The recruits didn’t dare make a noise as they followed Master Julian into the woods. The woods were very quiet except for soft noises of birds and squirrels in the trees. They were walking through a fairly dense pine forest where the undergrowth was primarily needles, and this added to the stillness that surrounded them.

When they had gone perhaps half a mile Master Julian stopped and turned around, facing the recruits. He then sat down on the carpet of pine needles cross legged, and motioned for them to do the same.

After they were settled, he spoke quietly to them. “I want you to spend the next fifteen minutes or so closing your eyes and listening.”

“What should we listen for?” asked Jaxson. He had spent many days in the forest by himself growing up.

“Listen for what you can hear,” Julian said. “We’ll talk more about our observations when the time is up. For now, close your eyes.”

They did so. Time passed slowly when they were still and quiet, as it always seems to do. Boaz himself felt it difficult to concentrate at first, not being comfortable with closing his eyes and making himself vulnerable in a forest. Anything could be out here.

Once he was settled he started hearing the forest sounds again. It seemed that they were disrupted as the humans passed through, like unwanted intruders. Now the creatures were again scrabbling up the trees, calling to each other. Boaz noted the breeze up in the tops of the trees. Once he really started to concentrate, he could hear the sound of pine needles falling around, sometimes landing on his arms.

About the time when Boaz started to feel drowsy from being still and quiet for so long, Julian quietly spoke up to break the silence.

“You can open your eyes now. Tell me, what is the story of this part of the woods?”

Boaz thought it was a strange way to speak about what they had just done, but he realized that Master Julian had spoken about reading the land. In this context, reading was a full-sensory experience.

Theo spoke up, “At first, for me, I couldn’t hear much of anything, and I wasn’t sure if it was because we had disturbed the forest, or because my senses weren’t attuned yet. But eventually I heard the breeze above, and the sounds of the birds, and the squirrels.”

“And why do you think you couldn’t hear much of anything at first?” Julian asked.

“I suppose because we had just been making noise coming through the forest, and the creatures were afraid and still,” said Lyra.

“Is that the only reason? Are there others?” Julian prompted.

“For me it was because I didn’t expect to be doing this exercise. I had thought we would be identifying tracks, or fungi, or… something” This time it was Jaxson who spoke. He was known to be adventurous, and had trouble sitting still.

“So you’re saying it was unexpected. That’s a good point. It can also be a deadly state to be in, here in the wilds of the world, yes?” Julian continued, “I would agree with my young friend here that you were unprepared for me to stop in the middle of the forest, ask you all to sit down, close your eyes, and be quiet. This highlights the point I would like to make today, which I mentioned earlier, and that is you must be vigilant. That means always being aware of your surroundings, but also preparing yourself for the unexpected. Surprise is a very powerful ally. One you always want on your side, and not your enemy’s.

“Today we will indeed be tracking animals, but no matter what skill we are working on, I want you to always be aware of your surroundings, subtle shifts in temperature, breezes, smells, sights, sounds, and the feel of a place. This can mean a matter of life and death at times. I know that sounds melodramatic, but it is very true. This is called Fieldcraft, or, in more ancient times, it used to be called Earthreading.”

When Julian was done with his session for the day, he led them back to the camp for lunch, and their next lessons.

When they got there, the camp was busy with the staff preparing tables, chairs, bowls, utensils, and food. The lunch was a hearty beef stew with bread and butter. Lyra and Kiera were discussing how this heavy camp food was likely to add some weight to their smaller frames, when the chief cook overheard them, laughed, and said “My dear young ladies, with the training you will be doing in this camp under our instructors, you will likely lose weight, not gain it. Plus, there will be days when you will not get such rich food, and certainly not all prepared for you.”

When Kiera asked, “What does that mean?”

The cook merely put a finger beside his nose and said, “You’ll see.” When he left them to decipher what this cryptic warning might mean, the others tucked in.

Before lunch ended, three men and a woman whom the recruits had not seen around camp came near and stood by the tables, as if waiting. The recruits looked around, half expecting some new trick from the camp staff, but the four waited until the recruits were done eating.

A heavily built and muscular woman, one of the four, spoke up: “Good afternoon, recruits!” She had a commanding voice, and the recruits immediately turned to face her, listening intently. Her voice brooked no argument about anything less.

