The forest echoed the sound of the wide stream travelling between the trees, becoming the home of many sea creatures, prey.

A skilled Archer had made his way down to the stream, pointing his bow and arrow in the direction of the crystal clear water, waiting for his chance to strike.

A few bubbles surfaced from underneath the liquid, popping as they reached the top of the water, indicating the breathing of living creatures.

That's when a couple of fish jumped out of the water, only to dive right back in.

The Archer waited.

He focused on a point above the water.

And waited.

10 seconds.

He focused on the rippling water.

9 seconds.

He drew back his arrow, waiting for his chance.

8 seconds.

7 seconds.

6...

The shadow of the prey became clearer from above the water.

5.

4.

3.

2...

"There you are!"

The Archer felt a heavy weight on his back, causing his fingers to slip, missing his target all together, watching the fish jump up from the water and dive back down, continuing to swim happily down the stream.

"I've been looking all over for you!"

"You made me miss my shot you idiot!" The Archer complained to his pointy eared friend, earning a little whine from the Elf.

"But you promised we'd go to the kingdom today!" The Elf boy replied, pointing high up above the forest trees, to the kingdom which lay in the mountainside.

"You mean Cordillera Kingdom? I thought you hated going there, after what happened with... you know..." The Archer softly asked, careful not to hurt his brother's feelings as he skipped along the rocks implanted in the stream, aiming to retrieve his misdirected arrow.

"The assassination? I'm over that now! The culprits haven't been found in 10 years!" The younger replied, waving his arms around for dramatic effect. "Now I really wanna go there, to see the kingdom and stuff!"

"No shit, what else are you gonna see? Some mutated alien dragon thing...?" The older whispered, making sure his Elf companion couldn't hear his sarcasm, only forgetting that the other's pointed ears weren't just for show.

"Fine, I'll take you, only for a couple days though, we're not gonna stay for too long, understood?"

"Yes sir!" The excited Elf replied, already starting to merrily skip towards the edge of the forest.

"Aish... what am I gonna do with you?" The older asked to no one in particular, gathering his lost arrow and following the other to, what would be, the trip that forever changed their lives...

~~~~~~~~

Any idea who the Archer and Elf are?