a single animal. I must be annoying her with that question.

"We art already scaring them off, thou knowest.", she answered me.

"Ah ?"

"From all species living in this world, Man is such the most dangerous of them."

"The most dangerous ?! Are you sure ?!", I asked her, by shushing in order to not make too much noises, as I was surprised by what she said.

"'tis the pure truth of this world, little one. All clothes thou wearest, where dost thou think they camen from ?"

When I watched at my furry coat, her question began to have such a lot of interest.

I answered in a low tone.

"...From animals..."

"That's right. Every meal we eat, every home we build, every tool we make... We had obtained all of these after many centuries of evolution where we had to survive and to distinguishen ourselves from other species by hunting them and feeding on their flesh. Generally, man was reputed to be a savage creature, with a lot of ferocity and animosity. We may have evolved to smart creatures with feelings, knowledge, and education, but there are still traces of our animosity, between the disputes nowadays, and all the wars from the past."

So men were... ferocious ? I was agree to think that humans like me and her were also animals, very close to apes, but did she really think men were still savages beasts ?

"Do you really think, Han, that me and you are like animals ?"

She nodded.

"Me and you, we haven so much similitaries with all creatures populating this world, not only in term of appearance, but also of behavior, a bit like you yesterday with that drunk man."

"Huh ?"

"When I've observed you facing that bully, with anger in his eyes, and determination in yours, I thought I just saw two male wolves fighting to deciden who will be the leader of a pack. By the way, kicking him for pushing him wath such an act of provocation."

"Of provocation ?"

"Exactly, when we inciten someone to maken a violent action, like attacking him. Even if thou just wanted to helpen that boy, it was thee who hath started the first."

"...that's right.", I answered her calmly, feeling aware that I was really the first one who started the fight.

"After all, when I pointed him my arrowhead and menaced him to shoot it behind both his eyes, it wath also an act of provocation. Honestly, when someone is disturbing the calm and security in our village, like yesterday, I had sometimes the habitude to provoken him for he could quietly stop to make troubles.", she explained me.

The fact I provoked someone finally started to convince me if I was an animal. Yeah, I might be a small animal who tries to survive in his own way for feeding and defending himself. That lifestyle looked like a little what I knew since the beginning of my existence.

While we passed through an area of dark green grass covered by dead leaves and twigles, H'aanit continued to speak.

"This is one of the different behavior an animal could adopt in order to imposen itself, to defenden its territory for example. Indeed, in those woods, there is only one true law: the law of the strongest."

"The law... of the strongest ?", I asked her calmly, as I think I've already heard that somewhere.

"Yes. Among wild beasts, their laws are really different of ours. Only the strongest survive and the weakest pass away in this world. Unlike us, humans, who can live easily in community, not a single creature is punished when he eats another harmless animal for feeding. They only survive by their own survival instincts with many ways. Under the law of the strongest, many choices are possible for permitting their survival : some of them live in community with their fellows, others prefer a lonely life. Some of them evolve for being the strongest in order to be at the top of the food chain, others prefers to flee their predators by defending themselves or staying hidden... !!!"

Suddenly, she turned at her right, and she was very concerned and serious.

I was wondering why she became so vigilant.

"H'aanit !... What's wrong ?!", I asked her calmly, trying to not make too much noises.

"Shut up !", she told me by shushing, while she took her bow from her back, and an arrow from her bag.

Linde also growled in a low tone, and kept her guards, just like her master. I decided to keep my guards as well and to stay discreet, just like how H'aanit was doing.

While I was wondering what was concerning her, she told me quietly.

"Followen me."

She started to move at the right, walking slightly slower while holding her bow, as I tried to walk the calmest possible, while walking behind her.

I also watched at Linde who was moving in a particular way: she was very quite when she moved slowly, and she even seemed almost invisible because if her fur being as white as were the trees. She was moving next to H'aanit, like a cat ready to jump on a mouse to catch it.

We managed to advance when we approached to a place which was familiar to me.

There was a valley which could be noticed if we moved more, a tree at each sides of the valley, where there was around one of them a pile of dark wood.

There was no doubt: it was the place where I've built my shelter, where those wolves attacked me, and where H'aanit had found me.

I was quite excited in my mind to have finally found this place again, but for the moment, I was mostly concerned about what was going one, when I heard some noises.

Rrrrrrr....

What was that ?! A wolf ?!

I watched around me, when I observed alongside with H'aanit and Linde what was at the bottom of the valley.

There were 2 animals: one of them was a cat, with an orange fur, and a pair of long ears.

Wait... no that's not a cat, that's a rabbit !

The second one was slightly bigger than the rabbit: it was a fox, slightly smaller than a wolf, but who looked like a wolf because its fur was grey.

A grey fox ?! Wait an minute, if wolves were brown, foxes were grey, and rabbits were orange... does that mean bears are white in that forest ?!

That's so surprising to see creatures with a color different from the pictures of the book I read about them, but I was actually worried for the rabbit.

Effectly, I observed the rabbit wasn't moving, it was scared while it was in a curled up position, while the fox watched menacingly at him, just like he was hungry.

Rrrrrrr....

Oh no ! This poor harmless rabbit without defense is about to be eaten by this fox !

I have to do something for helping that poor rabbit: maybe I could scare him off and make him flee away... Plus, he hasn't noticed me yet.

But before I could do something, I saw suddenly an arrow flying at quick speed before reaching the hungry fox.

Couine !

The fox fell on the ground, instantly killed by the arrow H'aanit just shot, while the rabbit flew away from the valley in fear, escaping a certain demise.

Pheww... He escaped !

However, I was really surprised that H'aanit would totally shoot an arrow on the fox, instead of just scaring him. I was quite amazed by her quick reflexe, but also a bit shocked that she killed the fox.

After all, she prevented the rabbit of being eaten alive by the fox. I noticed she seemed quite angry, as she sighted.

"Yet another lone male who preferred to eaten between meals...", she said in a wise but serious voice.

Honestly, I would like to blame her for killing this fox, but I didn't want to be really angry with her. Plus, we were here for hunting, and she did it to save this animal. That was quite hard for me to accept, to see H'aanit killing an animal in a cold way. I preferred that she would just scare him off...

Else, I was really impressed by her rapidity and her accuracy with bow.

Wahh... She has shoot right onto his neck !

I really think she was much better than this Sirius with her bow: she took it quicker, took an arrow quicker, aimed quicker, and shoot quicker, in only a matter of seconds, in addition of being very accurate ! Seriously, she had such a sharp eye !

She lowered her bow, while Linde slowly went down the valley to examine the fox's corpse, when I did the same by making sure to not slip while going down.

I said to H'aanit, feeling quite surprised.

"Err... Nice shot !"

"Thankenee, Sparky. When we hunten a prey, we hast to act quickly, unlike this grey fox.", she answered me in a cold way.

Why did she keep calling me Sparky ?!

Anyway, we just hunted our first prey, as she said. I just witnessed her killing another animal, while she seemed quite annoyed to have slayed him.

I watched carefully at the dead fox, his neck bleeding due to the sharp arrow, when I asked her.

"B-but H'aanit ? Why have you killed him ? Haven't you said that some beasts must eat animals just for surviving ?"

She calmly put her finger on the corpse, checking its pulse, when she answered me.

"Yeah, I said that. Some creatures hast to coveren their claws of blood in order to responden their food needs... However, this canine had clearly done too much."

I noticed she seemed quite annoyed towards the fox, even if she was still serious. I know the fox just wanted, so why has she killed him ?

"Too much ?! What do you mean ?"

"Looken closely...", she told me.

I observed closely at the corpse, when I discovered something awful. His paws were slightly covered of blood, alongside with his teeth. Wait... did he had eaten others rabbits ?!

I saw H'aanit picking him with her fingers something stuck in the fox's jaw: it looked like an orange ball of fur, the same color the rabbit.

