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It was many a year ago when I met him, a bright soul on the path of life much different than that of my own. He was a brilliant red fox; all consumed in his culture, yet every aspect of him was made known unto to me, despite not having as rich a history. His aqua eyes were as soothing as the ocean itself, his fur sleek and shiny, making his first appearance brilliant to myself, his body poised in front of the bright sun.

"Hello," he spoke. His voice was still resonating in my head moments after he had mustered the words. I simply stared at him in awe, my back aching from the tumble I had taken when he startled me. "I am the chief of the Tchikutsu Tribe located just upriver. My name is Ace, son to Chief Storm. I was informed of your wandering and travelled here to investigate what your purpose is for trespassing upon our land. Will you simply tell the answer, or must I force it out of you?" Ace spoke, articulating every word meticulously. I looked around and shook myself out of my daze.

"I-I am S-Solis Astral, Sir. I mean you and your people no harm, but was merely passing through on my way to visit one of my beloved?" I brushed a paw through my orange fur on the side of my face, pushing my whiskers to a side. Ace looked at me, a puzzled look painted across his face. Our aqua eyes interlocked in a brutal staring competition, and the grand prize for me was life. The prize for him was watching my blood run down his claws. His expression softened and the spear he was holding was brought to face the ground.

"Solis, is it? In my tribe's native language, that translates to 'Helos,' which means 'Sun.' Such a nice name you have, Solis. It reminds me of an ancient legend amongst our tribe, centered around a large famine that would attempt to destroy my people," Ace said, looking up to the top of a nearby mountain.

"All things must be endured, but only those with the brightest of aspirations for others can save us all. It is said that many things can tear a village apart, but none more so than that of the dreaded Helos Famine...

_ "Many years ago, there was a village elder. This elder was unlike any other, as in she had 'the Gift of the Sun,' which is not something to be taken lightly. The Gift of the Sun empowers those affected with the potential to bring the best harvests for as long as the gift is passed down._

_ "The elder was wise in her youth. Smart, cunning, brave, and loyal were among many of her great virtues. She lived at one with nature. That is, until the Panusu Tribe killed her oldest son while he was out on a meandering walk through the dark woods. The Panusu Tribe, killed him, but without mercy. They tied him up, beat him, whipped him, until finally, his life was brought to an end by the Panusu's chief's knife. His head was sliced clean off of his body, his bloody entrails slung out and about our village._

_ "Our village chief woke up the next morning for his quick survey of the village, only to find the many remains of the elder's son spread throughout the village. In a valiant attempt, he tried to hide the remains as quickly as possible. However, when the elder awoke to not see her son where he normally is, she began to grow worried. She made her way to the chief, heart set on finding out what had happened to her son. The chief at this time was almost finished hiding her son's body. His head was held in his hand over the chest when the elder walked in._

_ "Upon seeing her deceased son's head in the chief's hands, she fell to the floor, chanting 'Helos, cretivere ut hae hur yins bact uye thayu,' which translates to 'Sun, creative be those who bring back your gift.' The elder fell to the ground crying. Several of the villagers had to prompt her to go home, which took several days, but finally, the elder proceeded to make her way home._

_ "She lived the rest of her life in peace, forced to dwell upon what she could've done to save her son. In her sorrow, she built the Helos Pan Flute, a relic to our tribe today. She died shortly after completion of her pan flute, her gift dying with her. To this day we haven't had a harvest provide enough food for all of us without severe precautions being taken. Legend has it that those who play upon the pan flute with the will to give their lives to Helos will obtain her gift."_

Ace finished up his tale, staring down at the ground solemnly. I looked up at him, standing up from my position on the ground. I walked over and stood next to him, looking ahead at the mountain he was earlier. "Where is your village?" I asked him, my thoughts racing to play that flute and save the village. I love to be in the spotlight; that's why I took up performing arts as a career. Ace stared off into the distance, as if thinking of how to respond to my question.

"It is just a short walk through the woods," Ace explained, looking over to me. "Why are you asking?" I stared over into Ace's eyes, which reminded me much of my own. "Surely you're not thinking that I'm going to let you clamber into my village after just meeting you, do you? Nobody has tried to play that instrument in fear of what Helos may do to them. Not even my own father, chief before me, has tried to play, and I certainly won't let a stranger anywhere near one of my peoples' most sacred of relics."

"I believe I can help," I said sternly. "Please, take me! I know you don't trust me, but what's the worst I can do?" I asked, pleading for his compliance.

"Enough!" he exclaimed in a harsh tone. "The worst you could do is destroy my peoples' food supply entirely, and I refuse to let that happen."

