The world was going on the same routine as per usual. Whit the sun that was closing on the horizon, preparing to make way for the darkness of the night and the glittering stars of the black void.

However, on the road leading north of the Down River village, six riders were occupying it, as they were moving at a speed far faster than normal horses, despite the steeds not showing any sign of tiredness.

As for the riders, they all wore different kinds of clothes, as each and one of them gave the feeling of not being good people, except for the two in the lead.

The second to the front, was a square-ish and stone-faced man, in leather armor who seemed to guard the first man in the lead, a lean and tall man in light clothes, that appeared to space and zoom out, with a dumb look on his mug.

But As the six of them approached the village, the squarish face man, approached the foremost man with a somewhat, pre-known distance.

“Sorry to interrupt brother, but we are approaching the last village.”

At the words of the squarish face man, the dumb-looking man chance appearance, as a somewhat apathetic and cunning look arose on him.

“Finally---, I was so bored from this useless journey, that I actually started cultivating at some point---. Anything else?”

“Yes, the two sscouts we have sent, have confirmed, that the county guards have acted and displaced the grand majority of the villagers on this part of the Border mountains.”

“Fuuuaack---, the plan wasn’t just ruined it was fuuucked---. The idiot and his reckless attacks, have realy fucked us all---, after all, I don’t think the villagers and the guards, have been so kind, as to leave all the provisions for us to take.”

“The scouts, have only reported a few old people, and some of the food left.”

“Hmm, a little bit. It is very likely that the guards will try to sweep the old ones in the next few days. They have properly prioritized the ones that could move the grand part of the provisions. Send notice to two scouts to find where all are moving. Still, the fact that we have encountered absolutely no one on the road, is a problem. Either they have moved earlier than us, or they are moving through the forest. Tell them to send notice of any signs they might find in the forest.”

“Yes”

As the uncaring man leading the group finished his explanation and orders, the squarish-faced man took a blue, flat, and rectangular stone to his forehead while closing his eyes for a few seconds, before meeting the gaze of the man again.

“Ok, once we are done here, we’ll retreat immediately and regroup with the others to form a new plan.”

“Do you think we'll attack the guard and the villagers at the same time?”

“Do I think? No, I know for a fact that the current provisions are not enough for the number we have.”

“But if we cut down the provisions for each member—”

“Tsch, that's exactly the problem here. What do you think you can do among these brutes? As things stand, we might be put in a situation where we might have to run, do not look for me at that time. Think for your own skin.”

As the cunning man, was becoming more and more irritated at the words of his trusted second, his eyes revealed nothing but disdain for the four behind them.

While the riders were approaching the village, the village chief’s face of hard sternness was becoming more and more like a lament at his fate.

“What good are bad premonitions if I don't have the power to change anything?”

As pessimism was pushing down his shoulders, he turned around to see the others as well as old Ato that was returning, only for a greater resolution to take place. Turning back around to the north with closed eyes while supporting himself on a thick wooden stick, he started to move his lips without releasing any sound.

Little Levis was still in the midst of trying to find answers to his questions when all of a sudden, the voice of the old chief could be heard as though he was whispering into his ear, spooking the boy.

“Don’t be afraid, son of Ato, don’t move from where you stand, don’t come out. Listen very carefully to anything that might happen to your grandpa Ato and grandma Hel or to me. It is not something that you can change. Stay hidden. The other villagers are with the guard of the county. To find them, just follow the river till it will bend to the left and continue between the hill and the prairie for a day or two where the hills are no more, and the forest begins.”

“Yes”

Uncertain from where the voice was coming, the boy replied either way.

Old Ato was just approaching the chief to ask him about the whole situation, only to find him white in the face with drops of sweat like an ill old man in his last moments.

“W-what happened? Did you fight a bear while I was away for two moments”

“Fate is truly like a bear. We think we can kill it only to find ourselves powerless, dragged around while bleeding to death.”

“You sure you are alright? You want me to call the old woman.”

“No need, I have to stay and greet the guests. You get everybody else here.”

As he said that, even the stoned head Ato could understand that the situation was far worse than he could imagine, with a shout from him, the other eleven old people started to move toward him and the village chief.

Without turning around, the old chief started to discuss the predicament that they were probably in.

“ I can’t say this in good terms, bandits are probably approaching us. Death awaits us.”

As the word of the man sank in, the others began to grind and chuckle.

“No need to be so series”

“We were aware of that already. Who were you trying to fool.”

“Slap” A resounding slap echoed as surprise appeared on the old chief face as old Ato slapped him on his back.

“You old bastard, you think we are kids, the only kid here is you.”

Turning around with a grin on his face to face his friends.

“If we die, we die together—no need to worry about your boy. I've already told him everything. He'll know what to do.”

A surprised and baffled look on old Ato’s face came, but he didn't have the time to question him because the sound of hoofs hitting the ground could be heard coming fast.

Six riders could be seen, the cunning and the squarish face man, alongside four others that seemed more uncouth and savage compared to the first two.

At the same time, 13 old people could be seen from the six riders' perspective.

“Old people, no traps, no hidden forces, we are too late.”

Murmured the cunning man in a soft voice.

“Listen, you basterds, be smart and be fast. We’ll enter and leave as fast we need to go back and regroup with the other captains and vice leaders.”

Orders immediately came from the cunning man as they were approaching the villagers.

Slowly the horses were losing speed as they were face to face with the villagers.

“Greetings, gentlemen. What brings you to our Down River village.”

Spoked the old chief while wearing a smile on his face.

“We are lost, tired, and hungry, we hoped you could share your food with us.”

Expressed the cunning man with the same smile to the old man in front of him.

“We are sorry, but we are short of food as of now. The best we can do is a glass of water.“

“Is that true, or is it that the other villagers took the food with them when the county guards came to warn you.“

“It could be, or it could be that there are no such villagers or guards that you speak of—.”

“Old, stop with this shit, or I’ll fu—.”

One of the four men at the back interjected as the old chief was still using his theatrics with the cunning man. Still, before he could finish, he was forced to stop as he found himself flying from his horse for ten or so meters crashing into a house strong enough to leave spider cracks from the impact.

Rising from the ground, he could see the cunning man looking at him from the corner of his eye as though he was looking at a dead man, with his right hand open towards him. Sending the man shivers to no end.

“You insolent fool. How dare you interrupt your captain? Even if you are not under captain Zuger, you should know your place.”

Before the man could recover, the squarish face man rebucket him, applying a force that made him bend downwards, almost kneeling. Scaring the other three men as well.

“I'm sorry for this ugly display of etiquette, but animals have a hard time behaving like humans.”

Answered the cunning man to the old man.

But the smile on the old chief's face recessed as he witnessed something that even he didn't fully comprehend. He was aware that people that had the power to kill bears like a chicken existed, as his voice-sending trick was something a roaming stranger had taught him while on a journey when he was young however he had to pay a heavy price to use it as immense exhaustion hit him every time.

The villagers were no different from the chief, as they realized they were standing in front of a monster, not a human.

However, because of the loud noise and ruckus, little Levis couldn't help himself to peek over, only to make rustling noises and alert the already tense bandits, prompting one of them to draw his bow and shoot instinctively.