All five recruits answered in unison, “Good morning!” Since they didn’t know her name yet, they left off the appellation.

“I am Master Kera, to my left is Master Lawral, and these two gentlemen are Master Noor, and Master Girald. We are your instructors for melee weapons, which you will begin today, after your mid-day meal. If you’ve all finished, follow me to the melee range.”

With that, she turned on her heel, expecting obedience. Since none of the recruits dared question, they followed in a loose group, the other instructors following them in turn. She led them down a trail that must’ve once been a rocky path, but had been carefully cleared and widened to make a broad sloping trail. It led down into a grassy field, where outbuildings on the perimeter had been placed. There were a variety of melee weapons on display, enough, by far, for all of them. There were a few larger swords, clearly of the two-handed variety, many longswords, short swords, daggers, axes, stout staves, and some maces.

When they arrived, she turned to face the recruits, who naturally formed a line in front so they could all see her better. The other instructors fanned out in front.

“I trust you’ve already learned a lot today, yes?” she asked, clearly expecting a reply.

“Yes, Master Kera” the recruits dutifully replied.

“Good. Today in all your sessions, I expect you’ve figured out by now, is setting the pattern for how you will train while you are here. We will generally follow the same pattern, and from here on out all your instructors will expect you to find your way to their stations at the appropriate times. In our session, we will be teaching you to use a variety of melee weapons that are typical for Wardens to have, or to use. You can see them all here,” she motioned to the weapons, leaning up against wooden frames built for such a purpose.

“As with anything else you may learn here, we aim to teach you proficiency in all the skills we teach, but all of you will have different aptitudes for certain skills, which we expect to become your primary skills. These are what will distinguish you, and what you will develop to higher potentials.

“It’s our job to give you the experience and training you need, and your job to trust our instincts and apply the practice you need to be proficient. I will be teaching you all how to use staves and maces.”

At this, Master Noor stepped forward and said, “It is my honor to teach the two-hand sword, for those of you able to wield it.” At this, he looked at Boaz with a knowing smile. “But I don’t presume to say which of you can or cannot use it, so we shall see who may master it.” He stepped back, and Master Lawral stepped out.

“I will be teaching the fine art and precision melee skills of axe and dagger, for those who are more nimble and less adept at clobbering opponents with an overlarge piece of sharpened steel.” She smiled warmly at Master Noor, who laughed broadly, as did the other instructors.

Lastly, Master Girald stepped forward, bowed in a fluid, sweeping motion, and proclaimed “I will be teaching you all the one-handed sword varieties, namely, long and short.”

Master Kera again stepped out as Master Girald stepped back in line, and said, “Shall we begin? Splendid. Let’s step over to our weapons hoard.”

The recruits and instructors all did so, and Master Noor hefted a two-hand sword in his hands. He was a burly, muscular man, a little taller than six feet, and the sword was about two-thirds his height. It was a menacing weapon that would take not only training, but also height and strength, to wield properly. “This weapon, I realize, looks very imposing. It is meant to be intimidating, to your enemies, at least, but not to the wielder.” I would like all of you to heft it, and get a feel for it. There are three of them here, as you can see. I want all of you to try, if you please?”

He motioned to Jaxson and Lyra, who were closest, and proffered his sword to Lyra, who was closest to him. They stepped forward and grabbed the weapon in two hands, heaving it off the ground from where it lay against its stand. Jaxson was strong, and lifted the sword easily. He likely didn’t have the height to wield the weapon well, however, and it looked clumsy because of it. Lyra, who was almost as tall as Jaxson, did not have his strength, but she had a forceful, determined personality that made her confident. She, too, however, clearly was overmatched.

After they had hefted the weapon for a bit, they handed them to Kiera and Theo. If it was somewhat clear that Jaxson and Lyra were not suited to it, then these two were less so.

Meanwhile, Boaz stepped up and grabbed the third sword from the rack. He had only a little trouble with the sword, not having used a two-hand variety before. He moved through some basic sword forms, getting used to its heft, reach, and balance. Master Noor’s eyes shined as he examined his newest pupil.

They spent several hours with each of the various weapons, hefting and swinging them into dummies, learning the basics on their use for attack and defense. The instructors showed some forms and talked about each weapon’s benefits and drawbacks, and then it was time to head back to camp.

Master Kera escorted them, where they were again met with new instructors, waiting. They introduced themselves as the recruits approached.

