Ch 0 - Prologue

  Blood. That was the smell in the air as Cronus fled the city, rushing through the gate checkpoint whilst tailed by guards. He clutched a bag to his chest, rushing through the surrounding forest as the shouts of guards faded behind him. Time passed in a blur, his steps only slowing as the sounds of pursuit vanish entirely.

  Cronus approached a small clearing within the forest, a small open patch of grass with only a short stump of what was once an enormous tree. His pace slows to a crawl as he colpses beside the stump, his wounds catching up to him as the adrenaline coursing through his body slowly subsided. He felt cold begin to creep in as blood slowly seeped from the hole in his stomach, his breathing beginning to slow.

  Opening his bag with shaky hands, Cronus reaches in with concern and prays he didn't damage the contents. When he pulls out the small creature within Cronus breathes a sigh of relief; his precious kitten was safe, yawning quietly as it stirred in its sleep. Setting the creature in his p, Cronus digs through his bag, removing an extra shirt and a vial of rubbing alcohol. With what energy he had left he tore the shirt apart, pouring the vial over the strips of cloth. With gritted teeth he pulls up his tunic, wrapping the cloth around his midsection as the alcohol contacts the open wound with a stinging sensation.

  The bleeding begins to subside, blocked for the moment by the makeshift bandages. As Cronus begins to rex, settling his back against the stump, his eye is drawn to movement at the edge of the clearing. He snaps to attention, cradling the kitten in his arm as he slowly pulls himself up from the ground through the added pain. With his open hand he draws his sword, holding it out towards the disturbance.

  “Show yourself!”

  Despite the face of bravado he put up, Cronus knew he wouldn’t be able to survive any real fight. He could maybe buy a few moments for the kitten to escape, but that would stretch the limits of his remaining strength. Bracing himself, he slowly backs away, nearly tripping over the stump as a shadow breaks the edge of the clearing.

  As the figure breached the foliage, a rge buck slowly moves into view. The buck has its sights set on Chronos, approaching with an unusual calmness for a wild animal of its kind. More armingly however, is the way in which it moves: the creature seems to be missing a rge chunk from its front leg, an arrow jutting out from just above its hooves, yet it moves unimpeded.

  The deer stops just short of Cronus before opening its mouth.