The Crown Of Fire

Aria I

The cold would have bothered her, if this had not been her whole life. The entirety of her sixteen years in this world, and if this had not been the whole world.

For centuries, her land had been ravaged by a savage winter. Children lived and died in winter. A winter caused by death. The stories say that the realm hadn't been expecting it. All was well, the happy, cheery residents of the realm sang and danced, and then the witch came and all their joy was turned to fear. And in their fear, she relished and turned their realm into a wasteland.

Of course, this was centuries before. Not one person could remember the exact details of the day the frost took over.

It was this, perhaps, that brought her to where she was now. A huntress in the Wood Of Saffron. She hadn't known any summer. She had few friends, only those she encountered in the woods, though, she'd always say the trees were her closest friends. A sad life, some would say, but it was her choice, her decision.

She heard shouting, and the frightened cries of a child. Her curiosity was piqued and she found herself following the sound, instead of tracking the deer. She stood not too far from the edge of the cliff, though it wasn't much of a cliff, she could easily jump and live to tell the tale.

At the bottom, the hyenas circled two people. They looked normal, like her. But yet, they were dressed in clothes she saw only on the hunted. Only on the dead.

"The mistress is going to love these ones." one of them hissed. "Look at the little one, doesn't it look... delicious."

The little one that the hyena spoke of, clung to the bigger one. There was fear in the little one's eyes. But the big one seemed defiant.

"Otherworlders taste the same as the Earthborns, Gloommaw." the biggest hyena stated. She recognized him. He was a foul beast. Of course, she hated the lot of them.

The bigger otherworlder bent down and picked up a rock and chucked it at Gloommaw's head. "Stay back!" The hyenas cackled. "I mean it! If any of you come at us, I'll-"

"What?" The big hyena questioned as the rest of the hyenas cackled. "Attack us? With what weapons? Surely you know that rocks won't kill us, otherworlder." the big hyena became amused. "Say your goodbyes."

On any other day, she would've walked away. She would've left these otherworlders to their fate. But the big one was defiant, and it became like a game when they escaped. It was always entertaining to watch them run. To fool the hyenas into thinking their victims had escaped their clutches.

So, she jumped. "Gha'roud."

The hyena paused and turned. "Get back to your hunt, huntress."

"Don't you know that your food tastes better when it fights back?" she questioned. "At least, that's what I've always experienced."

"Is that a challenge, huntress?"

She armed herself with her bow. She could've used her sword. But it was always better to be armed twice over when fighting the beasts. "In my forest, you earn your meal."

Gha'roud jerked his head toward her and Gloommaw charged forward. She dodged his attack. In the chaos, the big otherworlder started throwing bigger rocks at the hyenas in a desperate attempt to keep them at bay.

Meanwhile, the huntress fought Gloommaw. She was underestimated. They hadn't been careful enough to notice that she had blades on the upper and lower limbs of the bow. Making it easier for her to kill the hyena. His entrails hit the ground with a sploosh.

"Get her!" Gha'roud growled. They charged toward her. She ran at a big rock, nocking three arrows as she jumped. She drew the string back and aimed before releasing it.

The arrows hit their targets. Though, only one of the hyenas was killed. She sliced through the other two, injuring them further. They ran off, not wanting to challenge her anymore. Their wounded squeals echoed as they ran. Gha'roud sent a glare toward the otherworlders.

"I'll be seeing you soon."

He then left too. The bigger otherworlder seemed relieved. That is until the huntress nocked another arrow and aimed it at him.

~

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