"Not all hunters are the alike; some are resurrected by the grace of the traveler, some are born into it, and once in a long while, one is created, trained and molded so as to rise above the mundane to grasp glory that was thought to be unreachable." Kota-Kai, Hunter
The Hunters Path
Ellister Bryce was barely a boy of 10 years old, with shaggy brown hair and green eyes when he and his family sought refuge inside the walled city. They, along with other bands of refugees whose homes had been destroyed by The Darkness, came in swarms to the gates of the Last City, the only safe place left on planet that the human race used to call home. Many years had passed since the Traveler had sacrificed itself to save what was left of humanity on earth, ending the Golden Age and leading into what would come to be known as the Dark Age. Since the collapse, a large city had been constructed underneath it, a last safe haven for those still hanging on to what hope they had left. Most flocked to the city during its construction, ready to build a city that would stand as a beacon of light in the surrounding darkness. However, there were still those who insisted on making their own way in the world, without the help of The Traveler, who many of these people saw as the one at fault for bringing the plight of The Darkness to their solar system.
Ellister's father and some other likeminded individuals insisted on keeping their families independent and banded together in one of the few settlements on the Russian frontier. While decently protected by walls, older auto rifles, and scavenged turrets, many of these settlements were outside the range of any assistance from the city. At the time, the Guardians rarely ventured out to the settlements on the farthest reaches of the "Independent Territories" as they came to be called. Once in a while you could see the occasional Hunter walking among the trees of a ridgeline or speeding across the broad landscape on their speeder bikes. This lack of forceful presence left the colonies an easy target for the bands of Fallen that patrolled the area. This pride and arrogance that the Independents felt would eventually be their downfall, a cataclysmic event that Ellister would experience firsthand and what would ultimately lead him and his family to the walled city, and on course with his destiny.
Within a few years of living within the confines of a small settlement known as Dirks Crossing, Ellister's father had been killed by the Fallen while out scavenging with a group from the village, and now he and his mother rented a small and dumpy house from the self-appointed mayor of the settlement who was as incompetent as he was corrupt. If an inhabitant was not able to pay rent with scavenge, or by other more unsavory means, then they and their family were cast out into the wilderness. Since his father's death, Ellister and his mother were left with enough scavenged goods to pay the mayor, but as of last month the last of it was gone and the due date for rent was fast approaching. Ellister was not nearly old enough to go out on his own or even with a group to scavenge, and his mother did not have the fortitude for it. Needless to say Ellister was not going to let his mother demean herself in order to stay in a shitty hole such as this. Many nights Ellister tried sneaking out on his own after curfew to outside the walls to scavenge, but to no avail since he was caught each time by the town guards. Time was running out and Ellister knew it, but in due time a solution was found for the dilemma, though it was not what Ellister had expected.
One night while the people in the town slept, Ellister tried one last time to make for a small gap in the wall of the settlement which he had observed one morning while walking around town as bored boys are prone to do. He snuck through the shadows of the market place, jetting and dodging in and out of alleyways and between vending booths. His objective was only a few meters away; he could see the small hole in the base of the wall, probably unnoticeable to a grown up due to its size, but to a 10 year old boy, it was the perfect size to slip through, his very own gateway to the world beyond the confines of his town. He was about ready to bolt across the street to the hole when an alarm rang out in the night, followed by bright flares being shot up into the night sky, illuminating the dark town around him and turning night into day, then shouts bellowed from the town guard, the words that every inhabitant feared. "Fallen! Fallen are attacking! Guard to your posts!"
Within minutes the town was a cataclysmic warzone, with people running frantically to any shelter they could find, screams all around, guard rushing buy with auto rifles. A few of the houses and shops were already on fire, towering infernos that were already spreading the neighboring buildings. It's so bright was all Ellister could think for some reason. He was now running back to his house as fast as he could, hopping his old battered boots could last the distance. Blue beams raced through the night sky and in between houses, the Fallen were now inside the town that was apparent. When he reached his home his mother was standing on the front porch screaming his name. He ran to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Where the hell have you been?! She asked with both fear and anger running heavily in her tone.
"I was going to try and make it outside the city to scavenge so we could make rent this month, I'm so sorry Mama." He sobbed as he buried his face in her dress. She held him tight in her embrace.
