One could say that the life in the forest
is easy and safe.
Dense vegetation protects from the chaotic
winds and storms, while providing the safe
harbour to those who live their peaceful life
within the tall, green guardians.
Rivers with fresh mountain watter, access
to food of any type, whether these are fruits
or vegetables, or even meat; they will always
lure certain folks who don't like the benefits
of living in the villages or towns - those
who like their own peace and prosperity, without
anyone saying them what and when to do.
Parents of Lyralei, before she was even born,
found their way to one of the western forests
after being exiled from their hometown after
a terrible war.
After finding a perfect place to stay, near
the river and a grassy field oasis in the
middle of the forrest, they settled in the
small wodden cabin.
Two young farmers thought that the quietude
was finally found and after the months and
years of having a peaceful life, they have
decided to finally expand their family.
It is safe to say that the days introducing
the Lyralei's birth, were the happiest day
in their lives.
Sadly, these days would not last.
Days grew darker and the nights grew colder.
The common feeling of safety was slowly vanishing
from the minds of Lyralei parents.
Something was comming, something big, something
that is impossible to avoid.
They could never know that the death was approaching,
and even if they did, nothing could be done.
For this is the law of nature.
You can't take, without giving.
And sometimes, one has to give their lives.
On the night of Lyralei's birth, a huge storm
has risen outside the forrest.
This was not the ordinary storm; the dark
powers were driving it through the trees and
bushes.
Its only goal was destruction.
Even today, 20 years after this night, nobody
can say for sure what happened.
The storm quickly found its way to Lyralei's
home.
With a swift blow, the wodden cabin was no
more and its contents were scattered to the
winds.
Only the newborn survived among the debris
field of death and destruction.
In the quiet after the storm, the wind itself
took notice of the lucky infant crying in
the grass.
The wind pitied the child and so lifted her
into the sky and deposited her on a doorstep
in a neighboring village.
In the years that followed, the new family
has accepted the child and acted as if it
was their own.
A cute and playful child, with curly red hair
and infinite amount of energy, though she
would never break something in its haste.
At the age of 6 or 7, she could outrun even
the fastest boys in the village and nobody
knew how.
Nor did they care.
Soon, a local hunter noticed her speed and
agility and invited her to his home.
There, he showed her his weapon, his mighty
bow.
He compared his bow to Lyralei, both being
swift and deadly.
He also had a smaller one that would fit her
perfectly and a few arrows to test her eye.
They went outside to shoot some wodden animals.
The hunter instructed her first shot and she
repeated without any error.
Lyralei liked this strange new toy and asked
if she can come later for a few more tries.
In the next several years, Lyralei would never
miss a day without going to hunter and training
and perfecting her skills.
Soon, she could hit the smallest objects without
almost any aiming, as if the wind itself was
guiding her arrows.
Little did she know, the wind that saved her
on the day of her birth would return occasionally
to the child's life, watching her from a distance
while she honed her skills.
Only later, once given a task to go on a hunt
and discovering a strange rubble and debris
in the deep parts of the woods, she has sensed
her lifetime ally, in a different way.
The wind blowing through the vegetation was
making sounds as if it was speaking, gretting
her and telling her the story of her real
origin.
In the following years, Lyralei, now known
as Windranger, was perfecting her skills and
learning to master the power of the wind itself.
After many years of training, Windranger fires
her arrows true to their targets.
She moves with blinding speed, as if hastened
by a wind ever at her back.
With a flurry of arrows, she slaughters her
enemies, having become, nearly, a force of
nature herself.
