The grass rushed by as Isaac ran, chasing his prey through the undergrowth. Lithe and light as a feather he dashed from tree to tree, running along the branches - some as small as his finger and snapping as soon as his foot left - dancing through the canopy after his quarry. The brown speck dashed to and fro but was unable to escape his sight. Isaac jumped into the open air, drawing the string back and letting loose. An arrow formed of a green-tinged energy slammed into the forest critter, killing it instantly. Isaac landed on the ground with a roll and came to a stop next to his prey, the arrow vanishing into mist. I’m sorry, little one, he thought, your sacrifice is appreciated. He grabbed the rabbit and began walking back to the clearing.

  After several minutes he arrived. Easily two-hundred feet across and filled with lush grass and flowers of all types. An enormous tree rested at the center of the small glade. A cabin, built from reclaimed wood, sat alongside the trunk. Isaac heard growling and saw a large, furred shape approach. He let out a sharp whistle then shouted, "Come here!" The form rose out of the grass; a shaggy, brown wolf covered with scars.

  "There you are boy. Sorry I was late," Isaac said, tossing the rabbit to the large animal. The creature nabbed the rabbit out of the air and walked up to Isaac, nuzzling his leg. Isaac pet the creature and scratched behind his ear before walking towards his home.

  The wolf limped after him as it chomped on its meal. Poor thing. At least he’s safe here. Isaac scratched the wolf again and it made a happy-yipping noise. Isaac approached the large tree and placed a hand on the trunk. Closing his eyes he felt life thrumming through it; "I’m home," he said, losing himself in a memory…

  She ran out in front of him and Isaac fell behind, feigning a cramp. She looked beautiful in her dress and he couldn’t help but smile as he chased her towards their favorite spot to get away from the village. A clearing, just to the south, where an old tree once stood; long since hewed down. She made it to the stump and panted for air. "I...made it...first…" she stammered between puffs, her auburn hair flowing in the breeze around the two bunny ears atop her head.

  Isaac slowed down, faking a limp. "Yeah you win. Go ahead, gloat all you want." He smiled at her and sat on the ground next to the stump.

  She brushed his blonde hair to the side and tousled it. "You silly boy you. I know you let me win." She let her fingers linger on his pointed ears, a distinctive reminder of his Gori heritage that often drew scornful stares when he went into town.

  He glanced up at her face - radiant as the first time they had met - and felt contentment. He put a hand on her knee and gave it a squeeze. "How long until you have to go back?" He asked.

  She glanced away for a moment, a scowl crossing her fair visage. "Not much longer I’m sure. You know how Father is." She sighed. "Sometimes I just wish that I didn’t have to go back. But they’re my family. They need me."

  Isaac nodded his head and frowned slightly. "Yes, they need you," he replied, grabbing her hand. "But I need you too."

  She gripped his hand tightly. "I know that, we’ve been over this countless times, Isaac."

  He smiled. "Then why don’t we run away?" Isaac turned toward the forest and gestured broadly, "I can provide for us. I’ll make us a house. We don’t need them."

  She smiled wistfully. "I know that, my love. But I can’t just leave. Father needs me to help. If I don’t, then the tribe might abandon him - and what would happen to my brothers and sisters?"

  Isaac sighed - but then his ears picked up a noise. He glanced about the grove, holding up a hand outstretched - the universal hunter symbol to ‘halt’. He scanned the edge of the forest-line and spotted a large shape approaching the clearing.

  He took his bow off of his back and strung it, raising it up to chest height before she put a hand upon his and pushed it down.

  "It’s okay, sweetie. It’s just Father." She smiled and waved as Isaac relaxed his stance and un-nocked the arrow he had drawn.

  A voice boomed out from the edge of the clearing, "There you are Willow! Who is that with you?"

  Willow groaned, "Isaac, father. Just Isaac and me."

  A roaring, explosive string of expletives rang out as the figure approached, "I told you to stay away from that outlander. Piece of shite ruining our family’s good name by cavorting with you."

  "Father, please! Enough." Willow said.

  Isaac stood silently, slightly in front of Willow. The old man's face was screwed up into a knot from rage. "You know that you are better than this Gori piece of trash!" her father screamed.

  "Why does my race matter? I've told you again and again; I love Willow. That should be all that matters," Isaac replied, his stare bored into this man as he braced for the same argument he had been having for the past several years.

  "You came here to steal my daughter away! And I’m not going to let that happen!" her father pulled out a talisman as Isaac looked on with curiosity.

  "Isaac!" Willow cried out, shoving Isaac down to the ground.

  Frozen with horror, Isaac saw a beam of black tinged with dark green hues shoot from the talisman and strike Willow in the stomach. She screamed in pain.

  "NO! What have you done!" Isaac yelled as Willow recoiled towards the stump.

