Hunter's Muse

December 28th, Year 107

"Pack lightly on your journey, son," his father advised with a sense of gravity. "Keep the goddess Artemis in your prayers and the mighty Chiron's strength in your heart. We have prepared you for whatever you may face."

"Remember, the world outside of this forest hasn't seen or known of our race of people," his mother reminded him, her voice tinged with sadness. "We have been blessed by the gods of the hunt and remain under the observation of the holy watchers, the archangels. You will be tested, and if deemed worthy, you shall be rewarded with the blessings of light."

"But Mom, you know that I don't believe in that. I've never seen anything like that," Gami replied with a hint of frustration.

"One day you will see, and then you can make up your mind on what you believe or not," his father said calmly, his voice full of reassurance. "For now, keep an open heart and mind and make the Abme tribe proud."

"Okay, Dad, Mom, I'm off," Gami said as he said his goodbyes, his voice filled with determination.

The Adventure Began..Four Days Passed.

The forest was alive with light, as the sun's rays cascaded through the clouds and onto the canopy below. The trees, ferns, and bushes took in the light, expressing their joy with bright saturations and a riot of colors. A young man moved through the forest with a sense of purpose, leaping through the trees with ease. He exhaled in prayer as he pulled back his bow, releasing his prey's soul from its suffering. With his eyes closed, he imagined the possibilities that awaited the creature in its next life, perhaps as nourishment for new growth in the forest.

Gami walked through the forest, his eyes scanning the trees for any signs of life. He had been on the hunt for hours, his stomach growling with hunger. As he walked, he noticed a large bird perched on a tree branch. It was a beautiful creature, with iridescent feathers that shimmered in the sunlight. Gami knew that he had to catch it.

He slowly approached the bird, trying to be as quiet as possible. The bird looked up and saw him, and then took off into the sky. Gami sprinted after it, his heart pounding in his chest. He ran through the forest, dodging trees and leaping over rocks. Finally, he saw the bird perched on a branch in a nearby tree.

Gami paused for a moment, drawing in a deep breath. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, just as his parents had taught him when he was a child. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. He felt his heart rate slow, his muscles relax.

"Remember your training," he whispered to himself. "You can do this."

He opened his eyes and took aim at the bird. He pulled back the bowstring, feeling the tension in his arms and shoulders. He took another deep breath, then released the arrow.

As the bird fell to the ground, Gami felt a pang of regret. He knew that he needed to eat, but he also knew that the creature he had just killed was a beautiful and sacred being.

He knelt down beside the bird and whispered a prayer, thanking it for its sacrifice. He looked around at the forest, taking in its beauty. The sunlight filtering through the leaves, the sound of the birds singing, the smell of the earth. He felt a sense of peace wash over him.

"This is why I love the forest," he said to himself. "It's a place of beauty and wonder. And it's where I feel most alive."

Gami gave his surroundings a quick glance. He spotted a fallen branch with large leaves and carefully split them off. He then wove the leaves together with weeds to create a blanket to lay the carcass onto.

The young man continued walking through the forest, curious about what he might find. The vegetation was much denser and livelier, with fruits and vegetables of all kinds enjoying the sun's rays. As he walked, he caught the eye of an elderly man.

"Hello, young man. I haven't seen you before. Who might you be?" said the elder man.

Gami smiled at the old man and reached back towards his head to scratch it. "Hello, sir. I'm Gami Abme. I was hunting a large Otrix which led me to these parts. If you don't mind me asking, where am I exactly?" Gami asked the stranger.

The old man looked towards Gami's food sack and raised his eyebrows. "A large Otrix, you say? Those are very difficult to catch indeed. Would you mind parting ways with some of the meat? I will pay you, of course."

"Oh, where are my manners? My name is Hethersfort, and this is a village named Muriel. It's a very important village - we are one of the four agricultural regions that support the kingdom's food supply. I am the village representative. It's quite nice to receive a capable guest such as yourself, Gami," Hethersfort answered.