It was when I quickly understood that H'aanit spoke to me, while showing me the small ball of fur.

"A patch of hair from a vermeil rabbit. Its attempted victim wath definitely not the only one, this morning."

"Do you mean... he ate other ones ?", I asked her, having a bad feeling.

She slowly moved the head to say "yes", before she continued.

"Unfortunately, in this cruel world, 'tis still remaining a certain number of creatures who preferen enforcing their own laws and who art able to becomen merciless towards their victims. Indeed, they dost not only hunt more that they needed for feeding... they can also killen by pleasure."

"That's horrifying...", I said in a low tone.

How could animals would kill other animals for just pleasure instead of killing them for just feeding and surviving ?! For killing innocent and harmless animals just for fun, these kinds of beasts should be real monsters !

I saw H'aanit examining the blood on the fox's jaw, and touching it with her finger.

"The blood is still fresh. This silver fox must hast killed another ones a few minutes ago...", she told me, making me quite shocked for the poor rabbit, before she continued while observing the animal she just slayed. "Anyway, now I hast ended its life, he won't maketh another victims anymore."

It was right that now the fox was dead, the rabbit could has been saved thanks to H'aanit. That was weird: when I saw this merciless rabbit attacked by this bad fox, and H'aanit killing the canine for rescuing him, it's just like... this rabbit reminded me of myself. Yeah, she just killed an animal for saving another one, just like she did with me when I was at the mercy of the wolves. Once again, she had to take a life in order to save another one, but it was just a small rabbit who was going to be eaten, not a boy like me who didn't know a lot of things about the forest and its laws.

I watched again at the dead fox covered of blood, when Iasked to H'aanit.

"What are we gonna do with him ?"

"Well, his life now belongeth to the forest. His corpse will serven of meal for others meat eaters, like his fellows.", she answered me.

"By his fellows ?!", she nodded me "yes", before I spoke again. "I never knew that animals could eat their own species !"

"We callen that practice cannibalism."

"C-cannibalism ?!", I exclamed calmly, surprised to hear such an awful word.

"This is when, by instinct of survival, animals hast sometimes to consumen members of their group... and to humans consuming human flesh."

I started to be quite frightened about that idea.

"H-humans... can eat other humans ?!"

She made a small smile at me, aware that I was finding that awful and scary.

"Not anymore, nowadays.", she answered me coldly.

"Phew...", I sighted.

Humans eating other humans... that was really a completely fishy thought !

I just remembered from the book I read in a library once that meat eater animals, like the lion or the wolf, would eat other animals who eat plants, and I also reminded that even meat eaters could eat other meat eaters. However, I've never read parts talking about cannibalism, especially involving humans. Maybe it was because this book was just for kids...

If only I had still this book with me, and also that one about surviving in the nature. I could learn more about animals and nature, and they would be very useful if ever I had to survive. Plus, I remembered they weren't too big when I've read them, so I'm sure they could get in my bag.

Talking about my bag...

"My bag !", I exclamed, when I remembered that my bag was there.

I started to go up the valley, in direction of the broken shelter against the tree, when H'aanit watched at me curiously.

"What art thou doing ?"

"I know that place... I've left my stuff right there !", I answered her, while I started to understand a little her accent.

"We dost not haven a lot of time, thou knowest.", she crossed her arms, feeling quite impatient.

"Just a minute, please !", I told her.

I watched at my shelter, where all the sticks had fallen on each other for an unknown reason, where I remembered to have left my bag there before I was attacked by the wolves. I was so distracted by them and by h'aanit and Linde's intervention that I've totally forgotten to take it with me.

I moved some sticks to make sure I would reach for the bag... However, I didn't find it.

"Where ?!..."

I continued to move sticks quickly, hoping the bag would be stuck underneath a few sticks... but there was no more bag... It was gone.

"Oh no... Where it is ?!", I said in an annoyed tone.

"What ?"

"My bag ! Where I carried everything in it !"

While I continued to verify if it wasn't hidden, I could hear H'aanit sighting, annoyed, as Linde growled calmly.

"If thou dost not payen attention to all thy stuff, now, well I don't think we'll geten anywhere..."

That's not true ! All my stuff was gone ! The bag Alfyn offered me ! With my axe Therion gave me ! And also the precious stone Ophilia gave ma ! Where were they ?!

I was so worried of their loss, so I said to H'aanit.

"We need to find it !"

"Dost thou really thinketh it is time for this ?", she asked me in a demanding way.

"But this bag means everything to me ! There are a lot of things in it which I care ab..."

"Dost thou wanteth to given up the hunt for a bag ?!", she asked me, interrupting me.

I stopped to talk.

She was right, if ever I only take my time looking for my bag, I could forget about the hunt session H'aanit wanted to show me. I would like to know more about the animals from the forest, but I wanted so much to retrieve my bag, where there were the only keepsakes I had from my friends.

However, I don't think H'aanit wanted to help me find it, as we have already something else to do.

She then spoke to me.

"Mayhaps we will finden it in our way... After all, it still hath to be around here somewhere.", I was feeling quite reassured to hope finding my bag again, when she observed at my broken shelter. "Is that thou who madeth this ?", she told me calmly.

"...Yeah. It's a little broken..."

"Well, even if 'tis not seemeth to be a good shelter, I see thou must hast made a lot of efforts in this.", she told me calmly, as she seemed quite impressed by my building skills, before she asked me. "How dost thou learned to builden that ?"

"Err... I read it in a book ! Even if I don't remember all the details..."

"A book telling how to maken shelter ?... Original.", she told me curiously.

That was right we should not make books like this in this video game world...

"Err... Before you came, I also wanted to create a fire like how they said in the book, but that didn't work ! Hehe !", I answered her, being a little embarassed.

"Well, I think thou should forgeteth everything thou hast learned in those books."

"Uhh ?"

"Knowledge learned by theory and knowledge learned by practice art very different. Believe me, what thou hast learned before won't be very useful today. Into the woods, things changen radically compared to what scholars sayen in their parchments of knowledge. Instead of relying other persons reports, thou hast to see things by thyself.", she explained me.

"What do you mean ?"

She bended down and showed me my shelter.

"Lookst this shelter. Despite the wood were well planted in the dirt, it must had collapsed due to an outward force. For being clear, the vermeil rabbit from earlier tried to hiden its predator, but he must hath accidentally destroyed it, and the silver fox had heard it collapsing too, before he chased him while he tried to escape."

"So, you have heard it collapsing, right ?"

She nodded to me.

H'aanit was really smart to imagine how it has happened. Indeed, she had such an incredible sense of hearing, just like she was herself a wild beast !

Honestly, I was really admired by her skills and her sense of observation, just like Therion. Even if she was quite strict, she was really wise and calm, which was very useful to hunt animal without making any noises. Me too I wanted to be like her, to be a strong person with as much reflexes as she has, in addition of learning how to control my superpowers ! As a conclusion, I think I've found the perfect person to teach me how to get stronger !

I wa feeling excited in my mind, when I told her calmly.

"Sometimes, Han... I would like to be like you !"

She slowly smiled at me, and I had even the feeling she started to like me, when she got up on her feet.

"Well, Sparky, if thou art motivated like that, lete me tellen thee that thou must improven thyself through a lot of difficult efforts. Art thou still sure thou wanteth to continuen ?", she asked me, while she counted how many arrows she had.

This was an important proposition, she was aware that a kid like me wouldn't be able to follow the same rhythm than her. I bet she was still underestimating me, even if she said I was quite strong. But no matter what others say about me, I won't change my decision.

So, I answered her seriously.

"It's not that I want to continue... Is that I HAVE to continue.", I watched at her right in the eyes.

She noticed how much I was determined, and due to her glare, I bet she wasn't watching me in the same way anymore. If I must progress to help the ones I like, then I will !

She then ruffled my hair, before telling me calmly.

"Hmm... I see how much thou art a sense of charisma !... Very well, if thou wanteth to learn what an hunter hath to knowen, just follow me, Linde, and my orders !"

