The Dawn of Eclipse

Chapter 5

It would be a few days journey before Aaron could proudly present his captured prey to his master. With this new-found spell Aaron had performed, he didn't need to worry about binding or attaching a leash to his prisoner.

They both are weak from the excess use of magic from the past few days. Climbing through the rough terrain of the forest, the duo trip left and right. As an extra measure, Aaron has Myth marching ahead of him so he can keep a half-closed eye on her. They are in desperate need of energy and nourishment. about to fall asleep. The moist and unstable ground gives way under her foot and she shrieks as she sprawls back.

Aaron's eyes snap open as he sees a body free falling, down the steep hill, towards him. Before he knows it, Myth is in his arms, clutching his chest. When she realizes who her hero is, she shoves him away hastily. He grins, "You owe me."

"Oh I'll pay you back alright." She growled. "You'll get more than you deserve." Before Aaron can open his mouth to question her, she's out of his arms and strutting forwards.

Hsssssssh. She grabs her collarbone where the tattoo lies, wincing in pain. The skin of the tattoo is glowing lava-like and starting to burn again. Myth glares at Aaron and motions, urging him to quicken the pace. For a minute she had forgotten that the spell bound her to him.

Aaron speeds up, but it isn't long before their stomachs remind them of their starvation. He sets down his gear and declares, "We need to hunt something to eat." Myth looked sick at that news.

"You're not vegetarian, are you?"

"No. I eat meat. I just don't hunt for it."

"Then how do you get it?"

"I eat the meat of those who will no longer need it."

"So. . . you wait for them to die or something?" Aaron had never heard of this method before. And to his surprise, she nods to his question. It is his turn to act superior as he shrugs, "Well, I don't need you anyways. I can hunt on my own." Aaron tried to storm away to set up, but realized Myth was following him. He waved her off as a gesture to go away. But apparently she didn't get the message. After a few minutes, he turned around and demanded to know why she was following even though she despised hunting. She simply deadpans and tugs at the right side of her collar, displaying the tattoo. Being the idiot Aaron is, he apologizes and turns around, continues walking, and tries to play it cool. Even though he is sweating.

He comes across a tree with vines hanging down from the branches. After searching for one he found sufficient, he grips it and yanks at it with all his might. The vine is stubborn and refuses to fall. Myth points up at the branch that the vine has itself wrapped around. She scolds, "Ugh, stultus, you can't muscle it that way."

"Hnnnnng." Aaron puffs, "Watch me." He continues flexing his muscles as he puts all his weight on his the thick vine. Eventually Aaron falls back onto his bottom, on the ground, out of breath. He grunts, "One more time."

Myth sighs and holds up two fingers on each hand. She intertwines them together, while whispering, "ligatum nodum annuet atque maniplos." After having her hands move around each other in a circular motion, she sharply pulls her right over the other and presses her fingers tightly together. She makes an O-shape with her left fingers and sends her right fingers through the loop, roughly pushing her fingers through the loop. The vine unties itself and falls, right as Aaron resume pulling at it. The heavy, green rope plops down on his head, as he tumbles over again. He jumps up in victory, and celebrates, "Haha! I did it! See, I told you."

She rolls her eyes, "Whatever."

He tilts his head and acknowledges, "Okay okay, I saw you help a little. Wait, what was it you called me earlier? Still-puss?"