  The father fell to his knees. "I-I-I…didn't mean to! Why?! Why did you get in the way? “Why couldn’t you just stay at-" his words were cut off as an arrow protruded from his throat, one of Isaac’s shafts piercing him all the way through his neck. With a gurgle he fell, choking on his own blood.

  Isaac threw his bow down and turned to Willow - her skin hardening and turning black.

  "Isaac...I’m sorry." She whimpered.

  Isaac held her. "I love you Willow, I promise, I’ll fix this." he said through tears as she stilled, one last gasp escaping her lips.

  Isaac started, shaken from his reverie, and wiped a tear from his eyes. He put a hand down to scratch the wolf’s head. "I know. You’re still hungry. Some jerky I suppose, but we don’t have much left." He turned and went into his small hut, and opened his rations box, grabbing several strips of jerky and tossing them onto the ground. As the wolf chewed the rations, Isaac munched on a carrot sitting on his bedroll, pulling the coin from his pocket. Silver with a golden hourglass inlaid in the middle.

  As he laid back and set his head down, he recalled the words that had appeared above him two nights past. The warmth of the coin in his hand reminding him of the strange event…and the mysterious figure that had given it to him. An Ayshor who appeared suddenly and hinted at some grand plans. He vividly recalled the words that had formed above during the weird ceremony;

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Projectiles. Space. Forest.

  He glanced out the still-open hut door at the sunset and heard a loud noise. Thump...Thump...Thump… something’s coming, something big, and with...wings. A wyvern perhaps? Isaac jolted upright and extended his right arm out to his side. A dull heat emanated from his chest as a brilliant green light shot down his arm and formed an object in his left hand - a curved bow. He stepped outside and shut the door. Glancing up he recoiled. Is that...no, it can't be. Isaac pulled his right hand back, the same green light forming a line between the ends of the bow and his fingers as a shaft of darker green light coalesced in his grip.

  The creature flew closer, and Isaac could make out the details of its body. Large, covered in gold scales flecked with black. Ivory white claws that tore into the ground upon impact...although it seemed to stagger a bit and fumble upon landing. A dragon...I thought they went extinct. Isaac yelled out across the clearing, "Hold! Don’t get any closer or I’ll shoot."

  A voice boomed back - seemingly apologetic. "Oh, shit. Sorry! Didn’t mean to. Hold on a moment, let me figure this out…" the dragon’s form shimmered and shrunk, and where once a large tailed and fanged beast stood, there instead stood an... Axan?

  No not quite an Axan, a man covered in scales with a wicked looking snout. A crulon maybe? No. Crulon don’t have scales. Isaac didn’t lower his weapon but slowly strode forward. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

  The figure raised his claws and approached; dressed in fine silk-tailored dress robes with golden threads. "I just want to talk. I’m looking for someone."

  "Well, you found someone. What do you-" Isaac felt a weird sensation. As soon as the person came within a few arm’s length, he felt a tingling sensation in his torso; it was relaxing and reassuring. With a thought the bow dissipated from his grasp. The figure approaching seemed to relax with the absence of a weapon aimed at him.

  "Did you...feel that? Just now?" the draconic man asked.

  "If you mean an odd sensation... Are you also a New God?" Isaac asked, standing his ground as the figure approached.

  The man nodded. "Yes, apparently. The name’s Vythin Goldenscales."

  Isaac smirked and chuckled slightly. "Goldenscales, eh? Nice name. It fits the color scheme."

  Vythin shrugged and smiled - a disturbing sight to most who aren’t familiar with sharp-toothed creatures, "Thank you… I didn’t want to be too obvious, but then thought ‘screw it, I’m a god’. What’s your name?" he asked, holding a claw out to shake.

  "Isaac Grovesward," Isaac replied, taking the offered claw, and feeling the enormous strength of the grip. "How did you find me here? I’m pretty well secluded and I like to keep it that way."

  Vythin grunted, "A damn mage named Zohkah. I swear every time in my life something goes wrong a mage is involved somehow."

  Isaac’s eyes narrowed. "I’m familiar with that name. Ayshor, right? Know-it-all personality?"

  Vythin blinked a few times before nodding his head, "Yeah, definitely a know-it-all prick."

  Isaac beckoned for Vythin to follow, "Well, come inside then. We may as well talk like civil folks."

  They both entered the small abode and Isaac pulled some firewood from the outside to sit on. As he invited Vythin to sit, the draconic man just smirked and waved his hand over the ground in front of him. Isaac sensed...something, emanating from the other New God as an ornate oak chair appeared. He sat down with a smug expression, "Wasn’t sure I could do that" he admitted, his face displaying satisfaction tinged with some disbelief. The wolf barked and dashed out the door as fast as his three legs could carry him.

  Isaac just sat on the firewood and gazed at Vythin with an unreadable visage. "God of furniture then?"

