5 Going to the city

Nighttime In the Dark Forest.

A heavy battle had just come to an end.

Two women were standing in a clearing, the trees in the surrounding area was decimated by shockwaves, from the earlier battles. One woman was wielding a sword but, it was pointed down, she had long black hair that fell down past her shoulders, her face was elegantly graceful and breathtakingly beautiful. Behind her was a young girl, who had a bow in hand, but it also, was no longer pointed to attack. The girl looked almost identical to Sword wielding woman, except she had a hood over her forehead and you could see a few strands of pearl white hair coming out from beneath it. The two were staring cautiously at two figures that was about 30 to 40 ft away from them, not daring to take their eyes off of them.

"What do you want? Who are you?" The sword wielding woman stood speaking across to a young boy with flame orange hair. The boy was accompanied by a large green snake, just a moment ago the child had defeated a powerful beast-warrior.

"My name is Oren" He answered, "and this is Emera" while speaking He pointed to the large snake. "We were out hunting and we saw these bandits" He motioned to the two and a half bodies on the ground. "So we followed them here." Oren paused for a minute then continued. "We thought you were in trouble, so we came to help."

The women just stared dazed and confused. How could they not be? This strange boy was seemingly human, yet he had just killed the bandit leader Leo, even, after Leo had merged into his beast form. Not to mention He was talking to a Dragon Serpent. He even said it had a name.

The shorter girl in the back spoke out. "My name is Esholyn. Nice to meet you." she slightly curtsied.

"Esholyn quiet!" The Woman barked.

"But mother they only wanted to help"

"Do as i say" The taller lady demanded then she looked at Oren and Emera. "You said you were hunting, together."

"Yes this is my partner Emera." Oren said looking towards Emera. "Say Hi Emera." Emera looked towards the women voicing "Hello my name is Emera." At least that's what Oren heard.

The woman and daughter, looked at Oren even more dumbfounded then before, but didn't say anything. A few moments of silence passed and Oren heard Emera say "Oren we need to leave, the sun will be up soon and, we will miss out on our hunt. You also need to rest the wounds on your body don't seem to be healing properly."

"Hold on" Oren said looking at Emera. The two ladies didn't say a word they just stared. The daughter, Esholyn suddenly spoke ."Where do you live." She asked Oren.

Oren paused slightly. ''I'm from the forest, but I used to live in the city with my dad. We moved into the forest the day after I turned 5. I have been in the forest for almost 6 years."

Who is your dad? Where is he? The mother spoke out.

Oren sighed. "I have no idea he left when I was 6."

The two ladies had mixed feelings as they just looked at Oren, trying to decide if He was friend or foe. They were likely hesitant due to not knowing his true intentions.

Before either the woman or girl could vocalize a response.

Oren said, "I'm sorry to bother you. We will be leaving now."

"Wait,... Where are you going." The mother spoke endearingly. Although she was still cautious of him she was still a mother and, to see the boy so badly hurt on their account, naturally caused her maternal nature to take over.

"We are going hunting." Oren replied. "Emera hasn't eaten in days, so we are going to find food."

"So wait who cooks the food you hunt?" The daughter asked.

"Well my dad used to cook, but when he left I couldn't make fire. So I stopped cooking, and now I just eat it regular"

"You mean raw?!" The Mother blurted out, She was blatantly disgusted at what she heard Oren just say, causing her to lose composure for a moment.

"Yea I guess. Why is that bad?" Oren asked, startled by her reaction.

Oren and Emera, could easily guess what the woman was thinking.

"Oren, are you sure that you are human?" The woman asked.

"Yes" He answered. The woman didn't know what to say she couldn't understand how, Oren could be human. A normal human, who had not transformed into a beast warrior couldn't have hoped, to have fought the beast formed Leo the way this boy did. Not only did he win, He only sustained heavy bruises after being hit by that warhammer. Which She could obviously tell was a special weapon.

"Do you want to leave the forest and come live in the city." She said looking sincerely at Oren,

Emera however, was cautious of this woman, She didn't want to see Oren fall into a trap.

"Oren be careful" She voiced to Him.

Oren was hesitant although he was outwardly very friendly inwardly He was suspicious. Of course, anyone who was in the dark forest alone would arouse suspicion. Let alone two women!.

