Chapter Three: The Newcomer
"Hunter?" a white Cheetah woman spoke softly as she approached the warrior. The moonlight reflected brilliantly against her fur and her pure, ocean blue eyes were soft and kind. Hunter turned to the female with a soft smile, his hood draped over his face. He held an arrow in his hands, twirling it gently.
"River… it's pretty late. Why are you still awake?" Hunter replied curiously.
His sister rolled her eyes with a soft giggle and sat on a fallen tree limb beside him, " Hunter, I'm older than you. Don't you think I can decide my own bedtime?" She nudged him with a raised eyebrow, earning a chuckle from Hunter in return. The warrior took a seat beside her with a deep sigh, removing his hood from his head to show off his greenish-blue eyes in the moonlight. The night was calm, and a gentle, steady breeze tied it into perfection. The two could hear the chirping of crickets and could see fireflies dancing around the valley before them.
"You're ten seconds older than me." The warrior spoke back with a scoff.
"Still counts." River giggled and rested her head on Hunter's shoulder with a soft yawn, "That means nothing. I'm good for a few more hours." Hunter only rolled his eyes with a smile. She was always so stubborn, even as a cub. Though, despite her stubbornness and her detest of her studies, she turned out to be the best healer the Cheetah Village ever had; able to heal what most believed couldn't be recovered from. 'It's an understanding I have with Nature' she would say whenever she was asked her secret.
River let out another yawn and her head almost slipped off Hunter's shoulder before she shot up and started jumping, "Wha are you doing?" Hunter asked her, a bit confused.
"Gotta get the blood moving! It's too early to sleep," she stopped her jumping and stretched a bit, her back cracking subtly, " especially since I have a few patients I need to check on within the hour. So!" She sat back down, "What are you doing out here? You're not on watch, are you?" She tilted her head, her ears flopping to the side a bit.
"I am." The warrior simply replied, turning his attention back out to the valley.
"You confuse me, brother. Avalar is safe! Ever since Spyro and Cynder kicked Malefor's ass-" She was interrupted by Hunter shooting her a disapproving look, "… butt," she corrected, " we haven't seen so much as a Grublin! Why are you so worried?"
Hunter took a moment to reply before, turning back out to the valley, "It's not wise to let everyone's guard down. Even if the greatest threat is gone, there will always be more lesser ones. It provides comfort to the village that I'm out here. And I don't mind the silence," he scoffed with a smirk and turned back to River who was now playing with her black ringed tail.
"You sound like dad," she said, still fixated on her tail as she nodded as if agreeing with herself.
"And you sound like mother. Guess we're even." He scratched the back of his neck and moved it around to crack it. He had been out here for a few hours now with a few more to go; needless to say, fatigue was starting to hit the Cheetah warrior. He doesn't get much sleep nowadays, mostly by choice, but otherwise because of his new duties. During the war Chief Prowlus lost his life and now Hunter holds the mantle of Chief.
River soon let her tail fall to her side, and she stood up. She jumped in front of Hunter and held her hands down to him, "Come on."
Hunter looked at her hands and then up to her face, "What?"
"I said come on!" She grabbed his hands and pulled him up to his feet.
"O-okay!" He chuckled, "What are we doing? I need to finish my watch, River."
"You will. After we walk a bit. It'll help wake you up too," she started walking down aa dirt path to the lower valley.
Hunter let out a short yawn before he covered his mouth and cleared his throat. He let out a soft sigh and smiled as he started walking after her, quickly reaching her side, "Where are we going?"
"I don't know." She replied with a smile, her hands holding each other behind her back as she took in the scenery, "Have you heard from them since?"
"Who? Spyro and Cynder?" Hunter asked. River nodded, "No, not since they defeated Malefor. Last I heard was they went back to Warfang. The Guardians all moved there since the war. Why do you ask?"
"Well, you told such amazing stories about them. How you rescued them from that Golem, and they helped defend the village from the Grublin attack. I figured you were pretty close after everything." Hunter often forgot that River only came to the village a month ago, completely missing the battle that had taken place.
