Thump! "Mmm.."

Thump! "Hm?"

Thump! I let out a tearful yawn "Huh?!"

"What's that noise?" I said in a groggy state. The entire ground was vibrating and the sound I keep hearing sounds like trees falling. It was hard to locate where the sound was coming from. More importantly, where did that fox go? I don't see it anywhere. It must have left when I fell asleep.

"Rawrrrgh!!"

"W-What was that?!"

Suddenly the fox jumps out from the woods and turned toward to face the direction it came from. It took on a position ready to fight, it's head lowered close to the ground, growling and showing it's sharp teeth.

Multiple trees fell, a giant shadowy figured emerged. It was hard to tell what it was I can only see its arms which had sharp claws about the size of me. As it got closer towards the light from the fire more of its upper body. Fur stained with blood, leaves and, branches tangled in its fur. It moved closer where I can get a good look at its head. Its vertical slit eyes left me paralyzed, but worst of all it was chewing on a gamboler and a pulan fox in its mouth as blood rains down. I was like an ant compared to it. The behemoth before me was a warlisk. I've never seen one but I sure based on my former tribes' description I'd say this was it. Warlisks are savage beasts that'll eat anything and everything that comes across its path. Wherever they go they leave a path of destruction. Every few years hunters would stumble upon a warlisk, where some would barely make it out alive. Seeing it, face to face makes me wish this was all a terrible nightmare.

I need to move. C'mon legs stop shaking and move, damn it! The warlisk hasn't taken notice of me yet it seemed focused on the fox, I'll make a break for it. I can't just leave the fox behind, and it looks like ready to fight the warlisk. I grabbed the fox and made a dash towards the river. I won't be able to see once I make it on the other side, I guess I can't worry about that now.

The warlisk lets out an earth-shattering roar "Aahhhh! My ears!" I screamed. The warlisk leaps into the air, the giant monster was right above us.

"Stop squirming! You can't fight that thing!" I said while the fox was squirming between my arm. Further, into the river, my movement slowed. Shit! I'm going to have to dive for it. The warlisk landed into the water causing a huge wave that rippled the water. I'm trying my best to swim, the huge rippled he created made it difficult to swim. I hope fox is okay I need to hurry and swim across. My vision is blurry I can see the warlisk arms flailing in the water trying to catch me, I don't think it can see me. I swim past its arms where we finally making it out of the river.

I jerk the fox around "Stay with me! Come on breath!" The fox cough letting water out of its mouth.

The warlisk continued its pursuit for us into the forest once again. I can barely see anything, its so dark. I keep bumping into trees and tripping over rocks. I don't hear the warlisk, perhaps it can't see too well. My running slowed down where it came to a stop, I need to catch my breath. We're lucky to be alive, there is no way we can fight that thing. If I stayed back there that thing would kill me in a blink of an eye. Any other animals would've followed their instincts and ran but why didn't this fox run? Why was it trying to fight it?

The fox still trying to squirm it's way out of my arm. "Please stop moving. We barely got away. We need to get as far away as poss-" A powerful blow struck me, I'm sent flying in the air. It was hard to understand what was going on. The warlisk was back, I barely noticed him in the corner of my eye. The deep claw wounds it left on my left arm left me with so much pain. How was it able to find us? Warlisks shouldn't be able to see well in the dark.

Clutching the fox in my arms, we both fell off the hill, rolling down through leaves and branches. My legs hurt, I think I sprained one of them. I'll just hide behind this tree.

I place my hand over the fox's mouth "Be quiet, if we stay quiet and hidden we might be able to get away." I whispered. I peek behind the tree to see where the warlisk was at. Huh?! The warlisk was bumping against trees. I thought it can see, but apparently not. Then how was it able to find us? Wait it's sniffing around, its using its sense of smell! It can't see so that's why it was hitting against the trees. It must have a powerful nose if can follow us all the way out here. The warlisk sniffed around until it turned it's nose towards our direction and charged towards us.

I can't move my legs anymore, I guess this is it... I'm scared, I'm afraid of dying. No, I'm afraid of dying the way I am. Weak. pathetic, and a nobody, I am nothing in this world. Nothings don't exist and never existed in the first place. Everybody in the village was right about me, I deserve this so its best I die here and now.

I let go of the fox between my arm, "You should get away from here, you shouldn't die here with me." The fox looked at me for a couple of seconds, the look in its eyes were different from normal, the best word to describe it was, resolve. It was hard not to look away. No matter how many times I question it or even tell it to run away, it had resolved to keep on fighting. The fox scurried off towards the beast.

The warlisk swipes its claws at the fox, only for the fox to dodge it because of its quick speed and small size. The fox scales the warlisk where it finally reaches the top of its head, then the fox executes a flurry of claw scratches, causing the warlisk to stumble slightly back in pain. The fox bites down on the snout, the warlisk shakes its head violently which sends the fox flying into the base of the tree. It was painful to watch, seeing it fight against that monster, yet the fox keeps getting up to attack it again.

I can't watch, anymore. The fox is going to die. I'm going to die. What's the point?

