SCOUTS
It has been a couple of days, Grem enters the home of Gartha to check on the child.
- Hello, Grem. Gartha says.
- Hey, how's the boy doing? Grem asks.
- He's fine, he even started drinking his milk when I try to feed him.
- I guess it's a matter of time until I am no longer needed.
- No, not at all, the boy needs a father.
- I...
The conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door, Grem walks to the door and opens it, it's the elder.
The elder enters the home, he looks upon the child.
"Hello, it seems you and Grem have been doing a great job taking care of the little one." The elder says.
"I couldn't have done it without the help of Grem." Gartha says.
"But she's the one keeping an eye on him day and night." Grem says.
"Well, good job you two." The elder says. "Have you decided a name for the baby?"
"I've been thinking about naming him Raven." Grem says.
"Oh, the mythical bird." The elder says.
"What's a Raven?" Gartha asks.
"It's an all black bird that has great knowledge and wisdom." Grem says. "It's also known as the advisor of gods."
"Sounds great." Gartha says. "I like the name Raven."
"I am happy that you agree." The elder says. "Grem, I need to speak with you outside."
"Right behind you, sir." Grem says.
"Take care you two." Gartha says.
The elder leaves and Grem follows, the two stand on front of the house.
- We have sent scouts to the forest. The elder says. And they have come back.
- Did they find the magical beast? Grem asks.
- No, they found nothing, not even traces.
- So there's nothing to fear.
- No, I trust the scouts' abilities but I doubt their findings. I need you to go out there yourself and confirm.
- But Gartha needs me.
- We will find someone that will aid her in your absence.
- Are you sure there isn't anyone else for the job?
- A few days back, you wanted to go back to your formal duty as a hunter, now you refuse my offer. Something changed, what is it?
- It's...
- You started to consider the boy as your son, the son you wished to have with Mary.
- Mary died a long time ago, she has nothing to do with this.
- Well, all I can do is assure you that the boy will be fine, your task remains.
- I will go out as soon as I can.
- Later then.
- Farewell.
Grem goes back in the house as the elder leaves.
- What's going on? Gartha asks.
- Just a little task, I may be gone for a couple of days but don't worry. Grem says.
- What's the task?
- Scouting the forest. The scouts that the elder sent failed to find the beast who killed the warrior, he wants me to go and make sure they didn't miss anything.
- What if you find it?
- I will come back to the village immediately.
- What if it finds you?
- I will take care of it.
- Just be safe.
- I guess I have to go get ready now, see you soon.
- Take care.
Grem leaves, he goes to his hunter hut in the forest not far from the village.
He enters. On his right is a bed, it's very uncomfortable to sleep on, it's only used as a last resort.
On his left is his armory, he stands before and he grabs his gear.
First, he puts on his leather armor on. Then, he puts the chainmail on.
On the front his belt, he attaches two potions of health and one potion of mana.
To the right of the potions, he attaches a dagger. It is imbued with poison that will paralyze an animal immediately from a minute to ten.
On the left of his hip, he attaches a short sword in case a beast got too close. It is imbued with an enchantment that accelerates bleeding.
On his back is his arrows with tips made of great iron that can pierce through anything and a bow that can reach vast distances.
He is now ready for the hunt.
He exits his hut, he looks around.
He sees the branches of trees move with the wind, he sees the falling leaves, he sees the birds setting in their nests.
He goes deeper into the forest, he hears the roar of a tiger from a distance.
He crouches and approaches slowly until he reaches a cliff overseeing the tiger.
He sees the tiger circling around a beat up great elk.
The tiger goes round and round awaiting for the perfect moment to strike.
It plunges forward to strike the neck but the elk moves forward.
The tiger's claw grabs into its shoulders, in a struggle.
The great elk was moments away from the tiger climbing its back and biting its neck off.
It couldn't give up, it started jumping wildly like a mad ox until the tiger fell.
The tiger got its feet steady on the ground ready to plunge again.