We then continued to walk through the deep forest, when I asked her.

"What are we gonna do, first ?"

"We will checken my traps, and see if beasts had fallen into them."

"Your traps ?"

"Exactly, like a net, or a stunner. We will see if one or several of them hast been activated."

"Okay.", I was pretty interested by this hunting session, and everything H'aanit wanted to show me.

So we all three managed to walk through the deep and mysterious forest.

Hours passed, where we took our time in the whisperwoods, looking for traps, and hunting some creatures, while I listened to everything H'aanit wanted to teach me about the true principles of hunting.

"Listnen, my boy. Hunting isn't just about sticking arrow into a monster's hide..."

H'aanit showed me a few of the traps she had made, all sophisticated each others. There was one of them, a rope which was useful to catch little animals by the leg. It was another vermeil rabbit, which was gesticulating in order to escape, but H'aanit was kind enough to free him and let him go, before building again the trap.

"Sometimes the land setteth itself against thee, and Nature herself, fickle old sow that she is."

However, when we looked another trap, this time it was a white bird who was already dead on the ground, being hit by a stunner. So I observed H'aanit taking its feathers. When I asked her why, she told me she could make more arrows in order to make them aerodynamic. It was really amazing, to use bird's feather for making arrows.

"But always remembren to stoppen, and takest in the air. Lookst arround thee."

I did what she said: I looked all around me the environment. I was very impressed to be in the middle such a place of nature, home of many trees and animals. My ears could hear an amazing ambiance when I heard the leaves shaking from the wind, and the hidden creatures, like birds or bugs singing. It was just like I could hear the Nature speaking.

"Even if Nature is thy foe, it does not mean thou must fightst her."

There was finally a moment where I saw H'aanit hunting some beasts. But they weren't any beasts... they were spiders, giant spiders if around one meter of length, and who lived in the trees.

H'aanit told me that these creatures could be aggressive against humans, but thanksfully they only lived in the deep forest, so it was rare to meet one.

A few of them tried to attack us, and they were such eight legged freaks. H'aanit managed to kill two of them easily with her arrows, even killing one who was about to jump at her face, alongside with Linde who killed one with her claws.

One of them approached me in a menacing way, so I took the knife H'aanit gave me in order to defend myself, holding it towards the spider with both hands, and staying brave.

But when she tried to jump towards me, I could avoid her but I accidentally dropped my knife, so I quickly picked up a stick on the ground. Where she was about to jump on my face, a trap suddenly activate itself, which instantly killed the spider.

I turned to see that H'aanit just activated the trap by shooting an arrow on the rope which maintained it. That was quite impressing from her to activate a trap like that.

"Instead turnst the lay of the land in thy favor."

Effectly, we could say that she just used the lay of the land in her favor.

I wasn't able to beat that spider, as I felt stupid to have dropped my weapon, when she told me.

"Everyone maken mistakes during their short but important lives. 'tis by making mistakes that we can progress."

Her words were so wise and so right that it was almost impossible for me to give up. I think this lady had such a charisma, between her impressive hunting skills, and her particular philosophy if the forest. She never loses her cool, she is really serious, and she was definitely afraid of nothing ! Indeed, she was such an amazing trainer because I found her panther, Linde, was really the smartest animal I had ever seen on earth ! With all those talents, H'aanit was such an awesome model for others !

That was weird, but the more I was with her, the more I was admiring her. Honestly, I think it was more than just an admiration: since I met H'aanit, I quickly understood that she was rather unique. Furthermore her talents of huntress, she had a lot of bravery and determination, she never minced ones word, and she was quite attentive towards others, as she didn't cared only for animals, but also for a few persons, like me. Despite I didn't know everything about her, I was sure she was much better than every others hunters of S'warkii. It was also incredible that she accepted to help me being stronger and learning more about the world, even if she barely knew me and that she found me stupid. She even noticed at her turn that I had such an amazing power inside me, not only my superpowers and my strength, but also such an incredible will.

At a moment, we stopped in an grassy area covered by tall trees. We both sat down on a rock, when H'aanit picked up a stick and I gave her back her knife, permitting her to trim the end of the stick, removing the bark as it slowly started to have a sharped form.

"No matter the situation, an hunter hath to knowen how to surviven and to defenden itself in a lost world, with only everything at his reach... But even with a simple stick, we could make the deadliest weapon.", she explained to me, when she finished to trim, when she showed me the result.

It was a wooden spear, which was almost as tall as H'aanit, just like the ones I saw on a book with drawing of prehistoric men throwing it at big animals for hunting them.

"Ohh...", I was quite interested by this weapon.

I knew prefectly that weapons like axes or swords were dangerous, but I couldn't stop myself to be rather curious about those kinds of things. Indeed, if we didn't count knives for cooking, and also guns kept by policemen, it wasn't everyday that we could see artisanal weapons. But now, I was in a medieval world were strong people like knights or wizard would use swords and magic for beating monsters and saving people, so I was amazed to discover such things, even if they weren't toys.

While Linde was lying on the ground, licking her paw like a regular cat, I asked to H'aanit.

"How does that work ?"

"Well..."

She quickly stood up and thrown the spear at high speed.

Crack !!

The spear hit a nearby tree, while H'aanit threw him so hard that it was well stuck in the trunk.

I was speechless after witnessing that, totally surprised that H'aanit was such a strong woman.

She then told me.

"I see thou startest having interest about arts of warriors. Dost thou want to tryen ?"

"Yes yes !", I accepted.

"Well first...", she gave me another stick, alongside with her knife, when she told me. "Thou hast to builden it by thyself."

"Whaa... errr... Ok !", I told her, quite surprised.

I started to hold the stick in the same manner that she did, when she attentively observed me alongside with Linde. With the help of H'aanit's knife, I trimmed the end of the stick, but it was slightly harder than it looked. So, I made sure to not hurt my hand while cutting and removing the dark bark from the stick.

After I finished, she spoke to me.

"Not bad for a young man... 'tis just not sharp enough.", she carefully touched the sharp part with her finger, before she handled it to me. "Try, now."

"Ok !", I stood up and prepared myself to throw the spear.

I extended my left arm, aiming for the tree, before I trew the spear with my right arms.

"Ahhh !!!"

It landed on the ground, as I sent it only a few meters away from me.

I felt quite upset to have not sent it hard enough, when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Dost not worry. The first try is always the hardest. Try again."

I picked up the stick one more time, and while I was about to throw it a second time, I heard h'aanit speaking to me in a strict but wise voice.

"Dost not go too fast. Lower a little the spear behind your shoulder, triest to feel all the nature around thee, and to be one with it. And when thou feel ready, throwen it with a few more momentum."

I stayed focused, listening to H'aanit's advices while I was holding my spear by trying to make a clean it.

I was finding her advices quite useful, helping me hold it really carefully, when I finally threw it with all my strength, yelling in effort.

"Aaaaaahhh !!!"

My wooden spear flew through the air at quick speed.

Crack !!!

The spear finally hit the tree as well, being stuck in a lower part than the other spear.

I was rather glad to have managed to throw it like a true hunter, when H'aanit told me.

"Not bad. Good aim, well launched, just still some progress to do."

It was really nice from her to congratulate me when I was training myself to get stronger. Even if for the moment she was just observing my skills and giving advices, I really took her help like an encouragement. Indeed, I really started to take a good pleasure go learn how to hunt animals under her supervision.

She spoke to me.

"Thou knowen... 'tis really much better to train our body and to strengthen our muscle mass, before enhancing our magic skills."

"Really ? Why ?", I asked her, as she was speaking about my superpowers that I wanted to learn how to control them since a long time.

"Imaginest thou art facing a foe who is able to cancelen any forms of magic."

"...able to... cancel magic ?"

I've never heard something like that. I never knew that it could be possible to cancel magic... But how it could be possible ?!

