Chapter 4

  Sonas felt her excitement and nervousness build up inside her as they were about to pass through the gate to the village. Her first time leaving felt exhilarating, but so scary, knowing that once they left, there was no going back, and they were no longer safe. The two slowly and carefully trotted out of the village on their horses. Sonas looked back at the village as it seemed to be moving further and further away from them. The green pine trees started to block her view, and only little cracks of the straw, wooden and stone houses were visible, before there was nothing but trees and dirt. This was the first time Sonas had ever left the village in her entire life, and her heart and mind raced with different thoughts. She knew she was going to miss it dearly.

  When the village was now out of sight, Sonas looked down at her hands on the reins. She felt anxious and nervous. Matteo looked behind him and saw Sonas’ expression. He couldn’t help but feel a small spark of pity for her.

  “I don’t blame you for feeling anxious, you know. I remember how anxious I was leaving the village for the first time.”, He spoke. Sonas looked up at him, as Matteo turned to face the path ahead. She remained silent. Matteo felt as if something was wrong. He slowed down on Apollo, letting Sonas ride next to him. He got a better look at her face.

  “Let’s not forget, this is what you wanted. There’s no going back now. You’re just gonna have to toughen up and move on.” He spoke sternly, but reassuringly.

  Sonas was silent still.

  “This is about Otis, isn’t it?”

  “Yes…” Sonas spoke silently.

  “What was he like when you said goodbye before we left?”

  “He’s dead.”

  “What? That’s absurd. Otis seemed just fine earlier today. How is he dead?”

  “He was hiding it. He didn’t want to show any signs of weakness when he fired his crossbow at you this morning. When I took him back to the cottage, his body was failing him. I had to support him inside. Even the other fishermen of the village were severely concerned for his health. Apparently, the more energy he used up, the worse his condition got. He just couldn’t rest, and it caused him to think that it was better for him to move around then rest. It must’ve been something in his brain that was telling him to move. It was awful”

  “I can imagine how hard that would’ve been on you. I know that it would be quite shocking to lose someone who’s been with you your whole life. You’re just a kid, after all.”

  “Since when would you care? You’re a heartless and selfish hybrid.

  “Maybe…” Matteo spoke coldly.

  Sonas let out a small scoff, before the two went silent again. The only sounds that were heard was the sound of the wheels on the cart squeaking, and the hooves of the horses trotting along the dirt path through the forest.

  Sonas was still deep in thought, but with another topic. The way Matteo answered her question with a cold ‘Maybe…’echoed in her mind like a bell tolling in an empty church. It could be that he has a soft spot deep down, or his rude and selfish character is just a play. Still, Sonas and Matteo never got along well since they were kids.

  ??

  (1474)

  The day that Sonas and Matteo met was one that both would never forget. Everyone in the village was so happy and doing their best to survive in such poor conditions. The young Matteo was casually walking along the dirt path. Sonas accidentally spilled water on his tunic. She was carrying a small bucket of water to help Otis fillet some fish he caught from the river. Matteo got angry and pushed her into a muddy puddle. Sonas shed tears and grabbed the bucket, running away, but Matteo caught up to her, grabbing a fistful on her hair and yanking her towards him, before kicking her in the stomach. Sonas fell into the mud once again. Her own tunic was covered in mud. She curled up into a ball crying, and gripping her stomach in pain. She winced. Matteo then punched her in the stomach this time, with a heap of force.

  The people around the two noticed the commotion, and the nun nearby pulled Matteo away before he could harm her further. She restrained him firmly, but not enough to hurt him.

  Matteo stopped struggling after a few moments. He had no idea what was coming over him. This girl he’s never met had accidentally bumped into him, and the next thing he knows it that he’s beating her up. He was speechless and silent, not knowing what to do now. His stomach turned, feeling sickly. He felt as if a monster, he’s never behaved like this before. The thought trampled in his mind. ‘What is wrong with me?’. The voice never left his mind. He didn’t listen to the nun scolding him, even though his eyes were on her the whole time like he was listening. The people around him also scolded him, speaking and bursting out names towards him, like ‘monster, brat, little shit, mistake, orphan, beast’. He didn’t know why they were shouting at him like a murderer. Was it his race? His skin? No clue. He’s never heard anyone in his whole life tell him that. He was angry and upset.

  Otis had seen what happened through the window of the cottage and rushed outside to help Sonas get back on her feet. He picked her up and cradled her in his arms like a mother nurturing a child. He was angry, but focused on Sonas’ well-being for now. He dashed back towards the cottage and checked for any injuries, luckily, she only came out with a big bruise on her navel and muddy clothes.

  “Sonas, dear, are you alright?” asked Otis.

  Sonas sniffled and put her hands to her sides, pouting.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. He was so mean. I-I didn’t mean to..”

  “It’s not your fault, child. It’s the kids' attitude that got you looking like this.”

  “Did he really mean to do that?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know the kid. But I can tell you this: I won’t let him hurt you ever again, ok? Just be careful out there.” Otis spoke, placing a hand gently on her shoulder.

  “O-Ok, daddy.”