The elk made a run for it, with every last bit of strength that remained.
The tiger started running too after the elk, it couldn't let go of its prey until an arrow struck from above, a warnin shot.
The tiger ran away and disappeared into the shadows of the great trees.
He then hears the sound of another animal, this time it's a cry of pain.
He approaches from the shadows and sees an elk with a broken leg, it can't move.
A pack of wolves appear and surround it in a matter of seconds, it has no hope.
Grem has already disturbed the course of nature enough with saving the great elk, he has to let the wolves have their feast.
But his thoughts roll and roll on how to save the little deer.
Suddenly, the wolves start to fall one by one, there's a smell in the air.
It all turns black, but as he hits the ground, pain wakes him up.
He turns and runs away, his vision haz and his legs shaky.
He falls on the ground, looks up and sees a black thing fly in the air.
He musters his strength and stands up following the bird as it moves in and out of his disturbed vision.
His vision clears up for a moment, he sees a raven, the bird of knowledge, it's what he has been running after, but not even a second after, he trips and falls.
He looks up and he sees no bird.
Was it real?
Was it just a hallucination from the gas?
Grem doesn't know, but he look at the ground and he sees a claw of no animal he knows, this is what he was looking for.
SINISTER
Grem's head is finally clear.
He heads back to the hunter hut to change.
He takes off his armor, bows and potions, then he puts his casual clothes.
He wraps the claw so it doesn't puncture the bag and he leaves.
He walks into the village, it's as he left it.
He heads to the doctor, he knocks on the door but he awaits awhile before he opened.
"Oh, it's you." The doctor says.
"Were you expecting someone?" Grem asks.
"Yes, some kids have fallen ill, I've been waiting for their parents." The doctor answers.
"Take this." Grem says as he takes off the bag and hands it to the doctor. "I found it in the forest, examine it when you can."
"Don't worry about it, you..." The doctor says before he was interrupted by the cry of a kid. "I need to take care of this, see you later."
"Later." Grem says.
Grem turns and heads to Gartha's house.
He knocks on the door and he awaits.
He awaits but the door never opens.
"Are you here for Gartha?" A voice behind him asked.
Grem turns and he sees an old woman, it's Gartha's neighbor.
"Hello, yes, I am here for Gartha." Grem answers.
"I saw her head to the elder, maybe she's still there." The old woman says.
"Thank you, take care." Grem says as he leaves to the elder's place.
"You too ." The old woman says.
Grem heads to the elder's place, he sees a flower stand on his way.
There's a kid behind it, he is reminded of his young self working so hard to leave the village now look at him back where he started.
He buys a red flower with a beautiful scent.
The kid smiles ear to ear as Grem hands him the money.
Grem puts the flower in his pocket nicely, it contrasts with his dark fit.
He gets back on his path eager to tell the elder of his findings, and to see Gartha too.
He stands before the elder's door, he hears a discussion but the voices are muffled by the walls, he can't understand what they're saying.
He knocks on the door and the voices go silent.
He hears to quicks taps of a foot striking the ground.
Garths came in hurry and opened the door.
She saw Grem standing before her in one piece.
She jumped on him embracing him.
The elder finally comes out.
"She has been convincing me to send a rescue after you." He said. "I told her you would be fine, but she didn't believe me, of course."
Gartha lets go of Grem.
"I am sorry." She says. "It's been two weeks, Raven misses you, it's been hard taking care of him without you."
"Two weeks?" Grem is confused. "I have been out for a day."
"I see." The elder says. "You have been touched by the forest's darkness then. You must consider yourself lucky coming back in one piece."
"What? Are you okay?" Gartha asks concerned for Grem.
"I am totally fine." Grem says. "Mission accomplished and all, I found a claw, I left it with the doctor."
"Let's head there then." The elder says. "It would be a good idea if he took a look at you, we can never tell if the darkness really let you go unharmed."
"I will be waiting for you here." Gartha says. "I need to stay with the child."
