"Trail of Bones" [Part 20] Tengu Origins - An Infinity Kingdom Story

🔷 Introduction

Welcome to part 20 of my new Tengu series.  This will be inspired by the new release of Tengu in our game and incorporating his legend within the realm of Norheim.

His story will be roughly based on his historical legend with a twist from within the game we know and love.  I will be bringing 1 or 2 new episodes per week so stay tuned for more!

🔷 Recap Part 19:  “The Bone Warden”

Deep beneath the forgotten Guardian City, the ancient Bone Warden awakened as the seal imprisoning the Devourer began to weaken. Sensing the soul of the Briar Titan within Tengu, the Devourer commanded its loyal servant to hunt down the Thorn Bearer, setting a relentless predator on a collision course with the young warrior. 

🔷 Part 20:  “Trail of Bones”

Morning arrived beneath a blanket of gray clouds.

Tengu and Ninetails departed the village shortly after sunrise.

The ancient map remained tucked safely inside Tengu's pack while the Thorn Armor rested quietly against his body.

For several hours, the journey felt peaceful.

The forest stretched endlessly around them.

Birds sang from the treetops.

A cool breeze carried the scent of pine through the air.

For the first time since discovering the records beneath the shrine, Tengu almost felt normal.

Almost.

Ninetails remained unusually quiet.

Every so often her ears twitched toward distant sounds that Tengu could not hear.

"You seem nervous," he said.

"I am listening."

"For what?"

The fox spirit glanced toward the trees.

"I am not sure."

That answer did little to comfort him.

They continued deeper into the wilderness.

By midday the forest began to change.

The birds had vanished.

The wind no longer rustled the leaves.

Even the insects seemed absent.

An unnatural silence settled across the woods.

Tengu noticed it immediately.

"Why is everything so quiet?"

Ninetails slowed.

"I do not like this."

A few moments later she suddenly stopped.

Tengu followed her gaze.

A deer lay beside a fallen log.

At first it appeared asleep.

Then he saw the bones.

The animal had been stripped clean.

Not a scrap of flesh remained.

Only a perfect skeleton rested among the leaves.

Tengu crouched beside it.

"There are no bite marks."

Ninetails examined the remains carefully.

"No signs of scavengers either."

The skeleton looked untouched.

As though the life had simply vanished from it.

A chill crawled up Tengu's spine.

"What could do this?"

Ninetails did not answer.

For once, she seemed just as uncertain as he was.

They left the strange remains behind and continued onward.

The deeper they traveled, the worse the signs became.

Several trees bore deep scratches carved into the bark.

The marks stretched higher than any bear could reach.

Some were nearly as tall as Tengu himself.

Others cut straight through the wood as though it were paper.

Hours later they discovered a small spirit shrine hidden among the hills.

Its stone lanterns had toppled over.

The protective charms hanging from the entrance had turned black.

Tengu approached cautiously.

The place felt wrong.

Empty.

Dead.

Ninetails stepped inside first.

Moments later she emerged with a troubled expression.

"There are no spirits here."

"Maybe they left."

She slowly shook her head.

"No."

The single word carried more fear than Tengu had ever heard from her.

Spirits did not abandon sacred places.

Something had driven them away.

Or worse.

As evening approached, they found another unsettling discovery.

A campsite.

Several tents still stood between the trees.

A cooking pot rested beside a cold fire.

Blankets lay scattered across the ground.

Yet there was no sign of the travelers.

No bodies.

No tracks leading away.

Nothing.

The camp looked as though its occupants had simply vanished.

Then Tengu noticed something beneath one of the tents.

Bones.

Human bones.

His stomach tightened.

The same thing had happened here.

The same impossible fate as the deer.

Ninetails moved through the camp silently.

Suddenly she froze.

"Tengu."

He hurried over.

Pressed into the soft earth beside the campsite was a footprint.

One enormous footprint.

It was longer than Tengu's arm.

Deep enough to crack the soil beneath it.

Neither of them spoke for several moments.

Whatever had made it possessed strength beyond anything they had ever encountered.

Tengu looked toward the darkening forest.

A feeling settled over him.

The unmistakable sensation that unseen eyes were watching from somewhere beyond the trees.

Ninetails' ears flattened against her head.

For the first time since they had met, genuine fear filled her golden eyes.

"Tengu," she whispered.

"We are not alone."

Far away, hidden within the growing darkness, something continued following their trail.

📄 Recap Questions

1. What disturbing clues convince Tengu and Ninetails that a powerful and unknown force is moving through the forest?
2. What terrifying discovery at the abandoned campsite makes Ninetails realize they may be the target of a hunt?

🔷 Conclusion

As Tengu and Ninetails continued their journey toward the Guardian Ruins, they uncovered a trail of strange destruction unlike anything they had ever encountered.

With evidence of a powerful creature stalking the wilderness and a massive footprint left behind at an abandoned campsite, they began to realize that something ancient and dangerous was already following their trail. 

See you next week!

🔷 Hades, Press Officer.

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