“I am Master Syrna, to my left is Master Richard, and to my right is Master Elira.” She motioned to the small man to her left, and the woman to her right. Master Elira had white hair, but didn’t look very old to Boaz’s eyes. That and her pale blue eyes made her striking.

“We are your instructors in lore, tradition, and history. These subjects may not seem important right now, but will be critical to you.”

Before we can teach you any of that, you will need to attend a Familiar ceremony.”

There was a general murmur of confusion from the recruits, as none of them expected this.

“Intrigued? Let’s be off then, and I’ll explain as we go.” She turned and led them in another direction they had not yet gone. “This path leads to Lake Loran, also known as the Lake of the Familiars, at least in ancient times.”

She let Master Richard and Master Elira lead them all, while she dropped back into the middle of the recruits, who were all crowded around her as they walked, anxious to hear what she would say.

Kiera was first to break the silence. “Master Syrna, I think I speak for the other recruits here when I say we don’t know of any ceremonies.”

Master Syrna glanced at her and said, “I’m not sure what you mean?”

Kiera spoke again, “Well, you said we will attend a familiar ceremony, but we don’t know of any ceremonies in Forlon.”

Master Syrna laughed. “Ah yes, of course, I can see where that would be confusing. This is a Familiar ceremony, in the sense that in ancient times, wardens used to be able to use magic, and they did so through the use of Familiars. This is an ancient tradition of the Wardens, which only we know about. You will be put under oath after tonight to never talk about this outside of camp.” She paused for a while, as if in thought.

“Master Syrna, what exactly is a Familiar?” Lyra voiced the question on all the recruit’s minds.

“They are legendary magical creatures, of various kinds, who each supposedly have unique, innate magical abilities. They were said to bond to one warden for life, giving him or her the ability to communicate with them. They were NOT pets. According to legend, they were much more. They enhanced the Warden’s abilities, and were themselves enhanced. It was said to be a symbiotic relationship. If the magic wielder thrived, so did the Familiar, and vice versa. There hasn’t been a Warden with a Familiar who could wield magic in generations, probably from before the Sundering of the Races. Some doubt there ever was such a thing, and that this is all legend, or myth. Now, this is merely a ceremonial tradition that all Warden recruits must go through.”

As they walked, the recruits noticed that they were descending toward a large lake, which they could occasionally see through the trees. The air was cooler as they descended.

When they reached the lake, at the bottom of a large bowl with mountains and hills surrounding it, it was very chilly.

The instructors then handed out large, stamped silver coin blanks. They were heavy for their size, and had no marks on them at all.

Master Elira explained, “Familiars were said to be drawn to their chosen recruit through the coins, which acted as a portal for them to come through. When the Familiars found the coin, their likeness and innate magic type was supposed to be stamped indelibly on it. The Warden and the familiar were then bonded. If a Warden lost their coin, or it was stolen, it was said that it would always be back in their possession the next morning. This was a sign of the powerful magical bond between them.”

Master Richard clapped his hands together and said, “Right then. Each of you, spread out along the lakeshore — yes, a good space between each of you. We’ll come around to adjust spacing so everyone’s in view. In the old days, they said it helped ‘concentrate the magic’ or some such.” He smirked, clearly amused by the notion. “And of course,” he added with a theatrical wink, “we wouldn’t want your familiars getting lost on the way through their portals, would we?”

The recruits each spread out around the shoreline, and the instructors spaced them accordingly. Because of the acoustics, the instructors could all be heard plainly by all recruits. The instructors then placed themselves just in back of the recruits.

It was Master Syrna who spoke. “Now we wait for about thirty minutes for the sun to set. You may all sit on the shoreline to wait. While you wait, I want you to close your eyes, and focus your thoughts on reliving key parts of your lives. This ceremonial practice is said to determine the type and kind of familiar that will be drawn to you. Look back on your childhood, your experiences, your parents, brothers and sisters, or other family members, and the relationships you have or had with them. The point of this exercise, and this whole ceremony really, is to be honest with yourself, about who you are, what you desire, your strengths, and your weaknesses. It is said all these things will be taken into consideration by the magic. Now, close your eyes and begin.”

After thirty minutes, with the recruits being still and quiet. Master Syrna again spoke up. “Open your eyes now, and stand up.” When they had all done so, she continued: “Now toss your coin blanks as far out into the lake as you can.”

