'What is this... place?'
Ethan opened his eyes, only to find himself in... a dark and destitute realm, he was completely nude and somehow able to see in the darkness.
The ground beneath was wet and dry at the same time. It was as if his ankles were submerged in water, but they weren't. Ethan looked down only to find black... sand, it appeared to be so.
'Where am I?'
The last thing he remembered was... what? What was it? His chest being pierced by a black spear? The alluring figure of the Huntress? Or the slow realization that none of it was real as he awoke in the snowy clearing once more?
Only to fall unconscious, his mind overcome with exhaustion and memories he couldn't... believe? Ethan stumbled in the dark space for a moment and stepped on something.
The boy stepped back for a moment and looked down. He had stepped on something... fleshy.
Ethan froze as he realized what it was, and sweat began to pour down his body as his mind reeled back, refusing to acknowledge what was below. His throat felt full, and he almost let out whatever remained in his stomach before managing to control himself.
It was his own body, with a gaping hole in his own chest, his own mouth slightly open and stained with blood, his own blood frozen on his own neck, his own eyes looking aimlessly at the skies... His corpse, his own corpse, right in front of him.
So many questions appeared in his mind, his breathing accelerated, his body began to burn, and his head began to hurt as Ethan woke up.
----
"You're alright, you big oaf. That toughness of yours saved you."
Igimo assured, taking his hand off Ravu's bare back. He had performed a simple examination and confirmed that the man was alright, albeit cold.
He sighed and took a seat, as Ravu let out a hearty laugh, scratching the back of his head. His wife was right behind him, staring daggers into his back.
Ravu inched closer to the fire every chance he got and stared at the man he had saved with a smile on his face.
"Now that I take a closer look at him, isn't he a handsome fella?"
Ravu hadn't paid any attention to who he was saving back in the clearing, how he looked, and whatnot; all Ravu knew was that the heart was still beating, and the man needed help. Regardless, the trek back to the village was something to remember.
The bear man questioned... many things as he made his way back to the village. He had been all alone in the cold and darkness, and each step felt as if he was breaking down a wall. It hadn't taken long for the snow to even cover his entire body, but he had made it back.
He was scarred from such an experience, but seeing all his troubles actually worth something brought him joy. He hadn't gone through all that to return to a dead body, a person he was unable to save.
"Indeed, he is, now, where did you find him, and how?"
Ravu turned to the priest and recalled.
"Father, it really wasn't me, but rather Tirmi. I was just out there chopping logs for my next project. I knew the blizzard was coming, so I wanted to go back quickly..."
Ravu took a deep breath, recalling something horrifying; however, he shook it off and continued. Igimo didn't miss this, however, but let it go for the time being.
"Tirmi ran off into the woods, and I followed him. He wasn't answering to my whistle, nothing... I ran after him into the woods. There, he led me to a clearing...
It was... odd."
Igimo raised his brows at this, urging the beast man to explain more.
"There shouldn't be a clearing like that in those woods. It wasn't even far off from the edge. I've been to those woods, I know every damn tree there, but I've never been there. It was so close too... But I just don't remember it.
I know that damn forest like the back of my hand, but I've never seen something like that clearing... You know? It disturbed me.
Next thing I know, Tirmi begins to dig up the snow, and out of nowhere, a hand is in his mouth, a human hand. I rush over and dig him up, find out he's alive, and send him back with Tirmi."
Igimo paid close attention to Ravu as he recalled his story, the shortness of his breath, the continuous tapping of his feet, and the shivering of his body. His wife may have attributed it all to the cold, but Igimo saw something else.
The Ravu he knew wasn't one to act like this just because of a chill. Regardless, he let the man continue. He could ask about this any other time.
"I run back, and I'm here. Thankfully, I survived."
Igimu's eyes narrowed as Ravu finished his story. He sighed and said.
"Well, I guess I have to hear the rest of it from him."
Igumi turned his head to the youth sleeping on the bed and said.
"Oi, I know you're awake, so stop with the damn act."