Crystals of Nature

Chapter Three

After Rhystal (had) left them, they heard Myshiunn barking behind them. They held their composer as they accepted the sight of this new event: the dog was sitting next to a large black leather bag; it rested against an entwined tree root.

Kerail suggested that it would be wise and respectful to leave her bag for home, where the women can search her belongings. Baiyne agreed and told his litte brother that he will be taking Myshiunn to patrol the perimeter around the tree.

As the minutes pass (by), Baiyne and Myshiunn soon returned. He wasn't even near his little brother when he saw Rhystal running around the other side of the tree, shouting at them to hurry.

Myshiunn sat close by, observing the humans. His ears pearked, acknowledging the tinge in the atmosphere, as he nose caught the scent of rotting flesh and death on the edge of a shallow breeze that whispered through the area. He knew the evil predatoirs were on their way here. He rose, waging his tail when he noticed the older brother taking out a pouch.

Rhystal soon held a large dark gray pouch in his hand, telling his brothers to walk in front of him, where he will use the - black poath - potent sleeping herbs to cover their tracks. Filled with equanimity, they moved in order, heading back to camp.

.....

A gentle wind (now) blow through the area, churning the autumn leaves on the earthly ground beneath the small companies feet, tugging at the Hunter's black cloak. He sat on his horse, not moving, being fifteen feet away from the large tree. His face was serene and angelic, content and at peace in his profession, as he focused his attention on the scene that lay before him, where his pray was moments ago.

His keen sight noticed the air was alive, but no wind blew inside the boundary. He knew she had been warned, for he could sense old magic had played its part, watching faint shimering dust drifting inside the atmosphere around the tree.

He commanded one of the three black reddish shadow wolves to venture into the area. The third wolf obeyed and walked forward into the vicinity. The beast didn't go far as some invisible force impaled into its body, disintegrating its foul flesh instantly into black dust, before disappearing from sight.

With sacrifice, an orb appeared in front of the Hunter. He took it with great pride and placed it with the others inside his cloak pocket. The Hunter turned the horse around, headed back to the carnage section to claim the other prizes, with the other two wolves following behind him.

.....

They finally arrived back at camp before sunset, sauntering with each step they took, as their muscles remonstrated protest in aches, pain and haggard breathing, for never in their lives had they dared to do what they accomplished today.

Paying no heed to the fire (burning its natural flames) as Kerail fell to his knees on his bedding, lowering the girl gently down onto the material, making her comfortable with his lumpy pillow under her head, keeping her wrapped in her blanket.

Myshiunn moved (to sit) beside his master, where he received a pat on his head, hearing his master telling him "Good boy, Myshiunn, good boy."
Baiyne dropped the girl's bag by his little brother's stuff, as he followed in pursuit with Rhystal: slumping down onto their bedding, reaching for their water skin flasks, quenching the dryness in their throats.
The next thing Kerail heard was Rhystal calling his name loudly before trailing off into a monotone mumble of nonsense.

Gazing over the low flames, he watched as his brother salute him before lying on his back and began to snore.
He turned his attention to Baiyne, watching the big oaf pointing at something in the tree tops, hearing him counting under his breath until the number ten, and then said good night to Kerail before curling into a small ball like a child, holding his blanket and sucking his thumb.

His mind was too tired to process what he just witness. Sighing heavily, he closed his eyes, and sat motionless, ears attuned to the world around him, trying to relax his sore body. Smiling wearily to himself when he heard a low dulcet female voice talking in her sleep about a cow and flowers, then giggled before ending with the words: 'I love you...'

If those three words held magic in them as they eased the boy into a world of dreams, where he felt happy, watching events unfold around him of a life with her as his soul mate...
In the silent ambience, with a cordial gaze, the dog watched his master's body lay down to sleep. Commencing with the plan, Myshiunn saw it fit to aid his master and his brother's in their human duties about the camp, doing the necessities for the journey home.

.....

Dawn of an early day...
Radiant autumn lights poured over the horizon...
Its mellifluous beams wakening the slumbering lands below its low golden beams...

Kerail had the opposite of an unfortunate night of misery, where the air (had) become increasingly chilled through the hours of darkness, with a faint scent of Fhalrou flowers carried on the frigid wind - a flower that grows only in one place, in the far west in the Jhaggiern Mountains, was a clear sign that a storm was on the rise.

Nonetheless, Kerail kept the fire burning throught the night, waiting patiently for the presences of dawn to stir the land, bringing with its own earthly aroma into the camp.
By the time dawn edge over the eastern horizon, Kerail, his loyal dog and the slumbering company were well on their way home.

During the journey home, the wind had escalated; blowing an icy airstream, as the horses - Meida and Meadow - pressed onwards, his main concern was the speed from the dark storm clouds traaveling inland from the west.
How far he would get before it rained? He did not ponder on that thought; only hold onto his faith to reach home before it happens.

Lightening danced avidly in the dark storm clouds, where thunder bellowed its rumbling voice over head.
They were three hundred yards away from home when the heavens above opened its icy downpour.