I took a moment to take in the scenery. The leaves of various shades made the treetops look as though they were on fire. How can land with so much beauty be so unforgiving? With the doe long gone, there was no point in waiting for something else to cross the clearing. After all that ruckus, I doubt anything will be coming near this place for a while. Deciding not to linger any longer in my perch, I made my way back to the village.

Orks usually run together in packs unless a fight forces one out of the pack, and then its a blind rampage for the first scent that hits their nose. That's most likely the reason this one crashed through the clearing. The unlucky soul, if caught, is then torn to shreds and devoured.

I had hoped to bring in a nice doe, but with the sun beginning to set and the orc crashing through, it wouldn't be possible. At this point, it's a race against time to make it back inside the village gates before dark. I’m not too keen on staying in the woods past sunset. Orks are a concern during the day, not so much at night. Sure at night, wolf packs roam, but they are not the only threat. As of late demons and wraiths have become more frequently spotted. You may never see them, but when in the near vicinity of a wraith you become paralyzed with fear. You can't move let alone think straight. At first, it leaves you confused, and that's when it starts. The paranoia, anxiety, the sense of hopelessness. It consumes you. They say after that you lose all sense of reality. Which I guess at that point you're probably already dead. High-class demons also can have the ability to paralyze their prey, but lower classes don’t, but they’re still just as deadly. With the increase in their movement, the regular game is becoming more and more scarce. About 15 years ago, only even hearing about a sighting was rare. That is until a few years later; they became more frequent; attacks increased. Something is coming. 

It’s nearly dark when I reach the village gate. Just in time too, the watchmen haven’t shut them for the night. Since the increase in movements of wraiths, demons, and orcs, a curfew has been put into place. The gates open just after dawn and close right at dusk. Not many brave going outside the gates; except for the rangers; they scout the surrounding area for signs of trouble. Our village used to farm the fields outside the gates further south. Now only half are even planted while nature slowly takes back what was once her's. The village relies more on what hunters bring or the merchants. But not even the traveling merchants come around very much anymore. Merchants used to visit the village at all times of the year. Now it's only twice a year; once before winter and again in the spring. We have had 10 of our rangers go missing in the last year; meaning if they’re missing they’ve been captured by wild men or they’re dead. Rangers have to be strong and smart, but almost no one has taken on a wraith or high-class demon and lived to tell the tale. There are virtually no traces left; after each encounter, one touch from a wraith and your body disintegrates into ash as it consumes your soul. Demons are a little different. Sometimes remains, if any, are unrecognizable due to the acid or charring from the burns; it varies from among the classes.

Or the remains are just mostly missing. However, there is one case where a wraith paralyzed its victim but passed by him with no desire to consume him. I know this ranger as Uncle Therest.

My uncle was awaiting atop the steps to the great hall. He glared intently at me.

“You know how much I don’t like when you going hunting on your own,” he grumbled as I made my way up to him.

“I know, but it’s easier for me; fewer people to get in my way,” I replied.

“Yes, easier for you to be killed and never found.”

There he goes again, being overprotective as usual. “Uncle, you know how careful I am. I’m not a child anymore; I'm 17.”

“You may not be a child anymore, but you are still my responsibility. End of discussion now get cleaned up and get some food. Should still be warm stew on the fire.”

I grudgingly headed for my quarters; he wasn’t done with me yet. Therest took me in when I was 7; after mom and dad were killed. Being only 16 at the time, he essentially became my older brother. After all, we are the only family each other has.

I reached my room dropped my rucksack and bow before flopping face down on my bed with a sigh. The fire was already burning in my room. With winter fast approaching the days were getting to be as cold as the nights. I wasn’t hungry and started debating how much do I want to go to the great hall where he could easily find me and start lecturing me again. At the very least I was going to bathe. At that, I made my decision, so I grabbed my things and headed for the hot springs. An advantage of the village built on the foot of the mountains is the underground hot springs. The springs run all through the underside of the village acting as a heater in the winter months. Some have said it’s the only reason our small village has been able to survive this harsh winter climate. The weather doesn’t get hot in the summer months, so we never have to worry about overheating.

I started my descent down the spiral staircase leading to a secluded spring when a dark figure caught the corner of my eye. Pretending not to notice I reached for my knife; I kept strapped to my thigh. He’s right behind me, I can feel it. At that instant, I whirled on my pursuer. I had him pinned for a second before I dropped my dagger.

“Whoa, Draia, calm down! It’s just me! It's Rodyk!”

“Rodyk?” confused, I hesitated slowly removing the knife from his throat. The tall, dark-haired lanky 15-year-old boy who left for training to become a ranger was now bulkier. Not fat though; but solid muscle. “What on earth do you think you’re doing sneaking up on me like that! I could have slit your throat! And another thing this is how you come back from training?! Not a letter or warning; shows up scaring the daylights out of me? It's been two years since your last letter!”