  Vythin scoffed, "No. God of wealth. And light...and dragons."

  Isaac smiled, "What type of stuff can you make with your power over wealth?

  Vythin grinned and waved his hand. Isaac felt a warmth wash over him for a moment as he was suddenly clothed in ornate green attire matching the surrounding forest; lacquered armor and fresh boots.

  Isaac smiled back at Vythin, "great trick you have there."

  "I know," Vythin replied, reaching into a pocket, and pulling out a loaf of freshly baked bread. He looked down at his hand quizzically for a moment before taking a bite, a look of pure satisfaction on his face.

  Showoff - but impressive, Isaac thought. He did take note that this New God seemed to be winded as he ate. Perhaps changing shape is taxing for him.

  Vythin swallowed, then continued, "Well then - this Zohkah guy, outside of being a know-it-all prick, what do you make of him?" he asked.

  Isaac tented his hands and rested his chin on them. "Not very much. I got a glance at a book he pulled out and he called me a ‘big event’."

  "Me too," Vythin chimed in before taking another bite.

  "He did tell me that I should wait until someone found me. And then that I would know more. He failed to mention that the ‘someone’ was a godsdamn dragon."

  Vythin finished off his bread and licked his toothy maw, "It’s pretty amazing, right? A beast out of legend and myth talking to you?"

  Isaac rolled his eyes and sat back, "True. It must be pretty interesting, scaring every person you come across." Isaac gestured at his mouth, baring his teeth as he smiled.

  Vythin reached a claw up to his mouth and frowned as he caressed his maw. "Oh, you think you’re quite funny, don’t you?" he asked as Isaac chuckled.

  Vythin closed his eyes. A flash of gold light tinged with black at the edges flushed over his body, and where once a dragon-man sat, there sat an average sized Human with dark black hair, fair skin, and a shining white smile - the only hint of oddity being his golden colored eyes. "Is this better then?" Vythin asked.

  Isaac sat back with a shocked expression, "Why didn’t you do that earlier? It would’ve made things much less unsettling."

  Vythin laughed heartily, "Honestly, I didn’t know I could do it. I only found out I’m a god this morning."

  "What’s your next move then? You’ve found me, and I’ve met you. What now?" Isaac asked.

  Vythin leaned back and stared past Isaac in contemplation. "Ever wanted to fly? If you can keep your head down, we should be able to make it to Highpass before it gets too late."

  Isaac blinked, "What do you mean ‘we’? And why Highpass?"

  Vythin smiled, "That mage fellow said that I should find allies. Allies stick together, right? And there's a third, some professor on a caravan from that town."

  Isaac stared hard at Vythin, "We only met. I wouldn’t call that being allies."

  Vythin frowned slightly, dismay written across his face, "Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve been around...people. I’m not used to being treated in a friendly and cordial manner." He gazed through Isaac lost in a recollection, "I have been…isolated for some time now."

  Isaac softened his expression showing a small smile, "Well, the same can be said of myself. I will admit, having someone to watch my back would be a welcome change of pace. The few that do enter this clearing are...let’s just say, hostile."

  Vythin glanced back at the door, "Are we in danger then?"

  Isaac waved his hand dismissively, "No, I patrol every day for about a mile around and set some simple noise-traps. I’ll hear if something is coming. And the forest itself will warn me."

  Vythin relaxed and sank into his chair, "Well then, new friend, I should stay the night. Do you mind if I make things a bit more comfortable?"

  "Not at all, be my guest. I’m going to go out and find that wolf." Isaac replied, walking towards the door.

  "You didn’t name it?" Vythin asked with mirth.

  "You don’t give an animal a name. You let it be, and if it takes a fancy to you, benefit mutually from the companionship. It may choose its own name, in time." Isaac replied matter-of-factly.

  Vythin muttered something under his breath as Isaac stepped out into the cool air, the sun beginning to vanish over the horizon. Isaac whistled and waited a minute...but no beast came to his call. He frowned and sighed. Well, I guess he had enough of me, Isaac thought, turning towards the large tree in the clearing. A loud whump noise from behind caught his attention and he dashed back to the doorway of the hut, peeking inside.

  The room was completely different; covered in luxurious furs and fabrics with two large beds shoved into the small space, everything lined with gold... That color will take some getting used to, Isaac thought.

  Vythin was breathing deeply, raggedly, and fell into a bed.

  "Are you alright?" Isaac asked.

  "Yes...I’m...fine. Just...tired." Vythin replied.

  Isaac laughed, heartily and loudly for the first time in a long time at his newfound acquaintance’s state. "Lesson learned for the day!"

  Vythin groaned back, "...Goodnight."

  Isaac paced to the tree and once more placed his hand upon it. "I have to leave for a while, but I’ll be back soon. I promise." He stepped away, going inside once more, and collapsed into the most comfortable bed he had ever laid in.