The ashes of Elderleaf clung to Alex's bare feet as he staggered out of the ruined square. His breath came in shallow gasps, each one tasting of smoke and grief. Behind him, the village smoldered like a corpse not yet finished burning, its broken homes still sending tendrils of black into the sky. He did not dare look back again.
Every instinct screamed for him to run, though he didn't know where to. His body ached, his muscles weak from exhaustion, yet some stubborn instinct drove his legs onward. He was seven years old, and yet he carried the weight of an entire graveyard on his shoulders.
The forest loomed ahead, dark and endless, its trees whispering with the morning wind. Normally, Elderleaf's children would laugh and play beneath those boughs, their voices carrying through the clearing. But today, the forest seemed alive with shadows, every rustle in the undergrowth like the hiss of a predator.
Alex hesitated at the edge, his small frame trembling. "If I go in… will I ever come back out?" His voice cracked, hoarse from crying. But staying behind wasn't an option. The smell of death was too heavy. His parents, Keal, Lyanna they were gone. If the raiders returned and found him, he would join them in the dirt.
He clenched his fists. "I can't stop… I have to live." The memory of his mother's last, desperate words echoed in his mind like a fragile flame against the darkness.
Taking a shaky breath, Alex stepped beneath the canopy. The forest swallowed him instantly. Shafts of weak light cut through the trees, but most of the path lay cloaked in shadow. Branches clawed at his clothes and hair as he stumbled forward, his heart hammering in his chest.
Every crack of a twig made him flinch. Every hoot of an owl, every rustle of leaves sounded like approaching footsteps. His small body was not built for stealth. His breathing was ragged, loud in his ears, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't quiet his sobs. He wiped at his face with dirty hands, but the tears wouldn't stop.
Halfway down a slope, his foot caught on a root, and he fell forward, crashing into the dirt. He bit back a cry, tasting blood where he'd bitten his lip. His arms and knees burned with scrapes, but he scrambled up again. "Don't stop, Alex… don't stop…" He repeated it like a mantra, forcing his legs to move.
The forest was vast, but no matter how far he stumbled, the nightmare followed. Shouts echoed faintly behind him harsh voices, speaking the guttural tongue of men. He froze, pressing himself against a tree trunk, heart thundering. The raiders were still here. They were searching.
His mind screamed in panic. He could almost see them: tall men with steel blades, their armor spattered with elf blood, their torches setting fire to whatever still stood. He remembered their laughter during the raid, cruel and mocking, as they cut down his people. Now that same laughter drifted through the trees, closer than before.
Alex clamped his hands over his mouth to stifle a sob. His small body trembled uncontrollably, but he forced himself not to move. The men's voices came nearer, boots crunching over twigs.
"Spread out," one barked. "The brat can't have gone far."
A second voice snorted. "Why bother with a half-breed whelp? He's worthless."
"Orders," the first spat. "The captain wants no survivors. If the Fire Nation hears of this raid, we'll be hunted. Leave no loose ends."
Alex's stomach twisted into a knot. They weren't just raiders they were cowards trying to erase every witness. If they found him, he would die here. Just another broken body in the ashes of Elderleaf.
He bit his lip until it bled, forcing himself deeper into the shadows of the tree. His small frame pressed against the bark, praying the darkness would hide him.
The voices grew louder, the torchlight flickering through the leaves. Alex's breathing grew shallow, his body aching from the effort of staying still. Then a twig snapped just to his right.
He flinched, turning his head. A man loomed barely a few steps away, a rough-bearded face lit by firelight, eyes narrowed as he scanned the trees. His blade gleamed faintly in the dark.
Alex's blood turned to ice.
The man took another step closer, squinting into the underbrush. For a heartbeat, their eyes almost met child and killer, predator and prey. Alex's breath hitched, a whimper threatening to escape.
And then an owl burst from the branches above, wings flapping furiously. The raider swore, jerking his head upward. "Damn bird…" He moved on, torchlight drifting away.
Alex didn't move until the voices began to fade, swallowed again by the forest. Only then did he collapse to his knees, chest heaving. Tears streamed down his face as he pressed his forehead to the dirt, trying not to sob too loudly.
The System chimed.
[Survival Instinct Activated.]
[Skill Gained: Forest Stealth (Lv.1).]
The glowing words floated in the dark, offering a faint thread of hope. Alex wiped his face, trembling. "I-I can't stop now… I have to keep moving…"
He pushed himself up again, staggering deeper into the forest. The shadows grew thicker, the ground uneven and treacherous. Branches clawed at him, stones cut into his feet, but he didn't care. He had to put as much distance between himself and those men as possible.
Hours seemed to pass. The sun had risen fully now, though beneath the thick canopy it barely pierced the gloom. His body screamed for rest, but he pressed on. Each step felt like the last, yet he refused to fall. His mother's voice echoed in his memory, whispering: Live, Alex… promise me you'll live.
Finally, his legs gave out. He collapsed beside a fallen log, curling into himself. His chest heaved, and every scrape and bruise burned like fire. The silence pressed in around him, broken only by the distant calls of birds.
For the first time since leaving the village, Alex let himself breathe. He was alive. Barely, but alive.
He closed his eyes, tears slipping down his cheeks. His heart ached with loss, but beneath the sorrow, a tiny ember of determination flickered. He had survived the night of flames. He had escaped the blades of men.
The forest was vast and full of dangers, but as long as he kept moving, there was still a chance. His story wasn't over.
The System pulsed softly.
[Sub-Quest Update: Tears of a Child → 85% Complete.]
[New Quest Available: Fleeing Into Darkness.]
Objective: Evade human raiders until rescue arrives.]
Reward: Title – Survivor of Elderleaf.]
Alex's small fists clenched, his lips trembling as he whispered into the shadows: "I'll live. No matter what it takes… I'll live."