  After a few years, Sonas and Matteo often encountered each other, both becoming rivals. Sonas kept on outsmarting him, but every time she did, he kept on coming back for more, constantly harassing and picking on her. It’s like he enjoyed seeking attention from her.

  Sometimes, Otis would defend her and make sure that she was safe.

  Matteo later on became a hunter for the village at 17, while Sonas was 13.

  Otis wouldn’t let Matteo anywhere near her, and she was much safer when Matteo left for his hunting shift. He was afraid that Sonas would come back home with severe injuries. He also told her to never go out at night, especially on a full moon, as he later found out that Matteo was rumoured to get violent during the night. That worried him even more.

  ??

  The scenery got more lush and green the further they travelled. After about 2 hours, the two stopped at a small stream. It was getting close to the evening. The area was lush and green, with the stream having mossy rocks and clean spring water. So many new colours Sonas got to see. She felt happy.

  “It’s beautiful! Can we stay here for the night?” She asked excitedly.

  “Alright, fine. We’ll set up camp. Tie the horses up to the pine trees and I’ll start setting up a campfire.” Matteo answered.

  Sonas detached the cart from Apollo, before guiding him and Domino with both of their reins. She then tied them up in a secure knot around a small pine tree. Making sure it was done up properly, she walked over to the cart and scavenged the supplies for a bucket to let the horses have a drink.

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  Walking over to the flowing stream, she tilted the bucket, lowering it, and then watching as the crystal clear water filled up the wooden bucket. Once it was filled to the top, she walked back to the horses to give them a drink. Petting them as they were desperate to stay hydrated, she heard the sounds of Matteo attempting to start the fire with some flint and rock. The loud ticking sound was constantly made by the two materials colliding until the bright glowing orange light covered the wood.

  Sonas rolled a log towards the fire as a seat. Instead of immediately sitting down, she tried to set up a tent. She wasn’t very good at it. Matteo chuckles as she struggles to set up a tent.

  “I can tell you suck at this.”

  “Can you blame me? I haven’t even left the village until today. It’s my first time outside my home.”

  “Here, you do it like this.” Matteo taught her how to properly set up a tent. It was that easy, she felt dumb.

  “Maybe next time you should ask for help” He suggested, smirking.

  “Sometimes I’m jealous of you, Matteo.”

  “Come on, really?” Matteo scoffs and sits on the log.

  “I mean it. I really do. You can do so much more than me. Things that I thought I could accomplish, but no. You’re more skilled than I am. It makes me jealous. I’m speaking from the heart here.”

  “I never knew you thought that way. But then again, I am so much more talented than you, and I always will be.” He spoke like an ignorant and over-confident child.

  “I still hate you.”

  Matteo laughs. “Say what you want to say, Sonas. At the end of the day I’m much better than you’ll ever be.”

  Sonas rolled her eyes. She knew he was right, but she didn’t want to say it. She sat down on the log next to him, but kept her distance.

  Sonas watched the crackling, glowing fire in front of them.

  The warm flame protected her from the cold, as the sun slowly set behind the hills, dimming the atmosphere. The light of the fire gently touched the nearby trees, and the sounds of crickets chirping and other nocturnal animals.

  The environment seemed peaceful. Soon, stars would be seen across the night sky, and the moon reflecting the light of the sun onto the earth. Feeling the warmth of the fire and the chill but calm breeze brush past Sonas’ hair, made her feel free. It was a good feeling. There was a whole list in her mind of what she wanted to do now that she’s left the village. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel sad for leaving Deersheild.

  Again, she pulled the same face that she made when they just left the village. Anxious and nervous. Although she felt excitement, she also felt her stomach turn, like a bad feeling in her gut. It made her feel regret and fear of the consequences for the near future. She feared that the Rogues or other creatures would be after her. She was feeling a mix of many emotions at once.

  Looking up at the stars, the night sky showed silhouettes of pine trees that covered the rest of the sky above. She wanted to see the full sky. It was like missing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. You need to bring all the pieces together to create the full picture. People are always so excited to finish it to know what it looks like. But then again, you need to be patient.

  Matteo looked up with her.

  “Not so different from how you would usually see the night sky, huh?” He spoke.

  “Otis never let me outside after dark. I never got to see the night sky like this.”

  “Why didn’t he?”

  “Because he heard that you get violent during night time, because of your species.”

  “What? Bullcrap.”

  “Yeah, I didn’t really get that either.”

  “No, I find it crap because it is crap. Ever since we first met and after that incident, I was being called nothing but ‘monster, brat, hybrid scum, terrorist’, all those things after one muck up. I’ve been dealing with this for 8 years, especially from the middle aged group of the village. I’m not a savage beast”

  “So why did you attack me after I accidentally spilled my bucket?”

  Matteo went silent. He didn’t know how to respond. He took in a deep breath before giving her an answer.

  “Honestly, I’m asking myself the same question. All I can say is: ‘I don’t know.’”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. The day you spilled the water all over me, it was as if I had no control over myself, like somehow it was being controlled. Maybe it was my conscience taking over. That day I was all bite, no bark. I still question myself every single day. Am I a monster? Maybe I’m just some carnivorous deer human thing with a hunger for brutality and violence. Who knows? At the end of the day I’m just trying to make a living so I don’t starve to death.”