She continued to explain.

"If thy enemy preventeth thee using the extent of thy powers, thou will be deprived of thy defenses, and thy actual strength won't be enough to protecten thyself. So, 'tis necessary to trainen first thy body, and if thou art nothing without thy powers... thou dost not deserve them."

Her last sentence surprised me a little: she just affirmed that I only preferred to use my electric powers to defend myself, and that I wouldn't deserve them for that.

However, she was a little right: strengthening my own body shouldn't be a bad idea. If I want to get stronger and stronger, I must progress with every means possible.

"All living forms on our planet, including us, humans, hast to surviven in this vast but cruel world, using every means possible to liven the longest possible. When you play that game, there are always 2 ways out: you win or you die."

To win or to die... What a strange expression.

That bothered me a little when she replaced the word "lose" by "die". That could mean that we must have to always win if we wanted to live... just like a fight.

I was just noticing that me and H'aanit were doing more than just an hunting session: she was teaching me things about fighting and surviving, and also how beasts could live in a forest, like eating other animals. But humans like her could also kill animals for eating them.

I wanted to know more about this.

"Hey Han. If hunters like you just want to kill animals for eating them, why don't you only eat the ones who died of old age ?"

She seemed quite amused by my question.

"That's right 'tis a wise decision to hunten only beasts who hadeth already went down before we slayen their lives... But tellen me, Sparky: would thou like to eaten only old and wrinkled meat which could bringeth thee diseases ?"

"Errr... No ! Not at all !"

She was definitely right: I wouldn't like to fall sick after eating old meat.

"Roaar...", growled Linde, listening to our conversation while scrubbing her paws on the ground for cleaning them.

"It wath a good idea, but letten me tell thee that we art not scavengers. We hunten creatures like deers, bears or partridges, for taking the meat with the best quality, but we dost not haven to hunten every creatures.", she explained me, when she told at Linde to come, before telling me. "Let's get back to our hunt. I'll show thee why."

I followed them, when she gave me back her knife, while we all advanced through the big forest.

While we were hunting, we also observed some animals's behavior, and checked some traps. H'aanit also explained me the laws of nature.

"To eaten, to be eaten... this is the fate, and privilege, of any beast of the forest. A life for a life. So it hath been since the dawn of time."

I watched h'aanit killing a bird, and taking its feathers.

I also helped her to set a trap for capturing animals, while she explained me that hunters didn't forcefully kill animals right there, they could also let him escape, or taking them for studying their behavior or giving them as a gift to people.

It was quite difficult to set this trap made of wood and of twiggles on a hole H'aanit digged, but she, and even Linde, managed to help me when my role was to pick up some wood.

After we covered the trap of mosses, making sure it was almost camouflaged, she then put a plum as a bait for attracting animals, before we hid behind a bush, and waited for around 20 minutes.

A green goat finally appeared, his fur being so green that it looked like grass, and managed to eat the fruit, leading him to the trap.

"Beeeehhhhh !!", he screeched in surprise, while falling on the deep hole.

However, he quickly managed to escape, and to flee in the nature.

After he left we approached the trap, when we noticed some of the goat's hair were stuck between the twigles. H'aanit told me they could make good ingredients for seasoning meat.

"But to slayen for sport, for pleasure or greed, is to betrayen the law of nature. Each time a creature taketh more than it needeth, a part of the forest dieth."

While we were hunting, I learned a lot of things about this forest, as I never knew it could be destroyed by a beast who eat too much animals.

She also showed me how a bow worked, where we just had to use a curved stick and a thread, and to pull an arrow for shooting it at quick speed.

I even asked her if I could try her bow, but she refused. Not because it wasn't for kids, but just because she was afraid I could accidentally break it while trying it.

"All life belongeth to all. The animal that eatheth the grass becometh food for the animal that eateth meat. The eaters of meat in their turns, feedeth those yet stronger. And when the strongest of all dieth, his life is returned to the forest. His flesh feedeth the soil, the grass... His blood becometh sap, his bones wood... He becometh the food of the plant-eaters, and the circle beginneth once more. Lives entwined, a tapestry woven anew each dawn, every thread a part of the whole."

We were observing for a bird who was eating seed on the ground, when we suddenly saw a brown wolf biting hard the bird, instantly killing him.

I was feeling sad for the bird, and angry towards the wolf, when H'aanit told me to calm down and to watch.

The brown wolf didn't start to eat the bird. Instead, it picked up between his jaws, and calmly walked through the woods, as we discreetly followed the canine from far without it noticed our presence.

2 minutes later, the wolf arrived at an area where there was a dark but small cave.

I noticed there was something moving inside the came, alongside with small noises, when the wolves advanced towards the cavern.

H'aanit made me sign to approach, so we crouched down and hid between a couple of trees, when I was surprised by what I witnessed.

Couine ! Couine !

There were a bunch of puppies, of baby wolves for being exact. They were happily making cute squeaking noises, and yapped when they noticed the older wolf.

I then understood this brown wolf, whom I considered like a merciless killing machine, was in reality just a nice mother bringing food to her hungry children !

She approached the puppies, waiting wisely at the cavern with their wide eyes, when she dropped the meal at her paws, permitting her babies to feed, while she was nicely sniffing and licking her cubs.

H'aanit whispered me calmly at my hear.

"Sometimes, some things have better to be protected than being hunted."

It was such an adorable moment to see this wolf bring food to her cubs, who were too young to hunt themselves. Even the most ferocious creature can be protective, nice, and carrying towards their fellows.

This is when I understood what H'aanit meaned about the true principles of hunting: she and other hunters didn't want to kill every animals of the forest because if they don't, their babies would be fully alone and harmless...

It was amazing to think that when we don't kill an animal, we permit him to take care of their fellows, just like a mother bird keeping her eggs.

While I was witnessing the scene with a wide smile, I was pretty sure that it was the most important reason of why H'aanit didn't want to kill too much beasts for nothing. I never expected that people who hunt for animals would be good-hearted...

We then left the place, leaving alone the small family, when H'aanit told me that there were still a few traps she had to check in the forest. But how many there were ?! How she could remember each locations although this forest was just like a labyrinth ?!

I then felt my stomach growling.

Gargle !

I was so much preoccupied with the hunt that I never noticed that we spent so much time without eating some food. It might be already the afternoon, but when I noticed the sun position,I was surprised that it was already the end of the afternoon, before it was the night, so it was really late. The sky slowly started to become yellow, as my stomach continued to grumble.

I decided to stop in my tracks, and sat down on a rock covered by moss, when H'aanit and Linde noticed me.

"Is something wrong, Sparky ?", she asked me, calling me again with that nickname.

"H'aanit... Can we take a break, please ? It's been a time I haven't eaten something..."

She seemed a little annoyed by my behavior, but she stayed calm when she told me.

"Fine. But just 5 minutes, okay ?"

I nodded to her.

Well, that's good !

When she leaned her back against a tree, she continued to speak.

"However, I have no food. A true hunter must knoweth how to restrainen himself."

Well, that's not very good !

I felt quite exhausted, after walking through the woods for long and hunting animals with H'aanit and Linde. But that was really incredible that I've made so much things before taking a break !

"That's so hard to be an hunter..." I said to myself.

I watched at my furry clothes that Linde gave me earlier. They weren't only warm and comfortable, but I felt my movements were free when we were hunting me and H'aanit.

I was wondering why they gave those to me.

"Hey, Han. What's so special about those clothes ?"

"Well if thou lookst around thee, thou will understandst they can helpen thee to stayen alive.", she answered me.

I watched at the whole forest around me, completely filled of grey and brown trees, and also brown dead leaves on the ground... the same colors than my clothes.

Plus, H'aanit also was wearing some clothes with the same colors than the forest. That must completely help her to stay hidden in the nature and to be sneaky.

"Is that... camouflage ?", I asked her, with an interested look.

