God Hunter

Chapter 14: Earthborn

The southern continent of Terra, at least the northern region, was place full of lush green grassland. The ocean waves crash along the high white cliffs. The sky is cloudy. However, the land was suffering from a famine. In a cliffside village, inside of a small wooden shack, lived a man with long black hair wearing a red and black checkered flannel. His scraggly beard reached just past his chin. He was cooking fish. A young boy about the age of six stepped into the kitchen from another room. His hair was black and curly. His eyes were a dark brown. The father turned to his son.

"What's up James?" he asked.

"I just smelled the fish and wondered if dinner was ready," young James asked.

The father chuckled.

"It will be ready soon. Feel free to go into the garden in the meantime. I will call you when it is ready."

James nodded and went outside. He enjoyed his time in the garden. There was something about it that appealed to him. Numerous flowers, vegetables, and fruits were growing all around. Tomatoes, strawberries, sunflowers, and more. James sat in a green patch of grass. He touched the ground with both hands and a tiny mound burst from the dirt.

In the kitchen, James' father continued to cook until there was a knock at the door.

"One minute!" he called.

When the food was in a good place, he turned off the stove and answered the door. There were farmers wearing straw hats. Their faces did not look pleased.

"Oh, its you all again," said James' father displeased "How many times do I have to tell you I am not handing over my son! We already moved to the edge of town like requested! Haven't we been through enough?"

"Well Bren, we see your green garden in the back. You are the only one who is even remotely capable of growing food right now," said one farmer.

James' father, Bren, kept his hands behind his back. He curled his fingers around a knife.

"If it wasn't for your cursed boy," continued the farmer "our crops would be growing without issue!"

"My son is not cursed!" yelled Bren "Perhaps maybe you should stop using crops that suck up more nutrients from the soil. You all need to swallow your pride and figure out a new farming technique."

"Your boy is the key! We need him or we will all starve!" the farmer then grabbed Bren "Give him to us!"

Bren then drew the knife and stabbed the man in the wrist. The farmer cried out in pain. He fell to his knees, clutching the bleeding wrist.

"You bastard! We'll be back for you!"

The other farmers then helped carry the wounded man away. Bren then rushed outside, seeing James still playing. James turned to face his father. His smiled faded upon seeing his father's grim expression.

"James, we need to leave," he said.

"What's wrong dad?" he asked.

"I'll explain once we leave town. Pack your things, quickly."

James soon rushed inside and began packing as well as Bren. They had backpacks and shoved them full of clothes and snacks. It took them about an hour to pack. They left their tiny shack. As they walked through the streets of the village, it was eerily quiet. They made it about halfway when they were suddenly blocked by numerous villagers. Their clothes were dirty. Some carried bows, others axes and pitchforks. It was a standard mob. The man Bren had wounded earlier stepped forward.

"Give us the boy Bren. We don't want to hurt you," he said.

"No! He is not the cause of the famine! Please leave us be!" pleaded Bren.

Bren and James began backing up when more angry people appeared behind them. They grabbed James and others held back Bren.

"Dad!" called James.

"Give him back!" yelled Bren.

They soon then held both of them down.

"I am sorry boy, but we must sacrifice you if we are to eat," said the wounded farmer. He then drew a knife.

Bren's eyes were wide open. He struggled against his captors.

Them man then cut James' face, leaving two scars from the forehead down to his chin. He then cut from under James' eyes and across his nose, connecting the scars. James cried, his face bloody. He screamed loudly. The earth then suddenly began to shake. It shook so violently that people began to fall over. James screamed louder and the earth beneath the villagers began to crack open. The divide continued to grow and expand. People began running. Cracks soon swallowed people and then buildings. Bren soon broke free.

The farmer looked around, seeing the people and buildings fall. He looked down at James with disgust.

"You really are a curse," he whispered.

He raised the knife. He then brought down the weapon only for it to stab Bren. James looked at his father. The knife was deep in his back, Bren winced and his eye twitched.

"Dad..." spoke James.

Bren held James close in his arms.

"Its...okay my son," Bren then cough up blood.

"Just remember...I love you," Bren then closed his eyes.

James screamed and the farmer pulled the knife out of Bren's back.

"I'm going to finish this! Die!" yelled the farmer.

James cried as his father died. The raised the knife once more. James then flicked his finger. Suddenly, a massive rock came flying at the farmer. The man looked up only for a moment where the rock then proceeded to take off his head and part of his torso, leaving only everything below the stomach and the shoulders. James continued crying. He cried and cried until he passed out. He later awoke. He slept for a long time as the midday sun hung overhead. His father, still laying on top of him. James glanced around, he saw the ruins of the village and how the land was now broken. Part of where the village was had fallen into the ocean. James then looked up at the sky. Pure blue. James stared, not even attempting to move. Then, a gray skinned figure soon blocked out the sun. James noticed the pointed ears.

"An Elf?" he thought.

"You poor boy," he said.

He knelt and gently moved Bren's body. He could tell the man died defending the boy. Jahlan then picked up James.

"You had quite the awakening. I could feel it from further north. These Humans were cruel to you I can tell. I will bury your father. Do not worry boy, I will take you somewhere you can call home, son of the Earth Goddess."