The Tree of Life

[Matreania]

The Tree of Life is a tree given to us by the gods. It has the power to return life and give light to the darkness. But when that light was poisoned the power would be gone from us. So, to save the light, the power was transferred to a baby, born from a mother healed by the tree and who gave birth under the tree. For years, this baby had lived with the knowledge of what they could do, but not why or how. Until they came of age and where marked by evil to be killed. To protect the power and the life, this child was sent to find the gods. Alone on this journey, the child had no idea where to start and what god they were looking for. So, they travel aimlessly, hoping to find the gods that created the tree and turn the power that was given to the tree.

 

[Shadowmancer]

Ryic stood at the top of the hill looking down upon the sleeping town. The moon was bright and a light breeze brushed his dark hair against his cheek. He was a fair looking half-elf, with tanned skin and sharp sapphire eyes. His clothes depicted a traveler, but his stance spoke of a noble soul. He was a proud man, yet his deeds were more shameful than anyone would care to admit.


The far off sound of a wolf howling drew his attention to the forest that lay to the east, prompting a smile, evil and charming to split his soft lips. The plan was in motion.


With a sudden movement, Ryic made his way down the hill before slinking along the wall and scaling over it, his figure disappearing in the shadows of the drowsy homes. Lights danced, casting playful shadows and glimmerings from the torches the guards held as they patrolled the quiet village and the crisp fall wind filled the air with a freshness.


Ryic made his way through the alleyways, passing through unnoticed, until he came to a building just in the heart if town. It was a rather plain looking house, unsuspecting and almost quaint in the daylight. Above the doorway was a depiction of a fox carved into the wooden frame.


Quickly, Ryic tapped on the door in a rapid pattern before it was cracked open by a stout and scar-riddled man.


"Sly fox." The man gruffly whispered.


"Out smart the Hunter." Ryic replied smothly before the man opened the door and invited him in.


The inside of the house was just as plain as its exterior. Simple walls and furniture and two small bed were tucked away in a second room.


A candle burned on the table in the corner and coals still were glowing hot in the fireplace. Also at the table sat three other men; one elf, slender and pale and two rough looking humans, one boasting bright red hair and the other an older, balding man.


"Well...it's about bloody damn time." The redhead grumbled as he folded his arms over his chest.


"There was...a hang up.." Ryic hissed as he unbuckled his sheath belt and rested his sword against the table beside him.


"Regardless, we have work to attend to." The blonde elf retorted as he eyed Ryic condescendingly.


"Indeed." The scarred one joined in as he walked to the table. "What did you discover?"

 

[Matreania]

Breya sighed, she had been sent to look for gods, but she had no idea where to start. She had just left the town, a day ago and already she had trouble sleeping, her feet hurt and several animals had chased her away for bringing their meals back to life. She couldn't help herself, just the thought of allowing a creature to kill and be eaten, was not something she could stand. When she was a child, she found her powers to bring not just the dead animal back, but regenerate it's whole body. It scared her at first but the village had told her of the Tree of Life and what the gods had done to save it. She was loved greatly throughout the village and was usually given special treatment that she didn't want.


Breya shock the memory away, she was on the only journey that was hers. The village was under attack, just because she existed, and now that she was no longer there, they should be safe. She sat against a tree, trying to think of what she should do. She had to move forward, but where forward?

 

[Shadowmancer]

Ryic looked at the four, his eyes glimmering.


"We've found her."


"What do you mean, you've found her - where is she?" The bald one asked stupidly.


"Just beyond North Wood. Zayev and Teva picked up a heavy scent in the area. She's not far."


The redhead stood abruptly, his bulging body clumsily shoving the chair backwards. "Well then, what are we waiting for?!"


"Ease yourself Gohrath." The blonde elf looked dully at the clumsy man. "Good things come to those who wait."


"Better things come to those who take, Thyl'ryn." Gohrath retorted, clenching his fist in a snatching motion.


"Gentlemen," Ryic interjected, now standing and fastening his sword to his side. "The best comes when you do both."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





Five figures slipped through the trees, moonlight casting long, bright beams on the forest floor. The night was still and every move they made had to be quiet. Another howl , this time closer and more alert. Ryic peered out from under his hood to his left, the older, scar-riddled man, Brayloph next to him. Brayloph nodded an they split off from the rest of the group.


After a short time, the two came upon a clearing where two wolves paced along the tree line, one black and the other a dark grey. Ryic stepped out as he whistled to them, Brayloph following nervously behind. The wolves approached, quiet and majestic as Ryic ran his fingers through their fur. They stood roughly shoulder hight and their paws were the size of dinner plates. Their shoulders were broad and their backs were wide enough to carry a man twice Ryic's size.


Ryic clutched the black wolf's neck, pushing his face into the thick fur. A low growl came from his throat as the half-elf greeted them.


"You'll take Zayev." He nodded to the grey wolf beside him before grasping the fur on Teva and hoisting himself up on her back. "Just don't pull his fur too much. He's not really....fond....of that."


"Well...you know how much I love to aggravate things that could eat me..." Brayloph scoffed as he clumsily mounted the wolf.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Gohrath, Thyl'ryn, and the bald man, Aaron crouched in the darkness, Thyl'ryn's eyes scanning the area for signs of 'her'.


"See anything, Thyl'ryn?" Aaron heavily whispered. The elf's eyes dropped sharply down at the man, hatred in his eyes.


"Quiet, fool, or she'll hear you." He raised a long, thin finger and stretched it out in the direction of a large birch tree. There, a figure sat, still and lonely. Silently they looked on, waiting for the signal. Then, all of a sudden, a third, angry howl echoed from across the thinned trees. It was time. The three burst from their hiding spots, flanking the girl with weapons drawn.


"Well, well, well...what do we have here, Aaron?" Gohrath chuckled.


"I believe we've found a little Tree Child, Gohrath." His eyes glinted as a grin stretched across his face in a twisted, evil shape.


"Now boys, you'll frighten her." Thyl'ryn chirped as he appeared from the shadows in front of the girl. "There's no need to scare her..."

 

[Matreania]

Breya jumped at the sudden approach, she watched them closely as they spoke, but her eyes fall on the last to speak, She got to get feet, sure that there was something she should be doing. Running. Screaming. She didn't know, they were bigger then she was and she was sure that they had come for here, when they said Tree Child. "What do you want?" she asked curiously, unsure if she should be calm. If she needed to she could always escape into the moonlight. It would be hard, but even in night she would be able to transform. But she also could just change their hearts. Whatever they wanted would be what she would do, she wanted to find the gods and they didn't look like gods to her. If they were, they wouldn't be trying to scare her. Or at least, that was what she would hope.

 

[Shadowmancer]

"What do you want?" The girl asked.


"Oh." Thyl'ryn cooed sarcastically. "She wishes to know what we want with her."


"Dear girl," Gohrath chimed in, his face twisting as an evil shadow shrouded him. "You have a fine price on your pretty little head and I want my cut."


The trio closed in, their bodies seeming to block out any escape route.


"Power, wealth..."


"Women.." Aaron growled as he reached for the girl with his fat fingers.

 

[Matreania]

Breya looked at them, "I don't think I like that." she said, closing her eyes. Her body separated into tiny balls of light. The lights floated around and passed them, before forming again, behind them in the center of the clearing. She turned to them, "I have a duty and I will subject myself to being captured by anyone that is not of the gods." she warned them, "I will not be taken by anyone simply because you think I will be."