The head of the jug submerged into the water, rapidly the lake filled the inside of the jug. Alderin looked at his own reflection in the water and gently placed his hand over a part where the stream ran rapid, the water lapped over his knuckles hurdling his hand. He was taken out of his trance abruptly, talking from the other side of the river, he stayed crouched and took his jug out of the water.
As the voices got closer he noticed them, a group of 4 men walked through the forest on the other side of the river. Their colloquial language was unmistakable and their clothes bore the exact symbol that Alderin feared. A white pair of eyes painted crudely over their clothing was the symbol of the snakes eyes, a gang who patrolled all over Altos, the continent Alderin had grown to love.
Stumbling he quickly and stealthily crouched and ran behind a tree holding the jug in his right hand. he faced away from the group attempting to fit his skinny body behind the equally skinny tree. The voices became quieter and quieter. Alderin sighed as he cradled his head in his legs.
"Oi!". His head shot up and as he spotted the men running towards him swords in their hands he sprung to action and began running. His head shot back to check on his pursuers and a root tripped him but he stabilised himself, his trips became more and more frequent. He could feel his foot bruising from the impact he made planting his foot after stumbling, the jug slipped from his wounded hand smashing on the floor.
His brain like the jug shattered, Yura would be disappointed. then he came back to the present. His foot had reached its limit, he scrapped his foot against the dirt and fell forward, he braced himself and rolled across the floor, the blood on his foot travelled into the ground. The men gained more ground on him.
These few seconds felt like hours, all Alderin could think about was his unfulfilled life and his brother. Suddenly a rhythmic thudding came from the forest, the noise became louder and louder. Alderin braced for the attack of the men who were now about 10 feet away from him.
Abruptly a majestic beast sprinted through. A massive elk about 15 feet in height sprinted towards the men, piercing their bodies onto its long horns. Blood sprayed onto the ground as the men screamed in agony. The boy sat their facing the shattered forest panting heavily. Was this just his imagination or was this a blessing.
The Gyornir[1] is a mythical creature in Altos, Alderin had heard of its presence in the forest, however he thought it was just a myth. His brain webbed sporadically to times in Alderin's life when he had heard stories of myths. His life was reshaped, he knew the truth now. The endless dreams Alderin had made in his mind were out there, who would he be to tell anyone. They wont believe you, they know your lying. Alderin kept telling himself that no one would believe him but he still had to share this story.
Yura will believe this surely, he thought to himself as he picked himself up raced in an injured fashion towards the village. Both shocked and amazed at the blood bath he just saw, he walked through the town towards the rugged shack him and his brother shared. "Yura! You won't believe this!" He said as he slammed the door open. The shack empty, he sprinted towards the sack in the corner but it was flat.
Yura was gone and he had no idea where he was. Without a second thought Alderin sprinted outside and headed deeper into the town with his katana on his back. Tears raced passed his cheeks and fell to the floor but his face showed pure rage mixed with concern. As he entered the popular part of town the streets became more dense, he pushed through crowds of people spilling their drinks into the air. "Watch where you are going!" shouted one of the men who just stepped out of the boys path. But he was focused, his mind targeted on finding his brother
[1] (G-Yor-Neer)