Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-24510587-20190524000945/@comment-25828117-20190617161614

Graicus opened his eyes and crawled back up onto his feet in what was practically all one fluid motion, as if he were given a sudden jolt of energy.

A dark forest ringed him. It existed out of ancient, branchless trees that were as broad as watchtowers and so tall they seemingly stretched on forever into a grey sky where the leaves attempted to steal the sunlight before it reached back down. Their roots shooting out across the ground came up to Graicus' shins and sometimes, his knees.

"You're back." A familiar voice said. The owner did not shout or raise his voice but it boomed nonetheless. There was no escaping it.

Graicus was unable to locate the source, it was everywhere. No matter where he turned. He almost stumbled over a bare root as he turned.

"A hunter's greatest virtue is patience." The voice went on.

"Patience is what allows the best hunters to strike at the right moment. For the dance of life and death to be held to their tune."

The gladiator couldn't help but call out to the disembodied voice:

"Show yourself!"

Why did he feel like this had happened before? He had been here before. He just couldn't remember when. Never mind how he got here or even where this was.

"I must say, I like your resourcefulness. You don't just meekly accept your fate and lie down, prey for the predator. No you're a fighter. I admire that. Enjoy it... And for that you will be rewarded."

The gladiator reached for a gladius which was not there.

"I don't want your bloody reward!"

No gladius but he did find a spear in his hands. A hunter's weapon but a weapon none the less.

The voice did not seem at all offended by the gladiator's resistance. There was a mirth to his words, not unlike a loving father's to one of his naive and unknowing children.

"You accepted my spear. You will deal with the responsibility of wielding it."

Graicus looked down at the weapon in his hands. After hearing those words it was as if the voice had told him the spear had been made out of live venomous spiders. But let go he could not. Would not.

"Today we start again. This time however, there will be no flower or weed able to push away my influence..."

As the voice spoke a giant black bear approached from the dark. Its heavy breathing and footsteps made Graicus' hair stand on end.

"... Fight my champion. Fight! And do not forget. If you die in my woods, you will not make it back."

Before the gladiator could even say another word the monstrous bear stood on its hind legs and let out a deafening roar.

Graicus almost matched the beast's roar in ferocity and prepared himself to fight to the death.

The bear landed back on its front legs and charged at the gladiator, instantly taking the man off his feet while the spear he had held out in front of him pierced the beast's flesh.

-

Graicus awoke