"Yeah… well we could have used you that day for certain. And we are close. At least I think we are… they're probably just resting up from that fight. It most likely drained a lot from them…"
River nodded in agreement and knelt down beside a nightlight flower, gleaming beautifully in the darkness, "Aren't these beautiful? They're my favorite flower."
Hunter smiled and stood beside her, a hand resting on his bow that he had along his shoulder. After a few moments River stood up and they continued their walk, " Would you like to meet them one day?"
The question kind of took River by surprise as she choked on air and coughed a few times, "Wh-what?! Me meet Spyro and Cynder? You're insane…"
"How come? They're quite friendly," Then Hunter's ears drooped a bit, " Is it because of Cynder and her past?" He asked her curiously.
"What? No, not at all!" River replied quickly, "I- I mean it is because of Cynder but not that!" She scoffed and brushed her bangs out of her face.
"Then… what is it?" Hunter asked with a raised eyebrow.
"She's just… She's Cynder!" River exclaimed with a soft chuckle, "One of the last female dragons in the realms AND pretty much just as strong as the Purple Dragon? That's just nuts!"
Hunter burst out laughing and wiped his eye, " You're seriously fangirling over Cynder right now?"
"Hey! I don't make fun of your stuff, do I?" She punched his shoulder roughly.
"Ah! Okay, okay!" Hunter chuckled and rubbed his shoulder.
"Plus, she might be adorable…" River added softly.
"I'm sor- what?!" Hunter asked her loudly, feeling another bout of laughter rising.
"Oh, shut up-" River rolled her eyes.
"You have a crush on Cynder?!" Hunter asked her, laughing once again.
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" She punched his arm a few more times, " Just forget I said that part, 'kay?" She sighed loudly and rubbed her face.
Hunter shook his head, still giggling softly, " Don't worry your secret is safe with me." He readjusted his bow on his arm. Just then Hunter's ear twitched and he quickly spun around, drawing his sword in defense only to see another Cheetah jogging up to them.
"Pardon the interruption, but I have an urgent message from the fishing village," the black cheetah held a parchment in his hand.
Hunter sheathed his sword and offered a smile to the familiar face, " No need," he referred to the pardon and took the parchment.
River stood over Hunter's shoulders, looking down at it trying to read, "Good evening, Cheetah vil- blah blah…" she kept scanning the note until her eyes lit up, "mysterious woman?"
"Yeah. Perhaps a fishing ship went under, and she washed up," Hunter rolled the parchment back up, "Has she been given medical attention?"
"I'm not sure, Chief. I left as soon as the Headmaster wrote the letter. He said he has no remembrance of this woman, and the village, as you know, is quite small."
Hunter nodded gently and put the letter in the chest pocket of his tunic, " I see. I'll leave for the fishing village immediately. Head back to my village up the hill for rest," He smiled to the messenger who bowed his head in respect and trotted back up the hill.
"So, you're taking me with you right?" River asked him.
"You want to come with me? What of your patients?"
"Oh, they're asleep. Besides it's only minor sprains and bruises they can walk it off. Come on!"
Hunter only chuckled again and shook his head, "You're a strange Healer, you know that?" River only smiled with pride and took off down the road toward the village.
"I'll race ya!"
The fishing village was only a few miles north of the valley, so it took the two just over thirty minutes to reach there. River was panting softly and turned back to Hunter who easily kept up, barely breaking a sweat, "Show off…" she said between breaths.
The two walked into the village and saw no one. The main area was barren of life aside from a few scampering mice. The smell of fish filled the air as they worked their way down to the larger dock area of the village where the docks were crowded with the townspeople. A large, black Cheetah saw Hunter and River approaching and shouted out above the crowd, "Make way everyone! The Chief is here!"
"Admantus," Hunter nodded in respect to the Headmaster.
"Chief. It's been a while since we last saw one another," he smiled softly and gave Hunter a hug as he approached. River sat quietly; her hands folded in front of her politely. The two made their way through the crowd and soon got to the source of the commotion; in front of them laid a pure white female. She had many cuts around her arms and her face had a gash across her cheek, but her breathing was shallow yet steady.
