Chapter 1: Breithe

	I remember the falling, the feeling of no return, paranoid delusions, and most of all the sense of danger that spiraling out of orbit into uncharted territory had bestowed upon me. It was otherworldly and in a strange sense… blissful. I recounted those moments, still deeply embedded into my memory while my nervous heartbeats echoed across the escape shuttle’s interior. I slowly released myself from the safety harness attached to the seat that I occupied and waited for the metallic voice of the AI to spring up, but chastised myself for thinking it would be able to communicate from a dead ship. I cautiously, and clumsily padded the door’s release console, which the claws on the end of my digits didn’t make easy.

	Upon the door opening slowly, I was greeted by a blinding ray of light, a sight very different from the grey interior of the freighter and void of space that I recently encountered. When my eyes finally adjusted to the hostile rays, I stepped out of the shuttle and my body froze in place at the serenity and beauty before me. The entire canvas of this area was coated in green flora, from the colossal trees, bristly shrubs, and silken grass.

	The uneasy corners of my mouth couldn’t help but curl into a smile with the scene before me, it felt like a strange twist of events. I had boarded a shuttle to escape a disaster and I was rescued by the land I had ended up on turned out to some sort of paradise. I wandered for what seemed like hours through the vast maze of trees and came across a small grove, my legs began to ache from the arduous, constant motions of walking, which I assume is due to the sudden exercise they are now enduring after previous disuse inside of the containment cell aboard the freighter. I slumped along the edges of the grove and calmly dipped my hands into the sparkling pool of water, feeling it’s lukewarm temperature envelop me and moisten my silver strands of fur. After satiating my thirst and carefully dousing the rest my body with the water, a thought came to my mind, I’ve been through what seems like miles of this labyrinthine forest and haven’t seen a single other sign of life, save for the plants. 

	I had a eerie feeling of being watched in various parts of the forest but I shrugged it off  as paranoia of a strange location.  I wandered meagerly for a bit longer and noticed that the planet’s sun was dipping below the sky, signaling dusk and soon to be nighttime. My mind began growing frantic, I would need a shelter for the night and also both a food and a water source, which is a mystery to me how I would obtain, having lost the shelter of the shuttle due to the forest’s size and discovering only one water source, although I was sure there may be some sort of fruit bearing tree within this massive wood.

	After wandering the forest while scanning the treetops, I began hearing leaves crackle a short distance behind me. My heart began racing, not sure if this surely meant danger or if I was going mad. I quickened my pace along the earthen path I was already taking and heard indecipherable whispers coupled with sounds of movement. With a tidal wave of adrenaline rushing through me and my heart thumping like the fury of a storm, I turned towards the sounds and let out a piercing voice after the sounds.

	“What are you waiting for? Either show yourself or leave me alone!” Upon letting out my anger, I was met with a calm voice replying. “As you wish.” Quickly, several brown, slender figures began emerging from both the woodwork and treetops, each wielding a various assortment of weaponry, from narrow spears to rope-like whips. One of them scampered up to me, spear in hand, and spat his voice at me, “A better question is, what are you doing here, how did you get here, and why shouldn’t I have the rest of my praetorians cut you down as we speak?” His amber eyes seemed to glow with rage towards me, betraying his frail figure, with his brown fur adorned with black painted patterns and his antlers sharpened, it was almost humorous to me, a small creature like him attempting to make himself seem as intimidating as possible.

	I slowly began shifting my feet backwards if I felt I needed to run, as the figures have me outmatched for numbers and weaponry. “I didn’t specifically ask to be here, deer, you can’t exactly control a crash landing you see,” I smoothed my voice as I replied, “but if you’re willing to lead me out of this wood and to proper civilization, I won’t be your problem anymore.” He raised in brows in awe as he spoke back, “You came from that wreckage? The Salusian have the technology for aircraft now?” I returned a look of confusion to him and started backing away. “I have no idea what you’re on about, deer, I’m not familiar with the goings on of this planet so I’ll take my leave from this conversation.” He quickly shot up to me and held the tip of his spear to my neck and seemed to toy with me. “You aren’t going anywhere, your kind has caused us much strife in the past and you should be the example of what the Ta Suil are capable of, not the exception. In our borders, you belong to us, wolf.” He turned his head back towards the other figures and shouted, “Men, net this one, the Praetor will want to see him.”