"That doesn't matter now Ellis, we need to get somewhere safe. The town hall, we need to get to the town hall. Ellis, Mama needs you to be brave alright, can you do that for me?" she said in her most assuring tone, the way only a mother can. Ellister nodded his head. "Ok come on baby follow me we need to get somewhere safe." With that she took his hand and they tried their best to run towards the center of the town. Before they got halfway through the market place, a large looming figure emerged from an alleyway and blocked their advancement. The figure was large, towering over both Ellister and his mother. Two clawed hands gripped a plasma rifle with its other set of arms swung freely. It looked at the two human with its multiple glowing eyes. It raised the plasma rifle to it shoulder, aiming in at the mother and her son standing only feet away, an easy kill.
"No!" Ellister screamed and threw himself between his mother and the Fallen Vandal. But instead of a bright flash and searing pain then ultimate death that Ellister had expected would follow, he just heard a loud crack and felt a warm liquid spray his face. A loud noise followed, like someone dropping an object of great weight onto the ground, then just silence. Ellister could hear the heavy breathing of his mother and the ambient silence that once persisted was now gone, replaced once again by the sounds of screams and rifle fire. He opened his eyes and looked to where the Vandal had been, but all that remained was a large corpse in a heap upon the ground, its head a bloody pulp. He suddenly felt a large firm grip on his shoulder. He was about ready to turn around and swing his balled fist when suddenly he was faced with a tall looming man in armor, with a cloak around his shoulders and a large golden visor shielding his face. Not a regular town guard, a Guardian.
"Are you alright?" the tall Guardian asked. His voice was soothing, almost like a whisper, or like wind blowing over the mountains and through the tall pines in the woods. His helmet made his calm voice sound almost robotic. Ellister and his mother looked at his in shock. Then his mother tried to speak.
"Ye-yes, thank you." Was all that she was able to get out of her mouth, her voice was dry and cracked. The Guardian simply nodded his head. Ellister looked him up and down, from his large golden visor to his mud caked boots that looked as if they had walked a great distance in their lifetime. His eyes finally rested on the rifle the Guardian held, a large rifle with the longest barrel Ellister had ever seen on a rifle. This was no ordinary auto rifle like the guards carried, this rifle was special, and the Guardian cradled it as delicately as one would a small child. It was obviously something he cared about very much, but carried with great respect and reverence, like a holy object.
"That was brave what you did son, now I need you to be brave a little bit longer. Follow me." He grabbed Ellister's hand and led him and his mother through the many streets and alleys of the town. Ellister's mother trailed behind; trying to formulate one of many questions she had for the Guardian but could only stutter. They were walking quickly but quietly down a narrow alley, they were approaching the opening at the far end, when the Guardian came to a sudden halt, almost causing Ellister to run into his back. The Guardian turned around and put a single finger to where his mouth would have been; an obvious sign for his mother to stop with the attempt at questions. The air in the alley was heavy with the smell of blood and smoke. The Guardian stood as still as a statue, watching the entrance of the alleyway, his rifle raised halfway to his shoulder, ready to lock into place in a split second and fire a round into its unsuspecting victim. Seconds passed but it felt like eternity. Then in a flash two large looming silhouettes appeared in the opening of the alley. They both came to a sudden halt and looked at Ellister and the Guardian.
"There you are!" said one of them, a large armored man, who was built like a tank and was carrying what looked like a large auto rifle that was belt fed with large bullets. "We were worried about you, reckoned you got killed by some lowly Shank!" he said with a slight laugh.
"I'm not that easy to kill Burk, a Dreg maybe, but never a Shank." The hooded Guardian replied. He once again grabbed Ellister's hand and led him and his mother out onto the street. When they were out on the street, the hooded Guardian and the other one known as Burk began discussing with Ellister's mother about the situation and what they were to do next. From the bits he could piece together from their conversation it sounded like majority of the Fallen were dead but the settlement was as good as lost due to the damage it had taken. It then sounded as if they were making an offer to lead the survivors back to the Last City. While they continued on with their conversation, a third Guardian broke away from the group and walked over to Ellister who was sitting next to a wall, wondering what would happen next. The Guardian was small and lithe but still looked formidable in the armor it wore, from the walk and stature it was easy to tell the Guardian was a female. She walked over next to Ellister, but instead of towering over him like most adults were prone to do, she instead crouched down so she was eye level with the young boy. Then she removed her helmet, and what Ellister saw left him with wide eyes and an open mouth. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, even more beautiful than his mother. She had large blue eyes and dark brown hair that was pulled back into a bun with a few wild strands that refused to conform to her hair style and instead were mated to her brow from sweat.
