Chapter Text
Trees hugged each other tightly in a dense forest. Some swarmed with rot like maggots on a carcass and others bled dew and sap, their red leaves falling to the forest floor. Some already had bone-white branches, stripped bare by the rapidly approaching winter.
The undergrowth was covered by dry brown and red leaves; the yellowing grass and weak shrubs beneath were yearning for sunlight. There was a crunch, like bones cracking. It came again and again, and soon its source appeared in the cold, dim light of the morning sun that slipped through the patterns in the leaf canopy above.
Three men walked together with no clear intention for subtlety. Sunlight dappled their dark brown and green clothing. They had similar colors of dark paint over their faces, but this camouflage served little purpose in the dying autumn wood. One of the three carried a sword on his hip. If the other two had weapons at all they kept them hidden. They took in their surroundings with three different shades of green eyes, but they didn’t seem to be looking for anything specific, only something that might prove to them that their wariness was warranted.
Though wary, they seemed comfortable with every step they took, and confidence kept their postures tall, like they owned every leaf and twig they stepped on. The purpose of their loudness must've been to scare off any intruders, prey or person alike, for they came across neither and squirrels scurried away when they drew near.
A small shadow lingered in a bush they passed, unmoving. When the men were far away enough and a few close-knit trees separated them from the bramble, the silhouette moved, and very briefly, the figure of yet another man was visible, strands of dawn light shining through his shadowy form. He was shrouded in stealth magic.
Instead of following them, he retraced the way they had come; a lack of heavy shoes and the support of magic made it easy to drift over the leaf-covered forest floor without a rustle.
The further he pushed into the forest, the denser it became. Trees were so close that their roots looked like they had connected to create a massive mother-tree. It became easier to navigate using branches, so the shadow man took to the boughs. His movements were skillful and so quick he became a blur that couldn’t be seen from below.
Finally, he arrived at the edge of his destination. On the ground below was a clearing and resting cozily inside it was a wall formed by tall, strong branches and cut-wood woven together as closely as the dense woods had been. This fence stretched all the way around the edges of the clearing, creating a decent-sized circle, and within resided several small huts. It was a village.
These huts were created with the same wood; some had linen doors, though most of the door flaps were made of leather to prepare for the winter. These wooden huts crowded the leftmost side of the little village and many warm, savory aromas wafted from them. Outside were small stone fire rings. Only a few were lit.
To the right of the village there were structures made of both stone and wood. They were short, a telltale sign that inside was a pit, and their walls were made of hard, compact dirt or stone. One of the buildings was larger, the size of two of the smaller ones combined. Outside of these huts was a lit bonfire surrounded by logs and tree stumps.
The largest structure was towards the center of the village and hugging the northmost wall. People were bustling to and fro, most of them from the left part of the village to the large building, carrying with them food ranging from wheat, fruits, vegetables, and meats. Scattered throughout the village, apparently belonging to select homes, were small- and medium-sized gardens.
Perched on a high branch overlooking the village, the mysterious figure finally slipped from the comforting embrace of the shadows, letting his figure be bathed in the cold sunlight. He wore lightweight clothing, dappled in the same colors of those he had snuck past earlier, with similar paint on his face. He was much taller, though, and his powerful form surprised his stealth. He had bright violet eyes and sharp ears, similar to those who scurried about below, but longer. The most striking difference was his dark, grey-blue skin and the striking contrast of his long, moon-white hair. He had two small twin swords in sheaths on his hips.
He stayed until the forest was set aflame by the setting sun. Then he rose, slid his small swords from their sheathes, and leapt down.