Some of the recruits showed some astonishment about this, but all tossed the coins far out into the lake. There were multiple sounds of the coins slapping against the water, some chill waves spiraling out from where the coins landed, and then it was still.

“And now we wait for one hour. You may all sit again, and be silent, and watch the spot where you threw your coins.”

Some minutes passed, and the recruits noticed a fog rolling in from down the opposite mountain, and across the lake from the opposite shore. The silence was palpable. Not even the waves that had gently lapped the lake earlier were making noises. It was as if the world had gone silent.

And then, the fog began to glow faintly, here and there, in spots, shimmering and pulsating like an ethereal dance.

Thin tendrils of luminescent fog seemed to reach out to each recruit. The main body of the fog was perhaps fifty yards out in the lake, but the tendrils crept toward the recruits. “Do not be afraid. This is all part of the ceremony,” spoke Syrna, almost sounding like a disembodied voice. The recruits did not turn away from the tendrils, all were in awe. All felt as though they couldn’t turn away if they tried.

When the tendrils reached the recruits, each recruit felt a subtle yet unmistakable pull in a certain direction of the lake. Trusting their instincts, their eyes followed this guidance, looking eagerly. There was murmuring from the instructors, but their voices seemed to come from far away to the recruit’s ears. The recruit’s attention was drawn to the lake.

Kiera was the first to notice a shape appear out of the fog, coming to her, swooping along next to the tendril, above the water. It was a sleek and elegant Great Horned Owl. “Eira,” Kiera said aloud, as though she was compelled to say it. The owl landed softly in front of her, dropped the coin she had held in her beak, and looked intently in Kiera’s eyes. She looked awe-struck, and near tears. It was too wonderful for her to speak. They seemed to be communicating, or at least trying to figure each other out. Kiera picked the coin up from the smooth, small rocky shoreline and gasped. It had markings on it now.

Meanwhile, other Familiars began appearing to the other recruits in like manner, with newly-stamped coins in their mouths, beaks, or claws.

Theo spoke the name “Tink” the minute his Familiar appeared. It was a nimble and curious Raccoon who came up to him and sat on his haunches, staring at him.

Nearby, Lyra spoke the name “Mika” when a confident-looking Spotted Hyena trotted up to her and sat down to look at her.

It was Jaxson who spoke next, much to the wonderment of the instructors, when he called out “Kestel” as a Red-Tailed Hawk soared from the enveloping misty tendrils and landed on his shoulder. The hawk cocked his head as he looked at Jaxson, as though appraisingly.

All the recruits save Boaz had received their Familiars, and were too engrossed in communicating with them to notice anything else. Boaz could hear the instructors voice their awe and wonder. Clearly they had not expected this.

Boaz looked around concernedly at the instructors, but they were not looking at him, intent on the animal Familiars and their partners, both smiles and concern showing on their faces.

Boaz, too, was concerned. What if no Familiar came for him? What if it was found out that he didn’t have one? What would he do then? If all his friends had a Familiar and he didn’t, did that mean the ancient ceremony meant nothing to his fate? These thoughts consumed him, but with a force of will he pushed away the doubt. He would concentrate, and be patient.

Boaz waited for several more minutes before finally, he saw out of the fog emerge a beautiful, strong figure of a Dire Lynx. He heard inside his mind the name “Thorne,” and he spoke it aloud. When he did, the Lynx padded silently in front of Boaz and sat. His Familiar had arrived.

The path back to camp was dim and dappled, the moonlight filtering through swaying branches, but the five recruits lit it with their voices — whispers at first, then louder, filled with disbelief and wonder.

“I mean — did you see that?” Jaxson said, his voice just short of a shout. “It came out of the sky! My hawk, Kestel — he knew me. I didn’t call him. He just came!”

Kestel circled once overhead, answering with a sharp cry. Jaxson laughed out loud, half in awe, half in giddy disbelief.

Boaz walked beside him, the lynx — Thorne — gliding silently at his side. “I thought it was a trick,” he admitted. “Some ceremonial show. But the second he looked at me… I knew.”

Lyra, her hyena Mika pacing confidently just ahead of her, gave a low whistle. “If this is a trick, I hope it keeps playing. Mine looks like she’d tear the throat out of a shadow for fun.”

