Survival’s Path

Chapter 1

Black blood dripped from his body as Kaelan made his way through the forest. Stumbling as he went by, barely managing to keep from falling. His clothes tattered and dyed with black blood.

He moved quietly through the forest, every step careful. The forest was dead quiet. His heavy steps and heavy breathing were the only sound he heard. He encountered fallen trees at irregular intervals, and large footprints he couldn’t identify.

The smell of ash and burned wood lingered. Wisps of smoke curled from blackened trees. Some bent at odd angles, almost fallen down. The crystal laid on his neck like a necklace. It pulsed faintly, as if it had a heart. The warmth Kaelan felt from it put him at ease.

“Ah.” Kaelan dropped down. Resting his back on a rock with tree roots around it.

A soft sound made him pause. Footsteps whispered from the shadows. His eyes scanned the forest, muscles tensing. His instincts told him, ‘danger was near.’

From behind a half-collapsed tree, a figure stumbled into view. Small, pale, with pointed ears, an elf. Her green eyes were wide, and she clutched a dagger close to her chest. Both of them halted, studying each other.

“I advise you not to aim that at me,” he warned her.

“Who… who are you?” she whispered, her voice low, cautious.

“I’m Kaelan,” he said slowly, scrutinizing her. “Are you hurt?”

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she stepped back, keeping a wary distance. “Maybe… maybe,” she said. “Who says I’m not going to attack you?”

Kaelan narrowed his eyes but didn’t move forward. “I won’t hurt you… if you don’t try anything. But there are worse things than me out here.”

The elf’s gaze flicked to the path behind him, where movement stirred. “Worse than you?” she asked, voice tense.

Kaelan didn’t answer. He had no time for games. The crystal pulsed stronger on his chest as if scared. From behind the rock, a creature emerged. A twisted, hunchbacked thing with claws like knives. Kaelan reacted instantly, making an inhumane turn and swinging his fist in a flash of light. The creature shrieked and fell, twitching.

“Ah, I’m tired,” he said, rubbing his neck.

The elf took a cautious step closer but kept her distance. “That… that was… magic, no aura, right?” she asked, fear and curiosity mixing in her voice.

Kaelan shook his head. “What’s that? The red glow?” he asked, a brow lifted.

The voice in his head whispered. “Danger… near.”

Kaelan exhaled. More were out there and he could sense it.

“Yes, that… where are you going?”

“Giving those things some distance,” he replied while walking away.

She followed him, moving slowly through the forest. Every shadow that crept by, every sound made her turn. She stayed alert, eyes scanning, fingers brushing the dagger’s hilt. Kaelan could sense it, she was scared.

After a tense journey, they reached a stream. The water black and dirty. “Good, I can wash my body.” Kaelan didn’t care, he knelt before it. Kaelan looked at her.

“I wouldn’t do that,” she said, picking a stick. “Watch.” She dropped the stick in the water and in an instant it melted.

“Thank you. I owe you one.” Kaelan got to his feet. She moved away, keeping her distance. “Can you jump?” he asked.

“This way, there’s…” Before she completed her words Kaelan charged at her. Fist clenched, arm raised. She reacted with her dagger, straight in his belly. A gush of wind erupted behind her and a loud crashing sound followed. Her eyes widened, he had not aimed for her.

“Argh.” Blood rushed out his mouth

“I’m sorry.”

He ignored her, grabbed her by the waist and raced for the stream. The moment he jumped a blast landed behind them. The wind pushed him further. When he landed Kaelan sprinted into woods, leaving whatever attacked behind.

“That should be far enough,” Kaelan said after a long sprint. He dropped her down. Chest heaving blood dripping, he took sit on the ground. Back against a tree and eyes on her. Her hands on her mouth, she looked at him with guilty eyes.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s just a scratch,” Kaelan said, a smile on his face. “I’m serious.” He pulled the dagger out, a quiet grunt escape his lips.

“That’s not just a scratch,” she said and made her way to him. Body trembling, eyes shaking, she placed her palms on the wounds and whispered. “Mother of the Earth, please help.” A soft green glow was the response. When she removed her hands the wound was sealed.

“Wow!”

“I’m so sorry. It wasn’t inten…”

Kaelan placed his hand on her. “Relax um, right I don’t know your name. Anyways, relax. You reacted the same way I reacted. I won’t blame you for that,” he said, a genuine smile on his lips.

“Lira,” she said.

“What?”

“My name is Lira Veyl, daughter of Vinson,” she replied with a bow. “Thank you for saving my life.”

Kaelan frowned. The surrounding disappeared and he stood in an open field. Both hands on the hilt of a sword planted in the ground. “I am Kaelan Veyr, which one of you dares to step up?” he said to a large army before him.

“Are you okay?” Lira’s question snapped him back to reality.

“I am Kaelan,” he shook his head and said. “At least I think I am.”

“You think?” she raised a brow.

“Yeah, I think…”

Both of them turned. From the shadows, faint movements stirred. The crystal on his chest pulsed fast. The night was far from over and danger lurked, patiently.