Enmity

Chapter I

In the midst of a radiant day, a young elf crouched stiffly behind the thick underbrush of a nearby tree. His vivid green eyes studied the broad figure of an elk standing a little more than a dozen metres away, unaware of its fate as it feasted on a thick cluster of lanky grass. The animal’s robust muscles enticed the elf, who desired nothing more than its lean, yet valued flesh.

   The surrounding forest was still and quiet, except for the soft chirps of robins passing overhead every once in a while. The elf inhaled deeply. The air was crisp and clean, sweetened with a hint of honey stemming from a nearby beehive, which was quite unusual for the current time of the year. Rarely did the honeybees of Validar exit their teeming hives during the culminating days of summer, where the temperature didn’t normally exceed twenty-degrees Celsius.

   Yet, as autumn approached and the days drew colder, the Garlon forest still flourished under the changing temperatures and increasingly spiteful weather. That was one of the many aspects the elf enjoyed about the forest, on top of the large number of game it sheltered.

   The soft chew of the elk resounded in the elf’s intent ears – its ivory teeth grinding in an almost rhythmical manner. The elf tightened his grip on the wooden bow stationed in his right hand, his fingertips caressing its slightly rugged grains of wood.

   His slim, yet built body stood motionless, pressed against a damp, mossy boulder for support. Its coldness seeped into his pale skin, his thin layer of cotton clothing doing little to impede it. He could feel its chilling presence building on his spine and bones, slowly taking over his body. Despite the elf’s discomfort, he resisted the urge to shiver.

   After stalking his prey for nearly an hour, the elf let out a supressed exhale and prepared himself for the defining moment of his entire hunt.

   However, before more could be done, a reticent sound echoed throughout the thick trunks of the forest, grabbing the attention of both the elf and his prey. The sound was no longer than a few seconds, yet its eerie, low-pitched tone sent chills down the elf’s spine. It was unlike anything his meek ears had ever heard before, both dark and frightening.

   The elk too seemed unsettled at the ominous sound, naturally sending it into a provident state. An unsettling silence shortly followed, even the birds overhead halted their singing. It was as if the forest and its inhabitants were waiting and listening for another sound, one that would explain the first. Though, none came.

   Time was curtailing. The elf knew he only had moments to strike his prey or risk going home empty handed and disheartened.

   Steadily, he extracted an arrow from his stocked quiver, relying solely on touch to pick the best of the sheaf. The arrow was of high-quality, forged by the elf himself. Maple was replaced with Larch for the shaft while the arrowhead was forged from Eudeite, a black, glossy mineral that closely resembled obsidian. The combination of the two improved the aerodynamics of the projectile and increased its impact.

   The elf loaded the arrow into the bow with his slender fingers and augmented the tension on the nocking string. His eyes peered through the small nick on the side of the bow, which served as a sight window, and redirected the arrowhead over the neck of the animal. Once he was satisfied with its trajectory, the elf took a couple steady breaths and withdrew his fingers.

   The arrow cut through the air with impressive speed and an accurate trajectory. However, an unexpected gust of wind rushed through the forest and overtook the projectile, redirecting it into the thick bark of an elm tree and just narrowly skimming the shoulder blade of its intended target.

    Almost simultaneously, the elk regarded the elf and his drawn weapon. Its black eyes glistened with alarm as it peered at the bow; it was as if the animal recognised the instrument used to kill its kind. Not a moment later, the elk bolted for safety.