Edit 2.
Act 1 Hunting:
Under the tinted emerald blue white skies, a large salamander like animal was drinking from a slow moving river, algal blooms with red flowers was visibly flowing with the water. the large salamander was stripped with dark red and dark brown, clawed with well defined muscles with smooth mucused skin.
Its eyes where large blue orbs with small black retinas. even as it drank it's water and snack on the blooming red flower algae it's eyes, kept looking around itself as its tail twitched. . . should I kill it? I thought as I crouched near the forest edge hidden among the foliage of the forest.
In my hand was a flintknapped tip wooden spear, I was wearing a skirt made out of reeds, belted with entangled vines. I have three other spears, struck on the ground. . . I looked back at the creature which now I've started calling as Copperskins, and this one was the only one who left it's lounge.
I looked further down the river and saw a lounge of the Copperskins, 3 was much larger than the rest, twice as large as the one I was debating on hunting. If I want to wear any leather this is it, haven't seen anything but them that was large enough that I can make clothes without making any cloth, needle and thread first.
I gave a shrugged and then started crouched walking towards the large lizard that was almost my height while walking with four of it's clawed feet, but was three times taller than me if it was able to stand with it's back feet.
But as I moved slowly I felt something and then suddenly a loud cry came out the from the large lizard as it started to shake itself. five no, six terror bird like upright raptors dashed forward. 3 of them was at the large lizards back pecking and ripping flesh, while the other three clawed at it's legs.
They where small only reaching my hips, so maybe around 8 metres tall. I'll start calling them Sharpbeaks, there feathers was dark blue with browns, with long tailfeathers, sharp fanged beaks, long talloned and spurred feet.
I breathed in and then stood up yelling. "Come here chickens! I'm hungry!" and tossed a fist size rock with a throwing stick. the ones on the back of the Copperskin lizard ignored me busy trying to rip into their prey's neck but the three on the ground immediately noticed me as one of them where brained and downed after my thrown rock struck it's head.
The two gave a "Craawwww!" as they charged me, wow, the animals here are aggressive. I remember those hunting trips back on earth where even wolves starts running if you shoot near them. as I reminisce I was already swinging my next throw and it missed the Sharpbeaks.
The closer one jumped, feet first toward me, I went for one of my spear on the ground. and stabbed it's butt on the earth as I braced and then I felt warm blood on my hand as I tossed the spear to the side and grabbed for another spear, as the last one stopped and cautiously circled me as it "Creewww!" I was looking into its circular slithed eyes as it did the same.
And then I thrusted forward breaking the stalemate, I was aiming for it's chest, but then it tumped forward claws first. . . but my spear was longer, I was already inside it before I felt its claws on my fists. It struggled on the spear, but it was useless.
I ignored its slow death as I looked up and saw the Lizard dead, and the birds eating its head first. I still have two spears and a bag full of rocks. . . I looked at the tail feathers of the Sharpbeaks. "I guess I can make a feathered cloak." I said that as I placed a rock on my throwing stick.
Act 2 Encounter:
I was on a small clearing in the forest as I roasted three snakes and four salmon like large animals as I layed on a hummock made of vines and leaves. The salt was odd in this place, as I was digging for tubers or truffles and the like I found that there was small pockets of rock salt under most trees and that they're wrapped in mycelium.
This naturally added flavor to my roast as well as the oregano and mint like herbs I found. so I waited and turned the roast from time to time, but then I felt something as I felt like I was being watched and unlike the blood thirst of predators this was different.
I used what my master taught me, a simple projection of psionics. "I know your there, come out and share this fire with me." I said as I sent a pulse of psionic energy through the area, and firmly felt the essence of three beings of intelligent thought.
Two rode out, both human like in form, hooded with dark green hoods, with a kind of golden feather, pin holding there hood together. They had short bows on hand with an arrow holstered and quiver on their hip, I can feel there other companion on a branch of a tree probably playing as there overwatch.
They rode on smaller version of the Sharpbeaks I have hunted, there beaks bulkier and seem less sharp and their wings are shorter without hooked bladed claws at the ends, but their tails were more beautiful and there muscles as strong.
I took a breath, and smelled them. they smelled of earth, iron and sweet souring. they've been traveling, and hunting in this forest for awhile. I stayed seated on my hummack as I looked at them, and damn they were small.
I think they only reach my knees standing, but atleast when they rode there beast they're just above my hips. I think I overdid the titan thing.
I felt fear and anxiety in them. Hmm, Oh! I think I can play the dull but friendly giant! I smiled foolishly and leaned forward taking a skewer and biting down on it. They froze in place.
