A Soul Purpose

As I grew in age, I had reached the age of five and my bright, red orange hair highlighted my light red eyes as I hunted with my father. His tough exterior and rigid training as a hunter made him the center of my life after the death of my mother.

Rapidly repeating the same hunt over and over each day since I was three, my movements had become more adept with the surrounding forest as I moved more fluently than before.

I continued this training up until I was nine when we moved past the riverbed and crossed deeper into uncharted territory. Not long after three days, we encountered raiders spending the night while they made camp. My father, who was a proud warrior hunter, thought this of a worthy battle to take part.

Spending the day planning, when we finally got into position, I fired the opening shot from my bow and immobilized seven of them as they scrambled for cover. Seeing my father run head first into the dentist of warriors, I held a proud heart s his fighting spirit embedded his teachings as a hunter.

Not long after, more appeared and overpowered my father. Seeing him go down sent me into a frenzy and as a result, I ended up killing the remaining warriors with his hatchets.

Standing above a dozen bodies, my bloodied hands now held a stench I could never wash away. After giving him a proper funeral, I fired my bow as the fire tipped arrow burned my father as he journeyed onto the next life the same way he told me he did for my mother when I was born.

~

The next several years passed me by as I continued my father's teachings and developed an innate ability to hunt while shadowing my prey from a distance. I had long since outgrown my clothes and began wearing my mother's as I fit right into them.

When I first tried them on, I held my flat chest and felt a bit defeated for some reason. Nonetheless, I continued to hunt in memory of my late parents.

~

As I returned home from a hunt one day, I hid from sight as a band if warriors in metal armor searched through my family cottage. They appeared to have come from the ocean in the distance as large structures floated above the blue water.

As I live dinto position to attack, the one knight in the back suddenly removed his helmet and showed himself as a different person from the usual I wandered into around this forest over the years.

For some reason, my cheeks flushed as my heart began to flutter as I looked at him. Lowering my bow, I took a chance and emerged from where I hid to find out more. Turning to meet my gaze, I hesitantly but bravely met their gazes as they took out long swords.

The young boy met my gaze and as his expression mirrored mine, I was suddenly approached from behind as I evaded a rope and aimed my bow at the men. Backing away, I sharply ducked and avoided being slashed as I narrowly dodged a sword.

Now confident they were my enemy, I moved to the side and fought them barehanded. Killing one after the other was simple as they had to navigate their long swords to strike me.

After their numbers began dropping, they began running away where as I took up my bow and aimed it t the last remaining survivors running along the sand. Aiming high, I pushed out a breath and fired an arrow. Hitting him in the center of his back, I took them out one after the other.

Leaving the young boy to board the floating structure, I aimed away while pointing the tip of the arrow up and fired as the wind carried the arrow to its targets head. Standing victorious, I began gathering the bodies and buried them while taking their armor pieces and swords.

Picking up how their movements fleet as they tried time cut me, I repeated the process and over time, I eventually mastered the skill of welding two light weight swords I grinded down over stone.

~

A few months passed and more floating structure arrived to my home s they invaded in a larger force. Excited, I began arming myself for the fight ahead and marked myself as my father did on the day he died. Leaving the cottage, I headed into the forest where I patiently waited for them to fall by my hand.

As they moved hesitantly, they surrounded the cottage and as I aimed my bow, I fired and took two out with a single arrow from point blank range. Falling into the forest, I began picking them off ine after the other.

It didn't take long for the men to show fear as I moved quietly through the forest. Screaming and running away towards the floating structures, I picked those hi turned their back in battle off first.

Finally, after only a handful banded close together and tightened their circle, I jumped down from above and used my dual swords to kill them in a single strike down the middle.

Falling forward, I stood triumphant as I felt a wave of sadness and sorrow as I took many lives and returned them to the Earth with a proper burial. Afterwards, I advanced my light  armor even further and looked towards the sea as I took over one of the floating structures.

