1 Green - 1

The echoes and quiet roars of engines passed by with a certain sadness. A gaze that loomed over those that walked through these parts.

Letting themselves in and out of places, jumping with joy at a peculiar feat. Even just the sadness of a rainy day.

An envy born of those that could walk, could do such things in the open air. A day just for them, as they pranced around with gifts that not every man could claim.

It was an envy born of grief, at the passing of my legs. All while I rotted away in this hell of septic whites, breathing in the caustic air and letting the depressing aura of rot suffuse its deathly aura through the room.

Gradually I rose, looking this way and that for any staff that may protest my movement. Yet when I saw the empty halls filled with nothing but white, I grinned.

It was painful to do so… oh so painful… but I persevered, letting the cold floor touch my bare feet.

All as I snuck my way through doors and people, letting them believe what they wanted. 

Eventually it happened, I was able to escape that hell, yet even as I did, the harsh reality of my body struck me.

A harsh breath, one that tried to bring me to my knees. But no… I could not let that happen. I needed…

I needed…

My vision was partially black, fading at the edges as I gripped the wall, exiting the hospital with the grace of a fish.

But even then I was able. 

My feet touched the dirt, grass filling the gaps between my toes. I smiled, one last smile as I fell to the ground.

A grunt, caused by some sort of rough impact.

I opened my eyes, turning my head to the object. Only to reverently feel the tree, the bark against my hand.

The way it scarred my hand, blood pouring down my face. Was this the end… it was nice…

Feeling the final touch of nature as it took me in its warm embrace. 

…

Yet was that the end, was this world meant only to fade to black. In whence the one who had tried the most, to live, breathe, feel the green below his feet. Was it truly made with death in mind?

A fluttering, my eyes fluttered so heavily, like some distant sleep that had tried and failed to take hold of my mind.

My fingers twitched, taking a chunk of grass with it. The cold ground fading into dirt and grass, trees and roots. And another, warmer than the rest and with a greater embrace than I had ever felt.

With a herculean effort my fluttering eyes once more found purchase upon reality. Only to find the scenery breathtaking.

Like some sort of swivel, I turned and turned, my nose breathing in the fresh air, my back pushing against the tree.

But most importantly, I felt… I felt the cold air rushing against my skin, so sensitive yet it wasn't. I felt truly alive, welcomed in the nature of this forest.

I turned, looking to the sky, the great sun beating upon the opening in the canopies above me. A smile gracing my features.

Only then did I look down, to where the rays shone over a note, filled with a manic scrawling. Disorganized yet organized.

…

If you are reading this… then you are dead. It is of no fault of anyone's, you were to die that day anyway. However I had further use of you.

You may have noticed that you are not in that dreadful hospital anymore. That is because I have taken your body, healed it, and placed it on this realm. 

Do not worry, I have given you a gift, something to keep you alive.

Your duty though is of another nature. Descend the dungeon, find the secrets, entertain me!

Sincerely, a bored god

…

The message burned in a sudden flame searing my hands with burnt paper. Paper that soon faded away with the wind.

Yet still, I couldn't help how drawn I was to the particles, as they swirled around the air, in some sort of elaborate pattern.

Only to quickly settle upon the ground. 

I took a stumbling step forward, letting my feet carry the burden of my body. And what I found drew a quick and sharp laugh from the depths of my being.

I… I could walk, for once I could walk. I looked at my hands, feeling the wet tears falling from my face and onto my hands and the ground.

It was a miracle. One that I sent a prayer out for. Entertainment my life may be, yet still, to allow me to walk with no pain, to feel the sun over my body without splintering sunburns.

I had forgotten this joy.

And so I walked the path set before me, feeling the coarse dirt settle over my bare feet. Only then had I noticed my dress.

It was… how to describe it, it was a sort of dress thing, with a short skirt and feminine clothing. I didn't mind it as it was comfortable.

But still I reached down and felt under my chin. Sighing in relief when I felt the presence of my Adam's apple.

I huffed a breath ruffling my hair as I walked further through the set path.

Only to stop in my path, hunching over and snarling. An instinct that I could barely protest to. I turned and came face to face with some ugly being.

It was small, green and held a rusty dagger in its hands. A snarl on its face as it charged towards me.

Strangely though, I felt no fear, as if this was the most natural thing in the world. 

I crouched further down, my hands practically touching the ground at this point. They curled into claws and with them I leapt to the side.

The goblin overestimated its speed and sped past me. A snarl lit my face as everything turned red.

The next thing I knew I was atop the creature, claws gouging its eyes from its very being. Blood dripping over my paws and onto my dress.

I stilled. And in that moment, thoughts failed me. I could only stumble back, until my back hit a tree. Feeling the rough bark stab against me.

Hyperventilating… I was hyperventilating… I couldn't…

Can't… breathe…

I felt… burning… my body was burning up. Like rods of molten fire were placed over my back, a sensation of absolute pain. Taking away any rational thought that I had.

Barely able to even hold my scream in. 

Yet again, there was this warm sensation over my hand. Not the molten agony, but warm, soothing even. Like a warm hug in the cold spring.