"How are you doing lad? I hear you are quite the hero." She asked in an accent that Ellister could just barely pin point. It was an Irish accent. He only knew that from the teachings of his mother who loved history and taught him about all of the ancient civilizations of centuries past. Ellister sat with his knees pressed up to his chest, looking at the dirt.
"I'm no hero. He, he's a hero." He said looking over at the hooded Guardian with the large rifle. He then went back to looking at the dirt.
"Well there aren't that many people who would throw themselves in front of a Vandal in order to protect someone, even if it was their mother. So to me that makes you just as big of a hero as any Guardian." She gave a large smile that showed her white teeth. Her eyes were kind, like his mothers. "What's your name?"
"Ellister, but most people just call me Ellis."
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Ellis, I'm Emma!" She held out an armored hand. Ellister took it and shook her hand; her grasp was surprisingly delicate despite the armored gauntlets she wore.
"I've never seen a Guardian up close, why do you all look different?" he asked.
"Well it's because certain Guardians have different jobs you see. Some are more suited for direct combat like that big oaf over there, some are scouts like him, and some wield the power of the Traveler more effectively than others, that's what I do, I'm a Warlock." She said as she pointed to each of the Guardians who still stood over by his mother.
"A Warlock? Sounds scary."
"Only sometimes, especially to little boys who don't behave!" she said with a wink and a sly smile. That made Ellister Smile.
The Guardians spent most of the night eliminating any Fallen stragglers and gathering up what remained of the inhabitants of Dirks Crossing. It was still hard for Ellister to believe how three Guardians were able to take out what seemed like an army of Fallen, though they reassured him that the Fallen numbers were nowhere close to being an army, just a simple raiding party. Once everyone was accounted for and had their bare essentials needed for the long journey, they departed from the empty shell of a town that he used to call home. Most of the military age males had been killed during the fight before the Guardians showed up, so the rag tag group of refugees mostly consisted of women and children. They departed the next morning a little bit before sunrise, the three Guardians leading the people of Dirks Folly out of their smoldering town and back into the tall pine trees that stood at the base of the large hills overlooking the town. It was to be a long journey over the hills and through the no-mans-land that stretched out before them, but soon they would be safe behind the large walls of the Last City, with the Traveler hanging low in the sky above them, forever keeping watch over its wards. Ellister and his mother walked together in the group of refugees. She held on to his hand tightly as he looked around him and the massively large size of the giant pines in the forest they walked through. It wasn't long before the hooded figure approached Ellister and his mother.
"May I? It's a long journey." he said motioning to Ellister. His mother reluctantly nodded and let go of Ellister's hand. The Guardian picked Ellister up under his armpits and lifted him high into the air until his bottom half came to rest on the hooded man's shoulders.
"Sir, what is your name? You never told me." Ellister asked almost timidly.
"My name is Kota, Kota-Kai if it please you little hero."
"Well how far is it to the Last City Kota?" he asked as he looked ahead over the heads of the rest of the refugees.
"Still many league, but we will be there in due time son, don't you worry."
"Good, I can't wait to see the city! Kota, will you come see me when after we find a place to live?"
"Don't you worry little hero, I will be there if you ever need me. I see great things in your future Ellister Bryce, your light is strong. I will be watching you closely." That made Ellister smile and sit up straighter as he rode on the tall Guardians shoulders. They marched on through the trees and over the hills towards the last bastion of hope for mankind; little did he know that what awaited him in the Last City would change his life forever, and send him sprawling into a collision with his destiny.
To be continued…
Thank you so much for reading my first chapter of a hopefully continuing series known as The Hunters Path! Just as a heads up if you did not notice, this story takes a good many years before the actual events in Destiny. The Guardians are still a rather new group due to the Ghosts just recently becoming active in the City Age. Still formulating a plot but any suggestions and ways to improve this story would be greatly appreciated! thank you again and i look forward to hearing from you.
