Burning Bright

The ground shook at the large beast walked below the tree cover. Two hunters stood just out of sight either side of it. It was causing problems in a nearby village to the east, killing livestock and crashing into buildings.

Cino raised his blades taking a breathe before jumping down onto the beast. The daggers piercing the neck of the furry beast causing it to scare. The beast bucked and and swung its head trying to hit Cino off.

Esha watched from a far, waiting for a perfect shot. Cino pulled the daggers from the beast, sheathing them before climbing the beasts neck. He climbed atop the beast taking a dagger once again. He plunged the dagger into the top of the head. The sudden rush of pain caused the animal to stumble in place.

Esha pointed her fingers through the trees, let out a small breathe. A flash of light zipped through the trees, a small bolt of fire shot through the trees leaving cindered leaves in its path. the bolt struck the animal in the side of the head. The beast quickly shown no signs of life as it fell to the ground.

Cino leaped from the beast landing on the ground just ahead of it. "Couldn't wait till I was off it?"

"I had the perfect shot." Esha shrugged as she walked up. "I knew you could handle a little fall."

"You would miss me if it fell on me though."

"I can't confirm that" Esha chuckled briefly giving a small smile to her friend. "Now give me a second."

"Of course." Cino stepped away from the beast giving Esha her space.

Esha stood over the beast momentarily "Goddess of the hunt, see our strength." She knelt and placed a hand on the snout of the dead beast. "Wildmother forgive us." She sat eyes closed waiting for a few minutes before standing up. She headed back over to Cino walking with him making their way out of the forest.

"Do you think they are listening?" Cino asked as their feet crunched along the forest floor.

Esha shrugged for a moment. "I only hope they are. Even if they aren't it doesn't hurt to try."

"I've seen you do it for years, with nothing to show."

"Its not about having something to show, I just believe the stories, and hope when I pass I will be accepted into Doxa's hunting grounds." She paused for a moment as they both climbed over brush. "I understand your skepticism though."

"Skepticism? No I uh, I completely believe!"

"Clearly, I can tell you show it in a lot of ways." The two laughed. They finally came upon a clearing, the sun shinning bright down onto them. "Town was east of here right?"

Cino nodded. "Yeah. Do you not fear that they left us?"

"I see no reason they would have. I think they realized we where good on our own, we didnt need their active help anymore."

"Why would they not have stepped in during the Obsidian Age?"

"They knew we would fix it. I imagine a few wanted to step in. Ilos, or Polem, maybe even Doxa. They just maybe couldn't, they wanted to make sure we could survive." Esha paused and shrugged again. "I don't understand why they do... or don't do the things they do, I only hope they smile down on us as we live."

Cino gave a smile. "That is a nice thing to hope for. I hope they are as well, if they are there."

Esha smiled and turned to him as she still walked towards the village now in sight. "I also hope they see our greatness." She she held her arms out as if presenting the small town before turning back towards the village to find the leader.