"That's right. Just like their first ancestors, hunters hast to wearn designed clothes to hunting, made of the beasts they had killed. This practice is very useful for blending into the wild."

"Woahhh... That's incredible ! Can we become invisible with them ?!"

She slowly laughed calmly, before answering me.

"Not totally ! 'tis better to not move if we want to hunten our preys the most easily possible ! But we art not the only ones to hiden our presence, thou knowest."

"Who else ?"

"Lookst at Linde.", she pointed me her panther.

"Roaaaaarrr....", she growled just like she was yawning.

"She is a snow panther which lived in the snowy regions. Because of her fur which is as white as the snow, 'tis much more easier for her to hunt her preys by staying almost invisible in the snow. And this also applieth for all creatures living those woods."

I was really interested to know more details about these amazing ways to hide.

"In those woods ? Did they also have the same colors than us ?"

"Not really. I just wanted to stay that when an animal hath to hiden from its predator, he doth not hideth behind the bush.... He IS the bush."

Amazing !! How is it possible ?!

Suddenly, she calmly her bow, right pointed towards me. I was really surprised, my eyes being wide opened, when she told me.

"Just look."

She then shoot her arrow, but she just aimed the ground, just next to the rock where I was sitting.

While I was slightly confused, I then felt the rock was shaking, before I heard a loud noise.

"Grouiiiiiiiik !!"

"Aaaaaahhh !"

I just noticed I was in reality sitting on an animal, a kind of pig.

He was moving so much in fear that I fell on the ground. He then escaped in fear with his small limbs.

Grouik ! Grouik ! Grouik !

I thought it was a rock where I was sitting ! But this pig's skin had really the same color than a rock, and his back was covered of moss.

And seriously, animals with different colors, animals with plants on their back... What was going on in that damn forest ?!

H'aanit, quite amused, helped me to get up on my feet.

"The mossy meeps are well known to take the form of a rock when they are feeling menaced. But sometimes, they could fall asleep without noticing that "something" is sitting on them."

"I see !", I told her, quite embarrassed.

This forest was really full of surprises: so many weird animals were living in. I never heard about any of them...

"...!", H'aanit became suddenly serious, just like she just perceived something.

I watched at my right to see an arrow flying right in my direction.

But right before it pierced my skull, H'aanit quickly grabbed it with bare hands, preventing me of receiving the arrow.

I watched in direction where the arrow came from: there was the silhouette of someone well hidden behind the tree, who was carrying a bow. Did he tried to kill me ?!

"Grooaaaar !!!", Linde growled menacingly at the mysterious person.

The person started to run away from us, when H'aanit quickly spinned, taking her bow, picking up an arrow, and aimed at the foe before shooting an arrow at quick speed.

I then noticed the person fell, as he must has received the arrow.

But what was that ?! Was it another hunter, like H'aanit ?! Why did he tried to kill me ?!

Anyway, I could say that H'aanit just saved my life one more time.

She watched seriously towards the direction where she shoot, when she spoke coldly

"One more."

She moved in that way, still holding her bow while staying attentive and suspicious, while I followed her alongside with Linde.

We approached the body of the person which H'aanit's was fired on, who was lying on the ground and agonizing in pain.

While H'aanit bended down to examine the corpse, I watched carefully at the foe...

Wait an minute... Is that... A rat ?!

I wasn't dreaming: it was really a big rat, with a grey fur, a long tail, but the most surprising is that he was wearing clothes, and that he was slightly taller than me. Plus, I understood he can even walk and use a bow. But what was going on in that forest ?!

"W-what is that beast ?!", I asked to H'aanit, still watching the now dead rat.

"A forest ratkin. A creature with low intelligence but deceiful who hunt everything he sees.", she answered me seriously, while Linde was growling at the corpse, when she watched around her to make sure nothing was around, before speaking. "And they always live in group."

She then stood up on her feer, still her bow in her hands.

"Uhh ?!"

"Their basement should still be around here. Followest me !", she ordored me.

I followed her without saying any words, as we all make sure to not make any sound.

2 minutes later, we then heard some creatures grunting from far.

"Shhhh....", shushed H'aanit.

We then advanced slower behind a few bushes, as we continued to hear some weird grunting and smirking sounds.

Well hidden, H'aanit, Linde and me observed the whole scene: there were a group of 5 big walking rats, all wearing some wild clothes, and also carrying a bow. They weren't talking, just making rat sounds.

The basement was located on an area without any trees. There were a bunch of animal fur and bones on the right, and in the middle, a campfire was burning, where a black cauldron filled of water was heating up. They must be preparing a soap.

Some of the rats were hungry, as they were all smirking weirdly. One of them especially approached the cauldron and accidentally stepped on one of his fellow's feet. He became angry and jump on the other rat, as they started to stupidly fight each other.

"RRrrrrrrrrrrr !!"

Then, we heard another rat growling, making the 2 fighters stopping.

Another big rat arrived from the right: he was like his fellows, but with slightly different clothes, including a black feather on his head.

He was speaking in a rat language at the other ones who let him pass, as he was carrying a lot of things, including a net.

"The chief of the group...", sushed calmly H'aanit.

"How do you know he is the chief ?"

"He is wearing a black feather behind his head to stand iself from others."

I continued to watch attentively the rats speaking in their own language, when I noticed one of the objects the chief was carrying.

"Hey !... That's my bag ! He's got my bag !", I shushed.

It was this ratkin who had stolen my bag ! He was carrying it around his shoulder by showing off with his fellows by snickering and being arrogant.

"So is that thy bag which thou carest about ?"

"Yeah ! It's him who had stolen it !"

"Forest ratkins art well known to roben people."

We continued to osberve the group communicating each other, where they haven't still noticed our presence because they were too preoccupied to eat the soap.

Grouik ! Grouik !

We both heard the screech of an animal.

I noticed the net the rat carried was shaking, when I saw him taking the mysterious thing from the net.

Grouiiiiiik !

Oh no ! It was the pig from earlier !

He was growling in fear as he tried to flee from the grip of the ratkin.

However, he wasn't able to escape. He was at the mercy of the rats who watched at him with interested eyes. They grinned at the poor animal, and looked really ravenous as they smirked badly.

The monsters ! They want to eat him !

H'aanit also recognized the pig from earlier.

"Poor creature. His life is now at the mercy of these ratkins.", she said in a cold way, just like she didn't cared what was going to happen to that harmless animal.

I knew they just wanted to eat him, but I couldn't stop myself to feel so bad for the mossy meep...

They plunged him forcefully in the hot water of the cauldron, making him squirming in fear.

Grouik ! Grouik ! Grouik !

Those merciless rats just watched at their pray, really blinded by hunger. Some of them were holding the cauldron to make sure it wouldn't fall, while the chief took something from my bag.

He picked the axe, and was about to slice in half the poor animal, as the other cheered just like they were saying "enjoy your meal !"

Watching this made me so angry: I couldn't let that poor little pig being turned into ham.

I moved to the left, when H'aanit noticed me, and grabbed my arm.

"What art thou doing ?!", she shushed.

"There's no way I will let them do !"

I knew she wanted me to stay discreet for the moment, but I couldn't let those rat eating that poor animal !

I break free from H'aanit restraining me, and ran angrily towards the rat, at quick speed.

"aaaaaaAAAAAHHHHH !"

Suddenly some sparks appeared through my body, when my speed increased as I was dashing towards the chief, pushing him hard while electrocuting him.

GZZZZZZTTTTTTTT !!!!!

"RAAAAAAHHHHH !!!"

He screeched in pain and was thrown away thrown a few meters away, as he dropped my axe which fell on the ground, while the other rats were completely surprised of their chief being pushed away like that.

~H'aanit's POV~

What a stupid boy !!!! How can he charges ahead without thinking ?!!

Anyway, the other members of the groups watched angrily at Travis.

Grrrrr ! Grrrrr ! Grrrr ! Grrrr ! Grrrrr !

