Bowman couldn’t help but think of wolves then. They could set ambushes for their prey, leading it right where they wanted it. Then, they could strike.
Bowman was the prey now. Prey of a thing big enough to crush him with a hand, and smart enough to lay a trap for him. He squirmed and writhed and only found himself more and more tangled as he did so. There was no escape, and those footsteps crashed closer.
The fingers crowded around him more and more, and no amount of pushing could stop them. Before he knew it, Bowman found himself hidden away in a fist. Only some of the afternoon light peeked in, taunting him while he did his best to keep breathing and fighting his own capture. He groaned with fear and effort, pushing his back into the palm while he shoved at one finger. The skin gave under his touch, but otherwise he had no effect. He was useless.
“N-no…” he whimpered, the word barely escaping him. His heart fluttered and his eyes stung. A headache, sudden and fierce, pressed in on his skull.
A noise that didn’t fit in with the rest of the forest sounds reached him, and Bowman sucked in a breath. His ears pricked to the sound of something walking through the foliage, something with enough mass to push aside many of the low bushes that grew throughout the woods.
He thought of deer, gentle, enormous creatures that hopped through the forest on light steps on occasion. They migrated near the village sometimes, but often not for long. A deer wouldn’t be an issue.
Then, he thought a wolf. Not as common as the deer, the hulking canines were still a much fiercer predator than their cousin the fox. Wolves walked on enormous paws and bared teeth the length of a sprite’s arm. Not many sprites could boast the bravery to face one. Bowman only knew of one, and it wasn’t him.
Visiting the village of Wellwood had become something Jacob looked forward to with every opportunity that arose. Long weekends off school or extra time off from his odd jobs almost guaranteed he would make the drive back to the forest that no one else seemed to realized contained a secret. Far beyond the campgrounds and the fence, Jacob made his way towards the idyllic village tucked away in the heart of the woods.
Out there surrounded by the green and gold of the canopy and the earthy tones of the tree trunks and the ground under his boots, Jacob felt the stress falling away. Out here, the most he had to worry about was stepping on slick mud and losing his footing.
You BREAK the rules, Bowman, not just bend them! a voice piped up in his memory, sweet and colored with a laugh. Rischa, his young cousin, would surely scold him for a week once he got out of this one.
Of course, saying something like that would most assuredly get Bowman in trouble with his aunt. He’d better be ready to be locked out of the house all day if he’s going to say something so foul!
I’m sure he’d be very intrigued! Bowman’s not much of a runner himself – the strength in his legs mainly comes from leaping into the air and then letting his wings take over.
However, there is the sun to factor in, here. Since he can photosynthesize, Bowman could stay in the air pretty much all day and hardly tire out. There’s a little magic in there, making sure the energy can sustain actual movement, but it works out well for wood sprites. He couldn’t fly for 24 hours, though, unless he followed the sun (tough to do when you’re so little).
Known Abilities: Cerul is gifted with the Voice of the Spirit. Among wood sprites, this is the strongest connection to the Earth Spirit someone could have. It grants him the ability to feel the emotions and pain of living things around him, as well as unparalleled stamina when making use of the Spirit’s magic. He can employ the Healing Touch.
Background: When Cerul was a young sprite, he received the revelation that he was gifted with the Voice. Ever since then, he has made sure to hone and practice his Prayers and listen closely to the feelings of those around him. A wood sprite with the Voice takes on the responsibility of caring for their community, and Cerul’s quiet, patient personality suited this.
He earned his title of Far Seeing among the nobility for two main reasons. One being his empathy from the Voice, enabling him to see far into the hearts of others. The second reason came when he used his insight to notice the trees of the forest preparing for harsh winter, and gained the sprites a very necessary look ahead to the time to come, and minimized the damage it could have done to the village.
Quote: We respect wolves and owls for their ways of life, do we not? As much as that means we must avoid such predators, we do not blame them for surviving.
Known Abilities: Master of strategizing against much larger foes, sword master, aerial acrobatics, basic Prayer to the Earth Spirit, able to keep a battle calm against tough enemies
Background: Scar is the High Knight of Wellwood, and he didn’t get his position lying around. In his early years as a knight, he showed aptitude and skill with the sword and a strong drive to protect the sprites from the dangers that might arrive in the forest. This drive aided in his fight against a wolf that had killed a few sprites, and the animal was left completely blind as a result. Scar earned his name as well as monumental respect from the others in the village.
In Sam of Wellwood, it was Scar who first found the lost and frightened young Sam Winchester directly after his curse. He brought the boy back to the village and soon after was driven to help him find his family. When Sam grew a little older, Scar noticed his strength and drive to make more of himself, and from then on took Sam under his wing as a new knight in training.
Quote: The enemy is strong, and he is dangerous, but he will be strong and dangerous whether we cower and doubt ourselves or fly out to meet him.
Brothers Apart 