"New Friends! come! eat with me!" I said ripping a small shunk of the meat and using a small twig and speared it through and lightly tossed the skewer towards the two visitors. The meat stick landed at the feet of the first hooded shortie, they seem to be looking towards the meat and then towards me. . .and then relaxed.
"We accept your mercy forest lord." both of them dropped there bows and kneeled down. . . forest lord? huh? I looked down at myself wearing clothes made out of lizard leather and reed fiber, and blanket like cape made out of Sharpbeak feathers, I run out feathers before I can add the hood part. well, should I continue the friendly giant thing?
"Mercy? yes!, Stand and join me, and eat!" I said taking another bite and then standing up and then sitting on the ground closer to the fire. they stood up slung there bow and took there meat stick. I was just there, placing my roast back on the fire and seasoning it again, it was still a little raw in the inside.
I was curious about them, but I need to act the foolish friendly giant. I felt there essence and they seem to have calmed themselves and now becoming curious and hungry even the one on the tree feels like they had let their guard down.
"Tell me friends, is the food good?" They had started cutting the meat into smaller slices and eating them under their hoods. they seem to enjoy it, by how much there eating, without any rice, soup or bread. but atleast I know they're omnivorous, I thought as I smelled dried fruits in one of the hunters pouch.
"It is good forest lord, we thank you. . .we have another companion with us, can she join us?" I looked at her foolishly, looking obviously confused, and then I gave a wide grin and yelled.
"More friends! is good!" I told her as I continued to roast the food, I really wish my clay pot was dried, to bad I only made it a few days ago, it's hard to sundry the clay here for some reason. The one that kept quiet gave me a kneeling bow before they stood up and left the small clearing, I can feel there essence going towards there companion.
I gave them a nod as they left my small area, and then spoke as I roasted. "It is good that you've relaxed, your fears had bothered me. to fear size is a ridiculous notion." I stopped acting the dumb friendly giant and spoke normally. she seemed to have calmed farther as she removed her hood.
She appeared to be a hybrid between a rabbit and human, her long ears drooping to behind her head following her short light brown hair. red, black and brown rabbit eyes and her skin was light pink, covered in by white fur. A gene-child? no. . . she looks like a gene-child but different, is it another case of Convergent evolution? is her race a natural version of the B1-CG-children? how fascinating.
Act 3 Companions:
I was looking up at the stars, the endless Abyss where everything would kill you. . . Yet, it's beauty is something no stargazing race could deny.
I then looked down, and saw a pile of furred cuties. The Cottorings, as they called themselves slept in a pile on my stomach, as we laid on my sailors bed.
Memories of the past few hours surfaced, them telling me who they where, there fear of my might and 'magic', and of their mission.
"What can we call you forest lord?" I remember a conversation I had with there hunt leader Camellia. "Just call me Cloudy, from now on, I'm no lord or roles of this forest, just a passing traveller." They nodded their heads, they were reluctant but agreed easily enough.
I meditated, sleep has never taken me, in this form. As it's been more than 30 days since I have made this vessel, all I needed was to meditate and remember the things I have experienced and feel the essence of everything around me.
Usually I connected with the trees, the rock, the small critters and some larger animals. Experiencing their experiences, enjoying the nutrients flowing in my roots, being frustrated at the water trap inside of me, fearful of the larger beasts that wants me eaten, and hungry for the smaller creatures that hides.
The essence of nature was enough for me, but now I felt the sleeping essence of the three who rest upon my belly.
And see into their dreams, they were having peaceful dreams, dreams that when awoken from be erased, from there memories and give them the will to continue their day.
I started stroking them gently, and then feel the content joy bubbling inside me as I had successfully made friends with the natives of this world. . . Well atleast locals, cause from what they told me, I think there from another planet. remembering my master telling me that his sanctuary moon was fully covered in forests, with no other terrain, and if I see anything else it would mean I would have already crossed to another.
Act 4 Forest path:
In the morning, me and my sisters awaken as the first rays of light that had broke through the leaves of the forest, rayed upon us. it was a soft young light, it was warming me less, than the heat coming from the wandering god we slept upon.
I stretched as I looked up at the forest god, his eyes closed, his breathing shallow and slow, almost breathless. a sign of godhood, among the few godlike traits we recognize from learning the stories the elders have told us.
His heat was welcoming as much as his kindness, is he a god of hospitality? It would explain how easily he had gained our trust. which could have been bad if he was actually a powerful trickster spirit like are Lady Darkfeather.