  “Some people don’t understand what goes through another's mind. Very few choose to understand the situation. Deersheild is a village that people struggle to live in without going through either a food or financial crisis, so it would make sense for them to be angry or miserable. Even so, they still have no right to throw all their aggression towards you. That is unfair. Speaking of which, why is it that Deersheild must always provide for themselves?”

  “Because Deersheild is the furthest away from Orilon. Also, the journey to Orilon takes too long, not to mention the risks of enemies and obstacles. It was declared by the council that they would stop sending produce to Deershield."

  “So does the shortage of food and supplies perhaps…what’s the word…‘Endorse’, that behaviour onto the village folk?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s awful. Was it my father who suggested that the council make that decision?”

  “No clue. I don’t know if the king manages supplies and transport. I think that stuff is left for the council to decide. Plus, the amount of Rogues have doubled in the last 15 years, I’m guessing since you were born. They’re usually stealing supplies and rations, and since it’s an entire month's journey to get from Orilon to Deersheild, there’s a high risk of getting ambushed.”

  “Yikes. How many times has it happened?”

  “A few, I don’t exactly know how many times it has happened. Some also occur near Steinfoss”

  “Steinfoss?”

  “It’s a larger village in the mountains. Mostly for the more wealthy folk. It’s nicknamed ‘Place of the Snow’, because of its cold temperatures and frequent snows. Rogues love that area for its riches and supplies.”

  “Have you ever seen Rogues before?”

  “Loads. The thing is, is that they’re everywhere. They’re mostly everything beyond humans. The more dominant species. Humans sit at the bottom.” He replies, getting up from the log.

  “Where are you going?” Sonas raised an eyebrow.

  “Dinner.” He spoke, about to walk into the shadows of the forest.

  “But you don’t have any hunting equipment.”

  “Don’t need it.”

  “So you’re just going to kill with your bare hands?”

  “I kill with swords sometimes. Depends on the threat. Apart from that, I just kill using my bare hands.”

  “You probably use those hands for many things..”

  “You have no idea.”

  “Can I go with you?”

  “Definitely not.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s not for the faint of heart. Plus, it’s much safer if you stay here.”

  “Fine…” Sonas pouts, leaning her head against her arm, which sat on her lap.

  “Good, I won’t be long.”

  Matteo then made his way into the darkness of the forest. The rustling of bushes slowly faded, leaving Sonas on her own.

  She got bored pretty quickly.

  ??

  Matteo returned from the hunt. He caught two rabbits. They’ve already been skinned and killed. He held them by their legs. Their limp bodies dangling from his firm grip. He wiped the blood from his mouth, leaving a small red smudge down his chin

  “Rabbits for dinner.”

  “That was fast. That was around 20 minutes.” Sonas looked at Matteo.

  Matteo nodded, placing the rabbits onto a stump near the fire.

  “Fast little bugga’s.” He mumbled to himself. He pulled a dagger from his thigh holster, and started chomping at the rabbits.

  “The rabbits put up a challenge for you?”

  “Yeah. I swear they’re always getting faster.”

  Sonas looked closer at the way he was chopping the rabbit. She noticed that his fingernails were sharp, and that his fingers looked like they were dipped in blood.

  ‘Did he really kill those rabbits with his bare hands?’, Sonas thought. It was just like he said, he hunts and attacks, with his only weapon being his hands and mouth.

  “You’re probably thinking about the whole ‘killing with my bare hands’ thing, right?” Matteo spoke, not turning his head to even face her.

  Sonas looked at him in surprise.

  “Yes. I was thinking that.”

  “Remember when I said I didn’t know why I attack like the way I did 8 years ago when we first met?”

  Sonas nodded.

  “Well…” Matteo continued. “I feel as if the reason I do it is out of instinct. I feel like hybrids like myself have some kind of emotional issues because of instinct. It’s like what snakes do. If they’re provoked, they strike just like that. It happens to me. I always attack those who provoke me, but I also attack if I have this desire to kill. I’m afraid my emotions would get the best of me, and that if I flip out around an innocent person, they’ll get hurt.”

  The two stayed silent for a few moments. The sounds of crickets and fire crackling flooding their ears.

  “I’m not hungry. I think I’ll just go to bed.”

  “Already?”

  “Yeah. I’ve lost my appetite, and it’s been a rough day.”

  “Understood. I guess my hunting skills made you feel sick. I’ll cook some up for tomorrow. Rest up. We've got a long journey ahead of us.”

  “I know. You'll probably tell me that everyday.”

  “You'll never know.”

  “Goodnight, idiot.” Sonas got up from the log and wandered to the dim tent.

  She went inside and closed it up for privacy. She could feel the rocks and grass beneath the roll mat as she lay down, pulling a thin blanket over her. Now that she was away from the warm fire, she started to feel a bit chilly. Thankfully, the blanket kept all her body heat trapped, so she could stay nice and snuggly throughout the night. Her eyes became heavy, letting out one final yawn, before falling asleep.