'...To you, this may seem like all hope is lost, but it is not. You must stand on your own two feet and keep walking through the simple act of living. It takes a lot of bravery and courage just to do something like that. I do not consider this a banishment, more like a new path opened up for you...Only then you will find what will make you whole.'

You're right. It's about damn time I stand on my own two feet. I cried long enough, I need to stop pitying myself, if Nayeli and Elder Kaya saw me now they would be disappointed in me. Okay, legs! It's time to move! Combating the pain of my legs I managed to stand up, I leaned against the tree see what was going on. The fox legs were shaking like a newborn fawn, it was using every bit of energy to stand up. It couldn't take, anymore. I need to save it, but how can I fight that thing? Both of my legs are in pain and on top of that my left arm is deeply wounded. Come on think Lonato! There's gotta be something I can do. It's hard to think and that smell is making it worse. Wait, what is that smell? Are those, rafflesia? Wait! That's it! Warlisk have a strong sense of smell and rafflesia flower have a very foul odor.

I climb the base of the tree. "Hey!" I yelled with ever last fiber of my being. The warlisk focused its attention. "Yeah, I'm talking to you! What's wrong?! Are you scared?!" Without a moment of hesitation, the beast comes charging towards me. Perfect! Don't worry I have some just for you. It slams into the tree causing it to fall down in its direction, I leap off the tree and land on its snout. I ram the flower into its nose. It lets out another earth-shattering screech where it begins to sways back and forth. Now's my chance! I ran my spear into its snout. The warlisk cry's out, it grabs me, crushing me within its hands. I manage to free my arms and ready my bow and arrow, where I take aim at its eyes. The arrow pierces his eye. The warlisk falls backward and lands on its back. It makes several attempts to pull the arrow out its eye, but with its large hands and razor-sharp claws, it's futile.

"Okay! It's time to finish this!" I yelled as I pull the spear out of its snout. I impale into the warlisk throat finally silencing the beast.

I fall backward with my hands in the air "I did it! I actually defeated a warlisk!" I shouted with the widest grin on my face. I can't believe I did it. Ever since I've been banished I haven't felt so elated. Elder Kaya was right, that's for sure. Even without my icon, I was able to kill a warlisk. Oh right! The fox! I run to the fox to see if it was okay. It suffered two fractured legs it was bleeding across its bodied, but I think it will live. There should be some herbal plants around here to patch it up. Although I need one as well, it left some pretty deep claw marks on my arm, I'm surprised I was able to move it.

The fox jumps and licks me "Hey! Stop! I get it!" I laughed joyfully. "Okay first if you're going to hang around me your going to need a name, from what I see you're a boy," I said. "How about Vulpix?" The fox let a growl indicating it didn't like the name. "Oh! I know! Swiper!" The fox lets a bigger growl and tries to bite me. "Um, Tails, Fox Mcloud, Nickit, Delphox, Zorua!" I shouted in a fast-paced manner. The fox turned its head showing displeasure in the list of names I yelled out. "Yeah, you're right those are all terrible names. I'm really bad at this," Oh wait. I just remember something. There was this very famous Orion warrior, she had tamed an animal. This animal was revered and respected. It was a fateful companion to her, its name was "Sirius" The fox's ears sprung up. "Oh? Do you like the name, Sirius?" The fox jumped into me and started licking me again. "Then it's settled your name will be Sirius," I said excitedly. "Now then, let's bandage you up."

I managed to find a couple herbal plants and applied them to our wounds. I was little down that the coat Elder Kaya gave got slightly torn from that skirmish with the warlisk. Maybe I can find something to patch it up. We rested for a couple of hours to regain our strength. With the warlisk dead, the forest has a different feel to it.

"Well, it's time to get going." I said to the fox. Hm? What's that light. A light illuminated further ahead. The light began to move around, then more lights appeared. I need to get a closer look. I sprinted towards bushes and peeked from there. I wonder what it was.

"No way" I whispered.

It was a herd of gambolers and more were appearing

It was a herd of gambolers and more were appearing. They were prancing and dancing around. The glowing flashing changing colors, glowing brighter, it was hard to keep up of what was happening before me. I've seen a herd of gambolers before but not like this. It's like something you would only see in a dream. The way prance around majestically. I hear leaves cracking behind me, several more appeared, they didn't seem fazed by me at all, as some brushed up against me. I pet some as they move past me. Wow, this is not something you see every day. If I had never been banished would I been able to see something like this? I can't help ponder on that thought.

The herd suddenly sprinted off. Sirius ran off with them

"Hey! Wait, Sirius! Where are you going?!" I shouted. I run after them, although I couldn't keep up with them. As I jump over a tree branch I see Sirius up ahead. "Why'd you run off like that?" I look up and I couldn't believe my eyes. There weren't any trees in front of us all you can see is an endless field of tall grass. I-I thought the forest was endless, so there are places that have no forest. The herd of gambolers sprints off into the distance where you can only a faint glow.

The grass waves as the wind blow against it. The wind brushes against m chest, it refreshing feel to it.

"I think I see something over there in the tall grass. It looks like a village," I look at Sirius "Let's go see what's over there."