The scream tore through him, a ragged blade slicing the warm embrace of his mother's arms. Eli, a small, curious four-year-old, pressed his face into her tunic, breathing in the comforting scent of lavender and old parchment. That familiar fragrance was quickly drowned out by something sharp and acrid: smoke. Beneath it lingered the metallic tang of blood.
He remembered the lurch of the carriage, the frantic shouts of the guards. A strange, guttural roar had shaken the very ground, a sound unlike the growl of a forest bear or the bark of wild dogs. This was something different, something that splintered wood and snapped bone.
Then came the impact, a violent jolt that sent him sprawling. His mother's grip loosened, though she clutched him still. Eli cried, not understanding.
"Eli, don't worry. I will protect you," she whispered, then began chanting words he didn't understand. Her voice trembled. "Remember, Eli. I love you very much. Now go. You will be safe."
A man stumbled toward them, blood spilling from his mouth."Madam… forgive me. I couldn't protect you or the young master." He collapsed lifeless before them.
A hooded figure stepped into the wreckage, a wicked smile twisting his face."You can't run anymore, Madam Lucy. You and your son will die today."
He raised twin axes, charging. But before he reached them, Lucy kissed Eli one last time. And then Eli began to vanish.
Still crying, he watched his mother fall beneath the attack. He caught a glimpse of the hooded man's face, disappointment flashing in his eyes as Eli disappeared.
The world blurred into chaos, a storm of green and brown. Eli's legs carried him, pumping furiously, chest burning. He did not know where he was. Only that he was away. Away from the searing flames clawing at the sky behind him. Away from the fading screams that dissolved into the silence of the deep woods.
Time lost meaning. Hours passed, or perhaps a full day. Fear gnawed at his belly as hunger hollowed him.
"Mama…? Where are you? I'm scared… Where is Uncle Barry?"
But no one answered. He was truly alone.
The forest loomed vast and uncaring, a million leaves whispering like hidden eyes. He stumbled until his legs gave out, throat raw, body trembling with exhaustion. He collapsed into a knot of roots and drifted into a fitful, haunted sleep.
When he woke, there was a shadow. Not the darkness of night, but something vast blotting out the sunlight above. His heart thundered. He braced for claws, for teeth, for the end. He squeezed his eyes shut, wishing for his mother, for Barry, for anyone.
Instead, a gentle nudge brushed his cheek.
He opened his eyes. Towering over him stood a creature from whispered bedtime stories: a Hind. But this was no ordinary beast. Its massive antlers twisted like living branches, draped with moss and glowing fungi. Its fur shimmered in bark and green, blending seamlessly with the forest. And its eyes, deep amber pools, held an ancient, soothing wisdom.
The air stirred with its presence, carrying the scent of rain-soaked earth and autumn leaves. This was Aeliana, the Ancient Whisperwind Hind.
She lowered her head again, nudging him softly. A thought, clear and calm, bloomed in his mind.
Little one… lost?
Eli trembled, but fear no longer ruled him. He reached out, touching her muzzle. Warm breath and coarse fur grounded him. Aeliana licked his palm, and a strange calm settled within him, loosening the knot of terror in his stomach. In that moment, the forest became his sanctuary, and Aeliana, his mother in a world that had stolen his own.
"I… I'm scared," Eli whispered. "Mother, Uncle Barry… everyone… they killed them. My mother, she…" His voice broke.
Come here, little one. Safe now, she murmured in his mind.
Days, weeks, months passed. Slowly, the terror dreams began to fade. The horrors loosened their grip. Eli's laughter returned, and Aeliana became his world.
She taught him her language, not of words, but of wind through leaves, of rain on dry soil, of the musk of a storm. Their telepathic bond grew natural, her voice like rustling branches in his thoughts.
The scent of berries, little one. Sweet, not bitter, she would whisper, guiding him.Water flows clear, near the singing stones.
She taught him to hunt with patience and stealth, to move through the forest unseen. She showed him which roots fed life and which shadows promised safety. She even shared glimpses of his past: his parents' laughter, their love, and the twisted shapes of those who had slaughtered them.
But life with Aeliana was not only sorrow. Eli, mischievous and curious, often tried to sneak up on her, a game he never won. He would chase squirrels, tumble through roots, then grumble when he failed. Aeliana would respond with a gentle nudge, or a mental image of a better hunting ground.
"Aeliana, look! I caught a frog!" he once exclaimed, holding up his squirming prize.
Release it, little one. Its song belongs to the forest.
And with a grin, Eli let it go.
By six, he could track a stag through broken twigs, sense a hawk's dive by the shift of wind. He cornered a hare once, his hands faster than its leap. He held it, heart racing.
Respect the hunt. Take only what you need. Its life is its own until then, Aeliana taught.
He let it go, and felt at peace.
Years passed. Eli grew stronger, sharper. At eight, Aeliana began teaching him the lifeblood of the forest. She guided him to feel the currents of energy: the raw pulse of earth and the sickened hum of Corruption.
But twilight came when she grew faint. Eli sensed it, the dimming of her immense spirit.
In the glade, Aeliana lay shimmering, her breath soft. Eli pressed against her, dread clutching his chest.
My time is done, little one, she whispered in his mind, her voice now like a fading breeze. But my spirit will live within you. Be the wind that guides. The stillness that protects. Your purpose awaits. Walk among humans. Be their bridge. Be their shield.
"No, Aeliana! Don't go!" Tears blurred his vision. His voice, unused for years, was hoarse.
It is the cycle, my heart. All life returns to the source.
She lowered her head, touching his brow. A silvery light burst from her chest, flowing into him. Wild energy surged through his veins, visions flooding him: forests eternal, the grace of wind, the resilience of earth. A thousand ancient voices whispered together, acknowledging him.
When the light faded, Aeliana was translucent, a wisp of dawn mist. She nudged his cheek one last time, then dissolved into air, leaving only the rich scent of earth and silence.
Eli fell to his knees, sobbing. Alone again, yet not truly. Her essence pulsed within him, her presence a constant whisper. He felt the forest as part of himself, his senses sharpened, his movements lighter.
He was the Wildheart now, the living echo of the ancient spirit. And with Aeliana's final blessing, he knew his solitary life was over.