	In a blazing fast speed, the figures shot their rope-like whips at me and wrapped painfully around my limbs, followed by a constriction of nets paralyzing my body. The leader of the small band of deer leaned over and seemed to enjoy the situation, snickering and eyeing me like a glorified trophy. His voice was still calm and nonchalant even in this situation, as if trying to draw out my anger further. “Don’t worry, you’re not going to die yet. We need answers from you, but not out in the open like this. We’re going to escort you back to our village, not conscious of course, don’t want you to memorize the directions.” With a stern look, he gripped the hilt of his spear and fiercely swung at me, the collision sending me back into the void that I arrived in.

	My eyes slowly worked their way open, working against the pain that shot through my skull. I surveyed the area around me and expected to be bound when I awoke, but my limbs were strangely free. I was in some sort of wooden abode, primitive in appearance, yet it had a dainty and homely air to it, from the small fire crackling in a pit across the room from to me to the expertly crafted wooden furniture and paintings adorning the walls. I worked my way onto my feet using the uncomfortably small bed as support and trotted towards the doorway leading outside. A short distance away there was an elderly deer in a regal sage robe sitting upon a stout bench positioned under a leafless tree. The deer waved me over when he took notice of me, and I hesitantly walked over to him.

	He motioned for me to sit next to him on the bench and I did as I was told. He turned his head to me and spoke with a strained voice, “So you are the one who stumbled into our land both deaf and blind, as you are not of this world, am I correct?” “Yes, your people seem to not-” “I am aware. They younger ones both fear and hate your species, but I do not share their fear,” he interrupted, predicting my words. “You aren’t aware of your species’ wrongdoings on this planet so I cannot fault you for your ignorance. The majority of them are a part of the land of Salus, or the Salusian Empire, as they call themselves. They banded together to create the fortress which they reside in, and their goal is to forcefully colonize the rest of this world and have no regret for the blood they spill to do so,” he looked wistfully into my eyes as he spoke his last line, “nor do they have any regard for the lives of species that aren’t their own.” I looked away from him speechless but he continued on as if he understood my silence. “But you also know nothing of us, I suppose? I am Praetor Esda, the head of the Ta Suil, my people and this forest is known as the land of Breithe. The ones you encountered upon your arrival were my praetorians, skilled warriors of mine. I know you do not owe your allegiance to Salus, but if not them, then who do you serve?”

	“I serve myself.” I replied. His stern look didn’t change as his eyes locked onto me like a sentinel. “Then I hope you serve a worthy master. What of your name and birthplace?” I felt the warmth leave my body in fear as I thought of what I should reply with, then I finally caved in, “I came from a ship that was in orbit, I suppose I was born in it. As for my name, I guess I don’t have one, I was just referred to as a serial number of sorts.” He eyed me quizzically and seemed to think a bit to himself before speaking again. “If you are without a name, then allow me to bestow one to you. You will be known as Juren, if you are comfortable with it.”

	He slowly got up to his feet and looked down at me. “As much as I enjoy your presence, I’m afraid you can’t stay here. It would cause tension among my people and I’m sure it could breed violence in my praetorians,” he pointed behind him to the vast forest while speaking, “head straight through the forest, do not stray from the path, and you will find your way out but be warned, the area on the other side is much more dangerous than here. It is the Kumnyima Scablands, populated by some of your kind, highly aggressive and fond of raiding, killing, and pillaging. You may also seek out the Knights of Bellona for assistance as they were last seen performing reconnaissance in the area. You will know them from their heavy military presence and high level of technology. I am not sure what you are looking for or hope to find, but I wish you luck regardless. Goodbye, Juren.”

	I solemnly walked away from him towards the forest, understanding his need for me to leave the village. Several deer perked their small heads out of windows and behind doors and trees, watching me curiously as I made my way out. There was only silence in my departure.

	After a short journey through the wood, the land before me began to have less and less trees until finally they all faded from view, leaving only a rocky canyon in it’s wake. The sun was still high in the sky, but not as inviting as it was in Breithe, it left the entire canyon just blurs of vibrant orange and brown, all the way from it’s high crags to the rocky floor. Several birds of prey flew overhead crying violently, as if they were trying to make my welcome to the territory even more gut-wrenching.

	After setting my firsts steps upon the rocky dirt, I breathed deep and trudged on, ready to walk into the unknown.