Gami shook his head in disbelief. "Incredible! I had no idea there was a village on the other side of the forest. I actually didn't know a lot of the information you just gave me, but I sure do appreciate that you're willing to part ways with such wisdom. I greatly appreciate it. Of course, we can start a trade. Please inspect the meat and let me know what pieces you would like to purchase from me, Hethersfort."

Gami looked at Hethersfort and nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, I would be happy to trade some of the meat with you. I have more than enough for myself," he said.

As they were discussing the trade, Gami noticed a young woman peeking out from behind a tree. She had long black hair and was wearing a simple white dress. Gami couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. The young woman stepped out from behind the tree and walked towards them.

"Hello, Hethersfort. I was just picking some berries for dinner and I saw you talking with someone. Who is this?" the young woman said, glancing at Gami.

Hethersfort introduced Gami to the young woman. "This is Gami Abme. He's a hunter who caught a large Otrix in the forest. Gami, this is Lily. She's one of the villagers here."

Gami smiled at Lily and felt his heart beat faster. He had never seen anyone as beautiful as her. He introduced himself and told her about his journey to the village.

Lily was impressed by Gami's hunting skills and asked him if he could teach her how to hunt. Gami agreed and they made plans to go hunting together the next day.

As they parted ways, Gami couldn't stop thinking about Lily. He had never felt this way before. He knew that he had to see her again.

Hethersfort accompanied him and continued speaking, "I will pay you handsomely, as well as teach you what I know about trade and agriculture," Hethersfort said. Gami shook Hethersfort's hand and gave him a wide smile. "Yes, I want to know more about how I can use my abilities to further increase the lives of others. This would be great in that pursuit - you have a deal, mister!" Gami answered his new contractor.

Hethersfort chimed in and said, "By the way, another good reason for you to stay is that Lily is single, and I noticed the way you two kept looking at each other. Oh, what bliss to be young and in the embrace of love at first sight," Hethersfort said.

As Gami pondered Hethersfort's words, he couldn't help but think about Lily. He had never felt this way before. He knew that he had to see her again.

"Actually, I was hoping to see her again. Do you think she feels the same way?" Gami asked, his eyes lighting up.

Hethersfort chuckled. "I don't know, but I think it's worth finding out. You're a good man, Gami. I think you and Lily would make a great match."

Despite his excitement about Lily, Gami was also eager to learn from Hethersfort about trade and agriculture. He had always been interested in using his skills to help others. He was eager to learn how he could make a difference in the lives of the villagers.

Hethersfort was a wise teacher and Gami was a quick learner. Together, they spent their days discussing trade, agriculture, and ways to improve the village. Gami was amazed at how much he was learning and how much he was enjoying his time in the village.

As the days went by, Gami couldn't stop thinking about Lily. He had to find out if she felt the same way. One afternoon, he decided to take a walk to clear his head. As he walked, he saw Lily in the distance, picking flowers in a nearby field.

Gami's heart raced as he walked towards her. As he approached, she looked up and smiled. "Hi, Gami. What brings you here?" she asked.

"I just wanted to see you again. I can't stop thinking about you," Gami said.

Lily's heart skipped a beat, but she felt hesitant to accept Gami's sudden confession. She was attracted to him, but she felt like they didn't know each other well enough yet.

"Gami, I'm flattered," she said, "but I think we should get to know each other better before we pursue anything romantic."

Gami felt a pang of disappointment, but he respected Lily's wishes. "I understand," he said. "Would you like to take a walk with me and talk?"

Lily smiled, relieved that Gami was willing to take things slow. "That sounds nice," she said, and they set off towards the woods.

As they walked, they talked about their lives, their dreams, and their interests. Gami told Lily about his passion for hunting and his desire to build a better life for himself and his family. Lily listened intently, and she found herself drawn to Gami's kindness and determination.

