10:23 A.M. 5/25/917

Ethan glanced up at the sky, holding his hand up to his face to shield his eyes from the light. The sun was nearing the peak of the sky. Ethan felt beads of sweat start to form on his face as he hurried behind Charlie, who was effortlessly navigating through the dense foliage, despite the heat.

The rustling of leaves, which had been calming just moments ago, now felt frantic and chaotic. The sounds of the forest became deafening. The sun seemed to flicker as he passed under the branches. 

“Charlie!” Ethan called, attempting to catch his breath, “Slow down!”

Ethan's chest ached from the exertion as he caught up with Charlie, his breathing heavy and fast. The air felt thick and humid, the heat of the sun weighing down on him like a heavy blanket. Charlie paused, listening, as he heard a faint rustling in the distance. Ethan strained to listen, his heart pounding, amongst the million other sounds of the forest. Charlie glanced around, taking in his surroundings. Then, their ears rang out as a blaring shriek echoed through the forest. After a moment, Charlie began sprinting in the direction of the noise. Ethan attempted to follow behind, his head still pounding. Soon, Charlie had disappeared into the forest. Ethan frantically glanced around. He paused, breathing heavily. 

“Ethan!” He heard faintly in the distance. Ethan turned towards the source of the voice and ran as fast as he could. Finally, he caught up with Charlie, who was standing near the edge of a large clearing. Ethan leaned against a tree next to Charlie. 

“Look,” He said, pointing across the clearing, “There it is.” Ethan looked over to see a dark silhouette wriggling, entangled in a net. When he looked back over at Charlie, he bore the same grin as before. Charlie crept forward, gripping his sword by his side. Ethan reluctantly followed behind. As they got closer, Ethan was able to get a closer look. He wasn't sure what exactly they had caught. It resembled an avian at first, but what he looked down at now looked more human than the others he had seen.

It had dark wings and a lower body covered in feathers, and a few more feathers protruding from either side of its head. But its face… it looked almost human. Almost. It was still definitely off. It had a hooked nose that came to a point at the bottom, as well as a pointed upper lip that almost resembled a beak. Most unsettling, though, was its large eyes with matching large dark pupils.

“What's wrong with this one?” Charlie sneered, Charlie had switched up at the sight he saw before him. He was suddenly much less eager. When Ethan looked down at it, he could see the fear in its eyes. He almost felt pity for it, but he tried his hardest to set aside those feelings. 

“Hey!” They heard from behind. Ethan turned around to see Soren peeking out from the trees behind them. “Hey, Charlie, could you come here for a sec?” Charlie sighed, slumped his shoulders, and turned around.

“Could it wait?” He called in response, “kinda busy here!”

“Uhh, it’s kinda important! Just get over here, it’ll only take a minute!” 

Charlie sighed. “Okay, I’ll be right there!” Charlie looked over to Ethan,” Watch over it while I’m gone.” In another flash of light, Charlie’s sword dissipated into small specks of blue light that quickly faded away. Charlie began walking over to Soren before they both disappeared into the woods. Then, Ethan was left alone with the creature in the net. It had calmed down slightly when Charlie was called away, but when Ethan looked back at it, the fear in its eyes grew once again.

“What are you?” Ethan questioned, not expecting a response, “You almost look human.” It obviously did not respond. They stared at each other for a moment. Ethan thought it best to get this over with before he let it get to his head.

With a flash of light similar to Charlie's, a green hue emanated from his hand as his axe appeared in his grasp. He gripped it with both hands, raising it above his head. He glared down at the creature, and it glared right back.

His hands began trembling.

He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself.

…

For a moment, the world felt completely still…

…

His axe released from his grasp as he fell to his knees. His head began pounding, either from the heat or from the panic growing in his chest. He stared at his hands, trying to still them, to no avail. His arms fell to his sides, lying limp on the grass beneath him. He looked back down at the avian lying before him. He sighed and leaned back, lying in the damp grass. Perfectly still, he became lost in thought.

Why do I feel like this? It’s no different than any other avian I’ve faced. But it is different. It looks so scared. It looks so… human.

He felt the sun on his face.

He listened to the sounds of the forest around him.

Suddenly, he heard the crunching of footsteps; the sound quickly grew nearer, snapping Ethan back to reality. With a jolt, he sat up. He had made up his mind. In a swift movement, he got back on his feet and grabbed his axe, this time with a different motive. 

It took a step forward. Its expression shifted from the fear it showed before. It charged forward and lunged at him. Ethan was pinned to the ground in seconds. It gripped onto his neck. The panic Ethan felt in this moment was unlike any he had felt before. He desperately grabbed at its arms in an attempt to release its grasp. He tried calling out for Charlie, or Soren… Someone… anyone… But he couldn't even muster a breath. Its claws pierced his skin. Streams of blood trickled down his neck and dripped onto the grass beneath him. He stared up at the creature that held him there. The one he chose to release. He saw nothing but its dark silhouette contrasting the bright sky, and its red eyes locked onto him. His vision blurred, and slowly began fading. 

“Ethan!” He could hear called out in the distance. He wanted to respond. He tried his hardest, but once again, nothing.

11:04 A.M. 5/25/917

Everything went still as he lay there in the warm grass. He eventually saw the creature release its grip and back away, but he felt disconnected from reality, able only to observe. It stared off into the distance at something out of view, then retreated back into the forest. Even after it was long gone, Ethan lay there, observing. The sun was at midday now. He could faintly make out the outlines of two figures looming over him, but he couldn't discern who.

His last thoughts before losing consciousness:

This is it. The one time I try to do something good in my life, the one time I strive to do the right thing, and this is how it ends. I thought it would end differently. I… I thought I had more time. I’m sorry for leaving you. I hope you can forgive me…

Then, not pain, not sadness, just… 

Nothing.