River knelt beside the female's mouth and leaned down to see if she could feel her breath, "Give me some space please. Have you tried resuscitating her?" River asked, jumping right into professional mode as she gently rolled the female over.
"No, ma'am. Once we saw she was breathing on her own we decided it was best not to touch her," Admantus responded, the crowd giving them a few feet.
"Hmm…" River placed her ear on the Ezzara's chest and heard a pretty rapid heartbeat.
Ezzara felt the pressure on her chest but didn't make any sudden moves. Her eyes shut, all she heard were distorted voices as she came to. River sighed gently and turned to Hunter, "Perhaps we should move her to a more secluded spa-"
She was interrupted by Ezzara's eyes shooting open and her arm swinging around River to pin her to the ground, her dagger drawn and against River's throat. Hunter growled loudly and drew his bow, knocking an arrow, there was scattered gasps around the crowd as some ran for their homes.
" Nas fema jer epal!" Ezzara hissed out, pressing the dagger to River.
"I don't know what you just said but you'd better let her go before I plant this right between your eyes!" Hunter hissed back, pulling the arrow back even further.
Ezzara gave them a confused look. They were Khajiit right? "Don't play stupid with me! Put it down now!" She growled.
"Hunter please… just put it down," River told her brother with a surprising calm tone, her eyes focused on the dagger. Hunter held his stance for a few moments before loosening his grip on the bow, letting the arrow relax, "Miss… I'm sure we can settle this peacefully. What is your name?"
Ezzara looked even more confused as the female in her grasp asked the question, "E-Ezzara."
"Ezzara… pretty. My name's River. That's my brother Hunter," She gestured to her brother still holding his bow.
Ezzara scoffed gently, "A bit on the nose, don't you think? Where am I?"
"To get answers you must get trust. Let me go. Please." River told her in a soft tone. She was clearly scared as her eyes started to water, but she kept her composure. Ezzara slowly removed the dagger from River's throat and let her go. River slowly stood up and looked back at the white Khajiit, "You look like me a bit…" River wiped her eyes.
Ezzara scoffed again. She was easily a foot and a half shorter than the rest of them. Her eyes landed on Hunter once again and she gripped her dagger tighter.
River followed her gaze back to the Hunter and she put a hand on his bow to lower it, "Hunter please." River pleaded with him. Hunter grumbled and put the bow back on his shoulder and the arrow back in his quiver. Ezzara put her dagger back in its holster but kept her hand on it.
"So where am I? What province is this?" Ezzara questioned River.
"Province?" She asked curiously.
"Yes." Ezzara replied a bit annoyed now, "Where in Elsweyr am I? I'm not familiar with this place."
"Elsweyr? Miss, I'm sorry but I have no idea what you're talking about. You're in Avalar… do you not remember what happened?"
"Of course, I remem- MOIRR! Did a male wash up with me?" She asked frantically, scanning the docks and the water for any signs of him.
"No, you were the only one who arrived." Admantus replied stepping forward to her, "I'm sure you're confused and may just need a moment to process everything," he went to place a hand on her shoulder, but Ezzara quickly grabbed his hand and twisted it backwards, almost snapping it.
"One thing you should know about me: I don't like being touched. Got it?" She hissed. Admantus, straining, nodded his head in response. Ezzara let his hand go and the Headmaster retreated back a few steps, "Is there any place Moirr could have made it to if not here?" Ezzara asked River.
"Perhaps. There are many villages that border the ocean but if he washed up there, he would most likely be brought to Warfang considering he would need medical attention. Not too many herbalists in these fishing villages I'm afraid…" River responded, her ears going back a bit.
"Great. Can you take me there?"
"Absolutely not!" Hunter spoke up after everything and stepped in front of River, "We don't know who you are. For all we know you could be an assassin."
"Hunter!" River interjected.
"No River!" He growled loudly, "We can't trust her. Not yet." He took a few steps toward Ezzara, "You can come back to our village in the valley. Once we are certain you are no threat… I'll consider it. That's my offer." Hunter glared down at Ezzara with daggers in his eyes.
