Apologies for the rush job - house move, and that word count is too tight to fit in anything descriptive :)

NOT an entry - an earlier event:

A chill breeze stirred the air, the dried golden leaves of the forest floor whispering in brief response. Somewhere nearby, the soft murmuring of a small stream could be heard in the sudden deathly silence that followed. Woody, earthen smells of moss and dried leaves filled the air.

Reun edged forward cautiously, gazing towards the small ridge in front of him. The Hrothi elders warned of dangerous creatures out in these wilds and he knew he should not have come so far alone but his people were in need. They were desperate. He could not fail them. They were farmers and stern hardy people, yet poor hunters, being far too short and stocky to meet with much success out on the edge of the tundra.

The priests had gathered together the four families that comprised his hamlet and spoken of a divine vision, a place they must go. Times had been hard the past few years, the land cold and hard. They had been forced to desperate measures, relying on new meagre skills to survive.

A brief shift in the air disturbed his reverie and brought the smell of death. He crouched suddenly alarmed against a tree, gripping a spear that suddenly felt far too insufficient. The pounding of his heart, his slow shallow breaths suddenly seemed loud in the silence. He cursed his stupidity. He had travelled too far and was alone.

A clattering sound broke the silence. Birds a short distance scattered in panic and disappeared from view. Beads of sweat formed on his furrowed brow.

The sounds of rustling and breathing came steadily closer and clearer. He tensed, readying his weapon and holding his breath, daring to peer slowly around the tree that now offered so little comfort.

A child, barely twelve years old yet tall and muscular edged nervously between the trees, brushing his light blonde hair away from his feral amber eyes as he scanned the sky.

Reun breathed a slow sigh of relief, a sigh that was interrupted by a sudden ear piercing screech from above that set his dark curly hair on end. He peered up as a vast bird, jagged and ancient veered through the sky, its dark leathery wings in contrast to its long fat body. Its evil pointed beak swung left and right, searching until it locked on its prey. The child.

The bird angled itself to descend, sweeping in a wide circle. There was no hope of escape. Reun could see as much in the child’s eyes, yet the young boy stood his ground, a determined look in his face as he picked up a stout branch to meet his fate with courage. A single tear escaped his eye as he braced himself. Reun had heard only rare stories of these savages. They viewed his people with distain and as cowards. He was no warrior and knew in his heart that he could not save the child from such a beast, yet compassion drove him forward.

Rushing towards the child as fast as his short stature would allow, Reun unslung his shield from the strap on his back and offered it to the child as he took his place by his side. A look of wide eyed disbelief and wonder crossed the boy’s face. Nodding at Reun, he held out his open hand, requesting the spear, while gently pushing the shield back at the Hrothi.

Reun trusted the boy’s judgement though he knew little of their people, nodding and noting the sharp pointed teeth in the child’s smile as his eyes narrowed and focussed on the incoming predator. Reun braced himself silently praying for strength and calling on every ounce of his stocky body to stand firm as his raised he shield, his fear becoming silent resolve.

Time then seemed to slow in those few moments. The huge beast veered down, it’s talons outstretched, slamming into the Hrothi as if he had been stuck by a boulder, yet somehow his feet found their place as he leaned into the massive force, shifting slowly backwards from the impact. The young boy leapt to the side, twisting through the air as his spear snaked again and again into the side of the beast’s furious body in a blur, as if possessed.

Silence. In that place, in those few moments and the many moments that followed, the brotherhood of the Brudvir and Hrothi was born, and those two peoples from differing tribes and cultures made legends.

Replaced story. Oddly something I prepared a while back and just needed a tiny tweak. Must have had Elyria on the brain before I even selected :)

I liked the descriptions.

Thanks ;)

Very nice writeup, especially liked the vivid description of the region before seeing it from a persons perspective, definitely a very good approach for the contests theme.

Also enjoyed the non-entry addition, wondering if there's gonna be more with related stories, at least that's what I had in mind for mine.