A New Fate: A Homathreas Emerges

By Ethan A. Blanca

"Fate? What a fickle thing." This is more than likely the thought process of two friends on their way down memory lane.
Both achievers of many great feats, hunting deer is the most excitement Ron and David can feel that reminds them of what they perceive to be their glory days. What the two don't realize, is that their lives are just getting started. In the
blink of an eye both men find themselves in a completely new world. But is this new life truly what the two have been
yearning for their entire lives, or are they getting involved in something they shouldn't?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543945287

Book preview

One

A Seemingly Normal Day

My ears are ringing. My eyes are blurry. I can’t hear myself speak. Wait... am I talking? Oh, I’m not... who is?

Ron, Ron! Get up! a familiar voice calls out.

Who is it? I ask.

Again, I hear a voice. Ron, Ron wake up!

I jolt out of my seat, covered in a cold sweat. Mmm, must have been that dream again, I think to myself.

Ron, are you ok?

I slowly nod my head. Yeah, yeah, David, I’m fine.

You have that dream again? David asks.

A sigh escapes my mouth. It’s hard to forget the past, I mutter under my breath.

Yeah, hard to forget, boss, David agrees.

Boss, huh? I haven’t had the luxury to be called that in a while, I remark with a chuckle.

You were a good one, Ron. An awkward silence creeps into the car. Um, hey, I think we’re almost there! David finally blurts out.

I don’t reply--too deep in memories. When was the last time we went hunting together?

Too long.... too long, David says with a smile.

As we continue along the road, we suddenly spot a cloaked man walking in the distance. That’s strange--are there any houses nearby? I ask.

Not that I know of, David ponders with a confused look. He pulls over to speak with the man. Are you ok, sir?

Oh, um, thank you... I’m fine, the man mumbles.

Are you sure? You need a ride or something? I offer.

The man turns down the request, insisting that he would rather walk.

His choice, I think to myself. I guess he wants his exercise, but by the look of his skin, he’s been burnt to a crisp.

Continuing along the road, we finally reach our destination, the hunting grounds. Remember when the whole group went hunting with us? David asks.

You better believe it! Those were the days! I say as I get my hunting rifle ready and place my knife in my boot. Once everything is set, we head out. Man, I haven’t had the opportunity to do this in a while, I think as I tread the tall grass.

The morning breeze moves my hair as I advance through the forest. The dew on the tall grass shines in the early rays of the sun. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I feel more alive when I’m out here hunting in the vast forests of the desert outskirts.

David scouts ahead, the way he did back then. After a little while, he spots a deer and silently signals me of its presence.

I nod as I take a vantage point. I aim my scopes at the signaled location. Sure enough, there is a deer, grazing upon the young, green grass. I adjust my scopes for the perfect shot. I breathe at a controlled pace. This always seemed to help me focus back in the day. Nothing personal, I mutter as I fire my rifle. A clean shot echoes throughout the forest and plains.

Nice shot as always, Ron! David exclaims as he weaves through the tall grass to collect the carcass.

Mmm, guess I still got it, I murmur to myself.

Throughout the day, we continue to hunt. Unfortunately for us, the remaining deer are more fortunate than their fallen friend. Eventually, we call it a day and set up camp. I cook up some venison. Though we only managed to kill one deer, its meat is more than enough for the both of us.

You never cease to amaze me with your cooking skills, Ron! David remarks through bites.

It’s nothing, really--I grew up eating food like this! I explain, holding my hand up in honor.

Scarlet taught you well, David compliments.

Mmm, yeah, she did, I mumble.

Well, that venison was prepared so well, it’s making me sleepy. I think I’ll hit the hay, Ron, David finally says through a yawn.

All right, buddy, I guess I’ll go to bed too.

We make our way to our tent. Though it’s a little cramped, we don’t mind. We’re used to it. I mean, compared to a trench, this is a luxury. David falls asleep first, but as I shut my tired eyes, I soon follow.

Suddenly, we awaken to an eerie noise. It sounds close. Grabbing my rifle, I hastily exit our tent, David at my heels. A figure races toward us. Who are you!? I shout. Wait, is that the man that we saw on the road? What is he doing here? I ask myself as I head toward the man. What’s going on? Are you ok? I ask.

As I speak, the man’s cloak shifts in the cold wind of the night, revealing a wound at his side. The man collapses as I rush to support him. I call to David for assistance. David rushes over and supports one side of the man, as I support the other. Damn, he’s heavy, I mumble.

What’s your na-... David begins to ask.

The man answers by shouting, B-be-behind you!

David and I turn to find a pair of hideous claws at our faces.

What the hell is that?! David exclaims as we both dodge the attack, dropping the man in the process.

The man lets out a quiet groan, struggling to get up. Looking up, we witness a dark-haired creature looking down upon us. Its eyes burn with something I can only describe as pure hatred.

Suddenly, the dark figure is atop the cloaked man. Before it can do anything, the man’s hands suddenly light up, as if on fire. He punches the monster, though after a split second, it is again upon him. The man tries to punch it again, only this time the demon grabs the man’s hand.