Figuring it out as I remembered what they did before arriving into the shore, I repeated it in reverse and was steadily in my way. After weeks, I felt as if I was stuck in a never ending maze until another floating structure passed me by to have a fight on the sea.

Winning rather easily as I did not have ti draw out my swords, I took control of the structure as the men headed forward smoothly. Nodding as I was content finally having anway out if this maze, it took only a few days until we reached new land.

~

Stopping on land, I waved the men goodbye as I wandered to see the new world.

Shocked when I saw tables upon tables of freshly caught fish, fruit, and all sorts of manmade pelts made from fur. I was ecstatic until I saw the same men who bore the same outfits as those I killed on my land.

Cautious, I looked around and saw no one was paying them any mind. For the most part, fighting here would only cause innocent deaths. Refraining from a fight, I turned and instinctively moved to avoid ping into someone. Walking without stopping, I heard a shout and as I stopped to turn around. Relieved it was not me their focus was aimed to, but an older woman who was trying to trade her goods like everyone else.

Getting rough on her, I stepped in and caught the full brunt of the man's punch. Turning back with a smile, I smashed my head into his and he fell backwards without getting up. Turning as I tended to the older woman even though I didn't understand her, I dogged and broke one of the arm of one of the men who attempted to stab me.

Falling down in pain, the warriors whose brothers I killed appeared and as I held my while protecting the woman, they suddenly took care of the two men who were hurting the old woman. Bowing and then turning as they went on their way, my pulse slowed as I exhausted a heavy breath.

Walking off as she was safe, I ignored her soft shouts and headed to see the rest of the camp.

~

As I passed a large wall within the camp, I walked by the front and saw men training while using swords. Exited, I rushed inside and admired their blades as they were sharp and shinier than mine. Touching me, thenman who was teaching them grabbed dmy sjpidler and in that instance, I pinnendhim down and held my sword to his neck.

Chuckling as I released him and walked to stamp and fight a duel, he got up nodding with a smile in his face. In a moments notice, our swords clashed and as I saw light come from my sword, I looked away while instinctively relying on my senses to avoid being cut.

Once my eyes adjusted, I smiled and dove right into his swords as I pushed him back. Smoothly countering and pushing him on the defensive, he tripped me as his blade grazed my hair. Twirling my legs and pushing him back, I waited for an opening and as he moved to trip me again, I caught him and pinned him at sword point to the neck.

Giggling as I caught my breath, I put my swords away while lending him a hand. Getting him up, he nodded while stretching his shoulder. Moving on afterwards, I found myself hanging from a tree as I played with the kids all around. Seeing them all in taters and thin from lack of eating, I took them all under my wing as we headed into the forest.

Once inside, I created a camp where I brought more than enough food to feed them each and every day.

After weeks of this as I watched their bodies grow, my next initial step was to teach them the art of the hunt as my father taught me. Giving them a bow I crafted each, I began with the basics as they needed to develop their souls aura around their bodies. Most took time while other picked it up rather quickly.

As each day passed, I began seeing new kids appear and as our food supply increased, so did our teamwork as I guided everyone properly. Moving further into the forest as to not run the risk of being seen, I continued to train them how to fight and hunt. Those who advanced well enough became leaders for the next set of children that continued to arrive.

The ones that I started with, slowly learned my language and communicated between me and the others.

~

As I meditated to sharpen my mind, Aleya who I named as the original group if kids I started with had been given names for better understanding.

"Huntress... You want see this!"

Walking outside and seeing over a hundred children working in concert to improve nd benefit the camp, I starred to where she was pointing and smiled as I remembered that ugly mug from the man I caught that day on my arrival.

Falling forward and doing into the water, I emerged and greeted him as my camp stood above a hill overlooking the area. Having Aleya translate what he was saying, we laughed as he wanted to tell me I was a great warrior.

Invest the pleasantries were out of the way, he got serious.

"He want take half our kids... "

Bursting out laughing, I smoothly took a step and held him at knife point before being able to react.

"Tell him if he want my kids... He can bring an army and take them by force after I'm dead. "

Looking up at me with bright blue eyes, she smiled and composed herself as she told him.