Travis was menaced by the ratkins, as he seemed to have just understood that he went too far. Despite he quickly took my knife to defend himself, the other rats quickly took their weapons, like a sword or a bow, having the advantage towards him.

He was at the mercy of these belligerent creatures, well known to hate humans, and to sometimes ambush those who lost themselves in the woods.

I think I have no choice...

I jumped out from the bush, making the ratkins surprised, when I quickly fired one arrow on one of them, killing him.

I have 3 arrows left, but there are 4 ratkins to slay.

I counted at high speed, while Travis decided to help the pig to escape from the cauldron.

GRAAAAA !!!!

A ratking took his bow and tried to shoot an arrow at me, but I easily managed to avoid it by just leaning my head.

ROOOOAARRRR !!!

Linde jumped towards the rat to bite his neck, while I quickly turned behind me to see a rat dashing at me with his boned sword, but I quickly shoot him another arrow onto his eye.

2 arrows left.

I was in the middle of a fight, while Travis was reaching for the top of the cauldro, trying to grab the mossy meep and to help him to escape. This kid has definitely too much heart for this animal, as he was too preoccupied to rescue this animal.

GRAAAAAHHHH !

Another rat tried to hit me with a wooden stick, but I managed to pare the blow with my own bow, and instead of shooting an arrow on him, I just took an arrow on my hand, and quickly planted it right onto his eye, killing him.

1 more arrow...

While Linde continued to attack the other rat, Travis was now trying to make fall the cauldron for liberatong the mossy meep, I quickly noticed that a ratkin was about to shoot an arrow on him, while another one dashed towards me with a sword.

"Huh ?!!"

Travis turned behind him, surprised to see an arrow pointed at him, while he was pulling the cauldron with all his strength.

Quick !

I decided to shot my last arrow at the archer ratkin, fired right into his neck, making him falling on the ground, as his own arrow was deviated, and reached the swordfighter ratkin's head, killing him.

I have no more arrows, but Linde quickly managed to eliminate the one she was attacking with her fangs. There was no more foes around us.

"Art thou alright ?!], I asked to Travis, feeling quite concerned about him.

Grouik ! Grouik !

The mossy meep continued to couine in fear, as Travis watched at me, before answering me while pulling the cauldron in effort.

"Yes ! Of course... Woaaahhh !"

He suddenly fell on his back, causing the cauldron to fall as well, spilling all the hot water, and finally making free the mossy meep, permitting him to escape through the woods.

"Hehehe !", he laughed calmly, feeling proud to have been able to save that animal.

Suddenly, we heard another screech.

GRAAAAAAAA !!!!!

I quickly watched at the creature, and felt concerned about it.

"Another one !", I yelled calmly, feeling quite worried for Travis because the ratking was just running at him.

It was the chief, the one Travis pushed with his magic powers, who was running while holding a long spear. Wasn't he supposed to be dead of electrocution ?! Anyway, that's right Travis's magic wasn't strong enough.

I wanted to take an arrow, but there was no more in my bag.

Damn it !

I have to be quick: Travis couldn't do anything because he stupidly fell on the ground, and Linde was quite hurt after the fight against the ratkin. I noticed one of the ratking whom have killed, where there was still an arrow planted onto his head.

I decided to quickly take the well stuck arrow from the corpse, pulling it with all my strength, when I watched at Travis.

He was watching in surprise the chief of the ratkin dashing towards him, who was a few meters away from him, when watched something particular behind the foe. There was an axe, the one the chief was about to use in order to cook although he didn't really know how to make a soap, which was 10 meters away from him.

I saw the boy extending his hand towards the axe, just like... he wanted to reach for it ?! But what he was thinking about ?!

I then witnessed with my own eyes his hand emitting a few sparks, when I watched the axe who was like... moving by itself, while covered by a few blue particles of electricity. And me and him were surprised to see, by pure magic, the weapon flying towards the ratkin, spinning like a boomerang, before the blade finally landed on the back of the ratkin head.

SLASHH !!

The ratkin was instantly killed, making falling him right a front of the boy, with the weapon stuck on his skull.

The chief of the group was now slayed: his live, alongside with the ones which belonged to his fellows, was now returned to the forest.

But .... How did he... ?!!

I couldn't have managed to kill the last one because I was out of arrows, while Linde was quite hurt. So I wasn't able to run at his rescue... but it was finally Travis who got rid of him, and in a very surprising way.

It was this axe Travis wanted to reach which miraculously permitted to save him from a certain demise, but also to kill the ratkin by aiming for the head. Being used to work with knights provided of magic, I wasn't really surprised to see such a feat. I just haven't expected the boy would realize this act, especially if he wasn't very experienced ! I don't think it was a telekinetic magic, the axe's trajectory was clearly too precise. It's just like... he attracted the weapon with only his own hand.

Even Travis really looked as surprised as I was when watching at the now dead varmint agonizing on the ground, right a front of him. Indeed, when I saw him trying to reach the axe, I was completely sure he cared for that weapon. I think this axe belonged to him, because it was inside his bag that has been stolen from him.

So... he was already equipped with a weapon when he came into that forest...

I was quite surprised, but I was more preoccupied to check if he was ok.

"Woah...", he said, while watching the ratkin agonizing a front of him with wide and surprised eyes.

"Art thou alright ?!"

I bended down help him getting up, when he answered me.

"Y-yeah... It's alright... Have... Have you seen that ?!"

"Yeah, I did. I could admit that it wath pretty risky, thanskfully the other vermint was a front of thee to receiven the blow at thy place."

He watched around him all the massacre, where ratkins were doing their dying breath, due to arrows piercing their skull, or this axe for the group leader.

He looked quite upset.

"I'm sorry, Han. I know you wanted to protect me... but I feel sorry that you had to kill and to desobey the law of nature..."

He was ready to be blamed as he felt responsible, just like the time when I had to save him from the wolves claws. However, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind.

"Rooooaarrr...", calmly growled H'aanit, being a little hurt after the ratkin has bitten her paw.

I approached her and examined her, starting to relieve her pain with an healing salve.

"Easy, Linde...", I reassured her, before I finally answered to Travis. "'tis alright."

"Uhh ? You aren't angry with me ?"

"'tis been weeks that this group of ratkins seten up a triage in those woods. Because they were agressive towards humans, and also damaging the law of natures. We had to slayen them to maken sure they aren't nuisances for those woods and all creatures populating them anymore, so their flesh could know feed a few meat eaters.", I finished to put the salve on Linde's paw, who growled in thanks, when I turned towards the boy. "And also... Thou wanted to helpen that poor animal. Am I right ?"

He didn't answer me directly, surprised as he expected I would blame him.

I reminded the words of master Z'aanta, before explaining to him.

"Listnen. Being an hunter means taking lives, but we doe it so we might live. Never forgoten it is thy sacred duty to liven on, too surviven and honoren those fellen by thine own arrows. So, dost not blamen thyself because thou just wanted to surviven and to help an harmless animal, ok ?"

He then sighted in relief.

"Y-you're actually right, H'aanit. I didn't want to get killed now, because you know, there are so many reasons which keep me alive, like achieving my dreams, or helping every people whom I care about... like you, Han."

I was quite touched by his words, so i continued to listen to him.

"Just like you, I want to respect all those laws of nature and everything else... because, honestly... I really admire you."

He watched me with a wide smile, his blue sea eyes full of kindness and of will when he watched at me.

I smiled him back, while helping Linde to get up, before answering him.

"Anyway, well done. I think thou hast almost the true soul of a good hunter.", I then stood up, before saying. "The hunt is over, the sun is going down. Don't forget to taken thy bag and thy stuff."

He then managed to lift up a little the ratkin corpse, permitting him to retrieve his bag which was around its shoulder. I waited for him, as he watched happily his leather bag while making sure there was not a single scratch, and that all his stuff was well inside it.

He pulled his axe struck on the ratkin's skull, when I asked him.

