1 Encounter

The leaves on the trees barely move as they pass by, jumping from one branch to another. The afternoon sun is about to lose its light in a few hours, so they have to make it quick. "We cant wait for the sun to go out, or we wont be able to use much of our strength", the Sun elf commander whispered to one of subordinates beside him. Their eyes are fixed to the scout ahead of them waiting for the signal.

'Forty heartbeats until they arrive', the elf scout signed to his fellow Sun elves. They are a group of five in pursuit of bandits, men who entered their forest without permission. They desecrated the forest and entered the cave-tomb, stealing treasures and weapon from the dead. Sun Elves do not usually associate with other races, unless it is something personal, and disturbing the dead is a great offense to them.

The scout jumped from his tree to the leader's position. "Commander Tarmiel, someone is approaching from the west. It must be one of them.", the scout reported., Commander Tarmiel Leafrunner looked to the west, and gazed at the sun. "May the light of Sun sharpen our blades", Tarmiel whispered to himself, which the other elves also whispered, a customary battle prayer they recite before a fight.

"Ready bow and arrows. To your position", Tarmiel commanded. Three elves, along with the scout moved forward, in a circle formation, readying their aim. Commander Tarmiel and another elf, named Eltham moved to the center and waited.

"Wait for my signal", commander Tarmiel signed to his men. They seem to blend on the trees and they cannot be seen by untrained eyes. They silently wait, as a hunter waits for a prey. The only thing that can be heard are the wind and the rustling of leaves.

A movement caught their eye behind a bush. Commander Tarmiel grabbed the hilt of his elven sword, ready to pounce. He could sense his archers readying their arrows and aiming, ready to let go once the target shows itself. "This will be over quick", Tarmiel told himself. Surely the element of surprise was on their side.

But the surprise was on them when suddenly a child appeared running. "Hold your arrows!" Commander Tarmiel shouted as he jumped towards the target, but he knows it's too late for he heard a twang of a bow. One of his youngest archer let fly of his arrow immediately.

It was instinct alone that made Tarmiel jump off at the right time as the arrow was let loose, but he know he wont be able to reach the child to push him away, but he can reach the arrow. So the with the agility and dexterity of a Sun Elf, he blocked the arrow with his body. A loud thump was heard as he fell on the ground, the child in front of him. An arrow protruding at his left shoulder as he was trying to get up.

Eltham was already at Tarmiel's side assisting him, sword ready at the same time in case they an attacker suddenly shows up. "Are you okay, child?" Tarmiel asked. The human child was crying, scared and terrified, Yet it seems that it was terrified not of them, but of something else.

"Speak, do not be afraid, we are Sun Elves, we wont hurt you." Eltham comforted the child.

"Elves?" A spark of curiosity in the child's eye can be seen for a moment. He was looking at Tarmiel and Eltham, and was surprised when three more elves jumped down from the trees.

"Be calm", Tarmiel tried to gently say, but the discomfort in his voice is evident. "What is your name? What happened?" he asked.

The child looked at Tarmiel, and he looked like he is about to cry again. He pointed to the west and said, "They wont move. I tried to wake them." The boy was starting to cry again.

Tarmiel looked at the scout and nodded, "You know what to do, search the area". Nivadir, the elf who let go of the arrow stood before Tarmiel and bowed, "Forgive me of my mistake, commander. I should have waited for the signal."

"What's done is done, but let this be a lesson. Haste will bring catastrophe. You must learn patience." Tarmiel lectured. "Carry the child on your back, let us check where he came from. It might be related to those whom we pursue", he commanded.

Nivadir stood up and took the child. It took a while to convince the boy to grab his back and hold tight. But after a few negotiation, the boy was at his back and they were jumping from one tree to another.

Tarmiel was being assisted by Eltham as they were going to the area. Blood was dripping on his arm and he knows that the shaft should be removed later on from his shoulder. The good thing is that it was not fatal since no vital organ was hit. But he wont be able to use his left arm for a while.

They arrived at the place the boy mentioned. It was a small camp by the river.

"This looks like a robbery", Eltham said as he examine the scattered pieces of items on the ground. "What do you think, commander?" Eltham asked.

Tarmiel was looking a few meters away from the camp. When the other elves looked at where their commander was looking, they saw what grabbed his attention. There were two bodies lying on the grass. A man holding a dagger with eyes opened, yet there is no life, and a woman lying face down with a slash behind her back.

"Are they your mother and father?" Nivadir asked the child behind his back. The only answer Nivadir received were sobs from the boy.

The scout examined ground beside the river for a moment, then looked to Tarmiel. "Commander, it is possible that whoever did this took a boat. There are signs that there is a boat in here for a time."

Tarmiel's eyes seems to drop, but he is trying his best to stay awake. . "It could also be the people we're after. Prepare to pursue. Nivadir, carry the lad with you." Tarmiel commanded, but he is starting to feel dizzy.

Eltham grew concerned, "Commander, I think you're losing too much blood. We need to go back for now," he suggested, for he could see the Sun Elf commander losing strength

Tarmiel took a step toward Eltham to tell him that it's not his plan to let this thieves ran away, but suddenly it seemed that he stepped on water, or his knees gave out. He do not know, he fell on the ground and his consciousness is slowly fading. He just wants to sleep.