"I don't know. I have never been out of the forest since my dad left. He might come back any day now, or maybe He's somewhere looking for meh meh meh meeeeeee." Oren started crying!... He was caught off guard by his own words as, He tried to get the sentence out. He attempted to talk with strength in his mind, but he was physically strong, not mentally. How would an abandoned 10 year old be capable of such mental strength? Oren definitely wasn't!

He had always held some hope of his father coming back for him. He didn't want to believe He was abandoned. He didn't want to believe He was alone. He had never spoken to a human about this before and, something about seeing this woman. Who had her sword in her hand still in front of her daughter, undoubtedly guarding her with her life. Made Him fall apart. He fell to his knees still crying, His head low, tears flowing. Oren seemed as if the world was no longer around him. The Mother suddenly moved towards Oren.

"Oren." Emeras' voice sounded in Orens mind full of worry and, concern. She swiftly coiled herself around him as the woman approached, baring her giant fangs. The woman immediately paused,

deadlocked staring at Emera. For a few seconds everything was still, the only thing to be heard was Orens' crying. Oren suddenly stood up, sighing He said. "Its okay Emera." His voice still filled with a terrible sadness.

Wiping His face He looked at the Woman saying. "Yes, I would like to live in the city." He glanced at Emera. "but only if she can come with me." The woman looked at Emera. She didn't fear the serpent but She didn't know the relationship between two. She didn't want to fight someone as strong as Oren. Although, She could possibly guarantee her own safety, She couldn't be sure that She could protect her daughter, so for now not offending Oren was her best option.

"I don't know If she can come. Oren is she dangerous.?" She was just staring at Emeras' fangs a few seconds ago. She wasn't too sure of Oren but, she definitely didn't want to bring a deadly creature into the city. She clearly saw Emeras' Dragon Venom and new that if this serpent went wild within the city walls probably She or Oren could stop it.

Oren looked at Emera. "Tell them you are not dangerous." Emera still wrapped around Oren voiced "I mean you no harm".

The woman looked at Oren seriously. "Please tell me if she is trustworthy around people."

Oren was confused. "What do you mean she just said she will not harm anyone. Why do you not trust her?" His voice sounded irritated.

Esholyn responded this time "Oren don't be silly" she said playfully to Oren. "Beasts can't talk."

"What do you mean?" Oren said puzzled. "I talk to Emera all the time she is different than normal beasts. Come on tell them Emera." Oren said nervously. he truly didn't understand what was going on. He figured if He could Hear emeras' voice everybody else should be able to also.

Emera however quickly realized the situation. Although she could understand Oren. She couldn't understand the women, and earlier she couldn't understand the bandits. All she could hear were sounds and vibrations she couldn't understand their speech, nor could she understand the words Oren was saying when he was speaking to them. She came to a conclusion and said "Oren calm down they cannot hear me, and I cannot understand them. It seems that You are able to communicate with me and I can in turn communicate to you. But I cannot talk them, therefore don't make a scene about it, or they might think that you are a danger to them." Oren thought about it for a second. "OK"

He looked at the lady and said. "I am sorry. I do want to got to the city. I can also promise you Emera is not dangerous."

"I believe you." The woman said. "You put your life on the line to save us. Even though you do not know us. As a mother I cannot allow you to be in this place alone without a safe place to sleep, that is no life for a child. So from this day forth, Oren if you let me, I will take care of you. Allow me to return the kindness you showed."

Upon hearing this, Oren out of nowhere once again fell to his knees sobbing uncontrollably. These words had actually done more harm than good, hitting him where He hurts the most. He had been by himself for so long now, He could barely recall His dads face. Oren had forgotten his dad's voice long ago, He couldn't remember the feel of a warm hug or, someone tucking him in. He had longed for somewhere to belong in the forest. He had believed that his dad hadn't truly been gone. He thought He would come back someday. Yet someday never came, thus Oren had to fend for himself. Although He was invulnerable to most outside attacks. He was still susceptible to matters of the heart. He was only a child, a 10 year old boy. How could he not long for family. Why would he not hope that one day someone would want him. As Oren knelt on the flooring crying, Emera was still coiled around him. She didn't realize it, but she already felt that Oren was someone she wanted to be around, a person worthy of following. It was not uncommon for weaker beasts to be submissive to stronger beasts, and in Emeras mind there was nothing stronger than Oren.

"Are you Ok." The mother consoled.

Oren snapped back to his senses rising to his feet, He wiped his tears. He looked towards

the two women reassuringly, and said "I am fine." He then rubbed Emera on her head and said. "Come on Emera we are going to the city."