Nego was scared by how fast Hazel could disappear when she wanted to. He couldn't find her anywhere after the first meal. The forest didn't get a lot of sunlight, which meant it looked like it was still early morning.

Tagu followed him, sniffing the air and shaking his head. Saem, the bulky Shadow gave him directions, 'She went somewhere near Finnwick's claw, the mountain that looks like a claw, somewhere around the Northern parts.'

A cold wind blew, and Nego shivered. Honestly, he liked the Shadows. Stealthy warriors who ambushed, except for Hazel, who was a true assassin with all the senses of craftiness.

Nego found Hazel in a cave. Drawings that glowed in the dark were evident on the cave walls. She was running her hand across the patterns, whispering un-audible words. Matrika followed her footsteps, chittering in distress.

She pulled out something from her pocket: a black cube with white dots on it. Nego remembered he had found it in the storage of the inn, it was a toy that the children played with in Eura.

Something which should not be seen. Hazel pulled out a short, wooden baton which grew into her javelin. Tagu spilled out his misty breath into the air, making Nego crouch closer next to him. His cloak provided some warmth, but the forest had never been sunny.

Matrika rubbed the walls and chittered sadly. There was an outline of a bird with a long beak, long skinny legs and a plume of feathers on its head. It was spreading its wings, it looked so real that Nego half expected it to fly out of the cave.

Hazel looked at the bird sadly. 'I can't hide forever,' she whispered. Hazel concentrated on Matrika, sweat ran down her neck and her pulse was wavering. Nego felt his ears quiver and shake, she was weak, and whatever she was doing could kill her. He felt rooted to the spot

'You have served me well, for now, rest in the stars.' Matrika disappeared and turned into a light that disappeared. Tagu gave a loud bellow. 'Hazel!' he yelled. Nego just managed to catch her before she fell to the ground.

'What did she do?' he asked Tagu. Seeker, you surely know the truth by now. The soft voice that spoke to him on Otakia's ship. Matrika was a star? How is that possible, it acted as her spirit animal. What about the bite marks? Nego said in his head.

Did you see Matrika go in passive state? Maybe the marks were caused by something else. Said the voice. How can you call a star? Is that even possible? Nego was barely aware of Tagu licking Hazel's face or the fact that the sky was darkening. I believe, she told you she has great power. But no, this is not her potential. Her true potential is truly dangerous.

Nego had a thousand thoughts going through his mind. The one you care about the most has far greater pain than you think she does, the core of the heart is the most vulnerable and most powerful. The egret is her spirit animal, seeker. I believe you know what you have to do.

Very gently, Nego opened her clenched fist. The black dice rolled out to rest on the cave floor. Tagu looked at him. Holding the dice in one hand, Nego looked at Tagu's eyes. Brown eyes that were understanding, eyes of peace and color. Darkness covered his vision.

There was a girl who was running across the forest. Her sequel of laughter rang across the sky. They were in Amaya. An egret with white feathers, long black skinny legs with a plume of grey feathers on its head landed next to her before opening its orange beak to let out a happy cry.

The edges of its wings were a lighter grey too, and its eyes were dark brown, just like the girl. The girl was Hazel, and for once, her eyes didn't send a shiver up his spine. Young Hazel smiled and hugged the egret's long neck. The egret looked bigger, but that was probably because Hazel was small.

'You'll never leave me, will you, Jun?' The bird slowly lifted up one leg and bent all his three, dexterous toes. Hazel smiled and bent her small finger around Jun's toes. She hugged Jun closer towards her. 'Don't you go anywhere,' Hazel said softly.

Suddenly, a large bird of prey swooped out of the sky. 'Scarlett!' Hazel yelped. Jun fluffed up his feathers before following the creature into the sky. A girl that looked around the same age emerged out of the bushes and whistled to the creature.

The bird dived towards the girl in the bushes and spread out its wings at the last minute to slow its landing. Jun landed on the ground by flapping his wings slowly before his long legs gently touched the ground.

'Lyria!' The girl with the bird smiled. 'I didn't even see Scarlett coming,' Hazel said, stroking the powerful bird fearlessly. The bird was an osprey, like the birds in Greenhaven, or a sea hawk like some people liked to call it.

Jun walked carefully next to Hazel. The egret's steps were slow and deliberate. Lyria was just a few millimeters shorter, and her hair was shorter but a lighter color. Also, Hazel's chin was sharper. Nego first thought they were sisters, but then he realized they were probably twins. Fraternal twins.

The egret looked clumsy next to the osprey, who was a magnificent predator. Jun pecked at the ground to check for bugs. 'Dinners ready, it's not a lot. Dad managed to catch some fish with rice, and there's the carrots.'

Hazel smiled and followed her Lyria through the forest with Jun next to her.

The scene turned black for a while before bursting into color. There was a small group of Conquerors. Ten heavily armed soldiers from the Devourer in the second war. There was a man, a woman with Lyria and Hazel.

Scarlett was hobbling next to Lyria. The osprey obviously didn't walk. There were arrows, rocks, dirt and all sorts of stuff flying in the air. The bird was smart, it would've been suicide to fly in the air. Jun was craning his long neck, staying hidden underneath Hazel's cloak.

Hazel was older, a few months after his first vision. She was wearing her navy blue shirt with camo pants. There were cuts all over her arm, and there were the bite marks on her hand, the ones she claimed were from Matrika.

Hazel's family were just getting into a boat that had a few sacks of provisions when a man with dark hair and a sly smile threw a knife, nicking her knee. Lyria tried to clamber out of the boat, but the same knife buried itself into the boat.

Nego recognized the man as Dious. Lyria called out to her, but her parents held her back. Jun puffed out his plumage and stood protectively over her. 'Don't kill me, Dious,' Hazel whimpered. Jun lunged at Dious, but he caught Jun's beak and flipped him onto its back and stepped on his legs lightly.

Hazel stood up shakily. Blood dripped down from her wound. 'Don't kill him either,' she said dangerously. Scarlett gave a shrill cry. Dious smiled and threw another knife that cut the rope holding the boat, pushing it out into the ocean and into nowhere.

He tied up Jun and looked at Hazel. She took the short stick and let the spear head out but it stayed the same length. 'If you want me so much, come get me,' she said boldly.

Smiling, Dious pulled out a black sword with a leather grip. The blood drained from Hazel's face, but she stood her ground. Jun tried to flap his wings, despite the fact they were tied to his sides. Dious charged first, and his swing was deflected by the tip of her javelin.

Dious fought viciously, and Hazel danced across the ground, like she was the ground and the ground was her.

When Dious feinted a stab to the left, Hazel made a mistake. Dious managed to get an opening to her right, and his sword cut through her right arm. Jun squawked in alarm. Hazel fell to her knees. Dious put his dagger under her chin and forced her to raise her head.

'I think … I am done with you.' Dious picked up Jun, who cawed and squawked while flapping his wings. 'Remember your promise,' Hazel said softly.

Lyria is based on my sister and Scarlett is the name of the osprey my sister has in the game. None of the things Hazel has experienced are based on my experiences. I've never held a javelin, fought a crazy madman called Dious or (sadly) ever had a spirit animal called Jun. I live a normal life in a normal place. I do, however, like egrets.

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