Before the evil being can attack, David punches it. I don’t care what the hell you are, you aren’t killing this man! David shouts, grabbing its arm.

As David wrestles with the dark monster, I bolt for my gun, which slipped from my shoulder when the creature attacked us. Though David is pretty strong, the dark-haired figure easily flings him off, as if he were a leaf in the wind.

Just seconds before I can retrieve my rifle, the creature suddenly appears behind me, grabbing my leg before I can reach my gun. Damn, it looks like you want the painful method, I taunt as I slip the knife from my boot, slicing its fingers.

However, the demon doesn’t let go of my leg. A dreadful scream comes from its mouth. Enraged, the evil figure cuts my right arm with one of its long, sharp nails. I scream in pain. Damn, that hurt. You’re messing with the wrong Amarians! I yell as I punch it with my freshly cut arm.

The creature barely flinches at my punch, but it doesn’t attack. Suddenly, an eerie voice comes from its mouth. What kind of human are you? You have a strong fighter’s spirit! it exclaims.

You mean we have a fighter’s spirit! I exclaim as David tackles the monster, releasing me of its hard grip.

Ha, what do you know! You were right! the shadow-like creature taunts as it suddenly disappears from David’s hold.

What the- David shouts as the being appears behind him, slicing his back with its claw. Cringing, David falls to the ground. It hovers above David, as if it were an angel of death.

David! I scream, unable to do anything but watch.

Suddenly, the demon glances up. It seems frightened. It peers into the darkness of the forest as though it heard something. I take this chance to crawl to David, who is unable to move because of shock. As I’m crawling, however, vines suddenly shoot at our attacker from the darkness of the forest. Some pierce the skin of the creature. Instead of continuing to fight, the dark figure grabs David and flees into the pitch black of the forest.

I stand and try to chase it with my gun, now in hand. I’m able to take a few steps but stop mid-stride. I can’t move...is it the wound? Struggling to stay upright, I suddenly collapse. Damn it! That wound that thing gave me stings like hell. It’s as if its claws were covered in poison, I mutter with a tired breath. As I struggle to keep my eyes open, I glimpse a greenish figure seemingly glide out from the darkness. Is this really the end? I think to myself. Unfortunately, before I can utter anything to the figure, I completely black out.

Chapter Two

Ron’s New Fate

W here am I? I wonder, surveying the bloody scene before me. As I gaze, my left eye suddenly becomes blurry. What’s in it? Blood?! I yell as I raise my left hand to my now blood-covered eye. But then I hear those same familiar words.

Ron... Ron... Get up!

I wake up... I’m alive?! How? What happened that night? Was that hunting trip a dream? No, it wasn’t, I realize as I notice my arm--it’s covered by vines like a bandage. The wound the thing gave me that night seems to be almost completely healed, now that I examine it.

It took David, damn it! I remember as I struggle to sit up. I look around to discover that my rifle is lying on the opposite side of the room. Damn, can’t reach it from here, I realize.

Sitting up, I notice the room I’m in. The walls are made out of some weird straw-like material. There is no furniture except the bed I’m on. It’s made of grass. But it’s not rough; rather, soft and comfortable.

As I look around, part of the wall suddenly splits in half like a curtain. A figure walks in. Wait a minute, she’s the figure in the woods! I realize.

Who are you?! I shout as I go for my knife, which is next to my bedding. Before I can reach it, vines suddenly shoot from the girl’s back, grabbing my knife.

So, this is the thanks I get for saving your life? the girl scolds with a pout.

Oh, um, I’m sorry I-

At this she starts to laugh. I’m just kidding. I figured you’d be confused about what’s going on, she explains. She looks human-like, but she has greenish skin. She also has flowers in her hair, as if they grew there.

What are you? I ask her.

At this she has a confused look on her face. You’ve never seen a treant before? she asks.

Um, I’m afraid I haven’t, I reply. Um, can I help you with something? I ask as I notice that she is looking me up and down.

Well, it’s just that I’ve never seen your species before either. Wait, are you a warrior from the Blood Moon? she utters, frightened.

Whoa, calm down, I don’t even know what that is, I assure her.

At this she eases up. Then where are you from?

Well, I’m from a country called Amaria, and as for my species... well I’m human, I respond.

Upon hearing this her face lights up. Y-You’re a human?! she blurts out with a look of excitement.

Um, yeah... what’s the big deal? I ask.

Well it’s just that I’ve never met a human before, let alone a human warrior, she admits.

I respond to her words of praise with a chuckle. Warrior? I’m not a warrior, I state.

What?! Nonsense, to fight a demon stalker like that and survive--only a warrior could do something like that, she argues.

Well, ok, I was a soldier, but that was a long time ago, I reveal with a sigh. W-Well, what’s your name, I suddenly blurt out, trying to change the subject.

Rose is the name, but what’s yours? she cheerfully responds.

Oh, um, Ron.... Ron’s my name, I answer. So, um, Rose? What happened to me, and my friend David?

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