The darkness reeked of rain and the distant hum of thunder. In a small wood-built house on the edge of a peaceful village, the cries of a woman echoed through the night. Her blonde hair was soaked to her face as she clasped the edges of the bed. The cries were ragged and quick. The midwife encouraged her to keep on pushing. And then, as if a spark of life had been kindled in the darkness, the sound of a new life cut through the storm.
The woman, Rose Vulkun, wrapped her shaking arms around the child. His small body was warm against her breast. His blonde hair shimmered like sun through wheat. She smiled through her tears. "My dear miracle," she whispered. "Rudy. Rudy Vulkun."
When her fingers came into contact with his right shoulder, her eyes widened. Marked on the skin of the infant was a symbol which was an inverted cross that glistened like ink in the dim light of the lamp. The midwife let out a gasp and backed away, muttering a prayer. Rose simply stared.
"No," she said, holding the baby tight. "Whatever it may mean. I'll protect you. For the rest of my life, Rudy."
Lightning flashes outside, illuminating the stormy atmosphere as thunder echoed in the mountains. The cry of the child resonated as an answer to it.
Twelve years later, the forests beyond the village of Bahma were restless. Leaves whispered secrets as the wind brushed through them, carrying the distant cry of a crow. Three figures moved through the woods, children no longer, but not yet grown. At their head was a boy with dark hair that seemed to absorb the sunlight, his eyes deep and steady. Rudy Vulkun.
Behind him walked Cassandra Slade. Her silverhair glistened like threads of moonlight as it caught the early sun. Her blue eyes roved over the trees as she walked. Her fingers lightly touched the frosty bow that had appeared from thin air. Karon Ride walked beside her. The boy had tousled blondehair. His green eyes burned with a restless confidence.
They had come hunting. Not for sport. But for survival.
The village of Bahma had been besieged for months, cattle killed, travelers missing, and blood discovered around the edge of the forest. The villagers had messaged the capital for troops or magic users, but none had been forthcoming. And it was against such a background that these three had made their vow of determination to put an end to it.
Hours dragged by and they discovered only shadows and silence. Cassandra scowled. "We've searched half the forest. Do we really think it's here to be found?"
"It's here," Rudy said quietly and confidently. "Did you hear that?"
Karon laughed, swatting a leaf away from his shoulder. "Are you trying to frighten us, Rudy? Maybe the monster's too scared to come out and face me."
Before Rudy could answer, they head a sound. It splintered the woods shattering the silence. From the bushes appeared a charging wild boar. The creature roared and snarled as it hurtled through the leaves and roots. Cassandra let out a scream as it bore down on them. The three of them ran as the creature hotly pursued them.
"Run!" Rudy shouted, his heavy boots pounding against the ground. The branches slapped at his face as they dodged through the trees. The growls of the boar were getting louder and closer, at last, Karon stopped.
"Enough running. Let's take it down!" he bellowed. His muscles flexed as he drew on his power. His strength grew until his arms trembled with it. His eyes blazing with defiance, he caught the charge of the boar. His feet sank deeply into the earth. The boar bucked and screamed as it struggled against his grasp.
"Karon!" Cassandra shouted, drawing back her bow. Ice sparkled in the air, forming a shimmering arc of frost. She let it fly. An arc of ice flashed through the air, striking the creature's shoulder. The creature let out a tortured scream as blood and ice mingled on its flesh but it only seemed to enrage it further as it struggled against Karon's hold.
"Cassandra, do it again!"
She let fly two more arrows. Each of them hit true. Still, the boar wouldn't die. Karon's legs were shaking now from the weight of it. "I can't hold it much longer!"
His eyes narrowed. He raised his right hand, and flame erupted from his palm. The flame swirled and coalesced into a blade of fiery crimson light. The heat from it shimmered in the atmosphere. "Move!"
Karon dodged just as Rudy led a charge. In one swift motion, he swung the burning blade down on the boar's neck. The creature let out a screech as it died and the smell of burned fur wafted through the forest.
Silence followed, a long, heavy silence punctuated only by ragged gasps of breath.
Cassandra released her bow and let it dissolve into mist. "We. we did it," she whispered, her eyes widening in amazement. "Rudy, that was incredible."
Rudy wiped the sweat from his forehead as the flame-sword dissintegrated into embers. "I wouldn't have been able to do it without the two of you," he said with a blush on his face.
Karon straightened himself and wiped the dirt off his tunic. "Maybe. But it was my strength that saved you both from being killed."
Cassandra nodded in agreement, smiling sincerely. "That's true, Karon. You were incredible."
For an instant, his expression softened with pride. Then Rudy smiled. "You were strong enough to bear it, yes. But could you have killed it?"
Karon's smile wavered. "You want to test that?"
Cassandra moved quickly to intervene. "Both of you, stop. We're here to fight the monster. We're not here to fight."
But as she was speaking, the atmosphere shifted. The forest went silent. The birds stopped singing. A chill ran down their spines.
Something moved from among the trees.
The darkness grew--huge and deliberate and noiseless. Then it emerged into the light. They saw it: a bear as tall as a house, brown as dried earth, eyes glowing like hot coals in a bed of blackened embers. The ground shook with each heavy step. Its hot breath misted in the chill of the early morning.
Cassandra's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh no."
Karon stumbled backward. "That--That is the monster."
Rudy gazed at it, his senses crying out for him to flee, but his legs wouldn't work. He could feel it, he had that same burning sensation of power that had awakened his flame long ago. Something inside of him moved.
The bear's eyes were fixed on him. The red eyes shone with an increased intensity. The beast roared loudly enough to shake the very roots of the trees. The leaves fluttered like burning sparks.
Cassandra's bow appeared once more in her hands. Frost crept over her fingers. Karon's fists were ablaze with energy. Rudy moved forward as flames began to dance around his hands. He had no idea what that creature was or why it made him both scared and familiar at the same time.
However, it was clear that the fight for Bahma had only just begun. The wind whizzed through the trees, bearing with it the whispers of their fate into the depths of the woods.