Something floated in the air as the sun began to rise out of the horizon that warm summer day in the land of Elderin. Unseen birds were chirping a sweet song and the occupants of the land were just waking. Our story begins near the village of Palinthar in the forest of Hakor, taking place around a unique young man by the name of Hayden. Hayden was currently sleeping on the forest floor in a small encampment with his best friend Rill.
Hayden opened his eyes gradually. The bright green canopy lay above him, filtering the sunlight. He gave a lazy smile and closed his eyes in pleasure. He twisted his neck to take a look at Rill. In between them were the ashes of the fire from the previous night, though embers still burned in the very pit. Rill was a young man with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He was around six feet tall and very bulky. As Rill was still asleep, Hayden decided to rouse him and wash his own face. He pushed himself up into a sitting position and stifled a yawn with his hand. As he stood up Rill awoke and gave off his own sleepy yawn.
“Morning,” yawned Rill as he sat up. Hayden walked to a fresh stream nearby. He crouched over the gurgling brook, as he looked into the stream he noticed his own large blue eyes staring back framed by close-cropped hair. He cupped his hands and reached down into the cool water. He raised it to his lips and drank deeply, it was very refreshing. Rill joined him as he splashed water onto his face. The water ran down his face and into his long sleeved tan wool shirt with a V neck which was held loosely by black string.
“Sleep well?” asked Hayden as he walked to his belongings. He began to gather his things, a quiver with arrows and a bow, a long dagger with no hand guard and a slightly curved blade, and finally a small sack he threw over his shoulder.
“Excellent, how about you?” replied Rill as he went about the same process.
“Same, so you plan to hunt today?” assumed Hayden as he kicked dirt onto the last embers of the fire.
“What else did I come out here to do?” laughed Rill, “I don’t suppose I could convince you to go hunting with me?”
“You know I don’t like to kill things, it’s weird, it…it feels like something dies in me each time I do it…” replied Hayden shakily.
“I don’t understand it, you are the best bowman in Palinthar! Oh well, suit yourself, I’m off! Meet back here?” asked Rill as he finished packing up.
“Yea, I’ll be around…” said Hayden. Rill spun around and took off into the forest, starting the hunt. Hayden simply gave a sigh of pleasure again. He was in his element, or so he felt. He always felt at home in the forest. He could somehow feel the plants and animals that surrounded him, many said they could too, but Hayden knew he was the only one gifted with this innate ability. He began to wander aimlessly, until he came to the largest tree in the forest, he had a connection with this one tree in the forest. It was so large he couldn’t reach around it with both arms, and he was even the tallest person in Palinthar at six foot four. He ran forward and jumped. His feet pedaled against the tree and he braced himself with his left hand. He reached up and grabbed onto the lowest branch. He pulled himself up and slowly began to ascend the tree hand over hand. His movements seemed to be connected and for a short while, his entire frame of mind changed, he was loose and his thoughts seemed to float. After a short while he reached the top. He pulled himself up through the final limbs of the tree. He looked over the expansiveness of the forest. The tree he stood on was the tallest in the vicinity. Trees were everywhere around him. He laughed; he was in his element…