"Doth it hath a name ?"

"What ?"

"Thy axe. I see that thou carest a lot for this weapon, I think thou should givest it a name. Lookst: I named my bow "Sylvaneye", in reference to nature that surroundeth it and its amazing accurate shot. Thou can also name thy weapon by what it representeth for thee..."

~ Travis's POV ~

A name... for my weapon ?

I never thought about that, for me that was just Therion's gift, so I didn't get the utility of naming a weapon. But I think that's could be a pretty good idea: this axe reminded me of all I have been through since I met Therion, and it's could be quicker to give it a name instead of calling it "my axe".

How can I name it ?... Maybe... "Super Mega Giga Ultra Powerful Magical Lighting Axe " ?! Hmmm.... Too much longer !... I could name it with its qualities: this axe was really solid, and I've killed snake with it so... why not... "Solid Snake" ?! No ! That's stupid !... Wait, I could rely it with the fact I had the magic power to control lighting ! So, what if I called it... "Stormbreaker" ?! Though... this name is too much exaggerated !

That wasn't easy to find a real name at an axe, and this was completely different that naming a person or an animal. All I knew, is that even if it was stolen, this was the only keepsake I had from Therion, whom I was lucky enough to have met. Talking about chance, since I've been sucked into that game, I've met a lot of people who were really nice with me, and they were also very particular and unique. I was really happy to have met all of them, but... there was something which I was wondering since the beginning...

Was it fate which led me here ? Or did it was really pure luck ?

If that was the case, we could really say I got very lucky to have been through all those events. Effectly, my life had changed a lot since I've been sucked into that game, and even if there were a few dangers, people whom I never knew before helped me move forward. They were really amazing with me, I must had an iron luck to have met all of them...

This is when I finally found how to call my axe, so I answered to H'aanit with a smile.

"I'm gonna name it... Iron Luck."

"Iron Luck ?... Hmmm... That's doesn't sound so bad !", I smiled to her compliment, before she spoke to me again. "Anyway, 'tis starting to be late. Let's go back to S'warkii, Ok ?... Ah, and dost not forgetten to take the black feather."

She was talking about the black feather of the ratkins chief whom I just killed.

"The black feather ?! For what ?!"

"Well, thou can keepst it as a trophy for thy first hunt."

While we were about to leave, I watched at the feather behind the ratkin's head: it was quite pretty for a feather of that color, and that's could be a great keepsake for that long hunt I had today.

I decided to pick it up, before I joined H'aanit, and gave her back her knife now I had my own weapon.

~1 hour later~

We went back to S'warki after a long march, but we didn't entered in the village, because according to H'aanit, there were still people holding a grudge agains me due to the incident yesterday. Instead, we just stayed at the edge of the forest, not so far from the village, in a small valley surrounded by trees.

The night got already dark, the dark blue sky was very beautiful with all those shiny stars. Nights were really beautiful in Orsterra !

Anyway, it was very late, so I was tired after the long day of hunting, but also very hungry as I haven't eaten something since we left the village. So, H'aanit told me to stay with Linde while she went going to search some food.

I sat down on a big log, while Linde lied down just a front of the log. For a big panther who hunt animals, I was finding her so peaceful...

I slowly decided to caress her, making sure I wouldn't disturb her.

"Roooarrrr....", she calmly purred.

"You like caresses, uh ?"

I smiled calmly, as she was really enjoying the caress.

She was basking against the log while I continued to caress her white fur. She was so fluffy that I wanted to caress her for hours ! She really enjoyed my caresses, and she was really cute ! I always wanted to caress an pet, like a dog or a cat, but when I was living in the streets, every wild dogs or cat I've met always fled away from me.

I noticed H'aanit came back with a wool bag and a few bowl, when she observed us.

"Thou likest Linde a lot, don't you ?"

"Yeah... She is really nice and cute."

"Roooaaarrr...", growled calmly Linde.

"I bet she also likest thee. Despite she seemst to be dangerous, she can be really peaceful when she wantest to. So, children love her and she lovest children back."

"I think you're so lucky to have a pet like her, you know."

"A beautiful beast she is, but she is not pet. She is... my comrade."

I was quite surprised that she considered her like a comrade, but I was also blessed to hear such a thing.

"That's even better, no ?", I answered her, while I continued to caress Linde.

"Indeed. She was gifted to me by a fortune-teller when I was but an infant. She hath always been at my side, and we haven grown up  together. We knowen everything about each other. We haven no secrets."

"I never knew that people could give their secret at their animals...", I said smiling.

H'aanit then decided to prepare a campfire, so I offered to help.

After she gave at Linde a big piece of wing that she was enjoying a lot, H'aanit explained me how to make a fire. While she was putting some rocks and a few wood in the middle, she told me that a fire must be lighted out of the wind, and next to a source of water, to make sure to not provoke a forest fire.

She showed me how to use a few sticks to create a few sparks, so I rubbed to check each other, and after a few effort, I finally lighted a small fire, which slowly became bigger.

"Good.", told me calmly H'aanit.

It was such a warm fire, illuminating the place in the middle of a dark but peaceful night, while we could hear the breath of the wild.

She then put a large bowl on the rocks, permitting to heat it up, as she prepared a kind of soup with a few small rotten wings inside it. After a few minutes, it was finally prepared.

H'aanit gave me a bowl of soup, before she served herself. I drank inside my bowl: it was so warm and delicious, and the small wings were so tasty !

"That's really delicious, H'aanit !", I told her happily.

"Thankenee, Sparky. 'tis the recipe of an old friend of mine, but the partridges whom thou art eating the wings were hunted by myself."

"You're such a good cook Han !"

She slowly smiled at me.

While she was drinking her bowl, I noticed the pair of rings on her necklace.

"Hey, Han..."

"Hmmm ?"

"I was wondering...what's with the two rings on your necklace, H'aanit ?"

"Ah, thou meanest these rings, right ?"

I calmly nodded to her.

She just breathed slowly, quite lost in her thoughs, and taking her time before answering me.

"They aren keepsakes from my parents: I touche them for luck before a hunt. A foolish superstition, I knowe, but I remembere holding it tight before my first hunt. After that, it becameth habit."

"You have parents ?"

"I had. Unfortunately, they are no longer of this world. They passed away when I was an infant.", she answered me, feeling quite annoyed.

I was pretty shocked to learn that. She too had lost both her parents when she was just a child...

I felt so bad for her...

"I... I'm so sorry, H'aanit."

"So, 'tis wath master Z'aanta who took me under his wing after they passed away."

Master Z'aanta ?

I remembered she had mentioned that name yesterday.

"Who is that ?"

"My mentor. 'tis wath him who adopted me as her apprentice: he taught me everything about skills in hunting and everything in the respect about the law of nature. He is also a talented hunter of some renown, while being considered like the best of all the village."

"Woahh... He must be so amazing !"

"He is. But like everyone say nowadays, no one is perfect."

"Uhh ? What do you mean ?"

"He has a great sense of humor, and he is also a gambler, but not a skilled one."

"A gambler ?"

"Yes. He is well passionated at gambling, but too much passionated as he constantly loses. I must had bailed him out as it was slowing him down during his hunts. One time, he had played so much that he finished to hast lost all his money, so I was forced to go get him at Victors Hollow..."

I laughed calmly, finding funny that Z'aanta.

"It's just like he was the apprentice and you the master !"

She calmly smiled at me while eating her last rotten wing.

"Mayhaps he wasn't very clever in those games, but as long as he speaketh only of hunting, he is the wisest of men... He sometimes went solo in his hunting missions, but he wath so skilled to the point where helping him would actually sloweth him down due to his goal to never let anyone die... He hath also a huge respect for the nature and its beasts, and he is very serious when he talk about hunting...", she sighted, before she spoke calmly. "If only that were all he cared about."

That master Z'aanta must be a very cool person, and H'aanit considered him like a wonderful man, even if he wasn't very clever sometimes. No wonder that she owed him a lot !