"You know, I'm more of a fox than all of you put together, and do you want to know the reason why?" I asked him, glaring at him. "I'm not a coward!" Ace looked at me as if I had just smacked him across the face, his eyes staring me down, as if looking deep into my soul. He extended a paw and wrapped it around my neck, starting to choke me.

"We are not cowards, for we have learned that too much courage can lead to bitter consequences." He tightened his grip around my neck as I gasped for air, my arms and legs squirming for escape. I look in his eyes, pleading for my release. My valiant attempt was a success! Down to the ground I fell as he looked off into the woods.

"Look, Ace. Do you want to save your tribe?" I asked him, standing up to brush off the dust. "I only wish to help. I meant it when I said I meant you and your tribe no harm."

He sighed. "Do you really think you can save us?" he asked forlornly.

I responded with a nod before Ace, taking me by my right paw, began to run, me dragging my heels and nearly falling as he made several leaps and bounds over uprooted trees, thorn bushes, and even across a small creek. My body begged for mercy by the time we reached his small village of only about six huts. A few villagers, all vulpine, were standing scattered throughout the village. They looked at us, puzzled as we scrambled up into the central, gazebo-style pedestal.

On the pedestal stood a small cage, sewn from the shucks of corn that appeared to be worn with age, despite being well taken care of. The cage, which Ace lifted, revealed a small pan flute, only as big as my paw. Ace gave me a nod as I pressed my lips to the small pan flute and closed my eyes. The wood was cold and it seemed as if the instrument had never been played, just like Ace had explained to me.

"Play," Ace commanded. I looked at him, puzzled. "Play, now," he responded to my silence. I nodded slowly and started to play a small tune, as if from memory, yet I had never heard it before in my life. Nonetheless, the playing seemed to be correct and I was playing with much ease, but nothing seemed to be happening. I started to feel myself shake in anxiousness, my playing starting to falter.

"Why isn't it working?" I asked Ace after pulling the instrument away, looking over at his somber face.

"Let me see the instrument," he commanded, extending a paw out to grab it. I passed it to him willingly and watched as he pressed it to his mouth. "The talent was there, but the heart was not," he sighed. "Tell me Solis... Why do you play? Do you play to bring glory to yourself or to bring happiness to others?"

"I-I don't know why I play," I responded, lying. I knew that I only played to better myself, but I really had thought I was bringing happiness to others with my music. Was I not?

"You see, Solis," he stated, playing a few notes as a warm up. "Only those with the brightest of aspirations for others can save us all. Do you really wish to better others, rather than yourself? I suppose that I am guilty of the same thing by not even putting aside my foolish thoughts of fear by not trying to save my people. It's time I gave this my best shot. I may have been too scared to even try before, but I was destined for this gift... I will bring honor my family once again."

Ace began to play, his compassion for others practically emanating from the instrument. There was a distinct difference in our playing. What he lacked in talent, he had gained in heart. He was playing for a purpose; I was just playing for glory. The leaves on the surrounding trees began to rustle. The wind was bringing them to life, the sun's rays intensifying as the crowd, including myself, held their breath. A single beam of light focused itself on Ace, as if a magical force was controlling it. A small sundial marking started to appear on his upper arm, burning itself in a pattern on his fur. He pulled the flute away and looked at his new mark, then back to me.

"I am Ace. Son of Chief Storm and Elder Amber, brother to the late Aquillus," he said confidently, facing the crowd. I stood, dumbfounded, beside Ace, "and I... Have obtained Helos's Gift!" he shouted, raising the pan flute into the air. The audience behind us burst out in cheers, yelps, and claps. I turned around to face the group, now much larger since we had first arrived. Ace held up his right paw to silence the crowd's joyous cheers.

"Solis... You have played with just your ambition, whereas I played with my heart. It's nice to have ambition. Just don't let it take over what really matters most - your beliefs. I hope that this lesson will make you keener to follow your heart, not the glory, in the future. I would've never gotten the courage to even try to face my fears if you hadn't shown me that there was nothing to fear. Thank you, Solis."

"Y-you're welcome," I stuttered before Ace waved me off to the village gate, giving me a small hug before I stalked away slowly to the exit. I shot the crowd a small wave, a few of them returning the action to me, the others just giving me a small smile before I started out into the wilderness.

I never saw Ace or that village again, but not because I didn't look - trust me, I have. My theory of why I haven't been able to return is that I am no longer needed there. That village will thrive, and it's all thanks to Ace's bravery. Whatever that tribe is doing, I'm sure they'll be fine. They have Ace, possessor of Helos's Gift, to protect them.