Disclaimer: I do not own any characters/places etc created by J.R.R.T. - I
am just borrowing them for a while! I am making no money from this story.
A/N: You know what to do! R/R! Thanx!
It was a dark overcast day when the hunter, Aria, was stalking through the dense undergrowth. She had been sent out by her tribe to find tonight's supper, but as yet she was having little luck. It was not unusual for the women to find and cook the meals - when living in small villages comprised of the race of man, it was the most efficient way to find food. The women were smaller and lighter than the men, so less likely to be sensed by the prey. But they had been trained as warriors, stealthy and strong, ruthless but all the same compassionate. The men would fix broken housing and make more weapons, for the time of war was drawing near.
The war was one against the elves. The race of man had dwindled, and the only way to keep it going was to have half-elven and half-human children running around. But elves did not easily fall in love with humans. So the men (who, it has to be said, were often spoiling for a fight) were contemplating war. What they hoped to achieve none knew. Maybe they thought that if they killed enough elves, they would be forced to unite, or fail together. But at the moment, even with the men making new and more destructive weapons all the time, Aria did not feel that a war would come within her lifetime, and hoped it would not. You see, her mind had been poisoned full of hate for all the elves, just as any young person's would have been. The 'adults' wanted the younger generation to despise the elves as much as they did.
Suddenly the heavens opened, and heavy rain pelted down from the sky, soaking everything and washing away soil and fallen leaves in a continuous flood of mulch. Aria cursed, thinking 'So that's why there are no animals around.they are all burrowed away safely.' She began to make her way back to her village, her blonde tresses sticking in waves down her back. Her dark eyes squinted through the sheet of rain, trying to find shelter more than the undergrowth could give her. A few minutes later she was hopelessly lost, having wandered into an unfamiliar forest. She thought that she was somewhere near her home, but her common sense told her to stay in the forest for the night, and not to move around. Chances were that if she did move, she would only get herself more lost than she already was. Picking a tree which had thick, flat limbs at regular intervals, she began to climb. She was not very good at climbing at the best of times, and now as the rain kept pelting down, she slipped and slid all over the place. She decided to stop climbing once she had got a little further up - there was no need to keep going if she was far away from any possible predators, and would keep fairly dry. She looked up, and surveyed the tree. There seemed to be an area where the leaves of the tree bunched together more. If she stopped there, it would give her as more cover then anywhere else. When she reached her goal, she parted the leaves and gave an audible gasp. There was a wooden platform attached to the tree, level and steady. The cover of the leaves stretched right around the platform, so it was bone dry. Aria couldn't believe her luck. Stepping onto the platform she unslung her small pack from her shoulders, as well as her bow and arrows. She took off her belt containing one broad sword, one hunting sword, and one dagger. She knelt down, shivering, and began to examine the contents of her pack. She had plenty of food and water, but that wasn't what she needed most. Aria delved deeper, her fingers brushing on a soft velvety stretch of material. Delighted, she pulled it out: It was a blanket, and it was dry. She then considered what to do next. Try to dry herself? Try to get warm? Try to dry her clothes? There was only one way in which she could do all three things at once. She took all her clothes off, (including her shoes and socks) and rubbed herself dry with the blanket. She then hung her drenched garments around the small tree house in which she was standing. After that, she wrapped the blanket around herself to keep warm, securing it with the two small blades that usually remained hidden in her boots. Taking a gulp of water, she settled down on the platform for the night, which was surprisingly comfortable, and sank into a deep sleep.
She awoke the next morning refreshed and contented. She hadn't slept so well and so deeply in a long time, she felt truly alive. 'Maybe I should sleep in trees more often' she thought to herself. Getting up she felt her clothes, testing for dampness. There was none, so she discarded her blanket and got dressed, pulling on flimsy undergarments, a tight-fitting shirt, soft tan-coloured breeches and a tough leather over shirt that kept nettles and thorns at bay. It was then, when she firmly laced her boots up, that she began to feel restless. She quickly looked over her shoulder, half expecting to see someone behind her. There was no one. She went to where she put her weapons the night before, ready to set off for home and alleviate the worry that she knew her friends must have been feeling. But her weapons weren't there. Hurriedly she pulled the daggers from the blanket she had used as night wear, holding one in each hand. There had to be someone watching her. There just had to be!
"I know you are there, hiding like a frightened animal. I bid you to come out, that is, if you dare." Her voice was proud and stern, displaying all the qualities of a fully trained warrior even though she had not yet come of age. Aria didn't have to wait long, when, not one, but two beings came from the shadows of the tree.
A/N: Well, that was the first chapter! Tell me what you think.Who do you think the two beings are? And if you haven't got the hint yet, I would really appreciate it if you REVIEWED!! ~Aranel~
A/N: You know what to do! R/R! Thanx!