This old man must be a true model for her, and he must be very strong as a skilled hunter. After witnessing a few times H'aanit hunting creatures so fast and being very skilled sniper, I couldn't stop to imagine how powerful must be this wise man.

I asked her curiously.

"Where is he, now ?"

"He had left the village for a mission."

I was really concerned about that mission, and something tells me that it's must be a very important one.

She continued.

"Knights ardante's company had called him for a very important one."

"Knights ardante ?"

"Exactly. The best knight company of Orsterra. Master Z'aanta was sometimes used to work with them, but this time it was a very serious mission, so serious that he asked me to remain as the village's guardian until his return. He is actually in pursuit of a fearsome beast named Redeye."

"R-redeye ?...", I felt quite frightened when she mentioned that name.

"'tis about a terrible monster destroying everything in his path, and killing every living forms he would meet.... He is reputed to be so menacing and the most dangerous creature in that world, that even the most skilled hunters would remain fearful after the mention of its name... In his letter, Z'aanta himself explained that it wath the most vexing quarry he ever had the misfortune to hunten, and that it was sensing every moves he made... Nobody knoweth if it's human intelligence... or pure animal instinct... but either way, it refuseth to be caught... According to Z'aanta's last letter, the creature is rampaging in the Highlands."

I was quite concerned about that beast: I never heard that such a monster would exist, and even H'aanit seemed a little frightened when she was talking about that Redeye.

"How did it looks like ?"

"I don't know: no one came back safe and sound when they tried to gather some informations from that beast.", she told me, her story frightening me a little, before she continued. "'tis been now a year since he left the village, and I have still no more news about him. Despite he insisted to stay in S'warkii to protect the village, I can not stop to think about him, and to be honest, I sometimes felt angry to stayen here by doing nothing..."

H'aanit was quite upset, I could feel how much she was worried for her master who left to hunt a very dangerous beast. She must likes him very much...

I felt really concerned about her: that's Z'aanta must be the last family she never had, and I know what it's like to suffer from loneliness...

I wanted to tell her something.

"I'm pretty sure your master is safe."

She soflty smiled at me, quite blessed that I was reassuring her. If her master was a very skilled hunter, I'm sure he would be still alive.

On my side, there was something that I wanted to know, but I needed H'aanit's opinion.

So, I finished to eat my meal and I asked her

"According to you, Han... All day long, you taught me a lot of things about hunting animals and the laws of nature. And even if we just practiced today, you considered me like someone brave and clever, a little more than the others hunters from your village... So... Am I an hunter, now ? Do you think I should be your own apprentice ?"

I watched her calmly, as she was concerned about my proposition. She was really aware of my proposition, unsure what to answer to me, as I waited patiently at her answer. Even if I didn't wanted to be an hunter before, I learned so much things today that I wondered if H'aanit considered me like her apprentice.

She just calmly breathed, before answering me wisely.

"Thou hast still a lot of things to learn. Our destiny is always filled of different paths, and decisions have to be made... However... if ever I tell thee that I never would like thee to be my apprentice someday... I would be a terrible liar."

She took her time before saying that last sentence.

I was really blessed by her words: I felt so proud and so happy that she wasn't considering me like a trouble maker anymore ! And yes, I wanted to be with her, at her sides, ready to help her whenever she needed, and to confort her when she is upset.

I was so touched that I felt so tired to tell her everything I had in my heart.

"Thank you.", I told her calmly.

I then yawned, feeling tired as I wanted some sleep.

So, I decided to rest on the big log, just next to Linde who was already sleeping, when I was lulled by the relaxing sound of the forest.

~H'aanit's POV~

Well, we could say that Travis was really tired after all what he had done today.

There was still more and more things he has to learn about hunting, but I preferred to teach him the most important rules of all hunters. As a result, he had well learned what I taught him.

Effectly, this boy was really interested of being an hunter, even if he knew that hunters has to kill creatures, and that he was still so young. Indeed, the kids from the village must be 10 years old enough to participe at their first hunt, but I deduced that he was already ready for that evznt

Even if he has done a few mistakes, I honestly admit that he truly had the potential of becoming an hunter, as he was really curious about everything related to the nature and the while. Plus, he was quite much stronger than I expected, between the blow he gave to that drunk man, and also the mysterious magic he had.

Producing electricity was a common magic form for me, but his electrical power was really unique: it was blue electricity. Indeed, when I observed him training last night, he had released a good amount of electricity around his body. I wasn't never able to create such an ammount before I reached my 12th birthday. Plus, I had the feeling that he had unwillingly used them when he reached for his axe when we attacked those ratkins. Effectly, his weapon flew quickly in the sky , and was like attracted by Travis's hand...

What was that kind of magic ?...

"Rzzzzzz...", I heard him sleeping peacefully, despite the uncomfortableness of the log.

Being a young child, he has already fallen asleep in the middle of the forest, after all the hard day he had.

I approached him and crouched down, when I slowly patted his head, smiling.

He is really cute when he sleeps...

Why did I start to say things like this ? Have I already a liking on that young boy ?

Even if he wasn't perfect, he had a lot of qualities. He had so much bravery in him that he reminded me of Master Z'aanta.

Master Z'aanta might has taught me everything about hunting... he never has taught me how to be a master.

I was never used to train a child before, but I did the best to help him learning everything about the hunt and the forest.

This boy wasn't like any others: he had such a strong will and a amazing power which exceed my expectations. Where did that boy come from ? How did he obtained this great power ?

I might start to make some research for more informations, but for the moment, I was quite amazed to watch him adorably sleeping.

So, I decided to stay here for the night, making that nothing would disturb his sleep.

~3rd POV~

Far away from the Whisperwoods, someone was present during the long dark night.

He slowly walked, and found a safe place to serve one of his purposes.

He stopped.

Crrrraaaaack....

The ground slowly shaked a front of him, and a small crack itself by magic which turned into a hole. The man was only using the force of his mind.

He then took something hidden in his jacket: it was a shiny purple sphere made of glass, completely instable as this ball imprisoned an extraordinary magical mass.

So, the man slowly put the ball inside the hole, before he finally closed it with the force of his mind.

Crrrrrrrraaaaack...

The mystical ball was entirely buried in the ground, but we could still observe a pink and shiny light emitting from the ground. A small surface around where was hidden the ball was shining a constant light.

The man took something from the other pocket: it was another mystical ball, but slightly smaller, and with a light blue color.

Holding it in the palm of his hand, the man approached it next to his face, and spoke.

"The second bomb has been placed.", said the yellow helmet man.

"Great... Very great... Our objective is finally approaching quickly... There are two more you have to place... And then... It will be PERFECT."

"I'm just doing my duty to fulfill your dreams... My dear master...", he answered coldly.

"Fine, fine... Soon, it will be ready... All what we had attempted for years will finally become true... Thanks to that Expansion, our craziest dreams will be true..."

The mysterious voice was about to tell him his next destination, when he spoke coldly.

"By the way, to make sure no one would find it, I must had put it very far from any villages. But there are also ferocious creatures living in that zone. When it will be activated, pretty sure they would create a lot of disturbance around here. Some civils could be exposed to their anger..."

"I see... but I do not think that could be a real problem. Sometimes, in order to achieve our goal, it's more than necessary to make every sacrifices possible."

~

A/N: OMG Travis just did something that Thor wasn't able to do at the end of Infinity War XD

I know it's sometimes difficult for you to understand H'aanit's accent, but I always make sure to develop the protagonist as faithfully as possible. I also hope that you understand the story itself, and that you are imagining the scenes in your head like I did.

Anyway, I think I'm gonna take a break on writing.

Don't worry, I won't stop writing this story. It's just I need more time to write the scenario until the end of the first book. So, I'm pretty sure you're gonna wait before I publish the next chapter. I will work on how this story will unfold during this break.

So, stay patient, and see you next time !