“It’s great to see you too,” he chuckled enjoying getting me all riled up.

Rodyk and I have been friends since birth. Our parents knew each other well. So it only made sense that we were close friends.

“It's great to see you too. But you still could have sent word at some point. Now if you’ll excuse me, it's been a long day, and I would like to relax in the hot springs alone.”

He seemed a bit funny, and I could have sworn he was blushing. “Sorry, I’ll let you be,” he stuttered and walked in the direction of the mess hall.

Well, that was weird, I wonder what's up with him?

I brushed it off and wound my way down to the secluded hot spring. It was one of the few places I could go to clear my head without anyone disturbing me.

So he was back then. And without warning. He looks different; though it was dark, I could still tell.

Rodyk left four years ago to begin his training as a ranger in the capital. He got to visit after the first year and wrote often. But when he went back to the Capital, after his visit, his letters slowly dwindled until they stopped coming two years ago. At first, I was upset, and I guess I still am, what kind of friend stops talking to you? Were things that much better in the city? Was it that easy to ignore and thus abandon your friends?  Eventually, I decided that it was probably due to his training and the fact that we rarely receive word from the capital due to the dangers of traveling here. Perhaps it's one downside to living in a secluded village at the base of a mountain. 

I didn’t spend much more time in the hot springs before I became rather hungry. I decided it was better to be found while eating and face the music and to get it over with.

I decide to return to my room first before heading to the mess hall. Out of habit, I take my bow with me everywhere, except for the hot springs. Besides my bow, I always have my dagger. Uncle gave it to me and told me to never go anywhere without it. The blade was small and easy to conceal if needed. It was my mothers. The handle was made of bone, from what animal I do not know, but it had a raven carved into it. The blade wasn't ordinary steel from what I knew of because it was lighter than most dagger's its size.

As I neared the mess hall, I could smell the stew, smells like potato soup again. Harvest hasn’t been too great this year. Rilmdra always did her best with what herbs she has available to spice it up, but this year was harder than most. The hall was nearly deserted except for myself and a few others deep in conversation in the far corner. I took my place in my usual spot in the opposite corner. Uncle always said to position yourself where you got the best possible view of the layout. The better the view, the more you could keep an eye out for a quick escape if things got to be too hairy. I laughed, uncle would never want me involved in any fight if he could help it.

I’ve been in my fair share of fights as a child, always over the same childish squabbles of he said she said. At first uncle would chastise me for such foolishness, but eventually, he decided that it was better to try to teach me how to fight correctly than to discipline me. He taught me everything I knew; how to wield a sword, use my bow, and even how to ride a horse. He always joked that if I were a boy, I would have made a great ranger like my father. Stupid rules. So what if I am a girl.

I half expected to see my uncle waiting for me in my spot, but something tells me he has more important tasks to handle at present than to lecture me. I can breathe a sigh of relief, for now.

For a second time that night, he snuck up on me, completely catching me off guard.

“ARE YOU TRYING TO START A FIGHT?!?” I growled, almost too harshly. I instantly regretted snapping at him. Great now he probably thinks I’m pissed at him. Well kind of was. I had not heard from him, and now he shows up out of nowhere scaring me at every turn.

“WHOA, easy there. I didn’t think you were that upset about earlier. I guess my assumption was wrong.” Looking a bit confused as to whether or not he should take a seat, he went ahead and sat across from me.

“Sorry, I don’t mean to take it out on you. I’ve been on edge all day.”

“Sounds like you’ve had a really did have a long day,” he said starting to relax a little, but he also seemed on edge about something. He’s definitely changed since the last time. He’s grown quite handsome. He should have no issues finding someone. The thought of Rodyk finding someone bothered me because it felt like I would lose my friend.

“Yea, its been a very long day. I had a run-in with an Ork. He disrupted my hunt.”

“An Ork! They are moving even more now these days. Lost several caravans to them to the west. Promise me you won’t go hunting alone again.”

“How do you know I was hunting alone?”

“Because I know you. You feel as though anyone who tags along will only slow you down and get into your way,” he chuckled. “Seriously though, don’t go outside these gates alone. It’s becoming increasingly dangerous every day. People are going missing, and the ones we do find are dead.” He wasn’t joking. He wasn’t the same Rodyk I knew as a child.

“Rodyk, I promise to stay safe. But you know me I’m better off on my own.”

“I know,” he said, his expression softening into worry. “But you don’t have to be on your own,” he said as he laid his hand on mine.

“Rodyk, what do yo…” SLAM!

“QUICK! THE VILLAGE IS UNDER ATTACK!” Shouted the soldier.