"He said, he want a fight for kids... Bring best fighters... Beat all and he let us go. "

The thought of fighting stronger foes was tempting, however, my first and primary priority was the kids. I didn't put him a deal and he left without saying another word.

While Aleya stood beside me, she went in telling me they were coming with an army.

"Hmm... Ready the traps. Tonight, only my hunter kids go to war... "

Nodding either burning anticipation, she rushed to get things moving as I calmed my hand from shaking. I was confident I could win against them if it was only me, however, all the kids are on my person... I can't simply attack without a reason.

~

As the sun set down over the treeline, I stood above the rockface and patiently waited with my custom sword in the palms of both my hands. Dressed in full hunting gear as my father taught me, I had pain in my face that identified me as the leader.

Sharpening my gaze s an arrow flew past my hair without me moving an inch, I stared t the emerging army surrounding all around the hill.

As the wind blew my battle torn dress, I heard Aleya stand beside me in her hunter clothing as she would fight and die by my side. Steadily, we stopped their march as thirteen more stood over the cliff as I gazed down at the impending army.  

Seeing a man stop on an elegant, white horse, I looked him down as he got off and drew his sword while painting it at me.

"He's strong... Don't face him. Fight and retreat like we trained. "

"Hmm! "

Closing my eyes as I took in the nature all around me, I steadily picked up each iron their scents. Once I was ready, I lifted my sword as I took the plunge as the rest if my kids followed me it I war.

~

With the low visibility of the sunset, I made my way through dozens at a time while finding my way to the man on the horse. Slamming down the sword, the man caught it as he countered and pushed me back. Smiling, I dove riihhr into his range and narrowly missed his neck as he aimed first mine.

Skilled at dodging my attacks, I burned him out and struck his heart as my sword pierced his chest.

Falling do the groin gently as to show my respect, I stood while seeing the army fleeing from battle.

Staring down as my kids all returned to my side, I raised my sword and let out a war cry that would haunt them should they return and face death.

Turning around, Alexa stood in front of me as she was catching her breath. Smiling, I quickly flinched to catch an arrow that was heading straight for Aleya. Her gaze turned cold as it grazed my hand and burned my skin as I stopped the arrow close to touching her skin. Lifting my leg and kicking up Aleyas bow, I turned and quickly sent the arrow right back at the one who almost killed her.

Falling from the treeline far away, I had my hunters bring him and as he arrived dead.

"I only grazed him... The arrow must had been tipped with poison. "

Shocked, I sent them all back to guard the camp while Aleya stood frozen in place as she shook with anger. Lifting her gaze as I held her shoulder, I reminded her of our agreement.

"If you die or get yourself killed... "

"You will go and kill everyone who kill me... "

Calming her fists, I gave her this condition after sending her out on our first hunt. She eagerly warned my oraie and almost got herself killed. This way, she thinks about the family before herself.

"Come... Let us hold a banquet of food as we celebrate our victory after we bury all these bodies."

Nodding, we then spent half the night digging holes and burning the soldiers in honor of their sacrifices.

~

Not long after, did I awake to hear Aleya traminh at the edge of the cliff. Admitting her spirit, I valued her above the rest as she was more like I was when I was younger. In a sense we were closer than sisters as she told me everything she was dealing with.

"Training is not going to make you impervious to poison arrows, Aleya. "

Turning sharply, she smiled and exhausted dad defeated breath as I picked up a sword and taught her a lesson in footwork.

"Am I really... only one... behind everyone else? "

"You are... Admiring it is painful... Hiding it like it does not matter I same as death. "

Nodding a she understood the harsh truth, I smiled as we practiced for a whole until she grew weary. Fighting her in earnest, she reflected most of my attacks until falling and taking me off guard. Impressed as she had me pinned, she smiled as we stood up.

"You are strong... Stay being strong... For them. "

Turning to the rest if the camp as we stared in amazement, I headed back to sleep as Aleya headed back to her tent with the others.

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