Then it grew, strong arms carrying me into her embrace, the pain soothing with the touch of whoever had taken me in their arms.

But even as that happened, as my pain dissipated, I could still not open my eyes. They were glued shut, as if by some omniscient force.

"Shh…" A soothing voice whispered upon my ear. And for some reason it did its job, I stopped struggling and found myself soon wrapped around a warm embrace. 

My struggling conscious mind gives way to sleep. A dreamless one.

"Are you to be my partner on this god's whim?"

…

Slowly, carefully, my eyes opened. The bright sun took hold of my eyes, prying them open.

Yet when I truly opened my eyes, looking to the sky, to the side, to the front. I found myself stunned at the visage of beauty in front of me.

That green hair, turning golden at the ends, the impassive face that stared straight at me. The way that her tail tickled my stomach.

It was ab-

'Tail?'

I tried to grab it, but like some sort of revelation. One that I had not realized until now, I found myself smaller.

My hands stubby messes that I could barely call arms, my line of sight shorter. The clues were there, yet I had not put two and two together.

I wanted to laugh but it came out more as a giggle. One that woke the sleeping lion. Only then did I panic, trying to struggle out of her grip.

"Shh… you are safe, worry not."

Strangely I felt myself calming down significantly. Despite the shock of death, despite the god given mission, and despite the apparent new world.

For what else could it be.

Despite that all, in her embrace… I felt nothing but warmth.

And so, I let go of myself. My fingers going slack, my hold over her falling to the wayside.

All as she tucked me into her arms, running her fingers over my head. Over… over sensitive ears.

Ones that I could puzzle out to be ears like hers, whether they were those of a cat… a lion… or whatever, I could not tell.

"Come, we must hasten our steps." 

I nodded and took her hand in mine, an almost implicit trust. 

Soon the road that I had strayed from came to view, a sense of wonder as we went further. As with every passing step brought us closer to the giant city

By the time that we had arrived, stopped by the guards at the gate, it was already night. Even then I felt no heat upon my legs, no burning sensation that would give rise to exhaustion.

"Head to the guild to register for citizenship."

She nodded, grasping my hand even tighter in hers. Guiding me on some sort of mysterious information.

"Do-?" She placed a hand over my mouth, shushing me as she looked around. Then after a moment she placed another hand down over my head.

"Do not worry. It is not unusual for us servants to be blessed with knowledge of the world we come to be in. Of the era."

I nodded.

"Even if there is no holy grail…" Another whisper under her breath but I couldn't hear what she had said. It was too quiet.

"Come, we still have ground to cover."

I nodded and hummed out a tiny response. But as soon as I tried to walk again I felt my legs lock up, exhausted.

Curiously I looked at them, I had not felt exhaustion since coming into this world. Neither with this body. Yet now I do… curious.

But before I could try and walk again. Powering through the pain. I was picked up and placed into the women's arms.

She cooed a bit over me. Her hand coming up to rub my ears, I could do nothing but pur. It felt too good.

"Welcome. Did you come for registration?" 

I looked up and found myself in some sort of grand building, overlooking what seemed to be some tired worker.

Her greeting, I knew, was supposed to be a bit more enthusiastic. But it just came out as apathetic.

The woman holding me nodded and produced the item that the guard had given both of us.

"Alright, fill these out then come back to me. Make it quick, there isn't much time left in my shift."

We both nodded before she sat down at one of the benches near, and I was finally able to see the building that we were in. All while the women holding me cutely worked at the papers.

But enough of her. The building… no, the tower. It must have been a marvel of engineering, made of some kind of stone and rising high into the sky. Like some sort of skyscraper.

It was just breathtaking. Judging by the lack of modern amenities around it was done with minimal tools too.

That just made it even more impressive.

"We're done." 

By the time I was done marveling at the tower I found myself once more inside, absently reading the strange script.

I had thought that I would not be able to read at all, seeing as how this was a different language. But it must have been some kind of boon. After all, it wouldn't be entertaining to see someone learn to read and speak the language.

Another step, though this one towards the teller, him guiding us towards a room.

"If everything is in order then there is only one last prerequisite. It should be easy for one such as yourself. A small fee for the lady and… son." 

He looked at me, then back to his paper. I merely tilted my head and kept quiet, opting to let her finish the speaking rather than interrupt and accidently mess anything up.

"Here"

Out of nowhere she produced a bag of money, I was not sure how much it was, but the teller seemed to just count out the amount before he gave the bag back to her.

It was then that we were ushered out, recommended a nice inn that we could afford and sent on our way.

"I forgot to ask…" I mutter quietly, drawing her attention to me.

"Yes, child?" 

She smiled warmly, crouching down to my level and parting my hair with a gentle touch.

"Who are you… my partner I know that… but as a person, your name, who are you?"

She smiled, absently looking at the sun. Accentuating her golden tipped hair, the green of her bangs. 

"Atalanta, a hunter."

I smiled too, greeting her as best as I could. 

"Inari, your partner on this hunt."