The sky was a bright, warm, rich shade of blue. A cool, forgiving breeze swept past Elfaerren giving him some relief from the midday sun as he concentrated on his meditation. Elfaerren took a slow, deep breath and concentrated on all that was around him: the grass being ruffled in the breeze, the ant hill and it's many hard at work ants, the birds zipping past and finding their meals or just enjoying being free of the earth and most of all the many deer thriving in the nearby woods. Elfaerren took in all the sounds and smiled out of pure joy<span style="font-style: italic">Places like this remind me of home and that used to make me homesick but...... but now it's okay because I'm becoming strong and independent and........ and my master isn't as bad as I thought he was. He's not the enemy he's my friend.</span>he thought with complete optimism. Sadly his alone time would come to an end as a cold chill signified his master was approaching.<br/><br/>Elfaerren turned to face him "Good afternoon sir," Elfaerren said with a warm smile "I hope you don't mind me asking, but what was it you had to do ?" he asked with completely innocent intentions. The creature landed on the ground and took a moment to think over the words. He gestured for Elfaerren to rise and he followed the order obediently. He stuck out his scythe and Elfaerren reluctantly took it from him so he could rest without killing all the nearby grass "I was getting some work done that's all you need to know little Cateye," he said putting a hand on his head noting it was a good thing he didn't have death touch like death himself "but now you have work to do if you want to eat tonight," he said standing and taking back his scythe before Cateye got too pale "now go" he said pointing to the forest.Elfaerren gave a quick nod and sprinted for the forest. Ikonoka sat down and was racked with a coughing spell<span style="font-style: italic">That child will be the end of me if he doesn't kill more</span>he thought<span style="font-style: italic">I can feel myself become more and more of a mortal. Death do not forsake me.</span><br/><br/>********<br/>Elfaerren halted to a stop as he hit thicker woods. He climbed a large oak tree and waited for any passing deer. He passed the time by counting the number of insects he could see from the tree and singing elven songs to hear and feel the deep, drum-like hum of the trees. Soon the wait became too much for the child and he dozed off. The forest was still. Not even a bird dared tweet and break the silence that enveloped the forest. Elfaerren awoke,rubbed his eyes and looked at the sky which had turned into a deep gradient of ruby reds,rosy pinks,and oranges. He sat up and looked down just in time to see a doe grazing for berries in the bushes. Elfaerren scrambled forward, grasped his bow in hand and pulled an arrow from his quiver in preparation. As soon as the deer raised it's head it fell over within the instant and Elfaerren was out of the tree to retrieve the arrow and his meal. Whispering an elven phrase Elfaerren pulled the arrow with force a child shouldn't have from between the eyes of the animal. He picked up the carcass and carried it with him back to his master.<br/><br/>********<br/>Ikonoka sat in waiting;unmoved and statuesque, until Cateye returned with a rather impressing kill.<br/><br/>"That took quite a long time to get now didn't it?" Ikonoka spoke rhetorical.<br/><br/>"I'm sorry sir, but I got a kill for you." he said a bit ashamed that he had fallen asleep instead of working<br/><br/>"No, you shouldn't be I expected it to take awhile" Ikonoka stood and moved toward Cateye "You just need more training and since you have unlearned talents and specialize in nature I'll be calling upon some ancestors of yours for this training" he bent down and whispered "Just don't get too scared by what you see."