The Light and Shadows of the Stars

Chapter 4: Bloody Encounters

Shatter darted from tree to tree, his bow aimed at the fleeing deer a few meters away. Cedar was on the side opposite of him, mimicking his actions. Their plan was to corner the deer and ambush it.

 When the deer stopped at a dead end, it quickly turned to the right. Shatter and Cedar followed close behind. Shatter shot the first arrow, missing the deer by an inch. He grunted in frustration. Cedar shot, landing an arrow into the deer's leg. It slowed the creature down. Finally, when Shatter aimed a shot at the deer's torso, it hit, and the deer fell on the ground.

Shatter and Cedar walked over with leisure, visually proud of their catch. 

"The king will not go hungry today!" Shatter declared in triumph. Cedar helped him shave the deer pelt for coats and cut up its meat to separate into bags. 

Cedar tripped over a piece of glass, landing on the other pieces that were scattered around it. "Damn it!" She cried out in pain. Shatter looked down at her, he didn't panic, but he quickly lifted her up.

"That looks messed up." Shatter looked at her fur skirt, which was stained with blood. Her knees and elbows were cut and also bloody.

A short distance away, Shatter and Cedar saw something laying on the ground. Shatter carried Cedar over with caution.

The thing that they saw was a mithran body, mangled and bloody. Its insides were partly visible and its face was scarred and wrecked. It was the same mithran who was sent out to the village.

"What thing could have been so brutal to do this much damage?!" Cedar looked at the body in horror, her eyes wide.

"Something hungry and savage. That's what." Shatter growled as Cedar nuzzled closer to him in fear.

He looked down at her, something clicked in his head.

"Is that.. your brother?" Shatter nodded his head towards the body.

Cedar looked at it, her eyes wide and full of sorrow. She nodded, too lost for words.

She cried into Shatter's chest, her sobs painful and full of grief. Shatter passed his hand gently along her head, trying to soothe her. "Cedar, it'll be alright. Just calm down and breathe." Shatter didn't know how he was being so comforting and gentle with her, his father had never taught him or showed him how to care.

"He.. he didn't deserve this!" Cedar sobbed "He taught me so much, he practically raised me. And now, my only family is gone. Just like that."

"Cedar, we have to get back. We'll visit him later." Shatter carried her back, her sobs echoing in his ears.

Hello darlings! Sorry for the late update, yesterday was very busy. Chapters five and six will be posted soon. I'll try to be more consistent with my updates. Also, I may have to change my uploading schedule. For personal reasons. I'll let you know when. Alright. Buh bye!

-Ginger