Elves of Wood and Storm (Book one of The Guardians series)

First Blood

Lucas wasn't sure how long he had slept, he stood slowly brushing crumbs onto the floor. A quick glance around assured him that no one had entered his abode. Lucas grabbed his cloak and knife then slid out the hole. It was mid-day, looking off into the distance he could see a low hanging cloud of smoke but didn't think much of it. Instead he focuses on picking his way down the slope towards the thicker trees. It didn't take him long, and thanks to his lifelong skills in the woods almost no snow was displaced. Before setting off he glanced down at his knife, wondering if he should bring his bow as well.

After deliberating for only a moment Lucas decided he didn't want to climb back up for the weapon. So he turned and began to walk into the trees, moving silently through the still woods. His cloak adjusted to match the mottled Browns, greens, and whites, of the forest and so he was invisible to all but the most careful observer.

Lucas wasn't sure exactly what he was trying to accomplish, other than obtaining some form of small game. He didn't want to take anything large until he had a way to clean it. His senses were on high alert so he heard the whispery steps much earlier then he otherwise would have. Quickly he pulled himself into a tree, but his haste knocked a large clump of snow off. Cursing to himself Lucas slid down the trunk and instead slipped inside a clump of juniper bushes. Just as he stopped moving he saw the source of the steps.

Two elves from the village were flitting from tree to tree, bows at the ready. Lucas held his breath as the taller one stopped at the snow he had dislodged. The shorter one hurried over as once she saw the snow. X dropped his hood revealing his identity, the shorter woman did the same. Though Lucas had seen her around the village he didn't know her name.

X held a finger up for silence even though the female hadn't made a sound. He stepped back and started staring into the branches above him looking, Lucas presumed, for him. There was several tense moments of silence as X searched but he couldn't see anything. At last he groaned in frustration and looked down clenching his hands into fists, the female tried to comfort him but he turned away. "We'll catch him, don't worry." Her voice was sweet, trying to draw X out of his shell of anger. He turned to her, "You don't understand Robin, he burned down half the village you know that. But it's more. Before he left I told him I'd stand by him. And now he's betrayed me."

Lucas started, half the village? He had only meant to burn his own home. Surprisingly though he didn't care, he was just surprised. X turned at the tiny sound he had made, his fierce eyes searching through the branches. Lucas held his breath but it didn't make a difference, he had been found. X gripped his bow and sighted it down directly at him. "Lucas, I see you step out slowly." Laughing at the confused expression on Robin's face Lucas complied, holding his hands out to each side. He shook his head so his hood would fall off. "Hey there X."

Robin's eyes widened and her mouth dropped, but Lucas focused on his former friend. Taking in the soot stained face, the expression of contempt, anger, and betrayal. "I didn't mean to burn the village." X shook his head, his knuckles white, "No Lucas, you don't mean to do anything, on your knees now." Lucas dropped looking up at his friend, "what are you going to do to me? Kill me?" X smiled sadly, "No Lucas, I'm not like you. Robin bind him." Lucas didn't break eye contact with X as Robin pulled a cord from her belt and began to walk around him. "X this is a mistake." He could see the sadness in X's eyes, and Lucas was sure what fate awaited him if he was taken.

When Robin grabbed is right wrist to tie it Lucas acted. He pulled his arm in swiftly pulling the young woman in front of him, shielding him from the arrow X had pulled. He then grabbed his knife and yanked it from the sheath holding the blade against Robin's throat. X had loosed an arrow, but it went wide as he tried to avoid his companion. Another arrow was strung, but it was held loosely. Lucas stood pulling Robin with him, "You're getting slow my old friend." Lucas grinned as he started to back away.

Robin struggled but she stopped quickly as Lucas pressed the blade harder against her skin. "Now now my little poppet I wouldn't if I were you. Drop the bow X!" Face ashen X complied, which surprised Lucas, who was this little elf that she was enough to make X disarm? "Now here's how it's going to work, I'm going to take little Robin's bow and leave her here. If either of you move so much as a muscle you both become quivers. Lucas watched his former friend closely, then he decided to do something else. "New plan, X turn around. I'll leave the bow behind."

X turned shakily, that was all Lucas needed. He slid the knife up the side of Robin's face teasing her with the sharp blade. Then he pulled down sharply, slitting into her throat. She didn't have time to scream. He lowered to the ground slowly then took off running. His heart was beating wildly in excitement, he basked in the rush of taking the girls life. The sight of the crimson liquids bubbling against the clean white snow. Behind him Lucas heard a scream and he knew X had turned around. It was a wail of absolute agony then came words, words vowing vengeance and pain. But Lucas didn't stop.

He continued on for about an hour, slowing to a jog as his adrenaline dropped back to normal. He forgot the vows of vengeance and instead looked for some form of game hen. He was hungry after the excitement, luckily it didn't take long to find his supper. A single pheasant was sleeping on a branch, barely pausing Lucas jumped swinging up onto the branch and seizing the started bird before it could fly away. He slit its throat, smiling as it brought back memories, and let the bird drain onto the snow. There didn't seem to be anyone around so Lucas finished cleaning it the packed the cooling body into his game bag.

The light was fading when Lucas arrived back at his tunnel. He looked around then ducked inside. Cooking the bird didn't take long, nor did eating it. But the silence after, that lasted for what felt like an eternity. His heart finally slowed and Lucas began to think about what had just happened. What he had just done, and how it had made him feel. Bringing two fists up to either side of his head Lucas hunched over, bawling like a child. He had long been tempted to kill, but now, now he was a killer. And he knew that the barrier had fallen, he knew if he had the opportunity he would kills again.

Screaming Lucas stood lashing out against whatever stood near him. Wild, erratic breathing rasped through his throat. Groaning deeply Lucas held a blade to his wrist, pressing against the skin. He was a monster, he had killed and enjoyed it. He bit his lip against the pain as he started to draw blood. But before Lucas cut too deeply there was a flash of light and he was thrown back into his memories he watched himself slice down through the honey gold skin, he heard the screams of his friend. Then Lucas calmed, and smiled. He watched ruby liquid run down the tunic of that elf, he heard the light thump as the body hit the piled snow.

The knife hit the floor, not with the heavy thump, but with a high pitched clink. And Lucas had a sudden desire to go back to the village and watch the last rites that would be performed over the cold hard body. Without stopping to consider possible consequences Lucas pulled his cloak on, grabbed his weapons, and as an after thought parchment and a piece of charcoal.