I felt the warmth of her skin as she guided my hands.
Her vibrant green hair tickled my neck.
"Harder.", she whispered into my ears making them as red as a rose, "You need to pull the bowstring just until your cheek."
My grip around the small wooden bow tightened as my limited arm muscles pulled back the string with all my might.
"You always need to see the target. Focus. You can't let it get out of your sight."
Hesitatingly I nodded.
"Now… you just need to let go."
Passing one plant more beautiful than the other the arrow swam through the air, impaling its target.
White fur turned red, life into death.
It only took an instant of being careless before the rabbit lost its one and only fragile life. However, its death would spend life as it was destined to become food.
Livinia, who had guided me, suddenly stood up. We walked through the rustling grass until we were standing before our dead prey. Expectantly, I looked at her.
With a calmness unbefitting of a fourteen year old she lowered her head until her white horns touched its head.
"I know you're not a forest demon or even a demon like me.", Livinia nearly whispered, "But please… please pray for every life you take Joshua."
Surprised by her sudden change in attitude, I agreed hastily:
"S-sure."
Following her example I lowered my head until my short pink hair, which I inherited from my mother – a succubus -, reached the rabbits stomach.
"Goddess of Life, Gaia, please let this soul reincarnate in peace. Amen."
After a moment of silence I gulped.
"Ahm, what now?", I asked as I lost myself in Livinia's forest-like eyes once more.
Smirking Livinia said:
"Now, we're going to eat."
<============~*~============>
"We have gathered here today for nothing but one thing. To celebrate our small village, where demons and humans live together in harmony, becoming 20 years old.", shouted our old mayor standing on top of a wooden platform so everyone could hear and see him.
"And how do we, the people of Haven, celebrate?", he asked with a smirk on his old face that showcased his yellowing teeth.
"BY LIVING.", screamed the entirety of the village in unity.
"Then start living! Eat! Drink! And fill yourself to the brim!"
Music started to play as more and more conversation filled the bright night.
"This rabbit stew is simply delicious!", my neighbour Leonard, a lanky man, screamed out in bliss. He was a friend of my family as long as I could form memories. Nobody competed with each other more than he and my father. This friendly rivalry spread throughout all aspects of their lives which made them push each other. I still remember how he brought an unbelievable delicious piece of drake meat to my tenth birthday to beat the sword my father gifted Leonard's son.
Bragging my dad said: "No wonder it tastes so good. It was my son who caught the rabbit!!"
He turned around and ruffled up my hair.
"I'm soooo proud of you!! You will be a great warrior in the future!"
"Darling! Do you know how look it took to make his hair look this good?!", screamed my mother in anger as she saw my dad ruffling my hair.
My father was a broadly built man, a blacksmith and over 2 meters tall but now even he shivered in fear. Even though my mom wasn't exactly a physically strong woman, nothing in this world could cause my dad more dread than a single word of hers.
"S-Sara! You need to understand! T-this was just an accident!"
"Accident! Accident?! That's the THIRD time already!", my mother screamed, making my dad look as if he'd rather face a hydra.
Quickly fixing my hair, I decided to protect my dad by switching the topic.
"The 'date' with Livinia went great today!"
Instantly the head of my mother snapped in my direction. Filled with excitement rivalling that of a teenage girl meeting her celebrity crush she crushed my arms with her hands.
"Really?! You need to tell me everything!! I need to make sure my son continues my legacy!"
Looking at my father, I quickly formed a sentence with my lips.
YOU OWE ME SOMETHING.
Accepting the deal my father nodded, sneaking away.
"So did you have se- "
"Mom! I'm fourteen!", I answered already regretting saving my dad's ass.
'Why does my mom think I am? The god of charisma?', I thought to myself before she assaulted my mental world once more.
"And?! I was your age too. When your dad and I were fourteen we fuc- "
"TO MUCH INFO!!", I screamed trying to protect myself from nightmares, "Please let me live in ignorance!"
Seeing me press my hands together praying my mother thankfully decided to drop the matter.
"Hmph!", she said pouting, "Then tell me what happened on your date! Just so you know, this isn't a request but an order!"
Gulping I already knew what awaited me and decided to give in to fate. For every question I decided to answer two more questions popped up. Depending on my answer she decided to either nod in approval or shake her head in disappointment.
After being milked dry for what felt like hours, my ass was finally saved by the evening program.