When they arrived at the perfect spot, Gami pulled out a blanket and a basket filled with their favorite foods. As they ate, they talked and laughed, feeling more comfortable with each other with every passing moment.

As the sun began to set, Gami and Lily packed up their picnic and started to head back to the village. Hand in hand, they walked through the woods, feeling grateful for the time they had spent together. Though they still had much to learn about each other, they both knew that they wanted to continue getting to know each other better.

As they walked, the sky began to darken, and they heard the distant rumble of thunder. The wind picked up, and they could feel the first drops of rain on their skin. Gami looked at Lily and said, "We have to hurry back to the village. It looks like a storm is coming."

Lily nodded, and they picked up their pace. The wind howled through the trees, and the rain came down in sheets. The woods that had been so peaceful just moments before were now a cacophony of sound and motion. The trees danced and swayed in the wind, and the raindrops hit the leaves with a staccato beat.

As they emerged from the woods, they saw that the storm had already hit the village. The villagers were running around, trying to secure their homes and farms before the storm hit. The wind was so strong that it was difficult to walk, and the rain was so heavy that it stung their faces.

Gami and Lily joined in, helping their neighbors secure their homes and farms. They worked tirelessly, fighting against the wind and rain. The storm was unrelenting, and despite their best efforts, some of the farms were damaged. The villagers were left with more work to do, and the lack of resources made the task seem insurmountable.

As the storm subsided, the villagers gathered together to assess the damage. The farms that had once been so lush and green were now battered and bruised. The crops had been beaten down by the rain, and the soil was washed away in some places. The villagers knew that they had a lot of work to do to repair the damage and get their farms back to working order.

Despite the challenges ahead, they were grateful to have each other and to have survived the storm. They knew that they would have to work together to rebuild their homes and farms, and that it would take time and effort. But they were determined to do it, and they knew that they could count on each other to get the job done.

Gami and Lily looked at each other, knowing that they had a lot of work to do to help their village recover from the storm.

They nodded to each other, silently acknowledging the work that lay ahead. They knew that their village was strong, and that they would come together to rebuild what was lost.

As they walked back to Gami's home, they talked about what they could do to help. Lily suggested that they start by repairing the damaged farms, while Gami thought that they should focus on helping those who had lost their homes.

They both agreed that they needed to do something to lift the spirits of their fellow villagers, who were feeling down after the storm. Lily suggested that they organize a community event, like a potluck or a dance, to bring everyone together and boost morale.

Gami smiled at the idea, and they continued to brainstorm as they walked. They knew that it wouldn't be easy, but they were determined to help their village recover and come back stronger than ever.

As they approached Gami's home, Lily couldn't help but feel a flutter in her stomach. She had always admired Gami's strength and kindness, but lately she had been feeling something more.

Gami told the story of his childhood, Lily listened intently. She was completely captivated by his words, and she found herself falling even more in love with him.

As they approached Gami's house, Lily felt a sense of sadness. She didn't want the night to end, but she knew that they had to say their goodbyes.

Gami was completely oblivious to the fact that Lily was blushing and admiring him. He was too busy telling his story, and he didn't notice the way that she was looking at him.

They said their goodbyes, Lily took a deep breath and looked up at Gami. "I had a really great time tonight," she said softly. "And...I just wanted to say that I really like you."

Gami's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked at Lily for a moment before responding. "I like you too," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lily felt her heart skip a beat at his words. She had never been this brave before, but something about Gami made her feel like she could do anything.

They continued to talk and laugh as they walked, and Lily found herself inching closer to Gami. She was grateful for the darkness that hid her blush, but she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed when they reached Gami's home.

As they said their goodbyes, Gami took Lily's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I had a great time tonight," he said softly. "We should do it again sometime."

Lily's heart skipped a beat, and she smiled up at him. "I'd like that," she said, before giving him a quick hug and hurrying off into the night.

She walked home, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She didn't know where things would go with Gami, but she was excited to find out.