Agent of The Nine

CHAPTER II: DAY OF RECKONING

The cold breeze that flows through the Embrace, The falling red leaves spiraling in the air around the trunks, the wildlife adapting to the harsh, all-year, snow winter of Jupiter. It was the perfect time of the year for a hunter. Upon the animals sheltering under the rocks, a young snow deer with a broken antler, and sparkling blue eyes, wandered between the crusted trunks of trees, enjoying its daily strolls through the Embrace. Within a split second, the deer's enjoyment had shifted into a cry for help; a sharp arrow from above penetrated through the deer's neck, leaving itself pinned down on the floor while a tall, hooded hunter wearing black garb with a small scar on his lower cheek gracefully climbed down a tree and took the final blow, a strong stab right at the head, ending the misery that was the deer's. With complete silence, he had skinned the animal and put all the meat needed into a ragged bag with his bloody hands. The hunter packed his belongings and strolled back to his village. While returning back, he heard a cracking tree branch. As he looked up he had noticed a small creature with well built dark green armor and an all-face helmet that was glowing purple and emitting a scanning sound. As soon as the small creature had been detected by the hunter, it swiftly leaped from one tree to another until it was no longer to be seen.

Emerging through the grayish mists of that harsh weather, the hunter had finally arrived at the Arroyo gates. From afar, the guards stood up and held their weapons.

"You there, who are you?" Yelled one of the guards at the gates.

The hunter took off his ragged hood and looked at the guard with a big smile on his face. "I didn't get food from the Embrace to come back with this greeting."

"Master Xur, you are back early! Took you for a monster. Apologies, sir, it's truly a pleasant surprise." Said the gatekeeper lowering his weapon.

"No, no need to apologize, perhaps this attire is quite unfitting for me after all." Laughed Xur and the gatekeeper.

Xur entered Arroyo with a great feeling of the light swarming around the air and a few welcomes from his fellow allies. Arroyo was always known to be a very humble tribe, always offering to help each other and expect nothing in return. As he was walking back home, Xur gazed around the busy life of the tribe. The markets overflowing with people spending their currency on necessities, the laborers working hard to expand the tribe and make homes for people, the children playing with their family and friends at the small and simple playground, the pigeons that glide around every small corner. These are the things he enjoys examining from afar. Close to home, he had noticed the old grumpy lady once again. The old lady grew more tired and much paler than before, her hair was very chaotic and looked like she hadn't slept in a very long time, eyes twitching, and her lovely birds were nowhere to be seen. She still remains on her chair, however she sits with uneasiness with her fingertips shaking. Xur was worried and felt the need to go speak to her.

"Is everything ok?" Asked Xur as he slowly approached her.

"Woeful woeful woeful..." whispered the old lady with her lips trembling.

"I remember that word... You've been saying it ever since." Said Xur to himself and remained silent after.

He slowly, however gently, put his hand on her shoulder, but the old lady jumped and held Xur's hand in the blink of an eye.

"Woeful... The Woeful are coming.. Or are they? Oh yes, they will. I'm telling you, I can feel it! Or is this mere feeling just an illusion?" Spat out the old lady incoherently.

The grumpy old lady had lived her whole life alone, a widow. As she grew older, she became more unstable. Xur felt sorry for the old woman and left for home. He looked back at the old lady once again and started. Upon arrival at his home, he was greeted with the biggest smile and hug from his parents.