Ezzara growled lowly and glared right back up at him, undeterred by his mountainous appearance compared to her, "If I find out you're hiding him from me, I'll gouge out your eyes." She hissed, barring her fangs, "Fine. I accept."
"Good. One more thing-" he took a length of rope from the dock and held it, "You are to be bound. I can do it, or River can. Your choice." He continued the glare.
Ezzara looked at the rope and growled again. He meant to keep her as a prisoner? Even here she can't escape her damned past, "I'd prefer your sister. She seems to have the most brains between the two of you." She spat at Hunter with poison in her words.
Hunter growled and gave the rope to River who walked behind Ezzara, "You're gonna feel my hands now…" she said to her. Surprisingly it made it a bit easier for Ezzara to move her hands back to River so she could tie them. She tied them tight enough she wouldn't be able to break out, but left plenty of room so she wasn't uncomfortable, "There. Sorry it had to be like this…" River said softly with her ears back.
"I'm used to it." Ezzara replied blandly, still glaring at Hunter.
"Come on." Hunter motioned for the two to follow. He let River lead the way and he decided to stay in the back behind Ezzara in case she tried anything.
The torches of the village were in sight as they descended into the Valley, "Quaint place you got here…" Ezzara broke the silence and spoke to Hunter.
"Indeed. Enjoy the view cause you most likely won't see it for some time once we're behind those walls…" He growled in response.
Ezzara rolled her eyes and looked back in front of her to see River walking in front, her hips swaying subtly. Ezzara chuckled softly, "I'm enjoying the view alright…"
"What was that?" Hunter asked her.
"Nothing… Chief." Ezzara scoffed. The three made their way up the hill to the village and entered through the gate in the wooden walls. Cheetah villagers spoke softly amongst themselves as Ezzara entered in binds, some giving her looks of detest thinking she was some kind of thief, "Lovely bunch. Spritely." Ezzara scoffed and followed River to a post in the clearing.
"I'm sure they'll warm up to you," She offered a smile, "Unfortunately this is where you'll be staying for now," She tied the remaining rope that bound Ezzara to the pole and sighed gently.
"You sure seem upset that you're tying up someone who had a dagger to your throat an hour ago." Ezzara sat beside the pole and sighed, her eyes tracking Hunter as he walked to a tent.
"River. A word." Hunter told her before he disappeared into the tent.
"Okay Hunter." River replied before turning down to Ezzara, "Everyone deserves a second chance. Whether you're suffering some sort of brain trauma, or this really is all new to you… it was a reflex. I don't see it as any more or less," She smiled, "Try and rest." She left the Khajiit to follow Hunter.
Ezzara watched her walk and sighed deeply as she put her head back on the pole, " Moirr… I hope you're okay." She said softly as her eyes shut.
Inside the tent River sat on a pillow across from Hunter, "What's up?"
" 'What's up'?! Are you serious, River?" Hunter asked her sternly but keeping his voice low.
"What? She was clearly in shock when she woke up… I wasn't the one who almost escalated it way out of control!" She growled softly in return.
"You are too trusting. We have no idea who she is or where she came from. What if she's in league with Malefor?"
"Geez Hunter, seriously? He's gone. His disciples are scattered in the Burned Lands! Why are you so worried?"
"She's a stranger, River. And you are not being careful enough." He gave her a stern look.
"Okay, okay fine. I'll be careful. I'll check on her in the morning and-"
"No, you won't. I'll have another healer look her over. You are to not go near her, do you understand me?"
"Excuse me? Hunter, I get you're the Chief and that's fantastic, but that doesn't dismiss the fact I am by FAR the best healer we have. Just let me look her over, bandage her up properly and then I'll leave her be. Deal?"
Hunter growled softly and rubbed his temple with his fingers before he sighed and looked up to River, " Fine. But afterwards you are to stay away from her until we know her intentions. Okay?"
"Okay," River agreed and stood up. She left the tent and looked over to Ezzara sitting by the pole already fast asleep. She smiled softly and entered the Healers Tent a bit away from the clearing for the night.