The sunset had started to cast its dazzling orange and gold glow over the Shroud forests, long rays extending their light through the towering trees. Samuru, a child of only eight summers, had been following two older Elezen boys through the brush. Being so much smaller than they were, he had a difficult time keeping up. Tripping over fallen branches and getting smacked in the face with bushes caused a whine to bubble in his throat.
"C'mon you guys, slow down!" He called out, desperately scrambling to keep up with the pair. The small boy's mid-length white hair which was tied in a ponytail started to come undone and frazzled due to his run-in with nature.
The other two, a stocky wildwood of eleven summers and a freckled face companion of the same age seemed annoyed that they had been stuck with watching the younger male. They paused and waited for Samuru to catch up, even if it was getting on their nerves.
"How 'bout you learn to move faster? It's just grass and trees, how can an Elezen not be like a duck to water in that?" The taller of the two huffed, brushing his black hair from his face.
"That's not fair Rouloux! You're both much bigger than I am!" Ru puffed, nearly out of breath as he took a moment to catch it. "When are we going home? I'm tired." He looked up at them both, starting to feel out of sorts with his current situation.
Rouloux rolled his eyes and turned to his red headed friend, crossing his arms. "Y'hear that Lon, the baby wants to go home." He'd snicker at that before continuing. "I say we leave him here for Odin t'get." Lon laughed in time with Rouloux and nodded. "Yeah, when the sun sets Odin comes out and steals your face!" He leaned down to get eye level with Samuru, tapping right between his eyes. "Just yanks it right off and puts it on, stealing your identity and soul."
Samuru staggered away from the pair, planting his palms on his face while looking rattled at the story. "You guys are lying, there's no such thing." He tried to rationalize it, not wanting to appear frightened in front of his peers. "Stop foolin' around and let's just go. My momma will be wondering where I am."
Oh but the pair found a new game to play and they weren't prepared to abandon it yet. The sun continued to fall behind the horizon, shadows creeping in to consume the little remaining light. They started to circle around the nervous boy, continuing to taunt him. "What's wrong Samuboohoo? I bet Odin would like to meet you. You like horses don't you? He has a really big one clad in armor, and its eyes glow blood red." Rouloux wiggled his fingers at Samuru, who tried to somehow inch away. "You wouldn't be able to run fast enough before he caught you." It was then that Lon jumped behind Samuru and grabbed him by the shoulders. "LIKE THIS!" He shouted.
Samuru cried out, startled by the sudden contact. He tore himself out of Lon's grip and made a run for it, pumping his little legs as fast as he could go. The boys bust out laughing at Ru's misfortune, too wrapped up in their own satisfaction to realize how much harm they could've done. The thought only dawned on them once Samuru disappeared out of sight, deeper into the woods than they had anticipated.
"Aw shite...we lost the little whelp." Lon hissed. "His mum knows he's with us, if we come back empty handed we're dead!"
Samuru didn't stop running, the darkness made it even harder to really get his bearings. He rushed through the brush and through large logs, getting more turned around the further he went. Soon he was well and truly lost, finding himself in a clearing with only a few trees scattered about. The terrified lad rushed toward a tree trunk and hunkered down against it, pulling his legs to his chest to make his own little safety ball. He'd sniffle and brush moisture from his face with the back of his sleeve, the night chill beginning to creep through the area. He was all alone and didn't know what to do.
After a few moments of silence, an unusual sound hit his ears. A hard thump, thump, thump of hooves stomping across the grass. Ru froze in place, mismatched eyes darting around in an attempt to find the source. Peeking over his shoulder, he saw a long shadow cast in the moonlight and it was only getting closer. With arms crossed over his chest, his fingers squeezed so hard at his shoulders that his knuckles turned white.
Long, armor clad legs shifted into view, his gaze slowly following them upward to see they were attached to an intimidating steed. Crimson eyes glowed within the dim light, nostrils flaring as it snorted heavy puffs of mist. Upon the beasts back sat a man who seemed to tower to the sky, body covered head to toe in sleek armor that clinked with every subtle movement. At his side was a sword that defied all logic, extending into what seemed like forever. The rider turned his helmet to peer down at Samuru, who by this point was close to passing out with fear. The Elezen just stared back, eyes as wide as saucers and body deathly still. Not much went through his mind except the fact that he believed this was the end. How would they possibly identify his body without a face?
The shadowed Primal watched the hunkered child, not appearing all that interested in approaching. Instead he tugged the reigns of his mount, turning it to travel in the direction away from Samuru's position. Gradually horse and rider disappeared into the mists, fading from view at a casual pace. Ru was left to sit there in disbelief, wondering if he could be certain of what he just saw. He heard there were mushrooms in the Shroud that caused hallucinations, perhaps he'd breathed in a few spores while rushing through the brush.
He was only snapped out of his daze when he heard someone calling out his name. His head jerked toward the direction, more voices echoing out the same mantra. Peeling himself from where he sat he rushed toward the familiar sound, his lungs and eyes still burning from the prior encounter. As he burst through the tree line he saw the glow of lanterns, a few adults including his parents looking for the lost lad.
"Momma, papa!" He shouted, nearly falling over as he rushed toward them. His mother breathed a sigh of relief and knelt down with arms open, ready to accept her son into her grasp. He'd leap into that welcome embrace, clinging to her blouse.
"Oh Samuru...I was so worried a wild boar had gotten you." She cooed, stroking his hair while lifting him off the ground. The other adults lowered their lanterns and called out to the rest of the search party, confirming they had found the missing child. "I know what those boys did and believe me they'll hear more about it tomorrow. Of all the foolishness, scaring you with such tall tales."
"B-But momma...I saw him, I really did. I thought he was going to steal my face and--"
"Shhh it's alright, enough of that now. Odin isn't coming to get you nor steal your face. We'll talk about it more at home." She gently chided, holding him close before returning to her husbands side. The imposing man scoffed and shook his head.
"He'd have thicker skin if you'd stop coddling him Sherelle." His father grunted.
She shot a glare at him and hissed. "Don't you dare start Raelmont. I nearly had a heart attack when those boys came back without him. I'll coddle him until he pops if I see fit to."
Samuru didn't pay any mind to the bickering as they headed home, instead peering over his mothers shoulder toward the woods he had just escaped from. He knew what he saw even if he couldn't explain it. Perhaps next time he'd have the courage to ask Odin what he needed so many faces for in the first place.