"D-dear Haven!", our meanwhile quite tipsy major screamed, "Hunted by all races simply because they thought the l-love between demons and h-humans is wrong, w-we fled h-here! B-but that's n-not true! Y-You cannot f-fool your hearth! S-so to protect our l-love we need to be and s-stay strong!
L-Let's start the yearly anniversary tournament!"
It needed no more than a simple hand gesture of the old man for a platform out of stone to rise out of the ground.
"The first fight will be Jack, our blacksmith, a-against Leonard, our butcher!"
"Come on darling! Win this fight!", screamed my mom, cheering him on.
"You can bet on that.", he said glaring at our neighbour as they simultaneously walked up the stage.
"Sure, but be prepared to lose your money Sara.", the lanky butcher cheekily answered, "How about a small bet between us, Jacky. The loser will invite the winner to eat out at Uncle Ivan's restaurant."
"Never have I ever earned a meal as quickly as I will right now. Thanks.", my dad responded as if he'd already won.
"A-are you ready?", the major said, stopping their bickering.
Both men nodded, tightening the grip around their respectively weapons.
"3, 2, 1, go!"
With a speed barely visible to the human eye, they rushed at each other.
"[Metal Shield]!", my father yelled, blocking the attack of Leonard's butcher knives with a suddenly conjured shield even taller than himself.
"That's far from enough Jack! [Flying Knives]!"
The butcher threw his knives that bypassed the shield with a sharp turn.
"Thanks for the gift, Leo!", my dad scream releasing the shield, holding the butcher's weapon in one hand and his own weapon, a hammer, in another.
Seeing my father's metal skin the butcher screamed offend:
"You door frame blocking bastard! You silent casted! How should I know which spell you casted!?"
"You don't. That's the clue. [Heavy Hammer]!"
Sweat formed on my neighbour's face, knowing he would rather not be hit by that hammer.
"[Swift Assassin]!", my neighbour shouted, dodging the attack.
Again and again my father tried to hit but he couldn't.
"Stop running, you anti-woman magnet!
"Haha! You know that's what you get for silent casting! Wait, did I forget to say I could do it as well?"
All of the sudden the knives my father grabbed in the beginning exploded.
Seeing my father staggering and bruised Leonard laughed:
"Finally I beat your oversized ass!"
Just as the butcher walked over to taunt dad, the ground beneath Leo caved in, making him stuck.
"Haha! That's the third win in a row for me!"
"I won the two before that! Stop bragging and pull me out!", the butcher yelled, angrily trying to free himself.
"As you can see our b-blacksmith won!", the major announced,
"W-we'll continue with the second fight after a short break."
I didn't even have the chance to congratulate my dad when Livinia tapped on my shoulder:
"How are you?"
"G-great!", I answered trying my best to keep my calm.
Smirking my mom looked at me before she opened her mouth:
"Joshua just wanted to ask you for a dance."
In horror I looked at her.
'Are you CRAZY?! She will never accept! ', I thought to myself, 'Man where is the next bridge?! I want to jump!"
"Aww! Thanks Josh! Let's dance.", she replied smiling cheekily.
'Never mind mom. You are the best wingman ever.'
Taking her hand I walked over to a patch of grass declared the dancing area. To decorate it, garlands and lights were hanging in the trees creating a romantic atmosphere.
Even though my dancing skills were nothing but mediocre at best, I decided to make the best of it.
Putting my hand in hers we danced. Slowly, yet, we danced. We didn't need to talk much. I just looked in her eyes which seemed so endless that I would lose myself inside them.
Gathering all bravery I have I whispered into her ear: "You know you are beautiful, don't you?"
"W-what a-are you saying?!", she squealed back, blushing.
"You are beautiful.", I said again kissing her ear.
Looking at her shocked expression self doubt overcame me.
'Did she hate it?! Was that a mistake?!'
Before I could do anything else or ponder anymore, she grabbed my hand and ran off into the forest to be far away from any music and townsfolk.
"Where did you lead us-"
With newfound courage she held the back of my head as if she never would let me go and pressed her lips on mine. They felt so soft and warm. Every single second of this kiss was so beautiful. Every single second my heart seem to beat faster.
I pressed her against a tree and I kissed her again and again.
"What can I say. You look beautiful and taste delicious.", I muttered smirking
Her lips seemed to hypnotically dance just for me as she spoke.
"Let's watch the sky together."
Looking in her eyes once more, I simply answered:
"I am."