It was a dark overcast day when the hunter, Aria, was stalking through the dense undergrowth. She had been sent out by her tribe to find tonight's supper, but as yet she was having little luck. It was not unusual for the women to find and cook the meals - when living in small villages comprised of the race of man, it was the most efficient way to find food. The women were smaller and lighter than the men, so less likely to be sensed by the prey. But they had been trained as warriors, stealthy and strong, ruthless but all the same compassionate. The men would fix broken housing and make more weapons, for the time of war was drawing near.
The war was one against the elves. The race of man had dwindled, and the only way to keep it going was to have half-elven and half-human children running around. But elves did not easily fall in love with humans. So the men (who, it has to be said, were often spoiling for a fight) were contemplating war. What they hoped to achieve none knew. Maybe they thought that if they killed enough elves, they would be forced to unite, or fail together. But at the moment, even with the men making new and more destructive weapons all the time, Aria did not feel that a war would come within her lifetime, and hoped it would not. You see, her mind had been poisoned full of hate for all the elves, just as any young person's would have been. The 'adults' wanted the younger generation to despise the elves as much as they did.
Suddenly the heavens opened, and heavy rain pelted down from the sky, soaking everything and washing away soil and fallen leaves in a continuous flood of mulch. Aria cursed, thinking 'So that's why there are no animals around.they are all burrowed away safely.' She began to make her way back to her village, her blonde tresses sticking in waves down her back. Her dark eyes squinted through the sheet of rain, trying to find shelter more than the undergrowth could give her. A few minutes later she was hopelessly lost, having wandered into an unfamiliar forest. She thought that she was somewhere near her home, but her common sense told her to stay in the forest for the night, and not to move around. Chances were that if she did move, she would only get herself more lost than she already was. Picking a tree which had thick, flat limbs at regular intervals, she began to climb. She was not very good at climbing at the best of times, and now as the rain kept pelting down, she slipped and slid all over the place. She decided to stop climbing once she had got a little further up - there was no need to keep going if she was far away from any possible predators, and would keep fairly dry. She looked up, and surveyed the tree. There seemed to be an area where the leaves of the tree bunched together more. If she stopped there, it would give her as more cover then anywhere else. When she reached her goal, she parted the leaves and gave an audible gasp. There was a wooden platform attached to the tree, level and steady. The cover of the leaves stretched right around the platform, so it was bone dry. Aria couldn't believe her luck. Stepping onto the platform she unslung her small pack from her shoulders, as well as her bow and arrows. She took off her belt containing one broad sword, one hunting sword, and one dagger. She knelt down, shivering, and began to examine the contents of her pack. She had plenty of food and water, but that wasn't what she needed most. Aria delved deeper, her fingers brushing on a soft velvety stretch of material. Delighted, she pulled it out: It was a blanket, and it was dry. She then considered what to do next. Try to dry herself? Try to get warm? Try to dry her clothes? There was only one way in which she could do all three things at once. She took all her clothes off, (including her shoes and socks) and rubbed herself dry with the blanket. She then hung her drenched garments around the small tree house in which she was standing. After that, she wrapped the blanket around herself to keep warm, securing it with the two small blades that usually remained hidden in her boots. Taking a gulp of water, she settled down on the platform for the night, which was surprisingly comfortable, and sank into a deep sleep.
She awoke the next morning refreshed and contented. She hadn't slept so well and so deeply in a long time, she felt truly alive. 'Maybe I should sleep in trees more often' she thought to herself. Getting up she felt her clothes, testing for dampness. There was none, so she discarded her blanket and got dressed, pulling on flimsy undergarments, a tight-fitting shirt, soft tan-coloured breeches and a tough leather over shirt that kept nettles and thorns at bay. It was then, when she firmly laced her boots up, that she began to feel restless. She quickly looked over her shoulder, half expecting to see someone behind her. There was no one. She went to where she put her weapons the night before, ready to set off for home and alleviate the worry that she knew her friends must have been feeling. But her weapons weren't there. Hurriedly she pulled the daggers from the blanket she had used as night wear, holding one in each hand. There had to be someone watching her. There just had to be!
"I know you are there, hiding like a frightened animal. I bid you to come out, that is, if you dare." Her voice was proud and stern, displaying all the qualities of a fully trained warrior even though she had not yet come of age. Aria didn't have to wait long, when, not one, but two beings came from the shadows of the tree.
A/N: Well, that was the first chapter! Tell me what you think.Who do you think the two beings are? And if you haven't got the hint yet, I would really appreciate it if you REVIEWED!! ~Aranel~
