That face gave me an awful feeling about the week that was ahead of me. ‘I can’t believe those crazy bastards trapped me in a cave. I thought being stuck in a pit with a goblin would have been enough. Well, maybe being part of a clan even if they are a bit mad is better than ending up as ash. Who knows, maybe with enough time I could give back to those humans what they did to me. Anir did say this was some sort of hunt so I guess I have to bring some sort of prey back here after a week. Wait… how will I even count the days’.

With that dilemma in mind, I thought it best to just think of the hunt, and so I began looking at this dark craggy cave that was oddly humid. It wasn’t pitch black, something must be giving light later down in the cave. Choosing to stay close to the wall I followed the path in front of me down its winding road. My steps landed overly heavy as I walked making me travel slower in an attempt to keep them quiet. After what felt like a handful of minutes the path grew and a bright sapphire light began to shine across the walls. With one last turn, a beautiful scene unfolded before my eyes.

A lake glowing in an amazing sapphire with dark azure depths that seemed to almost wriggle under my gaze. Around its edge laid a plethora of colorful grasses dominated by lime green, each blade seems to have an energized glow to it. Further off there laid pillars stretching into the ceiling three times my height with mushrooms dyed like caramel hanging to it along the roof of the cave. Lastly, were pine-colored bushes that looked as if they were shaking in a light breeze… if the was a breeze. As I continued to stare at one it almost seemed like it was releasing small spores like a mushroom. Until it trembled and the ‘leaves’ revealed a single tiny emerald light. I could feel my skin crawl. Whatever it is, plant or beast, it was looking back at me.

From the corner of my eye, I saw… the ‘air’ on the ceiling move. I decided to slink closer to the ground and peek into the offshoot path a little way along the wall to my left. It felt like years crawling over under so many unseen eyes. Finally reaching the alcove and slithering inside I saw a sheet of leather paper.

Reaching for the paper it read…

“Welcome to the trail for the Clan of the Fallen. Don’t tell Lotir. The trial is supposed to remain a secret for the warrior undergoing it but I thought it to be a bit unfair to one not born of either tribe. Plus the rule only says we must not ‘talk’ to the warrior to be of the trial. I know I tossed you in a pit with a goblin but you wouldn’t rat out a frail old man would you? Now onto the jist of it, you must if not already assumed survive for a week and bring back what you hunt during your time. Just so you know you only need at least five paniwaru, the rabbit-like things that come out around dusk, or Skapi, the water worms in the lake. Also, I made sure the entrance to this alcove has a slab to slide in place to sleep. Normally I would be against this sort of breach of formality for warrior candidates but my disciple worries me, he has always been a sly one “fight dirty, like a human, to beat a human” he likes to say. I hope he didn’t go too far with whatever he may have done.”.

‘I’m glad I was given some explanation, but these people really are crazy. I’m surprised he knows how to write, I took him for the illiterate type. It couldn’t have been more than a couple of hours at most… I think. Either way, this chosen stuff hasn’t given me the courage of the insane, I’m exhausted so I’ll just rest here before those bushes grow a thirst for blood on the top of growing eyes’.

Shoving the slab into place in front of the opening took all I had of course a “frail old man” like Anir would give me such a ‘light’ door. At the very least the grass made it silent. ‘Anir sounds so familiar if only I could recall where from. I keep thinking of an old legend of a mighty warrior by that name who almost made it into the Baatai family’. Laying on the bare stone floor I laid the crude leather note under my head and thought back to the chick of blue light. Maybe I should try focussing on that little obsidian stone. It seems like it might have to do with magic.

Unable to sleep I stared for an hour straight at the stone in my mind. I couldn’t tell if it was real or I too was going crazy but I could swear I heard something giggle. Like someone behind closed doors holding it in when out in public. Sometimes I would sneak out into the forest at night and would pass the chief’s house to get to my favorite spot. I would hear him laugh after a long day of work, I was so happy when I heard whispers of “that kid”. I thought it must be me. I thought I must have done a good job.

One day I got too curious and when I heard him laughing I wanted to hear the compliments. I was stupid. Under the full moon’s light, I sat near his window and listened. His words spilled forth so smoothly like it was rehearsed, which made it hurt so much more. “That kid. That mutt, do you see his face, so proud to be a stain within my village. There has never been a dirty mutt that doesn’t have dirty flees. Sometimes I throw that grain out. I turns my stomach thinking about eating something plagued with filth.”.

That night wasn’t cold, almost warm, but it was freezing walking back home. I didn’t have the heart to venture at night anymore.

The man who was my father used to say “only an obedient dog gets to eat” whenever I asked for a pet. I never realized what he meant. He was a rat playing fetch like a dog only to get scraps that his humans didn’t eat. I can’t be like him, the only glory or pride a rat can have is stolen from others.

A snap rang out, a window breaking into a new world. This stupid stone, all I wanted to do was to smash it. With a crash, a battle of will took place, a hammer attempting to split the anvil in two.

Blinding light burst into existence as the stone shattered and began to shine above me like stars in the night. I could barely focus enough to see a minuscule bird racing between the stars. As the crackling of thunder grew louder and more violent everything disappeared from existence. It felt like I was in stasis but I was wide awake… stuck there for hours with only the feeling of ravenous hunger to accompany me.