Even tho he tried to use such a foolish way of deception. . . Who would mistake such a large being creating such delicious food, as something as a dull beastly god or great spirit?
My sisters where stretching, as we continued are routine, are exercise to ready ourselves, as we all helped each other fully warm up our muscles, and focus. fueling are magic, with our practice.
And that was another thing, that made me believe that he was a being who had reached godhood. and that was his not so subtle use of his Magic, we felt it even as we saw the light of his fire, it was warm, energizing and welcoming.
That was the only reason we even, checked on a fool that would brazenly lit a flame so deep in the Emerald forest. But as we came closer to his fire, we felt the beasts and creatures who hunts give his domain a respectful birth, fully avoiding the beacon in the darkness.
As I thought of my memories a "Eihh!" My youngest sister gave a soft a yelp, as we were handled by a large arm, with enough might that they could crush us.
Yet it handled us with utmost care, as the forest god, carefully placed as down near the embers of his camping fire. warming us further, and giving us reach to are supply and gear.
"Good morning forest lord Cloudy." I gave him my respect, as my sisters followed. He gave as a soft smile.
"You do not need to give me such courtesy, small ones, please stand and let me show you how to give respect to my ilk." We stood as he instructed and saw him lower his head, offering his neck in submission but because of his size it felt like he was merely looking down at us.
We mirrored the action and felt the magic of the forest god turned warmer, he was satisfied with our actions. Good, it would be bad to lose the favor of any encountered god.
He then moved and started to prepare his things, the roasted and smoked meat of the Evergreen serpent and the fanged salmon wrapped with leaves after being season with herbs and salt.
He then went to an edge of the clearing and brought out a sled, the older brother of a wagon, atop the sled was unfired black clay pottery.
He placed his food and then walked toward as, he moved so quickly that we had barely finished checking are arrows, giving a short prayer and slinging our bow.
He looked at us and then took out the smallest of his packed food, but it's size was larger than my chest.
"Eat little ones, you told me your village was a day of travel?" Is the lord talking about the our clan?
"It is, forest lord cloudy." I answered him.
"Good, ride upon my shoulders, and let your mounts sit on my sled as you, little ones guide me, it would be quicker than me following you on foot." I was about to tell the lord that we were riders the most quick footed people, within the lands of our sun, but my sister pulled my hood calming me.
"We humbly accept forest lord cloudy." We moved climbing the lord as he extended his arm toward us. and after he held our raptors, with one hand much like how we did with are Longtail chicks, and then he placed them on his sled.
He gave a hearty laugh, as my youngest pointed in a direction. The forest god walked, I didn't feel the land tremble in his wake but rather see that even the most fragile leaves not break as he stepped on them.
The forest itself seemed to have moved as they made way for this forest god, vines and branches parted way, the fallen leaves turned to soil, weeds and herbs grew more vibrant in vitality. Even the trees that towered as seemed to have showed their respect and given us ample light.
It was a magical experience seeing the forest spirits bow their heads in respect, the beasts that was naturally hunting my group dispersed, fear clear in there scent.
And those stronger creatures that had claimed territory upon the land would only roar there disapprovement, but not show themselves, only acknowledging that we had intrude.
"Lord Cloudy please let us not antagonize the beastly gods of the land." I asked pleadingly, my head bowed towards him even tho he cannot see me on his shoulder.
"Beastly gods? Oh you mean those territorial animals? Don't fear little ones, they fear us more than we fear them, they would only attack if we linger in their territory." He said simply.
And he was right, that was similar to the warning given to as by our elders, as they told us most beastly gods would only attack a hunting party if they stay too long in their territory.
And as we came closer to the outskirts of the forest the sounds of the forest was quiet as most things here, where weaker than those deeper in the forest.
I felt them cower in fear as we passed. "Are we close Hunter Camellia?" He asked and I looked around and saw a tree marked in our clans symbol.
A Star dripping with honey. I pointed it out to the forest lord and he came on upon it feeling the whole carving with his fingers.
"Is this your village boundary?" He asked us, I didn't know what a boundary was. So a I asked the lord and he answered me telling me it is similar to a territory marker, like how beast would mark the edges of their territory with scratches on trees or piss.
"It is not forest lord Cloudy, it is merely a guide for our younger hunters and gathering parties to not be lost when leaving the clan outskirts." He was pensive at my answer before nodding. We were close to the clan lands, and from what I feel many of our clanswomen had already felt the lord's presence.
Hopefully the elders and other nobles would understand why I brought a traveling forest god to our clan. I thought as I trusted the warmth filling in my core, it was telling me everything will be fine, and that instinct in our core is the thing we trust the most.