THE HIDE

, the sound of leaves and the low murmuring of a stream all mingled to fill the streets with sound, flowing gently through the center of the v

ound echoed to the ears as a light tune floating on the breeze. Zayne's bare feet made almost no noise as he hopped over roots and sidestepped

path ahead, and halted him dead in his tracks. Turning, h

Orion told him, gest

ulders framed by the sunlight that seemed to bow to his presen

mile, leaped to his father. Orion chuc

the woods, son. He learns how to boss," he remarked, smo

his arms. "But I'm no

t one day, you will be. And when that time comes, you'll need

s as calming as the gentle breeze that swayed the trees in the cool of the day Queen Liora, her golden

Orion? she jokingly said, wrap

replied, pull

r bond was unshakable, and their strength was unmatched. It's been more than ten years he had been living in

like his father, compassionate lik

o have something to eat now before your father decides to transform thi

d them with those smiles and courteous bow as marks of their welcome. The village was a tight-knit comm

father when I'm older" Zayne co

She was amused but curio

like father, then loving, compassio

e light up with such an int

e so proud to have you as our son. she said. However

stasy between the two, they got home

shared stories. Orion then told the story of his maiden hunt and added ju

hree bears at once? Zayne a

ally fight three bears? He asked, hi

, but she made a face. "Not th

d. His heart swelled with pride, imagining hi

. Queen Liora said, breaking the stilln

he dinner was enclosed by the sound

ring out of the window reminiscing about how his day went, from the butterfly that caught his attention with its vibrant colours in the woods, to t

, gesturing with his hand like a fighter, a warrior, a strong man. But, falls back to his bed in exh

ing stars. The tranquility of the night remained unbroken, but the air carried an unspoken warning: something was coming,