"I will be back as soon as possible." Grem says.
The elder and the hunter head off to the doctor.
- She's growing attached to you. The elder says.
- True, it's because of the child. Grem says.
- I am not a fool, I am the elder for a reason. I see what's going on between the two of you, you should propose to her.
- What the hell are you talking about?
- Don't speak to me like that, but I can't blame you, consider what I said, whatever your decision is, I won't argue, but remember, the darkness has touched you once, it may reach out to you again, and then you will be dying thinking about everything you should've done.
- This darkness, I have been here for a few years, maybe a decade and some including my childhood, I still don't understand what the darkness is.
- You see, the forest is mad, it's trying to get at us whichever way it can.
- I still don't understand.
- Neither do I, but that's what I figured. We tried to combat the darkness, but whatever we tried, it never went away, not even a little.
- Here we are.
Grem knocks on the doctor's door while the elder stands behind him.
The door opens, they are greeted by the doctor.
"Finally here." He says. "Come in."
The two enter following the doctor to a table on top which rests the claw.
"This thing." The elder says. "I have never seen something like it."
"That's what I have been thinking." The doctor says. "This isn't an animal's claw."
"I don't understand." Grem says.
"I see." The elder says. "Is it an elf?"
"Well, elves are sinister but they aren't what you think." The doctor says. "They're peaceful creatures with a sprinkle of arrogance, they're superior to us in every way and because of that we fear them, and the way they look down on you, truly sinister."
"Yeah, but they can shapeshit." The elder says.
"To other animals, yes." The doctor says. "But as I said, this isn't an animal's claw not to mention druids rarely visit this kingdom."
"So what is it?" Grem asks.
"Another kind of shapeshifter, I don't know what kind, yet." The doctor says.
"I've heard of such tails, humans trying to aquire the power of druids." The elder says. "But not being able to turn into animals so they can only be something in between."
"But those remain to be tails, and can't explain how this claw is so strong." The doctor says.
"Then I will keep looking." Grem says.
"No, you won't." The elder says. "You have confirmed as the scouts did that the village is safe and whoever this shapeshifter is has already left."
"I pray that you're right."
FINALLY
Grem beathes easy as the doctor informs him that he is fine.
And it hits him, how close he came to dearh.
Nearly two weeks not conscious of what's going around him, it's a miracle he wasn't eaten alive.
He remembers the black bird, the bird of knowledge, it gave a second chance at life.
He remembers what the elder told him, but he isn't sure to do.
If he gets too close, he may die too soon and leave a hole in her heart.
But if he dies without telling her how he feels about her, he will die regretting it.
He leaves the doctor and puts his clothes back on, he looks at the flower in his pocket.
He heads to the elder's house, he finds Gartha waiting for him outside with Raven in her arms.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting." Grem says.
"Not at all, I thought you'll take more time." Gartha says.
"How about we the two of you home now?" Grem suggests.
"Sure." Gartha agrees.
The two start walking, Raven is wide waking and he is staring at Grem.
"Dada." The child says.
Grem giggles.
"You're his father now." Gartha says.
The two work some more than Grem stops.
"What is it?" Gartha asks.
For Grem, the world goes black.
Something grabs his head and starts squeezing on him.
It feels like his skull is going yo get crushed but then he feels a warm hand on his cheek.
He sees her, Gartha, holding his face with a hand and the baby with another.
"Are you okay?" Gartha asks.
Grem can't hear her, he is charmed.
"I love you." The words escape his lips without him realizing.
"What?" Gartha asks.
"I love you!" Grem yells.
THE ENCORE
"Do you agree to spend the rest of your existence with Grem, in life and death?" The elder asks Gartha.
Grem is wearing his hunter outfit while Gartha wears a white dress.
The elder wears his old armor from the days he used to serve the kingdom.
"Yes, for eternity, I will love him." Gartha says.
Curtains down, the elder comes out, bows to the spectators and leaves the stage.
the act is over, see you in the next one.