Kiera’s voice was softer, but no less intense. “But why us?” She glanced at Eira, the owl who now glided from branch to branch above her like a wraith of wings and silence. “This wasn’t just some ritual, was it?”

Theo grinned as Tink chittered excitedly on his shoulder, already chewing at the clasp of his cloak. “I feel like I’ve been chosen for something and haven’t the faintest idea what the job is.”

“Enough,” Master Elira said, sharply, though there was no anger in it. Just strain. “This isn’t a celebration.”

The recruits fell silent for a beat, the mood wobbling on the edge of awkward. But Master Richard’s voice, rough and gravel-edged, broke in.

“Let them talk,” he muttered. “If the lake wanted silence, it wouldn’t have answered.”

The instructors slowed their pace slightly, letting the recruits move ahead.

“Have you ever seen this before?” Lyra asked, glancing over her shoulder.

Master Syrna hesitated. “No one living has seen this. This hasn’t happened for more than a hundred years, if the stories are true.”

“But it’s happened before?” Boaz pressed. “Why didn’t anyone tell us that?”

“Because,” Master Syrna said, “We hadn’t begun our lessons in lore yet, and, frankly, no one thought it would happen again.”

Kiera frowned, her voice barely above a whisper. “But it did.”

“Aye,” Master Syrna said, eyes forward. “Which means something’s happening.” That quieted them for a moment.

Jaxson broke the silence with a half-grin. “Something good?”

Master Elira chuckled darkly. “I wouldn’t count on it.”

Theo looked to Boaz, his brow furrowed. “Still. I’d rather face whatever’s coming with this little guy, than without him,” he said, scratching behind Tink’s ears.

Lyra snorted. “Speak for yourself. Mika’s probably the reason trouble’s coming in the first place.” But she was smiling.

When they made it back to camp, Master Syrna and the other instructors told the recruits to go to their cabins for the night, with their Familiars, and go to sleep, if they could. “You’ll need to, for tomorrow we start training harder. Today was just a taste of the rigors of your training.”

This is what the instructors each said out loud, but their thoughts were pondering these events in their minds, and what they meant. They all knew they needed to have a council tonight.

The fire in the council cabin crackled low, casting dancing shadows across the stone walls. A long table stood in the center, covered with scattered maps, scrolls, and a mostly-forgotten pot of tea, getting colder by the minute. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine smoke. Master Julian stood near the window, arms folded, eyes narrowed at nothing.

“They all came,” he said quietly. “Five tokens. Five answers.”

Master Kera leaned against the far wall, arms crossed over her barrel chest. “And five Familiars,” she added. “Real Familiars. Not spirits. Not illusions. Flesh and blood.”

Master Syrna turned a page in the heavy tome resting before her, fingers tracing the margins. “The records speak of such things — but only before the Sundering of the Races. Familiars born of the earth’s will, called through ancient rites. The lake hasn’t answered in generations. I thought it was never supposed to happen again.”

Master Elira, pale as ever, sat still in the firelight, her pale blue eyes reflective. “Something’s changed. Or something has returned.”

Master Hawar let out a long breath, wiping his brow with a sleeve. “I just teach ranged weapons. I wasn’t expecting to witness a bloody myth come to life tonight!”

“None of us were,” muttered Master Lawral from a shadowed corner. “One of them — Boaz, the big lad — his lynx stared straight at me. Like it was measuring my worth.” No one laughed.

Kera grunted. “It’s not just the lake. Did you feel the air? The stillness? Like something was … watching.”

Syrna finally looked up from the book. “In the old texts, it’s written that the Familiars come not for the ones who want power — but for those the world itself has marked. When the lake stirs, it means more than just new blood. It means change. Or danger. Maybe both.”

Hawar scratched his beard, uneasy. “Then why five? And why now?” No one answered.

Elira spoke softly. “Because the balance is shifting. And the earth is preparing.”

Julian’s brow furrowed. “For what, I wonder? And where do we fit in with these events?”

Elira’s voice was quiet, but resolute. “We train them. As wardens, for now. Let them grow into who they are meant to be. If the land has chosen them … we’ll need them ready.”

Julian turned back to the window. Outside, the moonlight spilled like silver over the cabin roofs.

“Five were called,” he said. “And five were answered. That’s not chance. That’s prophecy.”

Syrna closed the book with a soft thump. “Then let us pray the world is ready.”

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